Reach out and be saved.

It takes courage to save a life. It could mean one risking their life to save another; this is what heroes do. Saving life is a humane act that causes us to go above and beyond, against all odds, to help someone who can’t help themselves. In a split-second decision, differences are put aside for the sake of another. The Son of God came to save those who were alienated from God by their sin. It was no small feat for One to die for all, that they may have eternal life in Him. Christ laid down His Life to save us from eternity in hell. If hell is not real, then He didn’t need to die. 

“The one who wants to be saved must reach out for the lifeline.”

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in The Name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds should be exposed (John 3). 

God didn’t send His Son to condemn the world and bring eternal Judgement on everyone; He sent His Son to save us through Him. There was no other work that could suffice to redeem us. The death of Christ was the death of everyone, in Him. Why death? Because a dead body has ceased from all works of the flesh—it can no longer sin. As a loving father has to deal with disobedience, so does our Heavenly Father. Discipline and judgement corrects a wayward child to protect them from destruction. So, it was necessary that The Son of God would take upon Himself the sin of the world; coming in the form of mankind, to take their place. Do you believe that you have been saved from hell? You must be made one with Christ, because you are only saved by Him. Believe in The Name of Jesus as the only means of your redemption. To begin the process of recovery, a patient has to believe in a doctor’s diagnosis and recommended treatment.

“Sanctification is God’s means of resuscitation.”

We can’t try to save someone who doesn’t want our help. We can only do our part but it’s up to them whether to co-operate or not. A doctor can prescribe life-saving medicine, it’s up to the patient to take it. The one who wants to be saved must reach out for the lifeline. Lifestyle changes and compliance to the doctor’s orders is the journey to health and wellness. There are those who prefer to live life on the edge, with no regard for danger; eternity is not on their thoughts. God did not discount them and neither should we; God loved the whole world and gave His Son for everyone. Those who reject God’s Salvation prefer their lives without it. They refuse to come to God, because they don’t want to be changed by Christ. Being one with The Lord is forsaking one’s own life for His. Those who come to Christ, want the Light of His Righteousness to reveal their sins. They acknowledge that they have lived in disobedience, yet God has offered His Grace, in exchange for His Judgement. Hell is a place for those who choose to walk away from God’s Saving Grace. It is a destination of choice. 

13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by The Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of The Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our Gospel, that you might share in the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2).

The Gospel is the message that teaches about the redemptive work of Christ. Those who are receptive and believe in the Truth become the workmanship of The Holy Spirit. No human works will suffice to pay for sin, or appease God. The Holy Spirit is The Life and Character of Christ, imparted on those who are sanctified by Him. God has chosen those who believe, to be saved only through the sanctifying work of The Spirit of His Son; called and chosen to share in the Glory—the likeness of The Lord Jesus. We are saved by allowing Him to sanctify us by His Truth. Just as we take a shower willingly, no sanctification can be done until we accept the truth about our sin. The Spirit can only work on the one who is submissive. Sanctification is God’s means of resuscitation. 

“Save others without sacrificing who you are.” 

20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in The Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s Love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh (Jude).

Prayer keeps us in constant touch with God. Praying in The Holy Spirit is letting The Spirit speak what God desires for us; so that we are equipped to do His Will. We are kept safe in God’s Love and Mercy. We should show God’s Mercy to those who are teetering on the edge of destruction; save them by grace and mercy. But we must be chary of getting roped into the very thing we are trying to save others from, when trying to gain their trust. We should not partake in their sin to be considered credible and trustworthy. Save others without sacrificing who you are. The Holy Spirit will give us the strength and wisdom we need to offer God’s Mercy to others. 

“Those who reject God’s Salvation prefer their lives without it.”

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men (1 Corinthians 1).

Education and worldly knowledge can be an impediment to accepting that there is a God, Who has a purpose for humanity. The learned want evidence that is measurable; they don’t see beyond the physical world and the miracle of its existence. As only God would have it, He chose those who are willing to believe the simple message of Christ and The Cross on which He bore our sin, to reveal His Greatness. The Wisdom of God being greater than all the knowledge man can acquire is rejected by those who are constrained to time and space. By God’s choice, those who believe in the Work of Christ are saved without working to earn His Grace. He made a way for everyone to be saved by Grace; and those who would simply exchange their life for that of Christ are endowed with God’s Power over sin forever. Those who are saved are those who answer when called. The voice of The Savior rises above the din of worldly accomplishments that have no eternal merit. God has a sense of humor; He convinces those who are not considered wise by the standards of the world, by giving them more wisdom than those who believe they are wise; Christ is the Power and Wisdom of God for mankind. 

“We are saved by allowing Him to sanctify us by His Truth.”

39  But the Salvation of the righteous is from The Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. 40  And The Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him (Psalm 37).

The righteous don’t have to fight with powers of wickedness, their strength comes from God. He is their deliverer in times of trouble. When we live in The Spirit of The Lord we live by Him. He is our righteousness, because we submit to Him. He is everywhere we are, because we are one with Christ. No works of darkness will prevail against those who have entrusted themselves to The Lord. He will save and deliver the righteous from adversity. The benefits of Salvation encompass every aspect of our life and soul. 

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous Light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy (1 Peter 2).

What are we saved from? When someone is saved from a burning building they are being saved from death. Most heroic acts save others from impending danger, to deliver them from death or harm. Life is always worth saving here on earth and beyond. Why then is it difficult to understand saving a soul for eternity? That is what God wanted for the whole world, as we saw earlier, that none would perish. People can get themselves or others in life-threatening situations, that will require someone to save them. When God called us out of darkness, He called us out to save us from sin which leads to death. He was pulling us out from a destructive and dissipated life that was bound to harm us. When one is in the dark, they can’t see harm that is lurking around. Make no mistake Satan is God’s Enemy and is baying for our lives. He is the very reason God calls us out of the darkness of sin. Sin is a trap that leads us to the Enemy. 

Once we were separated from a relationship with God because of sin, but now we are His chosen people; a special people who have now been brought near by His Mercy. We have been given a new identity in The Light of His Knowledge. We think and act differently, as we declare His praise by our very own lives. We have been saved so that we are set apart for His Purpose and not our own self-will—made holy and righteous by Him. 

8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19)”

Are you a descendant of Abraham? Salvation came to Zacchaeus because he too was a son of Abraham. Do you qualify for Salvation?

5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish My Covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting Covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you (Genesis 17).

²⁹ And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3).

The descendants of Abraham are those who are in an everlasting Covenant that establishes The God of Abraham as The only God; they are in the seed of Abraham, Christ Jesus. So, yes. You too are a son or daughter of Abraham and Salvation has come to your house. But you must be willing to turn away from your old ways as Zacchaeus did, in repentance. The Son of God came for you and me, to save that which was lost. He came to our house—every area of our life; to bring us back to the right way of living, because we were heading in the wrong direction. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. 

We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the Grace of God in vain. 2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and on the day of Salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of Salvation (2 Corinthians 6).

Today is the day of Grace, don’t take it for granted; tomorrow is not a guarantee. God has stretched out His Hand and offered His Life for yours. He knows the hurt and pain of living on a whim and disregarding His Ways. Disobedience will only draw you further from Him and closer to the Enemy. Now, the time is ripe, when you must choose whether you will follow the Light that is shining out of darkness. Receive the offer to save your life, for Eternal Life in Christ. Take the new lease on life and live for God; He will sustain, deliver and keep you in His Love. Tell others who are doubtful, with boldness and with the help of The Holy Spirit. You are a chosen generation, set apart for His Glory, and not for fleeting achievements.

2 Surely God is my Salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, The Lord Himself, is my strength and my defense;  He has become my Salvation.” 3  With joy you will draw water from the wells of Salvation. 4 On that day you will say: “Give praise to The Lord, proclaim His Name; make known among the nations what He has done, and proclaim that His Name is exalted (Isaiah 12).