Salvation

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:8-12, NKJV)

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The words of Peter in these verses, I believe, best sum up what salvation really is in Jesus. 

 

You see for some salvation is only a matter of God cleansing, forgiving and saving us from the penalty of our sins which is eternity in hell.  And though if this was all salvation was then all who are saved would be blessed by the grace and favor of God.  Salvation from the penalty and punishment of our sins means we have received the grace and mercy of God that we, through the sacrifice and suffering of Jesus dying for our sins, would receive the promise of eternal life with God after we transition from this life to the next.  Praise God for saving us from our sins.

 

Yet we have the blessed promise of God and our savior Jesus the Christ that when we are “In Christ,” He doesn’t just save us from our sins, He saves us from our circumstances and situations as well.  It is a blessing to receive salvation from the penalty and punishment of our sins when we leave this life.  But what a tremendous blessing to know we have the assurance that our savior will “never leave us or forsake us.”  He is “our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble, “ (Psalm 46:1, NKJV).  His salvation goes beyond saving us from hell’s grip.  He saves us right here and right now from “dangers seen and unseen..”  Bless His name. 

 

That’s the kind of God we serve my brothers and sisters.  We serve a God who sees, cares and saves us, even from ourselves and our troubles.  As Peter explains to the religious leaders about the crippled man who was “made well,” by the saving grace of God through the name of Jesus,  we too can receive the salvation of our God on this side of life through Jesus as well.  When you are “saved” that’s what you can count on from our Father and God.

 

So I say to you my brother and sister, “BE HEALED, BE DELIVERED, BE SET FREE, BE SAVED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH!”

 

Peace and Blessings be upon you.

 

Bishop Gregory Fuller