Saved by the Gospel

God’s grace is a wonderful thing. We are saved by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). In fact, Paul wrote that the more we sin the more God’s grace abounds (Romans 5:20).

But God’s grace ought not ever be abused. God’s grace never gives us a license to sin. In regard to the abundance of God’s grace, Paul also wrote, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:1-4). As Christians, we are dead to sin, meaning we have separated ourselves from the practice of sin. Be thankful for God’s grace, but never abuse it nor take it for granted.

Faith provides the victory that overcomes the world (I John 5:4). Faith provides victory over our worries (Philippians 4:6-7). Faith provides victory over discontent, or dissatisfaction with our circumstances in life (Philippians 4:11-12 along with I Timothy 6:6-8). Most important of all, faith provides victory over death. Paul wrote, “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 15:54-57). No wonder we can sing the song, “Faith is the Victory.”

God has created man with the ability to remember. That’s a good thing! We ought to remember the good God has done for us. We especially ought to remember the way God has blessed us spiritually – His love, His grace, His mercy. Like every other blessing, we ought to use our memory properly. It’s a mistake to go through life remembering the wrongs others have done to us. It’s a mistake to remember the wrongs we have done to others, provided, of course, we have done what we ought to make things right and seek forgiveness from God and from those we have wronged. It’s a mistake to dwell on our own shortcomings and failures. In Philippians 3:13-14 Paul wrote, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Christ is not coming to establish an earthly kingdom. His kingdom is not an earthly kingdom and has already been established (Colossians 1:13). He is not coming to give man an opportunity to repent – man has that opportunity now. Christ is coming to raise the dead (John 5:28-29), to judge the living and the dead (II Timothy 4:1), to reward the faithful (Matthew 25:34) and to condemn those who neither know God nor obey the gospel of Christ (II Thessalonians 1:7-9). Are you ready for His coming? Do you believe Jesus offered His life and died for you? Have you repented of your sin (Acts 17:30) and confessed your faith in Christ (Acts 8:37)? Have you been baptized in order to receive the forgiveness of your sin (Acts 2:38)? Are you living a life of faithful service to God (I Corinthians 15:58)?

After David killed Goliath, all Israel, loved him. When David became known for his military successes, the women sang, “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”  Saul, out of jealousy, became David’s enemy.  David fled to Gath. When he was recognized by one of Saul’s shepherds, David acted like a madman in order to keep from being harmed. Many think it was during this time that David wrote the 56th psalm.

David’s enemies wanted his life just as a wild animal seeks after the blood of its prey. Yet David said, “When I am afraid I will trust in God.” David did not fear what man would do to him because he trusted God.

David ended the psalm by expressing his thanks to God. Although David had not yet been delivered from his enemy, he used the past tense form of the verb (thou hast delivered.) David spoke as if it was already done. David’s faith caused him to know his prayer would be answered.

Today I, like David, will put my trust in God

Who will be in hell? Unusual question, but a good question to ask. Of course, Satan and all his angels will be there (Matthew 25:41). Hell will be filled with those who know not God and do not obey the gospel of Christ (II Thessalonians 1:8), with backsliding Christians (II Peter 2:20-22), with those who are lukewarm (Revelation 3:16), with the immoral (I Corinthians 6:9-10), with the fearful (Revelation 21:8). In fact, most people will spend an eternity in hell (Matthew 7:13-14). But you CAN avoid hell by repenting of your sins (Acts 17:30) confessing your faith in Christ (Acts 8:37) being baptized into Christ in order to receive the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38) and living a life of faithful service to God (I Corinthians 15:58).

How different our world would be, our workplaces, our schools, our neighborhoods, even the church, if everyone constantly possessed and displayed the fruit of the Spirit! “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23). How different our world would be if everyone truly loved God and loved their fellow man, had a heart filled with joy, strove for peace with God and peace with one another, if everyone were patient with others, treated others with gentleness and goodness, and longed for a stronger faith in God!

Many would object to baptism as being necessary for salvation, saying it is a work. Baptism is most certainly a work – it is a work of God (Colossians 2:12). When a person is baptized, God saves him from his sins (Mark 16:15-16, Titus 3:5, I Peter 3:21), washes his sins away (Acts 22:16), places that person into the body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:13) – that body is the church of Christ (Ephesians 1:23, Romans 16:16). When a person is baptized, God is busy at work, saving that person from his sins, washing his sins away, and adding him to his church! Baptism is the point at which we submit to God’s will and let Him work on us!

Is your church a “Yellow Pages” church? “Well, I don’t know,” some would answer. “I don’t even know what a “Yellow Pages” church is.” Nowadays, some people may not even know what the Yellow Pages are! There are a lot of churches that are in the Yellow Pages that are not found in the Bible’s pages. In fact, not one of the denominations in existence today can be found in the scriptures. When those present on the Day of Pentecost obeyed the gospel the Lord added them to His church (Acts 2:47). To what denomination were these people added? None! For there were no denominations in existence. They were simply Christians, no more and no less.

Today, if you and I do what these people did – hear and believe the gospel of Christ, repent of our sins, confess our faith in Jesus Christ and then be baptized for the forgiveness of our sins – we will be just what they were – simply Christians, no more and no less. Not a member of any denomination, but a member of Christ’s church – the one church we find in the pages of the Bible!

“A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.” (Proverbs 29:11) Sometimes someone, when describing another person, may say “You never have to wonder what he’s thinking. No sir. He always speaks his mind and doesn’t hold back!” Sometimes, people will even say that about themselves, as if it were something to give them reason to boast, something of which they can be proud.

But the writer of Proverbs, through his wisdom and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, reminds us there are often some things better left unspoken. This is especially true when it comes to words spoken from a fit of anger. In fact, that seems to be the context in which translations other than the KJV put this verse. Words spoken in anger can be hurtful, but seldom helpful. Words spoken in anger can be easily dispersed, but impossible to retract.

I pray that, today and every day, I will have the wisdom to leave some things left unsaid!