Saved by Grace

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High king of heaven, my treasure Thou art.
~ excerpt from the hymn Be Thou My Vision

I feel very inadequate talking about what I believe the Bible teaches. I have so much to learn, and sadly I've already forgotten much of what I have learned. I do not want to lead anyone astray. But I will share with you some of what I believe, and will trust God to do the work in your heart. Nothing I tell you could ever convince you of the truths found in God's Word, the Bible. Salvation is through God, and God alone. He alone is able to convince and to change a person's heart.

I would first of all like to share with you my testimony. It may not seem to be flashy or exciting, but the work done in my heart by the Holy Spirit was powerful and life-changing. It brought me from darkness into light. It gave me eternal life. I am no longer at enmity with God.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5.8-10)

I grew up in a Christian home and attended a Christian (GARB) school. One day when I was in first grade (I think), I went to chapel at school. I do not remember what the preacher spoke about, but after the sermon he had an "altar call." I went forward. I spoke with someone who asked me if I had ever asked Jesus into my heart before. I had. She told explained that I only needed to do it once. We prayed together.

When I went home after school, I told my parents what had happened. Mom has since told me that, even though I had asked Jesus "into my heart" before, this is the first time I really wanted to share it with others.

A few years later, my mom, dad, and I got baptized together. I know my mom had been baptized before; I think it was a kind of re-commitment on her part. I am not sure if that is the first time my dad got baptized or not. But certainly it was the first time for me. I think it was kind of neat we got baptized together as a family.

While I do not know for certain if the day I told you about when I walked forward was the day I got "saved," I am certain of my salvation. I used to think, "Boy, it was a good thing I went forward when I was little, I would never be brave enough to do it now." But now I know that "going forward" is not that important or necessary. When God touches your heart and gives you the faith to believe, if does not matter where you are. You do not have to "go forward." You do not have to "raise your hand."

I believe the following...

1. God is perfect, and He demands perfection.

2. I am a sinner. Romans 3:23 (KJV) says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." I can try all I want to please God on my own by trying to be good, but I can never match up to perfection. I can never meet all the requirements of the law. The law condemns me to spend eternity in hell apart from God. But is the law bad? No, but rather, ". . . the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith" Galatians 3:24 (KJV).

What else does the Bible say?

As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Romans 3:10, 11, 12

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:21-24

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV)

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Isaiah 64:6 (KJV)

3. The penalty for sin is death. For the wages of sin is death, ...

4. ...but the gift of God is eternal life in (through) Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23) God the Father, sent his Son Jesus Christ to earth to die on the cross for my sins and for the sins of the world.

For God so loved the world (He loved the world in this manner... this is how He showed His love), that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not parish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Jesus Christ--the holy, righteous, spotless Lamb of God--paid the penalty for my sins. HE DIED IN MY PLACE.

5. Jesus did not stay dead! He rose on the third day after he died (this is why we celebrate Easter)(see Luke 24). He is alive and in heaven sitting at the right hand of the Father. He is in heaven preparing a place for all those who believe in Him.

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Romans 4:25

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 5:1

...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved... Acts 16:31

6. It is ONLY because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ that I am able to confidently say I am going to heaven. When I accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the righteousness of Jesus was applied to my "account." My slate was wiped clean. Jesus' righteousness was imputed to me. I am now righteous in the eyes of God. I am being sanctified day by day and becoming more like He wants me to be. But positionally, I am justified. The debt has been paid in full.

This is not because of anything I have done, but only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. Salvation is by grace through faith alone.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8, 9 (KJV)

That I may be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith Phil. 3:9

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Titus 3:5

What must you do in order to be able to go to heaven, too? Did Christ die on the cross for your sins, too?

To Be Continued...

I am going to be adding more verses and further explaining the way of salvation and what salvation means. If you have any questions, please write me at mykidzmommy@hotmail.com

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Romans 6:1, 2

"And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand." (John 10:28-29)

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15, 16 (NASB)

Links for further study and encouragment...

The White Horse Inn A nationwide radio program dedicated to the theology of the REFORMATION. I *love* this show!

Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals This website has lots of excellent articles, a list of resources on the Internet, and more. The following are two articles on their website: