Faith Saves...

Faith Saves...

by David Brenneman 

"that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." Romans 10:9-10.

There's many people in this world who believe that you must do something more to be saved in Christ Jesus. 

The words of Paul here, as well as the very testimony written in the Gospels prove otherwise. 

"One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” But the other responded, and rebuking him, said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our crimes; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”  And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:39-43.

The thief on the cross next to Jesus received salvation and was not baptized.  

As many have stated in numerous sermons, he attended no classes on doctrines.  He had no set version of the Bible to be told to read.  He didn't get baptized.  Didn't do a single thing but believe through faith. 

Alistair Begg's sermon on this included a wonderful representation of his arrival in Paradise.  "The man on the middle cross said that he could come".

That's it, that's everything.  We come by faith and it's us who gets to come. 

It's us who gets sealed in the Spirit of God in Christ Jesus.  We get the righteousness of God and He takes away our sins.  

My Dear Reader...it's by faith and faith alone can you find forgiveness for your own sins.  It's by faith that we believe Jesus.  

Jesus will never force salvation upon you or anyone.

At no point after the confession of the one thief did Jesus say anything to the other thief: "And what about you?".

After coming to Christ for salvation...you're just going to want to live life differently.  Out of your love for Christ and all He did for you, you're going to want to tell others.  Some will receive what is said with gladness still others will rage at you.  They did with Jesus so they will do with you. 

The word from Jesus is "Many".

Many will say to Him in that day of accountability before Him of all that they claim to have done for Him and even in His Name...and those many will be told to go away for He never knew them.  They all tried to come to Christ by some other way.  They tried to come to Christ through all the things they did.  Many people claiming to be preachers deceive millions every single week.  

My Dear Reader you must decide if you indeed are coming by the narrow gate.  That gate narrow enough for only one to pass through...you. It has to only be you coming to that door, opening it for Jesus to come to you. 

There is a clock that scientists have that is a doomsday clock. Based on scientific research they tell the world of how close humanity is to utter destruction.  

In Heaven there's a date set.  A year, day, hour, minute and second set by the Father for Jesus to return to gather His Church.  All the saints of old, all those who have passed away. All those alive today who are saved in Christ Jesus.  All will leave with Him. Their physical bodies glorified.  Reassembled and perfected.  No illnesses found. No limbs missing. Nothing amiss.   

They will leave this world and all who remain will endure the wrath of God upon the Earth and mankind. 

It's as guaranteed to happen as the virgin birth, perfect life of Jesus Christ. 

It's as guaranteed to happen as the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I can't choose for you. 

Nobody can pray you out of Hell. 

Nobody can give enough money to the Church to get you out of Hell. 

In Christ...nothing can separate us from the love of God!  It doesn't matter what we are to endure in this life, this world!  

One second after we die, we are in the arms of Jesus!  Finding the joy of our salvation in Him!  No sins to encumber or weight you down anymore. 

One second after you die without Christ as your Savior...you find instant painful torment in Hell.  Always reminded of your sins every single moment for all eternity. Always reminded of how your sins, that Jesus offered to take away, have permanently separated you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. 

Always reminded that you had been given chance after chance while you yet were alive and able but always turned away. 

Those are not my choices...those...as per the Word of God are your choices. 

The Father’s plan for salvation required a perfect sacrifice...the only perfect sacrifice possible was His own Son, Jesus Christ. 

The Father’s plan for salvation is so simple a child understands it.  

Jesus is at the door of your heart today, in this very moment, hoping to come in if you would let Him. 

In recent days several whom I have known have stepped into eternity.  Safe in the arms of Jesus.  I know of others who should they die today will find themselves screaming out to God in Hell to save them and to give them another chance...as the rich man was told after he arrived in the true story Jesus told...there is no second chance.  People today have all they will ever need to be able to find salvation in Jesus Christ. 

Is Jesus Christ the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life?

This blog exists to point people to Jesus and to maybe turn people back to Him.  

It's been my calling for several years now and Lord willing I will continue until either I am told its time to come home to Heaven or He returns.  I am extremely confident that Jesus will return in my lifetime. 

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20.

"Softly and Tenderly"

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,

calling for you and for me;

see, on the portals he's waiting and watching,

watching for you and for me.

Refrain:

Come home, come home;

you who are weary come home;

earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,

calling, O sinner, come home!

2 Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,

pleading for you and for me?

Why should we linger and heed not his mercies,

mercies for you and for me? [Refrain]

3 Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,

passing from you and from me;

shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,

coming for you and for me. [Refrain]

4 O for the wonderful love he has promised,

promised for you and for me!

Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon,

pardon for you and for me. [Refrain]

-Will L. Thompson 1880

United Methodist Hymnal. 

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.