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- Apr 25, 2006
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Saving Faith
'...What must I do to be saved?' Acts 16:30 NIV
After her first flight, someone asked an elderly lady what she thought of being on a plane. She said, 'It was ok, but I never did put my whole weight on it.' And we do the same when we refuse to place our trust on the finished work of Christ.
Most major religions answer the question, 'What must I do to be saved?' by handing you a book of rules you must keep to get to Heaven. A lot of us try and give up in discouragement. Satan doesn't lead you away from God's grace - he tries to make you earn it instead.
When asked, 'What must I do to be saved?' Paul didn't say, 'Work harder, pray longer, give more, and be more moral.' No, he said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved...' (Acts 16:31 NIV)
Believing is the root of the tree we call salvation; behaving is the fruit that grows on it. We don't do good works to be saved - our good works are just an expression of love and gratitude to the One who already saved us.
The Bible says, '...We should be holy and without blame...' (Ephesians 1:4 NKJV) Without blame? That's an impossible standard! The only way that will happen is if God takes the righteousness of Christ and credits it to our account. And He does!
'God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.' (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV)
The moment you place your trust in Christ, God sees you as 'righteous', and on that basis He accepts you 24/7. Aren't you glad?
written by Bob Gass
'...What must I do to be saved?' Acts 16:30 NIV
After her first flight, someone asked an elderly lady what she thought of being on a plane. She said, 'It was ok, but I never did put my whole weight on it.' And we do the same when we refuse to place our trust on the finished work of Christ.
Most major religions answer the question, 'What must I do to be saved?' by handing you a book of rules you must keep to get to Heaven. A lot of us try and give up in discouragement. Satan doesn't lead you away from God's grace - he tries to make you earn it instead.
When asked, 'What must I do to be saved?' Paul didn't say, 'Work harder, pray longer, give more, and be more moral.' No, he said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved...' (Acts 16:31 NIV)
Believing is the root of the tree we call salvation; behaving is the fruit that grows on it. We don't do good works to be saved - our good works are just an expression of love and gratitude to the One who already saved us.
The Bible says, '...We should be holy and without blame...' (Ephesians 1:4 NKJV) Without blame? That's an impossible standard! The only way that will happen is if God takes the righteousness of Christ and credits it to our account. And He does!
'God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.' (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV)
The moment you place your trust in Christ, God sees you as 'righteous', and on that basis He accepts you 24/7. Aren't you glad?
written by Bob Gass
