When God Called You

Salvation is when God called you out of darkness into the light. When you see the light, it comes quickly to dispel darkness. The change is sudden and abrupt. Darkness is defeated immediately in the presence of light. That's the way God's grace changes people who have lived in darkness. Salvation is from "Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). 

Darkness is used as a metaphorical expression for those who cannot see the truth in Christ our Lord. It is spiritual blindness. When the Holy Spirit calls us effectively to Christ, the eyes of our understanding are opened. We see the light of truth in Christ. Then we can testify, "I once was blind but now I see."

God called you to the light of our Lord Jesus Christ. He said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12). When you see the light, you see the glory of God in Jesus Christ. He is the light of life. Salvation is from darkness into the light.

God called you to the light that always overcomes the darkness. It is not your achievement. Rather, the light comes to you from without, changing your heart within. Light is God's Spirit working in your dark heart. Then, your testimony is in these words, "I saw the light." Give all the glory to "Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 

One Way to Please God

The only way we can ever please God is by faith. If we have come to God by faith, He is working in us what is well-pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 13:20-21). "But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is" (Hebrews 11:6).

No wonder living by faith pleases God, because He is the one who works faith in our lives. It is by the grace of God that we are saved by faith. "For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8).

Faith is an abiding gift from the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 13:13). "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). Therefore, faith comes to you as the gift of God, by the Spirit of God, through the word of God.

Faith is focused upon Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and was raised from the dead. That is good news known as the gospel of Christ. God is well pleased with His Son (Matthew 3:17). We please God by faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Faith is not just mental assent nor human effort. It is a result of the Holy Spirit bringing us to a point of confidence, assurance, and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). We please God, when we live by faith in Christ.

How Faith Receives

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). 

Faith receives "the gift of God." We cannot earn nor do we deserve God's salvation in Christ. It's by grace through faith. That means it's "not of yourselves." God saves you by grace, and it's through faith in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

Faith receives the Lord Jesus Christ. That faith is one of the three abiding gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 13:13). The Holy Spirit enables you to come to God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit, who inspired the Holy Scripture, uses the word of God to bring the gift of faith to you (Romans 10:17).

Faith receives the gospel of Jesus our Lord. He died for our sins. He is risen from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Believers confess, Jesus is Lord. And no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3). The Holy Spirit gives us assurance of the gospel of Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:5).

Faith receives Christ to the praise of God's glory (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14). To God alone be the glory! There is no room for us to receive glory, when it's all of God's grace. It is not our work for God, but God's gracious work for us in Christ, to the praise of His glory (Philippians 1:6; 2:13).