7/8/2017 discussion led by Ezra Engle
Do we need to strive for salvation? Should it require a great effort?
How does our pursuit for a right relationship with God and to honor His commandments differ from our salvation in the amount of energy we invest to maintain?
…”The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
-Romans 10:8b-13 NIV
How much confidence do you have in your salvation?
According to the passage in Romans we just read, how much confidence should you have?
It seems much simpler when you distill it to three things: confessing with your mouth that “Jesus is Lord” and believing in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. Simply trusting in Jesus will never put us to shame.
Sometimes we allow the world to interject our thoughts with fear of being shamed for putting our faith in Jesus, but we are not called to put anything or anyone but Jesus in place as our Lord.
Have you called on the name of the Lord Jesus to be saved?
Simply calling on Him reveals your belief that He can save you. Allowing Him to lift you up is surrendering to Him the authority to direct your life. Now all you need to do is declare that “Jesus is Lord” to make it public.
Here is a verse describing a man dying on a cross next to Jesus, and being saved by putting his faith and belief in Jesus:
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
-Luke 23:42-43 NIV
Have you had a challenging experience talking about your faith with someone? What made it hard to do? How did it turn out?
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”
-1 Peter 3:15 NIV