10/05/2019
Salvation, it is so simple that we just can’t believe eternity is given to us in such a way. Believing in the gospel, and being baptized... how could this be the entire price of our salvation, and of eternity in Heaven? We think this way because we undervalue two things... God’s love for us, and the power of His grace. Are you busy trying to raise the price of your salvation so that you can feel as if you have worked for it; earned it? Well you can’t... it is a gift.
“And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
Mark 16:15-16 ESV
What is this gospel that we are to believe? The gospel is the “good news”, and in its most basic form it says this... because He so loved us, God sent His Son Jesus to be born of the Virgin Mary, to live, suffer, assume our sins, die on the cross, be resurrected on the third day, and ascend into heaven to sit on the right hand of God the Father. In this way our sins were washed away from us, and death was defeated that we should live eternally with God.
Believing this gospel does not mean committing every scripture in each of the four gospels to memory, or taking up our own cross and physically being nailed to it, it simply means that we accept this simple narrative as truth... and then that we should be baptized in the name of Jesus. This isn’t how we earn our salvation, but rather, it is the way we go about accepting the gift... God’s grace.
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Ephesians 2:4-9 ESV
Last night I had a dream in which I took a taxi ride from my house to the airport where I was to catch a flight. When we arrived at the airport I asked the driver how much I owed him and he said $1.49. Rather than simply paying him I argued that this was not enough, and could he please check his meter again. He looked back at it and said “How about five dollars then?” I then told him that I was expecting a fare of at least twenty or thirty dollars, and insisted that he take it. This morning while writing I realize that the taxi driver was God, and the fare was the gift of grace...my salvation... in my dream, I had to pay what I thought was a fair price for it so that I would feel good about it, and not think I owed this man something, or had cheated him in any way. We do this every day with our salvation, and the gift of grace that God is extending to us. Do you argue with God Over the price of your salvation, and try to pay more for it so that you will not owe God anything, and feel like you have paid fairly for it yourself?
“But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.”
Romans 11:6 ESV
When we love God, and Jesus, then yes, we long to serve them, and to do good things, good works, for them, but this is not to be confused with the price that has been paid for our salvation. Doing good works is an act of love, and a desire to be within the will of God; it is not a means of payment because our salvation has already been secured.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
Titus 2:11-14 ESV
So are we ready to accept our salvation by simply believing the gospel, and being baptized? Are we ready to accept $1.49, as I was told in my dream, to be our actual fare? Will we do this without argument, and receive God’s grace as the perfect price for our salvation?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ, and his life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Thank you for your grace which flows through Him, and the simplicity of salvation. Lead me in my belief in the gospel, and when I am lifted from the waters of baptism pronounce over me “This is my beloved child, with whom I am well pleased.” just as you announced when Jesus was baptized those years ago... my savior, redeemer, and He who has washed away my sins. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God of mercy and grace. Great are you who sent His only begotten Son to save me, and through whom your grace now flows. Wonderful is your plan for my salvation, and merciful are you to make it so simple that even I can partake of it. Praised be your name for this gift you have given me, and for allowing me to humbly serve you all the days of my life. Glorious are you Father, because all glory is indeed yours by your perfect grace. Help me in my unbelief, and stand with me as I am immersed me in the waters of baptism.
Rich Forbes
P.S.
After completing this morning’s devotional I Googled “Hebrew 149” to see if there was a meaning for the number 149. I found that in Hebrew it means... exactly, or correctly. Join me as I think on this today as it relates to our salvation.