Saved

He has saved us and called us to life a holy life–not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 2 Timothy 1:9

People all over the world are searching for a purpose for their lives. They want to know why they are living when and where they are.

Most believe that their lives are for their own pleasures, to eat, drink and be merry. Very few believe that there is any higher standards to live by and don’t want to be told that there are any limitations.

As Paul is reminding Timothy of the calling he has received, he also tells him that God saved them to live a holy life for His purpose and grace, not because of anything that they had done.

Often salvation is seen as a ‘one-way-ticket’ out of hell. It is just a way to get into heaven and live for ever. While these things do occur, salvation is much more.

Jesus died on the cross and rose again so that sin and guilt could be removed, so that people could have a close relationship with God again and not be bond up in sin and death. With sin in one’s life, it breaks the relationship with God, who cannot be around sin.

The salvation Jesus provides does not just remove sin so that the person can go back into sin, but so that the believer may live a holy life without sin.

From Genesis to Revelation, God calls all His people to live a holy life as He is holy. This means that one is to reject sin and flee from it with the power and leading of the Holy Spirit, not stay in sin as many have done in the church.

God loves you and wants you to be saved from sin and death. If you have already chosen to believe in Jesus and repent of your sins, do not go back to those sins or any other sin.

Choose today to live the holy life God has called you to live. Live your life as Jesus lived His, holy and perfect. You will not be able to do this on your own, but by the power and leading of the Holy Spirit all things are possible.

God would not call you to do something He will not give you the ability to do with His help.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know the life God has called you to live; that you will live holy as Jesus lived; that you will be led by the Holy Spirit; and that God will strengthen you to leave the life of any and all sin.

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. Ephesians 2:8-9

Although many people like to talk about the idea of liking getting something for free, most people also like to earn what they get. They want to know that they had a part in getting whatever it is that they have. It gives them self value and worth.

This type of feeling is highest in religious circles. People want to earn favor with God or a god.

Paul describes how a person is saved. Salvation comes from God, by His grace and only through faith, which was also given by God. He stops all boasting by not allowing salvation by works.

After mankind had fallen away from God and into sin, God set up a plan to save everyone. He provided the means to be saved, but it was to only be done by faith, not works. There was no list of things a person must do or not do in order to become saved, it was all by faith.

Faith is just believing and trusting God for what cannot be seen. In this case it is faith for salvation, to be saved from sin. Salvation is something that cannot be physically seen or touched, nor it is it immediately complete. This faith was also something that God gave to every person.

While the majority of the world works to please God and be saved, God did not do it that way. He did not want one person to boast because he did ‘more’ than another person. It is completely by faith a gift given by God. It is believing that Jesus died for all sin and will remove all sin from one who believes in Him.

If you have not done so already, today it the day to believe in Jesus, repent of your sins and be saved. God has this great gift ready for you to utilize.

Stop striving to work to try and please God so that He will save you. You are unable to do enough. Just repent and believe in what Jesus did for you already.

God has already given you a measure of faith that you use day to day in other things. Use it today to believe in Jesus and be saved.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will use the faith God has given you to believe in Jesus; that you will trust God completely for your salvation; and that you will stop working to earn God’s favor or love.