SALVATION THROUGH FAITH ALONE

Faith in our Lord Jesus is essential for salvation; regardless of a person's goodness, it is through this faith that true redemption is found. (Ephesians 2:8-9). Once we are saved, the Holy Spirit, together with our Lord Jesus and our Heavenly Father, begins to change our hearts so that we can produce good works. To put it in other words, our faith in God produces salvation that leads to godliness. To illustrate this, I will give two scenarios. The first scenario is about a man who believes that God will accept him to heaven because he is a good person. He never hurt anyone, and he shows kindness to others. He takes care of his family, and he never cheats or steals. However, he rejects Jesus as his Lord and Savior because he trusts in his own religion. He believes that being a good person is enough to be accepted by God. His story relates to the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-22). The rich young ruler wanted to be accepted by God with His good works, but failed to follow Jesus. As a result, he was never saved.

Scenario number two is about a man who was a drunkard, a thief, a liar, and never cared for his family. Everything that he did was about himself. People avoided him because he could not be trusted. However, when he hit the very bottom of his life, and out of his desperation, he believed in Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, he began to stop drinking. Since then, he started to show kindness to others, especially to his family. His change in life became evident after he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. His story relates to the story that Jesus shared with His disciples about a tax collector who asked for mercy and forgiveness (Luke 18:9-14). Jesus said these words about the tax collector, "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Perhaps you or someone you know can relate to the man in scenario number two. 

Our salvation comes from our faith in our Lord Jesus, and our good works are the result of, or evidence for, our salvation. If salvation can only come from our faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then anybody can be saved, even the worst sinners in this world, and they can change because it is the power of the Holy Spirit that changes them. 

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) Do I need to be a good person to receive God's salvation? Why? What does the Holy Spirit do after I put my faith in Jesus as my Lord and Savior? 

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, I am saved through faith in my Lord Jesus alone. My good works are a result of the changes that you are making in my life. You accepted me not because of my good works, and I am change not because of my power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit who is at work in my life. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.