Being Saved

The Word of God says that we are saved by faith and not by works.  I keep returning to this topic because it is so contrary to our way of thinking.  It is hard for me to accept this, even after having been a believer for many years, because it seems like most people only accept people because of how they perform or what they can get from them.  

If you were raised with parents that accepted you only by your performance and they never hugged you or told you they loved you it would be hard to believe that the creator of the universe would accept you any other way.  I understand why some people have a struggle with this.  I think it is normal to think that you would not receive anything without doing something for it especially receiving acceptance and unconditional love and redemption.  So if you are having a struggle with this you are not alone.

Along with this problem there are those who teach that in order to get right with God or go to heaven you have to keep the law, in other words you have to perform or get there by your own merits or works.  There is only one that has kept the whole law and that was Jesus Christ.  If you live by the law, which is the Ten Commandments, and break just one you are guilty of breaking them all.  Read what it says about this subject in James 2:10, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”

There was a rich young man in God’s Word that came to Jesus and asked Him this question in Mark 10:17-22, “Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?’

So Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’

And he answered and said to Him, ‘Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.’

Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.’

But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

There are people that live pretty good moral lives and they think that is their ticket into heaven but trusting in your own righteousness alone will keep you from the presence of God and you will not enter heaven.  There is only one way to get into the presence of God and heaven and that is through his Son Jesus Christ, believing in His crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection from the dead.  To be saved you have to come to Him by faith.

Read what it says in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

If you think you can get to heaven by your good works ask yourself this question: why did Jesus have to die and suffer the way He did?  Because there was no other way for mankind to be washed and cleansed of sins and stand before God justified as if they had never sinned.  Only the blood of Jesus has the power to cleanse sin, read what it says in Isaiah 1:18:

“‘Come now, and let us reason together,’

Says the Lord,

‘Though your sins are like scarlet,

They shall be as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson,

They shall be as wool.’”

Read this in Revelations 7:9-17, “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:

‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,

Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,

Be to our God forever and ever.

Amen.’

Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, ‘Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?’

And I said to him, ‘Sir, you know.’

So he said to me, ‘These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

So if you are counting on going to heaven by your good moral life, going about doing good works to appease the Lord; repent and confess that to the Lord and ask Him to forgive you.  Then receive Jesus, asking Him to be your Lord and Savior and to cleanse you of all sin with His precious blood.  Thank Him for His sacrifice on your behalf and then go share what you did with someone else.  While in this state of mind, don’t be in a hurry, take your time and let the Lord fill you with His peace, love and joy.  Get a copy of the Word of God and start studying and ask Him to guide you to a church He would have you attend and start growing in the faith.  Something to think about, have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours!!