The unchanging Promise of God
“They seized upon that statement,
(The Gospel According to Mark 9: 10 NASB)
discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant.”
- Have you ever wondered about your salvation?
- Have you ever doubted, asking yourself if what you experienced was undeniably true or just a feeling?
Jesus was coming down from the mountain, where He had been transfigured before the disciples: Peter, James, and John. When they saw Jesus transfigured, the Bible tells us, “and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them.” (The Gospel According to Mark 9: 3 NASB)
Amazement came over those three men, and Peter, who was a man never without words, asked Jesus if they should construct three tabernacles (for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah), for God allowed each of these to appear during Jesus’ transfiguration. Terrified was the reaction of the three disciples.
“Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud,
(The Gospel According to Mark 9: 7-8 NASB)
“This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!”
All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore,
except Jesus alone.”
Faith surely can be difficult to define, much less fully understand. That is because those who believe are being constantly changed (transformed) by God. Thus, faith is not a one-time event but a daily walk with the Lord from life-to-life. As we study God’s Word, as we pray to Him, and as we serve in His kingdom work, He transforms us, fashioning us, developing us, and making us more like Jesus, preparing us for heaven. Someday, at our earthly death, we who have believed by faith in Jesus, will go home to be with Jesus.
God promises!
His promises are unchanging because He is the changeless Almighty God.
His Word stands true forever.
The apostle Paul wrote to discuss the uniqueness of our faith in Jesus, writing his letter to the church meeting in Galatia. He first gets their attention by reminding them of Jesus’ appearing after his resurrection from the dead after His crucifixion.
“You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you,
(The Letter of Paul to the Galatians 3: 1-4 NASB)
before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
Are you so foolish?
Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?”
Thus, we return to our first questions:
- Have we ever been as the Galatians and wondered about our salvation?
- Have we ever doubted what our eyes have clearly seen by faith and wondered if what we experienced was (really) true or just a feeling?
Friend, it is not wrong to doubt but human, for we presently live in a world that screams the opposite, and what shouts loudest is heard by the masses. Therefore, we must know that we know that we KNOW we have received the salvation of God. To answer the question: How can we know?, Paul offers another question in his letter to the Galatians.
“So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you,
(The Letter of Paul to the Galatians 3: 5-6 NASB)
do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD,
AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
The Bible tells us that because we believe (Gentiles) as Abraham did (a Jew), then we are now the sons of Abraham. We are Gentiles by faith. We are the nations saved, the blessing God promised His servant Abram when God took him outside his tent and had him look toward the stars in heaven. On that night, God told Abram that his seed would be that numerous. Our belief in Jesus makes it so; it is evidence of God’s spoken word to Abram.
- We do not believe in Jesus by the works that we do with our hands.
- We believe with our heart, and Jesus does the rest.
Jesus saves our soul.
God places His Spirit inside us, sealing His promise within us.
God’s Holy Spirit is all the evidence we ever need to assure us of God’s salvation.
“Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for,
(The Letter of Paul to the Galatians 3: 11NASB)
“THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”
Keep your eyes upon Jesus, not the world. See Him, hear Him speak to your inner being, and continue to believe. That is faith.
God’s Power is unshakable.
Know that your sin is forgiven. It is not a feeling but a promise.
God’s Word is unchanging.