Money can purchase many things in this world, but only faith in Jesus saves you from eternity in hell. I remember visiting a former soldier years ago who was dying of cancer, and during this time, his caretaker led him to Jesus. When our pastor baptized him, he told me his entire countenance changed as the Holy Spirit entered his heart. As this man tearfully reflected on his time of combat, he recounted how the Lord had saved his life many times as He waited patiently for him to place his faith in Him.
I remember they buried him with his Bible on his chest at the funeral, as he requested. His body may have died, but he was safe and secure in heaven because he placed his faith in Jesus. John 3:16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [1]
Jesus Receives the Credit for Saving Us
The Apostle Paul makes it very clear that no person can take credit for their salvation because this is the work of God. Romans 3:27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. 29 After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course, he is. [2]
Grace Alone
God’s word tells us that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus, not by any good works we may do. Ephesians 2:8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. [3]
When we are saved by grace alone, it means that the Lord loves, forgives, and saves us not because of any good things we did but because of the work of Jesus on the cross. No matter our efforts in life, they are never enough to earn salvation. The Lord declares us righteous when we place our faith in Jesus alone. Our salvation is not in our hands but in God’s, which is the Gospel’s good news. Our response to God’s grace is the cornerstone of our life and changes us in this life and the next.
To learn how faith in Jesus saves you, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/believe-good-news
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.