ARE YOU SAVED?
What is it mean to be saved? Does it simply mean that you go to church? Consider these thoughts… God is more gracious and compassionate than we have the ability to perceive or understand. God is also righteous and just and the judge of the whole earth! God sent his only son to die for our sin, so you can be sure, he is serious about us!
So if God is so serious about us, why do many think they can purposefully live against what God has said and have no consequences. The truth of the matter is, God has already forgiven all of us, but the Bible is abundantly clear!... those who live in fornication, adultery, drunkenness, and the like, will not inherit the kingdom of God but are being reserved for the terror of God's eternal wrath. (Rom 1, Gal 5, Eph 5, Heb 6, Heb 10, 2 Pet 2,3 etc.) The Bible tells us to warn those who are unruly and disobedient. The gate is wide to destruction but is narrow to the way of life. The Bible tells us that most are headed for destruction; (Mat 7:13-14) not meaning hell, but separation from the true life of our loving God who longs to share with us all the prosperity of who he is.
Galatians 5:19-25 (NIV) The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
True salvation is when someone has believed in God regarding his offer of love and grace granted through the Lord Jesus Christ. Receiving this provision of God causes one to live in the righteousness of God. There is only one way for our lives to reflect the righteousness of God and it is not by us trying hard to be good enough; rather it is by surrendering our hearts and minds to the underserved love, kindness, and mercy of God! This is, in fact, the power that enables us to live holy and godly in this world!
May we respond to the incredible love of God! He does not want even one to perish, but all to come to repentance! (2Pet 3:9) May we trust God today! Have you surrendered to his love for you? Believing and surrendering to the fact that God has already paid for all your sin and has already forgiven you is true salvation!!! You will know when you truly believe and have surrendered to this… it will be when you cannot help but love him back, giving him all that you are! Consider carefully these thoughts; surrender to the message of God's love so you can confidently say along with me...