“The Best Is Yet To Come”

“The Best Is Yet To Come”
By Brian Reid

"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come, and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us, in the house of his servant David” (Luke 1:68-69).

Mankind was created with a Holy and godly nature, in fellowship with the Lord. But, by means of free-will, suspicion and unbelief, that covenant was broken by ‘mankind.’ Sin was the result.

Sin is that lack of conformity to God’s moral covenant; which is moral evil. Sin is also defined as anything in ‘mankind,’ which does not express, or is contrary to, the Holy Character of God - the Creator; it is a transgression of, or rebellion against God’s laws.

And it was because of Adam and Eve, and the original fall, in the Garden of Eden, that all who are ancestors of them, shall also Sin.

Salvation is the saving of something from harm, destruction, or difficulty. In Christianity, salvation is deliverance from sin, or the consequences of sin; by the intervention of God. For God saw the problems and knew the consequences of sin, but He also provided the solution to sin; for God uses own His son as an atonement for the sins of all “mankind.”

Sin and evil keep us from the enjoyment of God’s blessings, either by commission or omission, intentional or accidental. But, through, trust in, and dependence on, God, we are saved. It is only by this trust, that we allow, and accept Christ to be that instrument (of salvation).

Salvation comes (only) through repentance and whole-hearted commitment to Christ, as Lord and Savoir of our lives.

As a person lives their life, and does not follow God commandments (and struggles); they feel the pain of sin: guilt, shame, isolation, feeling unfulfilled. Along their journey they will hear ‘bits & pieces’ about God, Jesus Christ and salvation. Once that person’s interest is ‘peaked,’ they may start to listen more closely, do their own research, attend church (occasionally), and start asking questions.

During that discovery process, they learn the deeper meaning of being delivered from sin, separated from evil, set free, released, rescued, and saved from the influences of Satan. Once the person has some understanding, they are encouraged to look to the Bible to answer more of their questions, such as: Why do I need to be saved? How will I be saved? Who will save me?

Sin acts as that separation that keeps us from having fullness of life – in Christ; as outlined in John 10:10. “I have come that you would have life and have it abundantly.”

God loves us and wants us to live in peace, and have a life, abundant with joy.

How?

Romans 5:1; “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

God wants us to live guilt-free, without shame and not in isolation. For when we are still ‘living in sin,’ we are isolated from God; there is a separation between us, and the Lord. Because God gave us free-will, some of us choose to disobey Him.

Romans 3:23 tells us; “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

By following God’s law, His commandments, instructions; we strive to live a life Christ-like. This brings us closer to God and bridges that gap of isolation.

God’s link between us, the sinners, and salvation, that connection, that union, that bond, that tie, that bridge… is the Cross.

Jesus died on the cross to satisfy the wrath of God for all those who did not, and do not, follow His law. Jesus died once, and for all.

He did this to cover all the sins that anyone ever committed and for those sins we have not committed yet. He did this all on one day, with one single act of compassion.

By a personal invitation from God, we make a decision to trust in Jesus and give our life to him; then something wonderful happens.

Romans 10:9; “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

John 1:12; “Yet, to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…”

It is our response, through free-will, that we accept Christ to be our saviour and leader in life; and we become Children of God.

This known as Conversion, and happens when we turn away from what we know is wrong (evil and sin), and turn to God, through Christ.

Ezekiel 33:11; “Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways.”

It is in this Repentance that we admit our wrongdoings and sins (confession), and ask God to forgive us. In our hearts we must be willing to make that turn. For, conversion is, and should result in, a change of behaviour, in the believer.

In the process of salvation, Conversion is the first step in our transition from evil to good, from sin to God. Once the Holy Spirit enters us, we are changed - forever.

2 Corinthians 5:17; “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

With Christ’s spirit working upon our hearts, the course of our life (and our actions), are changed, & they are forever.

By means of this acceptance of Christ (as our saviour), and Lord of our lives, we receive Justification; which is an act whereby God says that we are no longer guilty of our wrongdoings (forgiveness). A change-of-state occurs. We were once condemned; now through the work of Jesus Christ (and nothing else), we are saved; and through the mercy and grace of God, we are justified (forgiven).

Regeneration is being ‘born again’ or ‘to be restored.’ It is a spiritual change brought about in the heart of someone, by an act of God; in which their sinful nature is altered, and by which they able to respond to God in faith.

John 1:13; “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God; children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.”

1 John 3:9; “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.”
Another phase in the process of salvation is Sanctification: a process of becoming clean. To sanctify something is to make it holy, pure, clean; and to set aside for God. It may refer to a person, place or anything used to worship or glorify God.

The Israelites were set apart, from the rest of the nations of the world.

Exodus 19:5 & 6; “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations, you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

We, too, are set apart to be Holy; and a treasured possession.

In a person, it is the gracious and continuous process of God’s Holy Spirit, in which he purifies the sinner. Sanctification is an inner work; and we need to cooperate with it. We are made more useful for God’s work, by being sanctified. It is a process and we are all works in progress; for Sanctification does take time.

Salvation is not so much a convincing of a sinner, to turn away from his/her wrongdoings and sin, than it is, a convincing of a sinner to turn to Jesus Christ. The Christian is simply admitting that they are helpless over sin, and hands it over to God. God then eliminates it from our lives, through Christ’s death upon the cross.

Finally, salvation is a gift from God, freely offered, without any conditions. You cannot earn salvation through your good works, for salvation has no stipulation.

In Philippians 1:27-28, Paul is encouraging the people – and he tells us also;

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you, or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending, as one man, for the faith of the gospel, without being frightened in any way, by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.”

The path of salvation, starts with knowing that everyone sins and falls short of the glory of God. Next, is a realization that the penalty for sin is death; a separation from God, and an inability to gain eternal life.

Finally, salvation comes (only) through having a personal relationship with Christ. To be forgiven of our sins, we must confess them, and believe that Jesus died to cover our sins, and that He is Lord.

As a pastor, and a Christian, I know that God sent his son into this world, not to condemn it, but to save it (John 3:17). I know that Jesus died for our sins, and He rose triumphantly, again in life, and, I know He will come again to call his children home (that’s us).
I know that God sent Jesus, to be our one and only saviour (John 3:16), and I know that we are saved, not by following any law or deeds (that we may do), but, by God’s grace and mercy; combined with our belief and acceptance in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8-10; “For it is by grace, you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by your works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, to do good works, which God prepared in advance, for us to do.”

Also, I know that only through God’s grace, that our lives are filled with His peace. Because of God’s mercy towards our sins, and because of Christ, taking our place, and paying the debt, that we could never pay, that we can live eternally.

For me personally, forgiveness is the most important aspect of salvation. I know that God forgiving me, has had the greatest impact on my life. To be able to start fresh, with a clean slate, that is very humbling.

For, I know that when I slip and fall, I still have God’s forgiveness through repentance – you can too. I confess my wrong-doings and turn away from my actions, and continue on my walk; knowing that Christ walks with me – He walks with you as well.

It is only through God, that we can succeed in what we do; what we were called to do. It is only through our weaknesses, that we find God’s true strength.

And, in all this, through all God’s promises, because of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and because of the many miracles of Christ, I know, and I want you to know, that “The Best Is Yet To Come!”

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow!”

Our Communion Hymn, will be sung by the Choir. And as they gather in the front, I ask you to listen to the words, listen to the feelings expressed in this song, listen for God’s touch: “When Love Is Found.”