Posted by By Patrick Enilama [pastorpatrick@sunnewsonline.com] on
"By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God not of works, lest any man should boast" Eph. 2: 8-9.
If you ever got anything free, it is because someone had paid for it. To get the best you have to pay the price. Nothing goes for nothing. Nothing good is free. Nothing good is for the lazy. Every good thing has a price that must be paid in life. And so it is with salvation which is a free but costly gift of God.
Salvation should be jealously guarded by believers. Someone paid dearly for it. Those who are already saved should not take salvation for granted. The bible requires you to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Why?
(i) This is because God the Father gave his begotten son Jesus to secure your salvation.
(ii) It cost Jesus the son of God his life to berth you salvation - the ultimate of life. "Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13.
(iii) Salvation cost the partnership of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Remember that it was the Holy Spirit that helped the Lord Jesus to willingly lay down his life for you and me. "How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself." Heb. 9:14 It was not an easy task.
You're never sure of heaven until you have endured to the very end! "But he that endure to the end shall be saved." Math. 10:22.
Instant salvation is good but it may not guarantee you a place in heaven that is why you must constantly work on your salvation. You have to constantly "work on your own salvation with fear and trembling." Phil. 2:12. He that endures to the end shall be saved. The backslider will not make heaven.
(i) Therefore you must be on your toes all the time; making sure you abide in Christ.
(ii) Constantly study the word of God;
(iii) Carry on with fasting on a regular basis;
(iv) This is to keep the flesh under and to make;
(v) The Spirit of God abide in your body;
(vi) "Ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy and have severed you from other people that you be mine." Lev. 20:26 Keep yourself holy; Do not defileyourself;
(vii) Pay tithe regularly for a robber is not permitted a place in heaven.
(viii) Wining soul for the Lord. This is the primary reason why you were saved. (a) "I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruits should remain. You are required to win souls. (b) You should constantly praise the Lord who brought you into his marvelous light I Pet. 2:9.
You have to preach Christ to others. This is the purpose of your salvation. It is good that you help win others to the Lord Jesus. A lazy man can not do this. Salvation is free but costly. You have to invest your time / money to win others to Christ when you do this the Lord Jesus will not forget your labour of love. He will reward you both on earth and in heaven.