Salvation

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THE KEY TO ETERNAL GLORY RESTS IN FORGIVENESS

(Ephesians 4:31&32) Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Our fallen nature has the ability to produce bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander and malice.  These are all counter to what God desires for us his children.  He wants us to be kind, compassionate and forgiving.  This is perhaps the greatest challenge for a Christian.  We live in a world where there is little of what God wants and much of what our fallen nature generates.  The key to living a Godly life lies in our ability to forgive one another.

Jesus set the stage for us to forgive, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (see Romans 5:8) God made provision to forgive us through the sacrifice of his Son.  If God was willing to sacrifice his Son for our forgiveness, we should be able to forgive those who sin against us. 

Sometimes the sin against us seems impossible to forgive.  That’s when we need help from the one who knows the cost of forgiveness.  Jesus humbled himself, even to the humility of death on the cross.  If we are willing to set aside our pride, Jesus can patiently guide us through the process of forgiving.  As we work through the difficult challenge to forgive, we can rest assured that God will be pleased, and there is a blessing coming for those of us who are willing to surrender to God’s way.

(1Peter 3:8&9) Finally, All of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.  On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

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GOD HEARS OUR EVERY WORD

(Ezekiel 35:13) You boasted against me and spoke against me without restraint, and I heard it.

This was the word of the Lord given to Ezekiel to prophesy against the nation of Edom.  The Edomites were descendants of Esau, and they were the enemies of Israel for many centuries.  When Judah, the southern kingdom of divided Israel, fell to the Babylonians, the Edomites plotted to take over their land.  They boasted against the God of Israel and spoke against God himself.  God heard them!  And that led to their demise.

Isn’t it interesting to know that God hears what we say?  Jesus tells us in Matthew 12:36, “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgement for every empty word they have spoken.”  It is beyond our ability to comprehend how God can know every word that has been spoken – for all of time since the beginning and on to the end.  I am very glad that I have been given grace through Jesus Christ.  I hope you have received this great gift of God.

There are those who say that God doesn’t exist, and they use many other words that dismiss the existence of God.  They use his name in vain without restraint. I hope they repent before they come to the day of Judgement to avoid having Jesus speak to them the words he gave to Ezekiel for the Edomites.

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WE EACH HAVE A PART IN GODS PLAN

(Ephesians 2:8-10) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

In the first sentence of this scripture passage, the Apostle Paul points out that we are saved by grace, not by works that we might think we deserve salvation; but it is by God’s gift that we are saved.  Then he tells us that we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works.  However, we don’t have to think up these good works because God has already prepared them for us to do.  How do we know what these good works are?

Obviously, since God is the one who prepared our good works, we need to go to him to discover these good works he has set for us.  There are clues that are found in those abilities and talent that are inherent in our character.  There are things that we do that makes us feel fulfilled, but we need God’s direction and guidance to lead us to those specific works that he has prepared for us to do.

Doing what God has designed us to do answers the question why we are here. As we follow Gods plan for us, we discover fulfillment that gives purpose for our lives.  We are now part of a very complex worldwide team of believers. Our part fits into a tapestry where each tread has an important part of the whole picture. 

God alone knows the whole picture.  We walk by faith trusting that what he has assigned to us represents a significant part of the fulfillment of his overall plan for his creation.  What we experience when we are in line with God’s plan for us is our best possible life here on earth.

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A DEEP SENSE OF REVERENCE FOR GOD

(Acts 9:31 MSG) All over the country- Judea, Samaria, Galilee- the church grew.  They were permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God.

The title I’ve chosen for this post comes from the wording of this scripture verse from Acts chapter 9 as worded in The Message.  Eugene Peterson, the translator of The Message, coined some beautiful ways of expressing the scriptures.  I believe these words, “A deep sense of reverence for God,” give a more complete understanding of what it means to fear God.  They seem to incorporate love into fearing God.

It has been my experience that reverencing God happens over time.  As I have walked with God, I have increased in my love and respect for him.  He has blessed me in many ways, and he has been beside me through some pretty tough times.  To my amazement, the tough times have seemed minor.  The devastation that might have been was overcome by his faithful presence in my time of need.

Over the years, I have learned to trust God and rely on him.  I am growing into a deeper sense of reverence for him.

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FEARING GOD

(Proverbs 9:10) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

In the last 60-70 years, our society has worked to limit the reality of punishment.  What was at one time considered good parenting by correcting our children with a spanking, is today called child abuse.  Criminals often get away with minimal consequences for their crimes. The obvious outcome has been that there is a greatly diminished fear of those in authority.  Though we are sinners in need of a savior, It would seem that we are trying to avoid the reality of eventual punishment for our sins. 

(Psalm 33:18) But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.

Recognizing the unlimited power and authority of the God of creation is wisdom.  Fearing him leads us to a desire for the knowledge of him and his righteousness.  That desire causes us to avoid those things that anger him.  When we surrender ourselves to his will, we arrive at the humble place where a loving relationship with him can begin.  We can then confidently put our hope in his unfailing love.

Those of us who learn to fear God begin a father-child relationship with him that involves discipline.  His discipline is always for our good (see Hebrews chapter 12). God is molding us into the beings he created us to be.  His discipline is always purposed for bringing us closer to the righteousness he desires for us. 

God built fear into our psychic; fear can be a healthy way of protecting us. Fearing God is a healthy fear, for it leads to an eternal relationship with him.

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FINDING REST FOR OUR SOULS IN GOD

(Psalm 62:5-8) Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.  Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.  My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. 

King David wrote the words of Psalm 62 to share what he had discovered. He reminds himself, “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.”  David knew this, but he needed to remind himself.

  We are God’s children dealing with a fallen world full of many evils.  We need our God’s help.  David rehearses all the support God provides for us.  He is our hope, our rock, our fortress, our salvation, our refuge and even our honor.  In the midst of our distress, we tend to get caught up in the troubles and forget that God is there for us.

It’s good to be reminded that we need God.  He is the creator, the source of life, wisdom and power.  It is fortunate that he wants to provide us with all those above-mentioned supports.  All we need to do is ask and then trust him to work out our troubles.  That sounds simple; and it is. In God, we can find rest for our souls.

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COME AND GO

(Matthew 11:28-30) “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Jesus gives us the greatest invitation we will ever receive when he says, “Come to me.”  When we come to him, we find rest, and as we commit ourselves to him, he gently teaches us a better way to live the life that he has given us.  He doesn’t lay heavy burdens on us, but be careful, there is a tendency for us to make it hard.

I remember those early days- shaking my fist at Jesus and saying that your burden is not light; it’s hard!  In my pride, I was trying to become a Christian on my own. It turns out that Jesus was patiently teaching me to trust him and learn from him.  As time went on, I found that his burden was light because he was always there beside me.

Like his disciples, Jesus teaches us his ways to live.  As we grow in our knowledge of him and his ways, we are then ready to share the Good News about him.  We are ready to go.

(Matthew 28:19&20) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

When we respond to Jesus’ invitation to come, he calls us to share with others the new life we have received.  We are called to go.  Where are we going?  I believe that we are going into the life The Father set before us.  Some are called to go to other countries, but most of us go to those who are a part of our daily encounters.  Whether we are called to other places or to share right where we are the call to go is for us.

We come and then we go.  We do not go alone, because Jesus has promised that till the very end he will go with us.  As we share and teach about Jesus, he will guide us.  Our receiving of Jesus’ invitation sets in motion an eternal partnership with him, and together we will share the good news with all nations.

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OUR LIGHT AND MOMENTARY TROUBLES

(2 Corinthians 16&17) Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Bad things happen to good people.  Actually, bad things happen to all people. No one escapes. Here on planet earth, amidst the beauty and wonder, there is much danger and trouble to be encountered. 

This week, I finished watching the fifth season of The Chosen.  The last episode shows what it might have been like for Jesus as he prayed on the Mount of Olives before he was arrested.  It was painful to watch Jesus as he wrestled with the anguish and emotions over the torture he was about to endure. John shares this prayer that Jesus prayed that night (John chapter 22 verse 42) “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Jesus was about to encounter bad things, but the results of his endurance brought about, “an eternal glory” that made salvation possible for the whole world.  Considering what Jesus went through, we can understand why the Apostle Paul called our troubles “light and momentary”.

I know that our troubles don’t usually seem light and momentary when we are in the midst of them.  Yet Paul gives us this promise, they are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So, with wholehearted trust in our God, we can endure our circumstances. And even though we don’t fully understand, we believe that someday we will see the eternal glory that our struggles here have produced.

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CONSIDER THE KINDNESS AND STERNNESS OF GOD

(Psalm 91:14-16) “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

(Romans 11:22) Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God…

The Apostle Paul challenges us with these words,“Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God…” the verses from Psalm 91 show us that for those who love the Lord and acknowledge his name there is kindness.  The opposite is therefore true that for those who reject the Lord and deny his existence there is sternness.  

Why do Christians talk about a new life in Christ Jesus?  The answer is because we have entered God’s kindness.  God has rescued us, protected us, answered our prayers, been with us in times of trouble, and shown us his salvation.  The writer of Psalm 91 received God’s kindness because he had acknowledged the name of the Lord and had come to love the Lord his God.

The sternness of God is reserved for those who reject God.  His sternness has been demonstrated from the beginning.  The flood is a good example.  In response to rampant evil, God wiped out all but eight of mankind. As we contemplate this, it is good to remember that Creation belongs to God, and he will deal with it according to what is necessary to bring about his final plan for his creation.   

We have each been given the opportunity to receive God’s kindness. First, we come to believe that God exists, and, as we seek him, he builds a relationship with us.  Jesus made the way for all to enter this glorious relationship with our creator.  God’s desire is that we would all come to him.  He would much rather show us his kindness than his sternness.

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WHAT HAS GOD DONE ABOUT MANKIND’S REBELLION? 

(Romans 1:18-21) The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.  For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

The Apostle Paul gives a clear description of what has brought about the fallen state of God’s creation.  It is quite simple; mankind has turned their backs to their creator.  We were created to be with God.  God created us to share with him and to live in his righteousness. Without God we now live in a world full of evil. Not only did mankind turn their backs to God, but they created false god substitutes.  And in our current depravity, we have created vast theories to deny God’s existence.

What has God done about mankind’s rebellion?  Well, since the beginning he has called for us to return to him, and out of his great love for us, when the time was right, he sent his Son to show us how to live a righteous life.  As a clear demonstration of his love for us, Jesus, God the Son, having no sin, took upon himself all the sins that mankind has committed throughout the ages, and suffered death on the cross to pay the price for all those sins.  Jesus covered our unrighteous acts so that we could be free to return to a right relationship with our God. 

The rampant evil acts that daily occur here on planet earth are the result of mankind’s rebellion against our creator. Paul explains the results of this rebellion, “but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

To the very end, many of mankind will continue to defy God.  I have been studying the book of Revelation; it is amazing the terrible destruction that God’s judgement will bring upon the earth, yet, in the midst of this destruction, many will refuse to repent.

 God, with great sacrifice, has prepared a way that we can enter the love and wonders that he has always wanted for his created ones.  If we let his light shine in our hearts, the darkness will flee, and our thinking will become clear.  This has always been God’s desire.