2021-04-09
2 Corinthians 11:3 NLT
Ever heard of the velvet ant? It has a coat of tiny hairs that feel smooth and velvety. But it’s all a disguise. It isn’t an ant at all, but a wingless wasp with a nasty sting. After injecting its victims with a venom, it lays eggs in their incapacitated bodies. And when we try to earn our salvation by rule-following, we can find that legalism is like the velvet ant – it can sting, infect and incapacitate us.
One of Paul’s biggest concerns for the churches was that, after being saved by grace, the people would go back to living under the Old Testament law. He constantly warned them about basing their salvation and their relationship with God on their own performance. ‘I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed’ (2 Corinthians 11:3-4 NLT).
Paul also warns, ‘Satan disguises himself as an angel of light’ (v.14 NLT). Our work for God on earth determines our rewards in heaven, but we only get to heaven because of Christ’s work. Scottish minister Horatius Bonar wrote, ‘Upon a life I did not live, upon a death I did not die; another’s life, another’s death, I stake my whole eternity.’
We can’t earn our salvation, no matter how many rules we follow. Salvation is God’s gift to us, and by His grace, our place in heaven is secured as soon as we accept that gift and put our trust in Him.
Lev 15-17; Mark 1:14-20; Ps 25:8-15; Prov 10:1
2021-04-04
John 20:7 NLT
In Bible days when you wanted a fine piece of furniture made, you picked someone with a reputation for excellence – a master carpenter or a finish carpenter. But these carpenters had an interesting custom. When a carpenter completed a job, he took off his apron, folded it up, and set it on his finished work, signifying the job was complete.
So with that picture in mind, read this: ‘Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved….Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed – for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead’ (John 20:1-9 NLT).
Did you notice the words ‘the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up’? The master carpenter had finished the job. Our salvation was complete. That means we don’t have to work to be saved. We only have to put our trust in Christ, and our sins are forgiven and our place in heaven is assured.
1 Cor 15; Matt 28:1-10
John 20:7 NLT
In Bible days when you wanted a fine piece of furniture made, you picked someone with a reputation for excellence – a master carpenter or a finish carpenter. But these carpenters had an interesting custom. When a carpenter completed a job, he took off his apron, folded it up, and set it on his finished work, signifying the job was complete.
With that picture in mind, read this: “Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved….Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed – for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead” (vv. 1-9 NLT).
Note the words “the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up.” The master carpenter had finished the job. Our salvation was complete. You don’t have to work to be saved, you only have to put your trust in Christ, and your sins are forgiven and your place in heaven assured.
Soul food: 1 Cor 15; Matt 28:1-10
2021-03-25
John 10:28 NCV
Our salvation isn’t secured by our achievements, but by Christ’s achievement at the cross. We all have moments we’re proud of and moments we’re ashamed of, but as long as we put our trust in Christ, we’re saved, and we’ll go to heaven.
Jesus said: ‘I give them eternal life, and they will never die, and no one can steal them out of my hand.’ And what’s more, God claims us as His. ‘By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge – a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete’ (2 Corinthians1:22 MSG).
We’ve all done something similar – ever engraved your name on a pencil or ruler when you were in school, or written it on a favourite toy? Even when we get older, one of the first things we do when we get a new phone is to choose an image for the lock screen and select a ringtone we like – we seem to be compelled to personalise things and make it clear they belong to us. And through His Spirit, God puts His Name on us and declares His ownership.
Satan is driven back by the declaration: This redeemed child is Mine! Where there’s no assurance of salvation, there’s no peace. No peace means no joy. And no joy results in fear-based lives. But God’s grace creates a confident soul who declares, ‘I know Jesus, the One in whom I have believed. And I am sure he is able to protect what he has trusted me with’ (2 Timothy 1:12 NCV).
Our salvation and our place in heaven is secure: ‘I write this letter to you who believe in the Son of God so you will know you have eternal life’ (1 John 5:13 NCV). It’s not about our hold on God. It’s about His hold on us.
Job 38-39; Matt 25:22-30; Ps 38:13-22; Prov 8:24-26
John 10:28 AMPC
Your salvation isn’t guaranteed by your performance – but by Christ’s performance at the cross. Yes, you’ll have moments you’re proud of and moments you’re ashamed of. But as long as your trust is in Christ, you’re saved, and you’ll go to heaven. Jesus said: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.” Even more, God stakes His claim on us. “By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge – a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete” (2 Corinthians 1:22 MSG).
You’ve done something similar: engraved your name on a valued ring, etched your identity on a tool or iPad. Stamping declares ownership. Through His Spirit, God stamps us. Would-be takers are repelled by the presence of His name. Satan is driven back by the declaration: Hands off. This redeemed child is mine! Where there’s no assurance of salvation, there’s no peace. No peace means no joy. And no joy results in fear-based lives.
Grace creates a confident soul who declares, “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day” (2 Timothy 1:12 NIV). Your boarding pass for the flight to heaven is secure: “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13 NKJV). It’s not about your hold on God – but His hold on you!
Soul food: Job 38-39; Matt 25:22-30; Ps 38:13-22; Prov 8:24-26
