I remember it well – I was 23 years old, walking in quiet desperation, empty inside and going nowhere fast. Aside from that life was hunky- dory! Sarcasm aside, I was a lost person and knew it on some level.
As a Jewish person, I was taught Jesus was not the Messiah and certainly not the answer to any need, much less my greatest need – the need to be forgiven.
Yet, God who is rich in grace, mercy and lovingkindness, blessed me in 1987 when I came to believe in Jesus! I once was lost and now am found! I was saved. And not only was I saved from judgment, condemnation and hell, as I wrote about in the last blog, I was saved to…
I was saved to new life -abundant life and eternal life – a life filled with purpose, a life filled with love, joy, and peace that transcends my circumstances, and a future – a future filled with the hope of heaven!
I was saved to know God, love God, and serve God.
Believing in Jesus Christ brings a person into a right relationship with God. Jesus came to give us life and give it more abundantly (John 10:10). He wants us to understand and know Him (Jeremiah 9:24).
Trusting in Christ means we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us and as such are able to experience and express the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ found in Galatians 5:22—love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Who wouldn’t want the blessings of these benefits?
And we could go on.
Yet consider just some of the wonders of His Grace, the salvation He provides, and the future that awaits those who trust in Him – I commend you to read and meditate upon the following passages:
Psalm 103:1-5, 8-12; Ephesians 1:3-6; 1 Peter 1:3-5; and Revelation 21:1-5.
The gospel is good news – the very best news! Salvation is deliverance into a reality God desires for all people, yet can only be accessed through faith in Jesus. Ponder it. Proclaim it.
