Another Musick-al note: # 48
Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” All who enter heaven will do so by the grace of God. Works of righteousness, goodness, morality and giving will never merit (earn) a place in heaven. Jesus said, ‘when you have done all that you have been commanded say, ‘we are unprofitable servants; we have only done what was our duty to do.” (Luke 17:10) Truly we will enter heaven only by God’s grace! It will be free (Romans 6:23) unmerited favor. Salvation then is a two sided proposition – it is offered by the Eternal God to be received by the faith of every man. Salvation has a divine side and also a human side. The divine side is grace. Christ was given (John 3:16) who purchased our salvation with His own blood (1 Peter 1:18-19) which He shed on the cross. He was buried but rose from the dead on the third day and now sits at the right hand of God (Ephesians 1:20, Hebrews 1:3). From this exalted position, He now offers salvation to all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9). This brings up the human side of being saved! What is required of any man who will be saved? The avenue is through faith. Faith leads one to trust and obey God’s commands and live the right kind of life (Titus 2:11-14, Hebrews 11:6). God requires everyone to repent (Acts 17:30), dying to sin so that we no longer live in sin (Titus 2:12, Romans 6:1-11). That body of sin is to be buried with Christ in baptism (Romans 6:3-5). It is in the water of baptism that sin is washed away (Acts 22:16) and at the same time God gives new life to the individual (Romans 6:11). Furthermore this new life in Christ makes one a child of God (Galatians 3:25-27) and gives us membership in His body, the church (Acts 2:47, Ephesians 1:22-23). These great blessings (Ephesians 1:3-14) given to us should cause us to love Jesus more and obey Him in all of life (John 14:15, 23).
Gordon Musick
Musick-al Notes 