Salvation—Forever . . . MORE!
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
(1 Peter 1: 3 NASB)
People surround us, watch us, and wonder: From whom does our inner, eternal peace come.
We know the answer: It comes from God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
People may ask us to explain God’s great mercy.
To which we reply: It causes us to not receive that which we ultimately deserve for our sin—but to be re-born with a LIVING HOPE—alive within us!
People scratch their heads, confused, and question: How did you receive this “hope”?
We know that we know that we KNOW: Our HOPE comes only because of the RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST, WHO DIED & THEN, AROSE FROM THE GRAVE!
“to obtain an inheritance which is
(1 Peter 1: 4-5 NASB)
Imperishable,
Undefiled,
and Will not fade away,
Reserved in heaven for you,
who are protected by the power of God
through faith
for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
People everywhere go to work, saving & planning for a future they cannot see, but one they may fear.
They hear us—the Believers—speaking about our inheritance, and wonder: ‘How can it be?’
Never Dying!
Untouched by the evil one!
Never Disappearing!
Kept Secure for us—in God’s Eternal Heavenly Home!
Protected by God Himself!
And the people whisper or speak or shout: “HOW CAN IT BE?”
To which we respond: Through our faith in Jesus Christ who saves us now & forevermore!
Then we reveal: And not only that, but “in the last time”—in the final breath of our lives: GOD in whom we Believe—Our Salvation—Will Be Revealed!
“In this you greatly rejoice,
(1 Peter 1: 6-7 NASB)
even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
so that the proof of your faith,
being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire,
may be found to result in
Praise,
Glory,
and Honor
at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”
People across the globe value wealth.
Even us—we who believe, do—too—value the good things that money can buy.
Nevertheless, the world of people surrounding us should observe how we (God’s children, saved by the blood of the Lamb) greatly rejoice in our trials, seeing how, as we do, the proof of our faith is found only in our Savior Jesus Christ!
People see us PRAISE GOD!
People observe how we lift our hands GLORIFYING OUR FATHER!
People peer into our lives and wonder at the way we HONOR GOD through our actions, words, and daily walk.
People may look at us and become perplexed, but it is SO IMPORTANT THAT WE EXCLAIM: “THE REASON FOR OUR LIVING HOPE: IT IS ALL BECAUSE OF JESUS CHRIST!”
“and though you have not seen Him, you love Him,
(1 Peter 1: 8-9 NASB)
and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him,
you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
obtaining as the outcome of your faith,
the salvation of your souls.”
People are watching and even inquiring at this HOPE we speak of as we go.
People are listening to us speak about this ONE—the GOD of HOPE whom we love.
People are wondering how we can love God who we cannot even see, and they hear us REJOICE as we exclaim:
“HALLELUJAH! GOD’S SALVATION IS RECEIVED AS AN OUTCOME OF OUR FAITH!”
“HALLELUJAH! GOD’S SALVATION IS FOREVER!”
MORE & MORE & MORE & MORE & . . .
On and On and On—Forever we are Saved.
Can we get a witness?!
Can we testify?!
It is Jesus who satisfies our every need!
It is Jesus who is totally enough!
The psalmist reminds us, the children of God, what we should despise, and it is the psalmist who reminds us why.
“Hate evil,
(Psalm 97: 10 NASB)
[for it comes from Satan, the devil & father of all lies]
[YES] “Hate evil, you who love the LORD,
Who watches over the souls
of His godly ones;
He saves them from the hand of the wicked.”
Alive inside each believer.
A Living Hope!
The ASSURANCE of an ever-present & future HOPE in GOD’S AMAZING SALVATION—FOREVERMORE!