“That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joeseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Sovereign Lord, now let Your servant die in peace, as You have promised. I have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the glory of Your people Israel!’” (Luke 2:27-32 NLT)
Salvation isn’t simply an experience we have when our sins are forgiven and we’re given new life; it’s the initiation of an eternal relationship with the King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus isn’t simply the Purchaser and Provider of our salvation; He IS OUR SALVATION! Peter had it right in Acts 4:12 when he said: “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
Perhaps the greatest tragedy in the Christian Church is the belief that salvation is a process into which we enter as we learn what it means to be a child of God. It’s like someone getting married, but the husband saying to his bride: “I love you and I can’t wait to go on our honeymoon, but I have to get this marriage manual memorized first!” That’s asinine, marriage is a relationship, not conformity to a set of rules. It’s learned IN relationship.
John Piper helps us when he writes: “Salvation is not mainly forgiveness of sins it is mainly a fellowship with Jesus.” Having our sins forgiven is a wonderful thing, but it was only made possible by the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. No Jesus! No forgiveness! How do you ever thank someone for forgiving you? You build a positive, wholesome relationship with them. The measure of forgiveness determines the measure of love, grace, and time it will take to heal and to find wholeness in our relationship.
With the Lord Jesus, that relationship will build throughout eternity. As we learn more fully who He is and what He has done and is doing on our behalf, our devotion must deepen and our commitment to Him must grow stronger. Out of that relationship will grow spiritual disciplines such as worship through prayer and reading, studying, and memorizing God’s Word, the Bible; faithful fellowship with other Jesus followers through a local church devoted to knowing Him, growing in Him, and serving Him through sharing His life and love with those in our spheres of influence.
For someone to profess they have salvation in Christ alone by faith alone, then huddle themselves away, never interacting with anyone or sharing their life in Christ with anyone in any meaningful way is blasphemous. Salvation has no meaning except it’s shared. It’s like having a baby but never telling anyone about it. Or being married but never speaking about your spouse. Or having a new friend but never sharing them with anyone. What’s the point?
Love is to be shared and Jesus IS LOVE. EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW JESUS! Why? Because He’s the only way to heaven. It’s not a system, process, or religion, it’s a PERSON! The Lord Jesus. To know Him IS to have salvation, new life, hope for all eternity! Do you know HIM? Not just about Him. Not just have an acquaintance or satisfactory knowledge of Him Do you know HIM? Are you having regular fellowship with HIM! Are you spending time speaking with HIM! Are you disciplining yourself to worship HIM in and through your lifestyle – the way you dress, speak, work, live, drive, spend your time and money, in short, how you live and move and have your being?
If not, you likely don’t have salvation, you may simply have had a religious experience that continues to leave you cold, empty and lost. Come to Jesus alone by faith alone. But how? Open your heart to Him by inviting Him to become the Lord of your life. But how?
Just ask Him: “Lord Jesus, please forgive my sin that is separating me from You. Cleanse me of my sin and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Teach me how to walk with You, not just jump through a bunch of spiritual hoops. Open Your Word, the Bible, to me in fresh ways. Help me to see You on every page and seek to model my life after Yours. Guide and teach me by Your Spirit, but please help me find others like me who really need strength and guidance to walk faithfully with You and to grow in our likeness of You. I want You, Lord Jesus to reign in and rule my life. You’re what I really need! I open my life to you, thank You for coming into my heart and giving me new life by Your Spirit. In Your holy Name I pray. Amen!”
If you just prayed that prayer you must let someone know. If you have a Pastor you trust or a trusted Christian friend, please call them or somehow let them know you’ve given your life to Jesus and you need someone to walk with you. If you don’t have anyone, respond to this message or write me at walkingwithjesus@gmail.com.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 