Be Holy!

It is God's desire that all who trust in Christ for salvation, all true believers, be holy. He even commands us to be holy. Peter writes, "But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Pet. 1:15-16). "Holy" is an interesting word. In New Testament Greek it means  "separated" or "to set apart to God," and can be translated "sanctify," just as "holiness" can be translated "sanctification" (W.E. Vine, M.A., Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, Unabridged Edition, [MacDonald Publishing Company: McLean, Virginia, no copyright], 565).

When referring to God, He is seen as "the absolutely Holy One, in His purity, majesty and glory," whether used of the Father, as in these verses, or of the Son, or of the Spirit" (Ibid, 566). Often the word "holy" is used "of men in so far as they are devoted to God" and "is often presented in a way which involves Divine demands upon the conduct of believers" (Ibid). Here in 1 Peter 1:15, believers are called to cleanse themselves "from all defilement, forsaking sin, living a holy manner of life" (Ibid).

Hebrews 10:10 says, "By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Having been sanctified in Christ, all believers are called "saints," or literally, "sanctified" or "holy ones" (Ibid, 1000). God calls all believers to this state of sainthood, or, more specifically, to sanctification. In 1 Corinthians 1:2, Paul refers to believers as "those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints."

The writer of Hebrews encourages us to "pursue holiness." In Hebrews 12:14, he writes, "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." "Holiness" or "sanctification" is something to be pursued. Sanctification is a process of growth. When you trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior you were saved, you were justified in God's eyes. When God looks at you He sees you through the lens of Jesus. He sees the blood of Christ which covers you and therefore, He sees you as holy or righteous.

Romans 4:3 says, "For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.'" This does not mean that our faith makes us righteous; that we have somehow arrived. No, it means only that our faith connects us with Christ in such a way that His righteousness is reckoned to us. Positionally, we are seen as righteous in Christ. Practically, we need to grow in faith each day so as to become more and more like Christ until we reach heaven fully righteous.

Having been saved by grace through faith, we must now learn to live by that same faith. Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20). Now when he says, "I have been crucified with Christ," what does that mean?

In Romans 6:3-4, Paul, speaking of baptism, said, "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Baptism, being dipped under water and then raised back up out of the water, symbolizes our dying with Christ through our faith in Him and our rising with Him to a new life, a changed life.

Paul further clarifies: "For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (vv. 5-11).

"Our old man," our old sinful self, "was crucified with Him," that is, with Christ, setting us free from our slavery to sin. Having been "freed from sin," we are to live the resurrected life with Jesus. Like Jesus, the life we now live, we live to God. Again, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God" (Gal. 2:20b). Amen.

The Road Few Travel

Taking the road to salvation is not easy. The narrow way that leads to life abundant and life eternal, is difficult and it is a road few travel. God made you for a purpose: to have fellowship with the Lord Jesus. "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor. 1:9). God wants us to know Him and be with Him. He made us for that purpose. Seek Him first above all else: "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matt. 6:33).

Jesus is the narrow way that leads to life. Jesus said, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matt. 7:13-14). Through Jesus you can realize God's purpose for your life.

Man's problem: Sin. Fellowship with God is broken by sin: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). Sin leads to destruction: "For the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23a). In sin you "sink in deep mire" (Ps. 69:2a). The more you struggle trying to reach God through your own efforts, the deeper you sink in the miry clay. Sin is such an affront to God; you can never be good enough to be saved. You cannot save yourself. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Eph. 2:8-9). Good works cannot save you. Salvation comes from God. Only by God's grace are you saved through faith.

God's solution: Jesus Christ. He shed His blood and died for us. "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Heb. 9:22b, NIV). "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). Christ died for you and rose again for you. "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures… He was buried, and… He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:3-4). All that Jesus went through, all that He suffered, was for you, for your salvation.

At the cross, Jesus shed His blood for you. He forgave you and lifted you out of the miry clay. He rose again and set your feet on the narrow way that leads to life with God. As David said, "He… brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps" (Ps. 40:2).

Man's response: Believe and receive Jesus. "The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23b).  "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Rom. 10:9). "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12a). Together, these verses tell us what you must do to be saved: (1) Confess your sin and repent—turn away from sin; (2) Confess Jesus as Lord and believe He rose again; and (3) Pray to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Here is a suggested prayer (you can use your own words): "Lord Jesus, forgive me of all my sin. I believe you died and rose again to give me new life. Come into my life and make me the person you want me to be. Amen."

God's blessing: Assurance of salvation. God promises eternal life to all who receive Him: "And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God" (1 John 5:11-13).

What happened when you received Christ? First, God lives in you to guide you: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20). Second, your sins are forgiven: "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Col. 1:14). Third, you are His child in fellowship with Him: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12).

What now? (1) Read the Bible and pray: "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11). "Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1). (2) Tell others what Jesus means to you: "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples" (John 15:8). (3) Worship at church regularly: "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching" (Heb. 10:24-25). Amen.

Jesus Is the Only Way to God

Psalm 62:1 says, "Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation." God ensures salvation, because our salvation comes from Him. Jesus saves, because our salvation comes from God through Jesus. There is no other way. Deeds and good works cannot save you; Jesus does. Salvation comes only through Jesus. Acts 4:12 says, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." "No other name under heaven given among men!" No one else can save you; Only Jesus. He is our Lord. He is our Savior.

Again, John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." We are saved in and through Jesus. He died on the cross in our place. He paid the penalty for our sin. Therefore, it is as the Apostle Paul said, "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom. 10:13).

Jesus wants you to come to Him in faith, believing in Him and trusting Him for salvation. "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me'" (John 14:6). The Apostle John relates how this works: "Then Jesus said to them again, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly'" (John 10:7-10).

We are the sheep; Jesus is the door. Everything goes through Jesus. It is through Jesus that we are saved. It is through Jesus that we experience an abundant life now. It is through Jesus that we will experience eternal life in God's presence. It is not through anyone else. Anyone who says otherwise is nothing more than a thief and robber. Do not listen to them. They speak falsely. Listen only for Jesus' voice and follow Him.

Continuing on, Jesus also said: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd" (John 10:11-16).

Again referring to us as sheep, Jesus said that He is the good shepherd who truly cares for us and watches over us. He is the one who died for us and saved us. He knows us and all who are saved know Him. Jesus laid down His life for us and all who know Him by faith. Regardless of who you are or where you are from, we will be one flock with one shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Salvation Is Your Ticket to Life

Salvation. That is the sum-total of what we have been talking about these last several weeks in Bible Insights. Repentance, faith, justification—it all adds up to salvation. Titus 2:11-12 says, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age." We are saved purely by God's grace. It is God's grace that "brings salvation" to us. God's grace leads us to repent, which involves a complete turnaround. God's grace teaches us to deny "ungodliness and worldly lusts." Turn away from all worldliness and sin. Instead, "live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age."

Turn your life around. Leave your old sinful life behind (repentance) and live for Jesus (faith). Peter, preaching to the crowd on the day of Pentecost, in Acts 2:21 said, "And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (justification). So there we have the bottom line, the basic formula of salvation: repentance plus faith equals justification.

Hebrews 12:1-2 spells it out more completely: "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

This passage immediately follows Hebrews chapter eleven, often referred to as the "Hall of Faith," because it lists the many Old Testament saints who ran the life of faith with great success and endurance. They are our "great… cloud of witnesses." They, along with all the saints that have run the race of faith before us, testify as to how we run that race. We are to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us" (repentance), and "run with endurance the race that is set before us" (faith).

"Endurance" means "patience," or literally, "a remaining under," and can be translated "patient enduring" (W.E. Vine, M.A., Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, Unabridged Edition, [MacDonald Publishing Company: McLean, Virginia, no copyright], 370). It is related to another Greek word meaning "to abide under" or "to bear up courageously (under suffering)" (Ibid, 369). And how do we do that? By "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (justification).

When you run a race, keep your eyes fixed on the goal. Never look back. Never look to the side. Always look straight at the goal or you will slow down and run off the path. You don't want that to happen, so keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. He is "the author and finisher of our faith" and the one who will bring us home to heaven (endurance or perseverance). Salvation is all about Jesus—knowing Him, following Him, and becoming like Him.

But to run the race, you first have to get into the race. You have to sign up for it first, then you can start to run the race. How do you qualify to start the race of the Christian life? By trusting Christ for salvation. You must believe that He died on the cross for you, for the forgiveness of your sin, and that He rose the third day from the grave providing life as well. You must believe, confess your sin to Him seeking His forgiveness, and you must receive Jesus into your life to be your personal Savior, and to let Him have all of you, all of your life. You can do that right now by praying and asking Jesus to be your Savior and Lord. Amen.

The Gift of Christ Jesus

Romans 5:16-18 says, "And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life."

It is very simple. Adam fell from grace—He sinned. This sin passed to all and brought with it judgement resulting in condemnation. But the free gift, which is the death of Christ on the cross and His resurrection, brought justification. Through Adam, death reigned, but those who receive God's grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through Jesus Christ. Romans 4:25 says clearly that Jesus, "was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification."

Justification is a very important doctrine. The person who receives Christ while on his death bed, or just shortly before they die, is as saved as the person who receives Christ at a young age and then spends years learning to walk more closely with Him, growing stronger in their faith, and becoming more like Jesus. The one who first believes in Jesus while approaching death, the so-called eleventh-hour conversion, is justified just like any other believer. That is why he, like the believing thief on the cross, will go straight to Heaven and find himself immediately in the presence of Christ where he will spend all eternity.

You are justified, or saved, by God's grace through faith. Good works won't save you. They are important for the believer for growing in faith, but belief in Jesus' death and resurrection is what gives you the gift of salvation. Trust Jesus by faith right now. Amen.

Justified in God's Eyes through the Cross

Romans 3:21-26 says: "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

Justification comes "apart from the law" (v. 21). It cannot be earned through good works or good deeds done by us, or by any other merit we think we may have. Justification is provided for us only by the sacrificial death of Christ—by the shed blood of Christ on the cross. Justification is God's gracious gift given freely to all who receive Jesus Christ and His sacrifice by faith. God demonstrates His righteousness by bestowing justification on all who believe.

The penalty for sin is death. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 10:9 adds, "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." When you trust in Jesus and His shed blood on the cross, you are acquitted or found not guilty of your sin. Your sin is forgiven and your fellowship with God which was broken because of your sin is restored.

Because of sin you had lost favor with God, but through your faith God's favor is restored. So justification is more than just acquittal concerning the penalty of sin. It is full acceptance by God. You are fully accepted back into fellowship with God. Your walk with Jesus is renewed. You are now "the friend of God" (James 2:23) and "heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ" (Rom. 8:17).

"Propitiation" (Rom. 3:25) has to do with the appeasement of, or the satisfaction of, God's wrath. It carries the idea of being reconciled to God. The phrase "by His blood" (v. 25) is understood to be immediately connected to "propitiation" (W. E. Vine, M.A., Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, Unabridged Edition, [MacDonald Publishing Company: McLean, Virginia, no copyright], 906). Through the atoning, sacrificial death of Christ on the cross, God bestows His justifying grace on the sinner who believes (Ibid).

Trying to earn your way to heaven always falls short. It is strictly by grace through faith that you are saved. Ephesians 2:8-9 says specifically, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." There is nothing you can do to earn justification. You are strictly saved by God's grace through faith. At the moment of salvation you are justified, or declared righteous. The work of Jesus on the cross was finished, providing the way for your justification.

Romans 5:9 says, "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." Our justification comes through the blood. Jesus shed his blood for us. He paid the penalty we deserved to pay. We were the guilty party, not Him. Yet Jesus willingly took our sin upon Himself and paid the penalty of death on our behalf. He was our substitute. As a result, we are forgiven and justified by His blood, and saved from God's wrath. Our only response can be to trust in Jesus. Amen.

The Confession of a Thief

Jesus was not crucified alone. "There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left" (Luke 23:32-33). Three crosses side by side on the hill called Calvary.

Jesus spoke: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (v. 34). Nailed to the cross, Jesus spoke words of forgiveness to all who participated in crucifying Him. Hanging there in agony, struggling for every breath, Jesus spoke, declaring forgiveness for all. But the people standing all around mocked Jesus, ridiculing Him: "And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, 'You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross'" (Matt. 27:39-40).

Even the Jewish leaders got involved: "Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, 'He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, "I am the Son of God"'" (vv. 41-43).

Not to be outdone, "The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, 'If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself'" (Luke 23:36-37). There seemed to be none who believed, none who understood.

The criminals who were being crucified alongside of Jesus even got involved. Matthew identifies them specifically as "robbers" (Matt. 27:44), or "thieves" (KJV). "Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, 'If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us'" (Luke 23:39). He did not understand; he did not believe.

The other thief did understand, however, so he rebuked the first thief: "But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, 'Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.' Then he said to Jesus, 'Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom'" (vv. 40-42).

This second thief believed in Jesus. He confessed his sin, stating that he was justly condemned, "for we receive the due reward of our deeds" (v. 41a). This is a sign of confession, repentance, and saving faith. So he received justification from God. His sins were forgiven and he was acquitted, justified before God. Note Jesus' response: "And Jesus said to him, 'Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise'" (v. 43).

There would be no time for growing in faith and learning to walk by faith. He was already hanging on the cross, dying. The important thing for him was salvation, going to Heaven when he died, which would be very soon. And that is precisely what Jesus assured him of—salvation. "Today you will be with Me in Paradise" (v. 43b). "Today!" There would be no waiting. He was acquitted, justified. He would be joining Jesus in Heaven that very day.

The thief who believed was justified in God's eyes. God saw him through the lens of Jesus and His blood sacrifice on the cross. Upon his death that day, his soul was transported straight to Heaven ("Paradise") where he would spend eternity with Jesus. That is what justification is—a sinner by repentance and faith is declared righteous by God. So when God looks at a sinner saved by grace, He sees the righteousness of Christ. Amen.