The LORD's salvation

Father, we thank you LORD that in Your presence is the fullness of joy, what a privilege. We give you all the glory and praise and as always, give us understanding as we read the Word and write Your Word on our hearts in the name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you LORD.

Romans 14:17 (NKJV)

"For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but it is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."

When you read the Bible, you truly discover that there is nothing new. Apostle Paul was encouraging believers in the early church to not permit food to cause division among them (Romans 14:14-16). On that note, Apostle Paul with the help of the Holy Spirit helps to keep the main thing the main thing - that is, God's kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

When it comes righteousness, Romans 10:13, tells us that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. This is what we refer to as salvation. Nobody wakes up one morning and works their way into salvation. Salvation is a gift that God freely gives us and it starts with the Spirit of the LORD stirring and drawing one's heart to God's heart when they hear the Word of God. It is important that the Word of God is heard by the recepient of God's grace because this is how faith is activated to receive from God. We receive what we know.

Romans 10:10 NKJV "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Furthermore, Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast." The person we have faith in is Jesus Christ. When you believe He is the Son of God who came to die for the sins of the world, you will be saved. Colossians 1:13-14 NKJV, tells us about God, the Father's great act of salvation for mankind, and reads, "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."

The foundation for God redeeming us and saving us from the power of darkness and sin is love.

God is love (1 John 4:8). He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die a brutal death on the cross for the sins of the world because He loved us and did not desire for anyone to perish by going to hell (John 3:16-17). To put it simply, when Jesus died on the cross, He bore every sin, guilt, shame, iniquity, disease, curse, depression, every terrible imaginable and umimaginable thing, God placed it in Christ's body on the cross so that whoever would receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour of their life would experience freedom. This is the reason Jesus says in John 8:36 NKJV, "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." So as born again child of God, when God looks at you, He sees Jesus and all the finished works He completed for you on the cross. This is because Jesus took away your sin and broke its power over your life so that you could be free through right standing and relationship with God, the Father. This what it means for you to be the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Concerning peace: When you receive Jesus, you receive His Person. Peace is a person. Before Jesus went to the cross, one of the most important things He left His disciples was His peace. In John 14:17-18 NKJV, we see Jesus leaving us with another Helper who is the Holy Spirit and He calls him, "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you."

The peace that the Holy Spirit gives is also guard to our hearts. This means that in the middle of a terrible situation, or chaotic circumstance, God's peace surrounds you and guards your heart. Jesus shows us a good example, He was sound asleep in the midst of a violent storm on a sea voyage because external circumstances in the world do not determine our peace. 1 John 4:4 reminds us, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."

Jesus arose and with the peace that He is and that He embodies, He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace be still!" and they obeyed Him. (Mark 4:39).

Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV reminds us, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Just like righteousness, God's children have been freely given peace. When peace is a guard to your heart, it not only informs your daily walk with the Lord but it also informs your decisions. God's peace will not pressure you, corner you or rush you to make a decision. The Holy Spirit's leading is always of peace. When faced with making a decision and you don't have peace, take some time to pause, pray and ask for God's guidance. He will lead you with His peace.

Joy: The joy that the LORD gives us in the Holy Spirit, is a constant that is not based on circumstances unlike happiness that is based on what may or may not be currently taking place in your life. I remember as a teenager, I attended church with my Mom, and I politely asked her, 'is it just me or are these people really loud?!' I'll never forget her response. She said, "They are loud and I love it!"

When God does a work on your heart, I can assure you right now, please take me to a church whose praise is loud, I love it! Turns out what I called "loud" was not loud after all, it is different expressions of the Spirit of the LORD through His people. This is an example of the joy we have been given in the Holy Spirit. It is not something you prop yourself into, no. It is a joy that only the power of God can provide to your born again spirit and it is freely given and available to you in all of life's seasons. Nehemiah 8:10 reminds us, the joy of the LORD is our strength and today the premise of our joy is Christ, because He lives, we live with Him to eternity. So we rejoice because of this ever living hope that God has given us in His Son, Christ - AMEN. In the book of Acts, we see Apostle Paul and Silas who were wrongfully thrown into jail and at midnight, they sung hymns and praised God because their joy was not dependent on their physical confinement but in Christ's finished works on the cross. As they praised God, their chains were broken and the prison doors flung wide open (Acts 16:25-27). This is the power of the joy that is found in the salvation of LORD, it is limitless and knows no boundaries.

For more on this topic: https://www.thebibleversionoflife.org/post/a-glimpse-into-salvation

I'll end with this Word found in Romans 8:1-2 (NKJV)

1. "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."

Amen, thank you LORD.

Invitation to salvation: If you would like to receive a personal relationship with Jesus, please say this prayer with me;

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever. Thank you Father that because the Son has made me free, I am now free indeed." AMEN.

Congratulations, by grace you are saved and are now a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old life has passed away and you have received the free gift of salvation into your life (2 Corinthians 5:17) where you get to freely access everything I've shared in this post. To the glory of the Almighty God. Amen.