I awoke this morning with the song “All Because of Jesus†running through my mind. Our praise band did the song this past Sunday. It’s wonderful to wake up with a praise song running through your head. That in itself is a work of grace. It is also an important reminder.
In our post-modern, pantheistic, Universalist, everybody-goes-to-heaven world, the truth is covered up by man’s desires. However, truth always wins out. There is only one door to heaven:
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“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.†(John 10:9)
Just to be clear, those are Jesus’ words, not mine. The exclusivity of Christianity is what makes many a lost person uncomfortable. Instead of accepting the true word of the only Savior, man develops his own beliefs and religion to fit his desires. That is not a door into heaven; it is a pathway to hell:
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“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.†(Acts 4:12)
It is hard for many to believe that they don’t have to perform some good works to receive the free gift of salvation. If you had to perform some deed, it would not be free. Grace does not cost; grace is free to us. It cost God His only begotten Son, so the cost is indeed great, but to us who receive it, we do so through grace. Some believe there has to be more, however our Savior’s grace is sufficient:
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“But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.†(Acts 15:11)
The concept of grace is difficult to grasp; it’s even been called a scandal. How could anyone die for someone without that person showing the slightest bit of remorse? Logically no one would do so, but love is not always logical:
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“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.†(Romans 5:8)
That verse from the Apostle Paul literally rocked my world. To know that I didn’t have to straighten out my wrecked life before I could come to Jesus was the turning point for my eternal existence. It meant going from a sure hell to a secure heaven. Oh, at times I doubted my salvation; I still do. However, the Apostle Paul in the next verse in Romans 5 assures us that Christ’s blood is enough:
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“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.†(Romans 5:9)
Becoming a born-again Christian is simple, but in actuality it is not easy. You have to surrender the right to yourself and give all you know of you to all you know of Jesus. You have to be obedient to the truth found in Scripture and say “no†to your way and “yes†to the Way. It means becoming a bondslave to Jesus Christ. Dear friend understand that there is no other way; you must obey:
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“And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.†(Hebrews 5:9)
Look at the simple-to-understand words that have been running through my head this morning and see the way to salvation:
And it’s all because of Jesus I’m alive
Yeah, it’s all because the blood of Jesus Christ
Covers me and raised this dead man’s life
And it’s all because of Jesus
I am alive because of Jesus. No matter the trials and tribulation I face in this life, I know that it is only temporary because of the blood of Jesus Christ. I am covered by His blood and my spiritual death caused by sin has been overcome and I am raised a new creation in Christ.
And it’s all because of Jesus.
In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4
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Copyright © 2014 David Jeffers
Tags
Apologetics, Bible, Christianity, Culture, Evangelism, Faith, Forgiveness, Grace, Hell, Honesty, Hope, Joy, Mercy, praise, Revival, Sin, Truth, Wisdom