In case you’re wondering, this is a continuation of my last Inspiration Monday post so if you haven’t read that one, please do 🙂
Let’s dive into the lesson shall we!
I used to think that Jesus was the solution sent after the deed was done. That after God saw what happened, he made a plan to save me. Until I read in Ephesians this sentence:
He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
Ephesians 1:4-5 NKJV
Man, that hit me like a truck. God chose me before the foundations of the world to be holy. He predestined us to be his children through the sacrifice of Jesus. That was the original plan. God, holy and perfect, knowing that I cannot be holy and perfect by myself and of myself, pre planned this coming of Jesus before everything else was made in this world.
I am telling you that when I read and understood that verse, I started to laugh. Wow, that’s really smart. That’s a really smart thing to do. The more I pondered over it the more it seemed so amazing. And then in a split second I paused and started to cry. I started balling me eyes out. I don’t just mean small tears, like serious weeping.
What on earth is this? How can someone know that I will do something bad, and still decide to save me, even before I was made? How can he chose me without me knowing him? That is utterly preposterous! I was dumbfounded. Prior to this, I had never actually sat down to think about this thing called God’s love. It was just a theoretical concept to me. You always have to earn everything in life. Do good, get good. It’s the principle of things. But that day, the knowledge of God’s love hit me like a missile and pierced through my soul.
I started weeping. Nobody in my entire life had ever shown me love like this. I didn’t even know there was a level of love like this. It scattered my head. I didn’t know what to do with myself for the whole day. I was just crying and crying and crying and crying. Tossing and turning in my bed wondering, why do you love me Lord? Oh why, oh why, oh whyyyyyy??? This is too much for me to handle! Without me doing anything, before the foundations of the world were made, you made that decision in your mind Lord to love me. And to chose to save me. I was broken to pieces.
Are You sure you don’t want me to do anything Lord? Not one thing? Then I read in the Word that nothing is necessary for salvation. No deeds, no works. Salvation is a free gift. Wowzers! Now I finally understood. I need not pay for anything. My fine has already been paid. And so I am free. He who the Son sets free is free indeed. No hidden clauses or addendum. Completely free.
But wait, do I just go right ahead and continue the way I lived. Of course not. That’s why repentance is necessary. Realizing the situation and what has been done, I know that I didn’t deserve anything. I am brought to a place of repentance. Saying sorry. I am so sorry and confess my sins before God. But I recognize that I cant do anything to get that gift, I just take it as it is. Accept the gift the way it is, freely given. I accept Jesus into my life.
In having this information, I know that it’s not okay to continue the way I lived before. The love of God that has been revealed to me transforms me, and makes me change in my heart. It makes me resolve to do the will of God that has saved me. Its not doing the will of God to save me, but accepting the salvation and saviour. I can’t do his will without being in good standing first. It’s like writing college finals without getting accepted into college in the first place.
In accepting him, I have the ability to do his will. His paid price cleansed me and made me innocent. Washed white as snow as though I never sinned in my entire life. There is no record of wrong I did. It has been erased completely. And now in Gods eyes, I am holy and blameless. The way he is. The way he intended.
It doesn’t even stop there. The reason I am sure of salvation is because Jesus rose from the dead. He didn’t just die my death and then remain in that death. That would put him in my former position. But thank God He resurrected.
Ahem, isn’t that kind of I dont know, too far fetched? Well so is the fact that God by himself, came down. And if God did come down to die for me, surely he can raise himself up from the dead. A feat impossible for man, but possible for God.
And so Jesus rose again. He stood up from that death sentence. After paying my debt of death, he gave me a gift of life. Salvation. And so I am saved from death to life. I am saved because God loves me, and died for me, and rose for me. What a word!
And so this is the gospel. The good news. The best news on earth:
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 ESV
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 ESV
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 ESV
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:9-10 NLT
Wow! I finally understand now! What a wonderful message! That’s the best thing I’ve ever heard in my life!
God, this eternal and perfect God loves me. He loves me before the world began. And he resolved in his mind to save me from sin. He resolved to make me holy like himself so I can be with him for all eternity. Wow! What a father! What a good God that is! I do his will because he loves me. I serve because he loves me. And I love others because he loves me. For this sole purpose, love, I am saved and redeemed and have eternal hope. Love, God’s love.
And in the same way this good news was told to me, I tell you.
You and I have sinned. And sin has consequences, which is death ultimately. But here it is, no one wants to die (not just physical but spiritual, eternal death). How to escape this fate? To escape from sin’s consequences is salvation. And so we need to be saved from sin. But we cannot save ourselves, and noone on earth can save us……..but God. God already came down and saved us. He paid our price in full. It’s a gift. But as with all gifts, it needs to be either accepted or rejected. What will you choose today? Will you take this gift and use it, or will you throw it away. The choice is set before you. But remember that no man knows the time when we will face this perfectly good and just God. And how will you stand? What will be your plea? Remember that it is better to be prepared than just sorry.
If you have received conviction in your heart about the state of your own life and where you also stand. if you want to say yes to this gift of salvation like I did, then I thank God! He delights in our salvation, even if its just one person . All you need to do is repent, turn from your sins and trust in God that saved you. Believe in the Lord Jesus and acknowledge what He did for you. You can use your own words and talk to God. Use your own words, he loves hearing you speak from the heart. Or say this prayer if you want
Lord, I have sinned. I confess that I am a sinner. I have not kept your law and I deserve to be condemned. Lord I am sorry. I confess my sins of ……….and I repent. Have mercy on me for you are merciful. Forgive me Lord.
I believe that Jesus Christ came and died and resurrected. I believe Jesus died for my sins. I believe that He is my saviour and I confess him as Lord. Jesus, please come into my life. Be my Lord and saviour. I believe in you Jesus. You willingly paid my debt and now I am free. And I accept this by believing in you. Thank you Lord for your gift of salvation. And thank you for eternal life that you have given me now through this gift.
Holy Spirit of God I invite you into my life. Teach me, help me, comfort me. So I can bear fruit and do your will. In Jesus’s name, amen.
If you believed in your heart and confessed that in genuine repentance, best believe that heaven is rejoicing. You are now born again!
This is what Jesus said:
Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:10 ESV
How cool is that! Thank God for saving us all. Now you have the license to do God’s will. His will is written in the word. The Bible. Read it and apply it. And then tell your friends about this merciful God that has saved both you and I.
See you in the courts of heaven beloved! Stay blessed, focused on the love of God and the message of salvation through Christ. Amen.
To find more gospel resources, visit the link in my IG bio. I have a feeling you will benefit from what’s there.
With love,
Jess.
If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.
Romans 10:9-10 NLT
I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].
Philippians 1:6 AMP
Let’s be friends!
jessinthemundane 