"What Do We Possess?"

There seems to be two different perspectives on salvation. First, there are those who throw around the term 'grace' as if they could never lose their salvation. That's a dangerous mind set. Secondly, there are those who claim salvation by the grace of God but work their way to God. That too is just as dangerous. People are either working their way or 'free flying' their way. Both are abusers of God's grace.

The Galatian brethren were warned if they added the Law to their being right with the Lord, they would be severed from Christ and fall from grace (Gal. 5:4). Right there we are taught that once saved always saved does not exist. Peter speaks to those who have escaped defilement's by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior and turned back to those defilement's are in worse condition than before they heard the way of righteousness (II Pet. 2:20-22).

There are those who seem to 'guilt' others into their relationship and they always seem to be working for the security. The relationship of the Lord Jesus Christ is based on faith in His blood and has nothing to do with us making some legal response. It is completely God's gracious act and work reconciling us to Himself through the work of Jesus taking our place. God draws us to Himself in Jesus to love and believe in Him. The work of Jesus on our behalf creates a relationship with Him! It is a relationship that captivates our hearts and minds.

Anytime we try to make the relationship with the Lord something we do, that makes it a work system like the Jew's. "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace." (Rom. 11: 6) This is why so many have difficulty accepting baptism as part of salvation because many have turned baptism into a work. Baptism is faith responding to the grace of God (Col. 2:12). Baptism is faith trusting in God to raise us from the dead. It is not meritous. It is simply faith in the grace of God, depending on God to do as He said He would do through the work of Jesus Christ.

The Lord is trying to assure us of our salvation and we should be. Christ not only took our death but He lives our life! What we aren't to God, He is for us! He is our holiness, our perfection, our strength and power. All that is asked of us is to follow with all our heart, trusting in His redeeming blood through our uniting with Him. If we are in Christ, we aren't just there by the skin of our teeth. We are saved to the utmost (Heb. 7:25)! That should touch our hearts to pursue His life, His righteous and holiness in our lives. Not to be saved but because we are saved! That's what saved people do. That should make us all pause and look closely at what we really possess in Christ Jesus.