How Are We Saved?

The Bible tells us clearly how we are saved. "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" (Eph. 2:8-9). 

We are saved by grace alone as 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 yourself. God saves you by grace, and it's through faith in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-4).

We are saved by grace alone, through faith in 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).

We are saved by grace alone, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to know Jesus as your Lord (Romans 10:9) "And no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:3). The Holy Spirit applies God's grace in Christ to save you.

We are saved by grace alone to the praise of God's glory (Eph. 1:6, 12, 14). To God alone be the glory! There is no room for us to receive the glory when it's all of grace. It is not your work for God, but God's gracious work in you, to the praise of His glory.

Salvation of the Lord

Charles H. Spurgeon wrote, "Salvation is the work of God. It is he alone who quickens the soul dead in trespasses and sins, and it is he also who maintains the soul in its spiritual life. He is both Alpha and Omega. Salvation is of the Lord." 

Salvation is of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:8). Alpha is the first letter in the Greek alphabet and Omega is the last letter. From beginning to the end, salvation is God's work in Christ our Lord (Romans 10:9).

Salvation is of the Lord for those who are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1). To be spiritually dead means our sins have separated us from God. Our inability to come to God was our unbelief and hardness of heart. But, God who is rich in mercy, comes to us as sinners with the goodness of grace, making us alive to new life in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-5).

Salvation is of the Lord through the gospel. The Spirit of grace enables us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:30-31; 1 Thessalonians 1:5). God in Christ is the Alpha and Omega of our salvation (Revelation 22:13).

Salvation is of the Lord from beginning unto completion. He began the good work in us. Likewise, he continues to work in us (Philippians 1:6; 2:13). The Lord begins and completes our salvation. Christ is the Alpha and Omega of our salvation. Salvation is of the Lord Jesus Christ.

If You Look to Jesus

Charles Spurgeon wrote, "If you look to Christ at the beginning of your Christian life, but then begin to look to yourself for its continuance to the end, you will fail. Jesus is the Alpha (the beginning), and be sure you make him Omega (the ending) as well." 

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Focus your faith upon Jesus by trusting him to do in us, what we cannot do for ourselves. Focusing our faith upon Jesus dying for our sins and risen from the dead is believing the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Then, we are saved and begin to live the Christian life.

Believers look to Jesus trusting him to continue working in us. Living our Christian life is knowing Christ works in you to please God (Hebrews 13:20-21). Indeed, Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega of every Christian's faith. He who began the good work in us will continue until the day of completion (Philippians 1:6; 2:13). 

Believers continue looking to Jesus, and one day our faith shall become sight. Understand that's the day when you see him face to face. You shall be glorified into his likeness (Romans 8:30). "We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2). The Christian life is looking unto Jesus Christ until that day.

How We Are Redeemed

"Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are wrttten in the book of the law" (Deuteronomy 27:26). This reference is quoted in Galatians 3:10. To offend the law in one point is to be guilty of the whole law (James 2:10). No one can be justified by keeping the law, because we have all sinned (Romans 3:23). We are all under the curse of sin and need to be redeemed.

The word redeemed refers to a price paid to set a prisoner or slave free. Christ paid our sin debt in full, with His own blood at the cross. Believers are redeemed in Christ. He redeemed us from the curse of the law.

"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (Galatians 3:13). This Scripture quotes Deuteronomy 21:23. Christ, who had no sin, took our sins upon himself at the cross. He shed his blood and died for the curse of our sins. 

Believers are redeemed from the curse through faith in Christ. Believers are redeemed from the curse unto every blessing in Christ. As God blessed Abraham in all things, so believers are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Genesis 24:1; Ephesians 1:3).

Who You Are In Christ

In Christ you are somebody who is loved and cherished. Your life has meaning because of who you know. When you know Jesus as your Lord, you are a child of God. That's who you are as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ now and forever.

You have a Father who made all things. You have a Lord who died in your place to take away all of your sins. You have eternal life with an eternal family, the family of God. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name" (John 1:12).

As a believer, you have a right to be called a child of God. You are born again into the family of God. No one can take that right away from you. That right was paid at the cross by the blood of Jesus. It is your birthright. You are a child of God by faith in Jesus Christ.

Some may doubt. Others may be confused and uncertain. Many would like to know for sure. Yes, you can know who you are as a believer. You are a child of God by what is written in the Bible, what happened at the cross, and what Jesus has done for you. Doubt confesses, "I hope I'm a child of God. I'm just not sure." Faith says, "I am a child of God, because I'm a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe what the Bible says about me."

The Glory of God

The word glory (Grk: doxa) in the New Testament is used in two ways, depending on the context. First, it may be used to give God glory. That is expressing praise and adoration to God in worship. However, the word glory may also express the manifest presence of God. Of course, God is omnipresent. He is present everywhere and all the time. Nevertheless, God does not manifest His presence everywhere.

In the eternal state of God's redeemed people, the apostle John has a vision of the glory of God on the new earth and in the New Jerusalem. John saw "the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God" (Rev. 21:9-11). He saw the light of God's glory. "The city had no need of the sun nor of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is the light" (Rev. 21:23). Certainly, the Lamb is our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the eternal state and the New Jerusalem, there will be one eternal day. "There shall be no night there. They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever" (Rev. 22:5). Indeed, that is the glory of God with His people in the eternal state. The new earth and city are illumined by the light of God's glory.

This old earth will pass away (2 Peter 3:10). Jesus has gone to prepare the new place for all who are redeemed (John 14:1-3). The New Jerusalem on the new earth will reveal the light of God's glory to every believer. We shall see God in our glorified bodies.

God Speaks to Us

God speaks to us through the Bible, written by men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. All scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16). That's Holy Scripture, most often known as the Bible. Inspired means God-breathed. The Bible is a book set apart from all others, because it is inspired by the Holy Spirit. The word Scripture means writing. The Bible is inspired writing, which is God's written word to us.

God speaks to us through the Bible, able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:15). Christ is the Word become flesh to save us (John 1:14). Only the Holy Spirit is able to give us the assurance of our salvation. He gives assurance to us through the Bible, inspired by the Holy Spirit.

God speaks to us through the Bible, bringing the gift of faith (Romans 10:9). So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). The gift of faith comes through the Holy Spirit. The Bible is inspired and used by the Holy Spirit to impart that faith (Romans 10:17).

God speaks to us through the Bible about the issues of life. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). Holy Scripture is God's inspired word to us in the Bible. The Bible is God's will revealed to us. The Holy Spirit instructs us how to live through the Bible.