utmost.org

Justification by Faith

Oct

28

2012

If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life —Romans 5:10

I am not saved by believing— I simply realize I am saved by believing. And it is not repentance that saves me— repentance is only the sign that I realize what God has done through Christ Jesus. The danger here is putting the emphasis on the effect, instead of on the cause. Is it my obedience, consecration, and dedication that make me right with God? It is never that! I am made right with God because, prior to all of that, Christ died. When I turn to God and by belief accept what God reveals, the miraculous atonement by the Cross of Christ instantly places me into a right relationship with God. And as a result of the supernatural miracle of God’s grace I stand justified, not because I am sorry for my sin, or because I have repented, but because of what Jesus has done. The Spirit of God brings justification with a shattering, radiant light, and I know that I am saved, even though I don’t know how it was accomplished.
The salvation that comes from God is not based on human logic, but on the sacrificial death of Jesus. We can be born again solely because of the atonement of our Lord. Sinful men and women can be changed into new creations, not through their repentance or their belief, but through the wonderful work of God in Christ Jesus which preceded all of our experience (see 2 Corinthians 5:17-19). The unconquerable safety of justification and sanctification is God Himself. We do not have to accomplish these things ourselves— they have been accomplished through the atonement of the Cross of Christ. The supernatural becomes natural to us through the miracle of God, and there is the realization of what Jesus Christ has already done— “It is finished!” (John 19:30).

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Unusual Suspects- #1 THE CAN MAN

While Subi Church continues to explore the unusual suspects of the bible in the recent weeks - the unsung heroes/ seemingly negligible characters, I've come across a few unusual suspects in the past weeks too.

UNUSUAL SUSPECT #1 - The Can Man.
Once upon a time i ran out of house, across the road, down the hill, across another road and boarded the bus to destination: PRAC. Being the lucky number 1 passenger, the only passenger boarding from the first bus stop, i found my way to my favourite bus seat by the door and made myself comfortable. However, that fine day, my seat was not TOO comfortable because someone left an empty Mother drink can on the ground where my seat was. It rattled and rolled around my feet as i wished with all my heart that the bus would make a right turn so that the can would roll somewhere far away from me. And it did.. the bus driver made a right turn and the can made its way into the middle strip of walkway, down the steps and rattled in the middle of the empty bus. LEG ROOM! *silent celebration in my mind*
At this point, passenger number 2 had boarded and settled into the front row seat. Upon hearing the rattling noise of the empty drink can, he turned around, eyes scanning the bus for the rolling can. As he looked at the can, a feeling of guilt arose in me for allowing that can to roll around the bus, posing a major slip/trip hazard to future unsuspecting passengers. The man promptly left his seat, walked to the middle of the bus, picked up the can and walked back to his seat.
The bus arrived at it's third stop where the 3rd-30th passenger boarded, all of them unaware that their days have been saved by... THE CAN MAN.