Saturday 030825
Let’s take the time this morning to read and study the Word that God gave us. We need to remember that we are only going to follow, that which we find that pertains to us. We also need to realize that it’s only going to be from our own efforts, that we apply what we’ve read into our lifestyle that is going to let us use it wisely.
The verses we are going to study tonight:
Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10:17, 1:17; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:6, 11:7, 11:8-10, 11:11-12; John 20:29.
Have you ever asked yourself, how do I know, for sure, that I’m saved?
Many people do ask that question but with confidence I can tell you, that if you study and BELIEVE what you read, God has already promised us a future life with Him after we die and leave this life we are living in.
Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually, delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God…’ AMP (Amplified Bible)
I have used the Amplified version because of the detail, the amount of information that is given in this version.
The question we began with, ‘am I saved?’
The question is answered fully in this one verse. I’ve made many comments that I cannot believe that this one verse is not the most known verse in the entire Bible.
[actually, delivered from judgment and given eternal life].
There are three (3) key points found in this one (1) verse.
By grace you have been saved:
This means salvation is a gift from God, not something earned by human actions.
Actually, delivered from judgment:
This emphasizes that through faith in Christ, believers are no longer subject to God’s condemnation.
Given eternal life:
This highlights the core benefit of salvation, which is the promise of everlasting life.
The promise of OUR Everlasting Life, with Jesus, FOREVER.
What could possibly be more important to us than that?
There is one major word that we, us human beings MUST do for this to happen …
… what is it …
Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually, delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God…’ AMP (Amplified Bible)
We have been shown YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH.
So, let’s spend awhile, and find out how God defines FAITH.
Romans 10:17 ‘…So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ…’ ESV (English Standard Version)
The more we hear the Word, the more FAITH we will have.
The MORE we hear the TRUE Word of God, the more our FAITH will accumulate.
I’m not talking about how many times you go to church and hear a pastor give his sermon on Sunday morning.
I’M TALKING ABOUT HOW MANY TIMES YOU OPEN YOUR BIBLE AND READ HIS WORD FOR YOURSELF.
Open your Bibles and keep them ‘ALWAYS’ open and in front of you. The more we hear God’s Word, the more FAITH we can attain.
There are other verses found in the Bible, but today I’ve read two (2) verses in the Word, and from those verses, we’ve been shown how we can have LIFE.
Another verse from Romans.
Romans 1:17 ‘…For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, the man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith…’ AMPC (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition)
I have been using different versions tonight, just to open up your world, maybe a little bit.
The Gospel, the ONLY Gospel that the apostle Paul gave to us Gentiles so that we could find life.
1 Corinthians 15
vs1 ‘…Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the GOSPEL which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand…’
vs2 ‘…by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain…’
vs3 ‘…For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures…’
vs4 ‘…and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
Christ DIED, He was BURIED and He ROSE AGAIN.
God did this for you and me. This is our promise. This is the MYSTERY. This is the continuation of Ephesians 2:8.
If we believe that Jesus died on the cross for us, if we believe that He was buried and then three (3) days later, God raised Him from the dead, we have been promised Everlasting Life, free from the Judgement of the rest of mankind.
2 Corinthians 5:7 ‘…For our life is a matter of faith, not of sight…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
It doesn’t matter what we see in this life. It doesn’t matter the evil we see and hear about. What matters is that FAITH we keep in our hearts and in our minds that is going to keep us safe. Evil will not be able to hurt us as long as we have Jesus on our side.
This next verse tells us it’s impossible without faith.
Hebrews 11:6 ‘…And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him…’ NIV (New International Version)
This is so easy, there should never be any questions that arise and as long as we keep ourselves in the Word, we’ll know.
Hebrews is a book showing us examples of faith.
Hebrews 11:7 ‘…It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith…’ NLT (New Living Translation)
And then there was Abraham, Issac and Jacob.
Hebrews 11
vs8 ‘…Because Abraham had faith, he obeyed God when God called him to leave his home. He was to go to another country that God promised to give him. He left his home without knowing where he was going…’
vs9 ‘…His faith in God kept him living as a stranger in the country God had promised to him. Isaac and Jacob had received the same promise. They all lived in tents together…’
vs10 ‘…Abraham was looking to God and waiting for a city that could not be moved. It was a city planned and built by God…’ NLV (New Life Version)
Even a verse involving Sarah (Abraham’s wife).
Hebrews 11
vs11 ‘…By faith, even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised…’
vs12 ‘…Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead…’ WEB (World English Bible)
And finally, we come to another verse that completes the picture. This verse comes when Jesus is in the Upper Room with ALL eleven of the remaining disciples, after His Death, Burial and Resurrection. Jesus makes a remark to Thomas, ‘Doubting Thomas’ as he came to be remembered by us.
John 20:29 ‘…Jesus said, Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed…’ CEV (Contemporary English Version)
Maybe today we have it easier because we don’t have to believe because we can see, we just believe because we have FAITH in God.
BUT we MUST believe what has been written in the Word of God, FOR US!!!
We cannot expect to live if we believe words given to other people before us.
We MUST BELIEVE the words we have been given.
We find these words when we open and study His Word, the Word of God.
I love y’all. I hope you all study His Word daily and keep the memories of the stories in the back of your minds to always keep your FAITH as strong as possible.
Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen
InHIM. ><)))o>