Salvation Belongs to You
I am sure some of you can remember way back when banks offered a “Christmas club” account. You could allocate some of your paycheck to the club each week, and the bank would hold it until sometime in late October or November. Then it would give the money back to you with a little interest. The idea was that your savings throughout the year would fund your Christmas shopping. There was even a penalty if you withdrew the money before the designated release date.
Reading through Romans, we read about being saved. The term saved stirs different feelings and thoughts for different people. On one hand, we like the idea of saving up for something we want to do or buy. The few times I opened a Christmas club account, it was very gratifying to have saved up in advance for Christmas. If I didn’t set the money aside, I wouldn’t have the money for Christmas. And if I withdrew it early, I paid a penalty. It was all about me.
I suspect that sometimes we are conflicted about needing to be saved. Our strong will stubbornly insists that we can solve everything ourselves. But when we find ourselves in a jam, whether relationally or financially, we often hope someone will step in and save us from disaster. In those moments, self-reliance quickly falls by the wayside.
Sometimes we bring this same attitude to our spiritual beliefs. How often do we default to thinking that we somehow earn our relationship with God? We think or act as though our relationship with God and our salvation depend on our behavior. If I do all the right things, then God will love me and save me. But if I don’t, I am not quite sure whether I will make the final cut.
Throughout Romans and elsewhere in Scripture, it is quite clear that salvation depends on God, not on us. Jesus came to earth specifically because we are unable to save ourselves. Paul states this clearly in the tenth chapter of Romans:
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, ‘Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame’” (Romans 10:9–11, ESV).
There is nothing in this passage about being good enough. Our salvation rests on what Jesus has accomplished for us through His death and resurrection.
Take a moment and listen to the song “Salvation Belongs to You” by Shane Barnard (listen here). While Psalm 3 provides the foundation for the lyrics, the song reminds us that God has always sought to save His people and has promised to deliver them. Jesus made our salvation possible—for me, for you, and for everyone who comes to Him by faith.
Father, we love You. Forgive us for the times we fall into the trap of thinking we can save ourselves. Today, we confess Jesus as our Savior and rest in the promises of Scripture that salvation belongs to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Romans 5:14-21; John 14:30 ESV
Photo by Pexels
To receive daily posts delivered directly to your inbox, complete the form at the bottom of our home page.
