Pastor's Ponderings, June 5, 2017

We Have Eternal Salvation With Jesus

Antonia Blumberg reported in the Huffington Post on June 2, 2017 an encounter that president-elect Donald Trump had with two mainline Protestant preachers. He indicated to them that he had done very well in the election with the evangelicals whereupon they replied that neither one of them was an evangelical. To which the president-elect reportedly asked: “Well, what are you then?”

What are you then?  According to the World Christian Encyclopedia, there are over 33,000 denominations in the world. Which is the right one?  Neal Talmadge asked in La Voz Eterna, Julio-Agosto , “If Christianity was a crime in America, and you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”  In spite of all of the denominations and clashing opinions about which of them is the right one, the Bible says that God would lead and guide you, and He would be a clear light for us (Psalm 119:105). In fact His word would speak to us as we make our choices in life (Isaiah 30:21).

God does not want us worried about our eternal salvation while slick hucksters are giving us convincing arguments that their way is the only way to God (Ephesians 4:14).  The Bible simply says when you hear His word and believe the God that sent Jesus; you will have eternal life (John 5:24).  With this in mind, we always like to end our conversations knowing that our hearers have confessed with their mouths and believed in their hearts that God has raised Jesus from the dead. Therefore, dear reader, the simple way of salvation is confessing and repenting of sin, and accepting Jesus as Lord as found in Romans 10:9-10.

(If you have not done this in your life, now would be a good time to pray. Father, in the Name of Jesus, I repent of my sins knowing you will forgive my sins.  I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead and I call you Lord.)

Let us not allow our friends, neighbors, opinion leaders, or even ourselves permission to shake our faith in God’s word.  Despite hundreds of years of arguments about denominations, the simplicity of salvation means that even a foolish person will not make a mistake about being with God throughout eternity (Isaiah 35:8).  When we made Him our Lord, we can be confident that He who has begun a good work in our life is able to carry it to completion and bring us safely into eternity (Philippians 1:4-6).

Psalm 119:105
New International Version (NIV)

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Isaiah 30:21
New International Version (NIV)

21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Ephesians 4:14
New International Version (NIV)

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.

John 5:24
New International Version (NIV)

24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

Romans 10:9-10
New International Version (NIV)

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Isaiah 35:8
King James Version (KJV)

8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

Philippians 1:4-6
New International Version (NIV)

4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy

5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.