The Fuel Of Salvation
THE FUEL OF SALVATION
A story is told of a man who went fishing with his son and his son's friend. While at sea, a storm arose and as the ship was sinking, the father could only rescue one person. Naturally as humans, we will prefer to rescue our biological son. The father knowing that his son was saved while his son's friend wasn't saved spoke to his son these words “I know if you die now, you will make heaven because you have been saved but if your friend dies, he cannot make heaven because he is not saved”. The son thought about it and decided to die instead. That singular act made the son's friend give his life to Jesus,
Painful to the father but he saved a soul from perishing.
What is Love? Dictionary defines love as a strong feeling of affection while the Bible calls God LOVE “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8 NIV. Love from this passage is from the Greek word AGAPE which means affection or benevolence.
Salvation has more to do with rescuing someone powerless from a captor. Man was ensalved as a result of sin but God had to save man because man was powerless. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:6 NIV. Religious activities couldn't give us salvation. Killing of rams couldn't. If that is still operational, rams will be so expensive that so many will not be able to afford it.
If it was difficult for someone to die for a good person (Romans 5:7), how much more will anyone want to die for a known sinner?. This confirms how helpless we were in delivering ourselves from sin.
However, God DEMONSTRATES His Love for us. Love is a verb because it involves action. God didn't just say it with His mouth or write it in the Bible the way some of us write love poems. He demonstrated it when we were still sinners - HALLELUJAH!. The implication of this action is that Jesus through His death reconciled EVERYONE back to God (Are you thinking its heresy?) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 NIV. Jesus reconciled us back to God while we were sinners!
With the truth above, we cannot condemn anyone who hasn't accepted Jesus because they have been reconciled back to God. There is a need however to accept what Jesus did on the Cross which is the difference between you who is a Christian and the unbeliever you know. No wonder the Bible says "For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." Romans 10:10 NIV.
How Do We Respond?
1. God's Love is the reason for our salvation.A
2. As Christians, we cannot afford to condemn anyone no matter how deep they are in sin. They are yet to know and experience God's Love.
3. As Christians, we have a duty to tell everyone about the Love of God.
Did you discover God's Love for you while reading through? You can accept Jesus by placing your hands on your chest and saying the words below sincerely…
Lord Jesus, I come before you today. I confess with my mouth that i am a sinner. I know you died for me. Come into my heart and be my Lord and personal Saviour. Thank you Jesus for saving me.
Congratulations if you just said the words above. Let us know so we can help you start your walk with God on the right foundation.
Email: newexploitsbaptistchurch@gmail.com
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NOTE: This post is the message preached at the Inaugural Service of New Exploits Baptist Church, Igando by Pastor Oyedeji Johnson
Image Credit: Bible Study Tools
Awesome message Sir
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