“...who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time...” [2 Timothy 1:9 ]
"...he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done..."
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.
An additional obligation of the Christian disciple is that he be ready for every good work. Not all job are honorable-some businesses sell products that are harmful to man's spiritual, mental, and physical health. In all good conscience, these occupations should be avoided.
A Christian should speak evil of no one. What oceans of grief and trouble could be avoided if Christians would obey this simple truth to speak evil of no one! We should be peaceable and avoid quarreling. It takes two to generate a dispute.
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
God's goodness and loving kindness appeared to us when we were saved. It was a manifestation of these attributes that He would send His beloved Son to die for a world of rebellious sinners.
He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
The Lord Jesus is also called God our Savior because He paid the necessary penalty in order that we might be pardoned and forgiven. He saved us from the guilt and penalty of all our sings--past, present, and future. They were all future when the Savior died, and His death covered them all.
One of the simplest, clearest truths of the gospel is the most difficult for man to receive. It is the salvation is not based on good works; one doesn't become a Christian by living a Christian life. The consistent testimony of the Bible is that man cannot earn or merit salvation. Man cannot save himself by good works; all his righteous deeds are like filthy rags in God's sight. It is not good people who go to heaven; it is sinners who have been saved by God's grace!
Dear reader, do you trust in your own good works for your salvation, or do you trust in Christ's redemptive work for you on the cross? Are you washed in His precious blood?
An additional obligation of the Christian disciple is that he be ready for every good work. Not all job are honorable-some businesses sell products that are harmful to man's spiritual, mental, and physical health. In all good conscience, these occupations should be avoided.
A Christian should speak evil of no one. What oceans of grief and trouble could be avoided if Christians would obey this simple truth to speak evil of no one! We should be peaceable and avoid quarreling. It takes two to generate a dispute.
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
God's goodness and loving kindness appeared to us when we were saved. It was a manifestation of these attributes that He would send His beloved Son to die for a world of rebellious sinners.
He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
The Lord Jesus is also called God our Savior because He paid the necessary penalty in order that we might be pardoned and forgiven. He saved us from the guilt and penalty of all our sings--past, present, and future. They were all future when the Savior died, and His death covered them all.
One of the simplest, clearest truths of the gospel is the most difficult for man to receive. It is the salvation is not based on good works; one doesn't become a Christian by living a Christian life. The consistent testimony of the Bible is that man cannot earn or merit salvation. Man cannot save himself by good works; all his righteous deeds are like filthy rags in God's sight. It is not good people who go to heaven; it is sinners who have been saved by God's grace!
Dear reader, do you trust in your own good works for your salvation, or do you trust in Christ's redemptive work for you on the cross? Are you washed in His precious blood?
Born of water and the Spirit
“Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” [John 3:5]
Throughout the Word of God we read that Salvation is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Baptism is intended for those who have already been saved, but not as a means of salvation.
Baptism
