Welcome!
Today: Saved, to stay!
Passage: Titus 2
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2, NIV 84) emphasis added
As we were pondering on the subject of salvation, I was about to jump into another topic. But again, I was prompted to stay there some more time
Our salvation is entirely the work of God and there is nothing we could do about it. But once saved, we have a responsibility!
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men (Titus 2:11)
God’s grace upon our deprived and desperate situation made salvation possible. When Israelites were saved out of Egypt, God brought them all on to the other side of the red sea. None of them perished at that point. That was God’s act!
But once they crossed, they started their own journey if faith. This is what the grace of God does, after we are saved:
12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, (Titus 2:12, NIV 84)
God’s grace teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness. A teacher cannot take complete responsibility for each and every student; he/she can only teach them. The student has to do his/her part. In the same way, God will give us all the help we need. We need to do our part
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. (Rom 6, NIV 84)-emphasis added
Even though God brought all the Israelites across the red sea, most of them failed in their wilderness journey. Only two of the six hundred thousand men made it to Jordan. Once they reached Jordan, God brought all of them across Jordan, all who wanted to come to the promised land
In the salvation process, we have these three stages- saved from the penalty of sin, being saved from the power of sin and to be saved (future) from the presence of sin. God takes full responsibility for the first and third stages. But it is upto us, how we run our earthly race and fight against the temptations and the power of sin. If we faithfully make it to the end, then God himself will take care of the rest. Such people will reign with God in His kingdom!
4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because[b] to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. (Heb 6, NIV 84)
Now, can salvation be lost?
“Yes” and “No”. From God’s end, “No”. But from our end, there is possibility
May God help us and preserve us until the end of our journey (Jude 1: 24, 25)
Have a blessed day!
BG
Prayer: Father God, thank you for your grace and mercy upon us, to save us and redeem us, at the cost of the sacrificial death of Jesus. Help us to love you with our thoughts, words and actions, not only with our worship. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“The same God who qualified us for our race of faith is waiting at the finishing point; all we need is to keep running, on the track, with faith, love and hope”