Foundations of Faith
BLESSINGS OF SALVATION (II)
In the previous issue we considered the blessings of being forgiven and justified. We continue with further blessings that accompany our salvation.
“God … has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 5:18). “You, who were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death” (Col. 1:21,22).
Suppose there are two people who are at odds with each other, are not speaking to one another, or are enemies of each other. Then peace is made between them-they are reconciled.
Before we were saved we were enemies of God (Rom. 5:10; Col. 1:21; Jas. 4:4). Our sins had separated us from Him (Isa. 59:2). But, praise God, we are now reconciled to Him through the atoning death of the Lord Jesus and our faith in His work for our salvation. We who were once far away from God have been brought near to Him “by the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13).
Just as being justified is a step beyond being forgiven, so being reconciled to God is yet another step further. Not only does divine justice have nothing against us, but God has brought us close to His loving heart.
There is a future aspect to reconciliation. God will “reconcile all things unto Himself … things in earth [and] in heaven”(Col. 1:20). This will take place when the end of time meets the beginning of eternity (1 Cor. 15:24-26; Rev. 20:7-14) . There will be no enemies of God in heaven or earth in the eternal state.
“[He] gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity” (Tit. 2:14). “You were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, … but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Pet. 1:18,19). “The Son of Man came … to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28).
Slaves were redeemed-set free from bondage to their masters-upon payment of a price. People who have been kidnapped or prisoners of war may sometimes be released by their captors when the required ransom price is paid.
Before becoming saved, some of us may have been in slavery to idols (Gal. 4:8), to heathen religions (Gal. 4:9), to sin (John 8:34; Rom. 6:6,16,17; Tit. 2:14), and/or to lusts and pleasures (Tit. 3:3). But Christ has paid the ransom price-His precious blood-to deliver us from our captivity and slavery to these things. We have been set free (Gal. 5:1) to serve, worship, and obey God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). Since we have been “bought with a price”-the precious blood of Christ -let us “glorify God in [our] body and in [our spirit], which are God’s (1 Cor. 6:20).
Like reconciliation, redemption also has a future aspect, referring to the time when our bodies that are now subject to pain, weakness, disease, and death will be changed to be like Christ’s glorious body (Rom. 8:23; Phil. 3:20,21).
Running the Race
PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION (III)
We have noted in the previous issues that the gospel sermons recorded in the Book of Acts reflect the particular audience that is addressed. However, there is one particular theme that is found in most of the sermons preached by the apostles-the resurrection of Christ (Oct94). This theme is found in the messages preached to the Jews of Jerusalem (Acts 2:24-33; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30,31), the Jews of Antioch and Thessalonica (Acts 13:30-34; 17:3), the Roman centurion (Acts 10:40,41), and the Gentiles of Athens (Acts 17:18,31). (See Assignment 12)
As we share the gospel with our acquaintances today, we will find that few of them are Gentile idol-worshipers or Jews. Rather, most will call themselves Christians, will know something about Jesus Christ, and may be at least a little bit acquainted with the Bible. We will also discover, if we ask appropriate questions (Aug97), that many have a mistaken idea about the way to heaven; they think it is based on their good works outweighing their bad works on the final judgment day.
Points that need to be made clear to such people in the gospel presentation are these:
1. They are sinners (Rom. 3:10-23).
2. Their sins have separated them from God and they are spiritually dead (Isa. 59:2; Eph. 2:1).
3. God is holy and hates sin (Lev. 11:44; Isa. 6:1-5; Hab. 1:13); it took only one sin for Adam and Eve to be expelled from the garden (Gen. 3:6,7, 24).
4. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23) and “after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27).
5. The judgment for our sins will be carried out in “outer darkness” with “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 8:12; 22:13), in “torment” with intense thirst (Luke 16:24,25,28), in “the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:15) “that never shall be quenched” (Mark 9:43-48).
6. God, in addition to being holy, is a God of love. Ask your audience the question in the following Special Assignment, but first make sure you know the correct answer yourself. (See Special Assignment)
7. The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God (1 John 4:9,10,14) and Creator of the universe (John 1:3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2), died on the cross for our sins (1 Cor. 15:3; 1 Pet. 2:24).
8. The One who died for our sins “rose again the third day” (1 Cor. 15:4) and is now in heaven (Acts 1:9-11; 7:56; Heb. 10:12; see Assignment 12).
9. One can be saved by (a) confessing to God that he/she is a sinner who deserves eternal punishment (Luke 15:21; 18:13; Acts 3:19), and (b) believing that the Lord Jesus suffered and died on the cross for his/her sins (John 3:16,36; 1 Cor. 15:2,3; Eph. 2:8,9).
Two final words of advice: (1) Never, never engage in proclaiming the gospel without praying first. Salvation is God’s work (Eph. 2:8; Tit. 2:11), so depend on Him. (2) If you are shy about sharing the gospel with others, pray for boldness and opportunity (Eph. 6:19; Col. 4:3). God wants all of us to “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47).
Assignment 12: Why do you think it was (and still is) important to preach the resurrection of Christ from the dead?
Special Assignment (for all readers): What one thing has God done more than anything else to show us that He loves us? (Answer will be given in the next issue.)