Many in the world have no clue what I am talking about when I say that I am saved. Their first response would be, “Saved from what?” They believe they are the master of their own lives, and they need to live this life to its fullest because life ends at death. Others believe there is a God, but He would never allow anyone to go to hell. They do not understand the holiness, wrath, justice, or love of God. The majority of people never study the Bible to find the truth they just go through life believing their own truth. I am very thankful I was raised in a biblical church where salvation through Jesus was taught. I am so thankful for my salvation.
I understand that I am not worthy to be in God’s presence and the only way to secure a home in Heaven is to come before God as a righteous person. On my own I am unrighteous. Paul teaches us in Romans 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” Praise God, He made a plan for any who accept His Son as their personal Savior and live in obedience to Him, to be covered by His righteousness. Paul teaches this truth in Philippians 3:9.
Philippians 3:9 “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”
God loved us before we were ever born. He knew everything about us and loved us anyway. He loved us so much that He executed His plan for everyone to have an opportunity to spend eternity with Him. This is the truth found in John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” I remember learning these verses as a preschooler in Sunday school class. Our teacher was called Mama Lawerence and every week she would say these words to us before we left class. I am so thankful for a lady who buried two husbands and raised 11 children all by herself. Through all her hardships she never wavered in her faithfulness to teach the gospel to multitudes of children. She had very little education, money, or resources, but she let us know that she was rich in Christ and wanted us to experience that same Jesus that saved her soul. I am very thankful she taught me about salvation.
I am so thankful for a God who was persistent in drawing me to Him. John reveals this truth in John 6:44a “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” I am thankful for His love and for placing people in my life to exhibit that to me. Without His intervention, I would have never had the opportunity for salvation because we don’t seek Him. In Romans 3:11 we see that “There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God.” In Luke 19:10 He seeks us, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” His love was shown to us by the sending of His Son to die for our sins. In 1 John 4:9-10, we find that we did not love Him, He loved us.
I John 4:9-10 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
I am so thankful for a God who gave the ultimate gift by giving His Son to die for my sins. I will be eternally grateful for all He has done for me, but most of all for the salvation of my eternal soul. Because of His love, mercy, and grace, I can spend forever with Him and escape the torments of Hell. I believe I will spend the first million years thanking Him. What a glorious time that will be!
