The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Timothy 3:14-15,
"As for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."
Some have fanciful ideas as to how people get saved. Some have long lists of all the things we need to do to get saved, some teach God drops a "roofie" in our drink when we are not looking (figuratively speaking), some have their own "peculiar" teachings about salvation found in the writers who began new religions and denominations, etc. Here Paul points to God's word, the Scriptures to find the true way to salvation.
Paul says to Timothy it is the Scriptures that makes one "wise for salvation." This is because our salvation is through our Savior, Jesus Christ and how we draw near to him is provided us in his word. Paul points out the way is "through faith in Christ Jesus." It doesn't happen by joining a church, by participating in ecclesiastical ordinances or sacraments. Salvation doesn't happen by imploring a priest, bishop, the Pope, pastor or elder. It is not found in mystical religions, through monks, the Dalai Lama, Muhammad or Joseph Smith. It is not found in vestments or appointments to ecclesiastical positions of authority. Salvation is simply through faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
"Yet to all who did receive him [Jesus Christ], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God..." John 1:12. "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them." John 3:36. In this passage we are told what salvation actually is. It is to be saved from "God's wrath." It is God's judgment that determines our eternal destiny, and so it is God's word that provides us with the authentic and authoritative way to salvation.
Here is how Paul put it in Romans 3:21-25a, "But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith."
"As for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."
Some have fanciful ideas as to how people get saved. Some have long lists of all the things we need to do to get saved, some teach God drops a "roofie" in our drink when we are not looking (figuratively speaking), some have their own "peculiar" teachings about salvation found in the writers who began new religions and denominations, etc. Here Paul points to God's word, the Scriptures to find the true way to salvation.
Paul says to Timothy it is the Scriptures that makes one "wise for salvation." This is because our salvation is through our Savior, Jesus Christ and how we draw near to him is provided us in his word. Paul points out the way is "through faith in Christ Jesus." It doesn't happen by joining a church, by participating in ecclesiastical ordinances or sacraments. Salvation doesn't happen by imploring a priest, bishop, the Pope, pastor or elder. It is not found in mystical religions, through monks, the Dalai Lama, Muhammad or Joseph Smith. It is not found in vestments or appointments to ecclesiastical positions of authority. Salvation is simply through faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
"Yet to all who did receive him [Jesus Christ], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God..." John 1:12. "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them." John 3:36. In this passage we are told what salvation actually is. It is to be saved from "God's wrath." It is God's judgment that determines our eternal destiny, and so it is God's word that provides us with the authentic and authoritative way to salvation.
Here is how Paul put it in Romans 3:21-25a, "But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith."
Salvation comes by faith in Christ Jesus. The Scriptures tell us this. Nothing and no one in this world can approach the Scriptures when it comes to knowing how we can have eternal life, eternal pleasures (Psalm 16:11) at the right hand of God for all eternity!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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