Saved by the Gospel

Our bodies are convincing evidence for the existence of God. Our skeletal system, muscular system, digestive system, nervous system, and circulatory system all serve to prove there is a God!

Consider the heart - a pump with a built in motor. This involuntary muscle beats about 100,000 times a day, pumping some 1,800 gallons of blood through its chambers. The blood is pumped through an amazing pipeline system (arteries, veins, and capillaries) which, if tied end to end, would stretch out for some 60,000 to 100,000 miles! Does anyone really think the underground pipeline system below large cities developed themselves? It would be just as foolish to believe the circulatory system of the human body developed itself.

No wonder the psalmist wrote, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well” (Psalm 139:14).

Why read the Bible? That’s a fair question to ask. We ought to want to read the Bible because it is the word of God. The apostle Paul wrote, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:16-17).

The scriptures are inspired by God, meaning they are “God breathed.” They have come to us through the mind and mouth of God. The Bible is God’s way of communicating with man. It is through the Bible that God reveals His thoughts to man. Open your Bible, meditate on its pages and let God speak!

If a child does not grow physically, the parent realizes something is wrong. The parent becomes troubled, distraught. Have you ever wondered how, as Christians, we disappoint God when we fail to grow?

Peter wrote, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” (I Peter 2:2). Too often we limit the application of this verse to newer Christians. But no Christian, no matter how long he, or she, has been a Christian, should ever lose the desire to grow. The desire to become more spiritually mature. It’s God’s word, the scriptures, the Bible, that makes this growth possible!

Countless number of self-help books are written every year, yet none can even begin to compare with the help the Bible provides. No book written by man can ever provide the guidance we need to navigate through the obstacles of life. Imagine walking in the dark, stumbling along the way, misstep after misstep. Always bumping into things, unable to see, never getting where you want to go.

That’s what life is like without the Bible. Stumbling along in the dark, misstep after misstep, never reaching our destination. No wonder the psalmist wrote, “Thy word isa lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

Why read the Bible? One very good reason is it helps us overcome temptation. How so? When we read God’s word, commit it to memory and keep it in our hearts, we are strengthened and able to overcome Satan’s attacks. We are reminded of the evils of sin and its horrible consequences. We become constantly aware of God’s love for us and his longing for us to be with Him in heaven. When we spend time in God’s word as we ought, we learn to hate every evil and false way. No wonder the psalmist wrote, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11.

You and I are going to face the judgment one day. I say that with absolute certainty. It’s inevitable. Not one of us is exempt. Paul wrote that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. II Corinthians 5:10.

Doesn’t it only make sense that we ought to know the standard by which we will be judged? By the way, that standard is not what you sometimes hear from men! In John 12:48, Jesus said “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

Just one more reason we ought to spend time in the good book, the Bible.

Hell. Not a popular topic, I know. But too important for any of us to ignore. It’s the place where Satan will be along with all his angels. Matthew 25:41. It’s a place where those who do not Know God and do not obey the gospel will experience everlasting destruction. II Thessalonians 1:8. It’s a place lukewarm Christians will inhabit. Revelation 3:16. Hell is a place where those who were once faithful Christians but have become unfaithful will spend eternity. II Peter 2:20-22. It is a place where punishment will continue day and night forever. Revelation 20:10. Hell will be without end. Matthew 25:46. Contrary to what you often hear, hell is a place where the majority of people will spend eternity. Matthew 7:13-14.

I don’t want anyone to go to hell. If you haven’t already done so, I plead with you to repent of your sins, confess your faith in Jesus Christ and be baptized, at which time God will forgive you of your sins and add you to His church. I plead with you to live a life of faithfulness to God and one day have a home in heaven.

It removes an ugly scarlet stain and makes it white as snow.  It frees us from the bondage of sin.  It's what makes the forgiveness of our sins possible.  What can do all this?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus!  Jesus' blood has a power far beyond the blood of any ordinary man!  It simply does what no other blood can do!

Are you a slave? Many would object to even being asked this question. But the reality is, everyone of us are slaves. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16).

Did you hear that? You are either a servant of sin or a servant of righteousness? As Christians, we have been set free from the bondage of sin and have become servants of righteousness. Notice Paul’s words from verses seventeen and eighteen of Romans chapter six: “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

The question then becomes, To what are you a slave, sin (and all of its consequences) or righteousness (and all of its blessings)?

In First Samuel 17, we read of the Philistines and their efforts to attack the Israelites. Samuel then sacrificed a lamb to God and prayed for the Israelites’ deliverance. As Samuel was offering the sacrifice, the Philistines drew near, anxious to attack.

The Israelites were successful in driving the Philistines away. The Philistines, subdued and defeated, did not come into the Israelites territory anymore. Samuel then took a stone, set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called the stone Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” Samuel erected Ebenezer, the “stone of help,” as a memorial in order to ensure the Israelites would not forget the victory God had given them over the Philistines.

As I sing the song, “O Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” including the words, “Here I Raise My Ebenezer,” I am reminded of the help God has given me in the past.