I'm Saved! I'm Redeemed!
"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation, first to the Jew then to the gentiles." Romans 1:16
In November 2010, I finally understood what the gospel, what the "good news" was all about....that while I was still a SINNER, Jesus Christ died for me (Romans 5), and I only have to believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is who He says He is and confess that He is my Lord and Savior (Romans 10)...then I am saved. Saved from what? That's a good question and I am glad you asked. My pastor spent a long time in Romans and I hope he would be proud that it stuck!
My next several posts will tell you what I think it means and what it has meant for me. The Bible says to let the redeemed say so. I am redeemed. It is my favorite story in the world to tell!
1. I am saved from hell. Hell is real. Hell exists for satan and his demons, not for us. The question of evil vs righteous, good person vs bad person is complicated. Why would a God who loves people allow them to go there. There are "immutable"(points for my theological term) traits in God. He is love. He is eternal. He is holy. I read today in 2 Timothy 2 that God is faithful. Honestly, the question as to why God would allow good people to go to hell bothered me too until He gave me a personal illustration one day. I crossed paths with a person who is a registered sex offender. He committed the offense against a minor. I have trust issues, so I do background checks on nearly everyone who comes in close contact with me or my family. He wanted to hug me. I rejected his hug and did not want him in my presence. That day, I got it. I am human, with all the flaws and secrets we all hide, but I am not someone who would harm a child, especially in that way. Look at how the world is reacting to known child abusers. Why do we want to keep them away? Because our decent, protective nature can't handle them in our presence. Our reaction is to shrink back or to push away. God is perfectly holy, and we cannot understand that kind of purity. God cannot change His holiness, it is who He is. Consequently, sin, even the "smallest" degree of sin cannot enter His presence. He reacts to it by pushing it away. He can't change who He is.
So what are we going to do? I can't be holy and He can't stop being holy. God made us to live with Him. The only way was to have His son, Jesus, bear all of our sin and its consequences in our place. He died in our place because Jesus is holy and knew no sin until He paid for mine. That is mercy. Then He rose from the dead. Do you know what He asked for in return? Faith to believe in our hearts and faith to accept His way. When we believe, we are saved. We are not going to hell. We are going to Heaven, forever! That is grace. That is good news and it turned my world right side up. I wrecked it, turned it upside down, but He had mercy. He saved me.
It makes no sense. How can I believe it? Tourette syndrome removed the scales from my eyes. When I have no answers, when medical experts have no answers, I have nowhere else to look but up. Up to a power that is greater than yours and mine. Up to a name that is higher than any other. Up to a love so great He would humble Himself so that I could be lifted up and seated in Heavenly places. My son, who struggles sometimes with walking and talking, believes. Do you know where he gets his strength to face it all, day after day? He looks up as the world looks on. I've seen it. I've tasted it. I know He is real and this works.
This world is temporary. I am so glad because for me none of satisfies and I know a glorious future awaits in 40+ years!
Stay tuned! I'm just getting started. He is glorious. And John 3:16-17 is THE TRUTH. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. God did not send His Son to the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." That is good news!
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