Many people suppose that salvation is
God’s reward to those who do their best to live good lives. This is not so, for
God’s Word says of those who are saved:
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an
holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and
grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (II Tim.
1:9).
Referring to this “salvation which is in
Christ Jesus,” St. Paul says:
“It is a faithful saying, for if we died
with Him, we shall also live with Him” (II Tim. 2:10,11).
In other words: The believer, viewing
Calvary aright, has “died with Christ.” Viewing the Cross, he has said: “This
is not Christ’s death. He was no sinner. He had no death to die. He is dying my
death!” And so by faith he is “crucified with Christ” (Gal. 2:20). The penalty
for all his sins has been fully paid, for he died — in Christ, and thus has
also risen with Christ “to walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:3,4).
This is all God’s doing, and only now is
the believer in a position to do good works that will please God. Thus the
Apostle writes of believers, in II Tim. 2: “If we suffer, we shall also reign
with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us” (Ver. 12). When the believer’s
service for Christ is reviewed some, indeed, will “receive a reward,” but
others will “suffer loss,” though they themselves will “be saved, yet so as by
fire” (I Cor. 3:14,15).
It will be deeply embarrassing, in that
day, for unfaithful Christians to face empty-handed the One who gave His all,
Himself, to save them. Yet salvation is by grace, thus the Apostle hastens to
conclude his statement in II Timothy 2, with the words:
“If we are unfaithful, yet He abideth faithful:
He cannot deny Himself” (Ver. 13)
Thus our rewards as believers depend upon
our faithfulness, but our salvation, thank God, on His
King James Bible
The Preserved and Living Word of God
(A 10 Minute Video)
Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
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