I Need A Savior
Posted: January 17th, 2009, 3:52 am
HEALING SHELTER MINISTRIES #131r Re-Written 17JAN09 http://groups.msn.com/AHealingShelter/welcome.msnw
Save Me Today—Part Eighteen: I Need A Savior
by rev dave c
I need a savior. I need to be saved. I am just smart enough, just aware enough, to have learned that on my own I am not able to live a life that turns away from, that overcomes, personal sin. I know that this is true right here and right now (I have over 50 years of life lessons in that knowledge), and I strongly suspect that it will be true tomorrow. I used to say, “I’ve never met a temptation that I couldn’t give in to.” I wish that statement was only a poor attempt at humor during my pre-Christ days. Colossians 1:16 (and Hebrews 1:2) tells me that Jesus is my Almighty Creator, but I need more than just being created. He could have “wound me up” and walked away like a great watch maker. Colossians 1:17 (and Hebrews 1:3) tells me that Jesus is my Faithful Sustainer, but I need more than just sustenance. He could be a divine “feeding tube” that disinterestedly provides the necessities of air, food, and water. Romans 10:9 (and First Corinthians 12:3) tells me that Jesus is my Righteous Lord, but I need more than just being “governed.” As our Lord, however, Isaiah tells me in 33:22, “...The LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us (NIV).” Therein lies hope.
If I am on my own before the rule of iron fisted Righteousness...I am lost. If I am required to meet the standard of God’s Holy law through perfect compliance...I am lost. If I must face Divine Judgment alone in my transgressions...I am lost. Blessedly, Isaiah also assures me in 38:15-17 and 42:4-7 that my Creator loves me and created me to love Him—and John “the Beloved” agrees (1John 4). Jesus is my Judge, and (because He loves me) He is my Savior-Advocate. Jesus is my Lawgiver, and (because He loves me) He is my Savior-Teacher. Jesus is my King, and (because He loves me) He is my Savior-Shepherd. ...It is He who will save me. ...It is He who will save me. ...It is He who will save me.
I still have a problem. In 1982 I asked Christ to forgive me all my sins and to begin the process of taking over my life. He most definitely answered and fulfilled that prayer. But what about since then? What about today? Tomorrow? God didn’t take me home the moment He came to dwell within me, and I have since been guilty of sin—not just rarely, and not just the little ones. The painful truth of the matter is, I needed a Savior in the past, I need a Savior today, and I will need a Savior in the future. I am literally a three dimensional person (mind-body-spirit) who lives in a three dimensional universe (space-matter-time), and I am created-sustained-judged by a three dimensional God (The Father-The Son-The Holy Spirit).
[Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them (Heb. 7:25; NIV). Thankfully, the Bible teaches me that I have a great and gracious God Who can, and does, save me completely...in all aspects of existence. The Apostle Paul tells me in The New Testament that salvation is simultaneously a past event [For it is by grace you have been saved (Eph2:8)], it is a present event [For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1Co 1:18)], and it is a future event [This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved--and that by God (Ph 1:28)].
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith" (Ro 1:16&17; NIV). Life can become complicated—theology, doctrine, and religion can become complicated—but faith is simple. “Jesus loves me this I know, for The Bible tells me so….” I know that God’s plan from before the beginning was for Jesus to be born of the virgin Mary into this world almost 2,000 years ago as fully the Son of God and fully the Son of Man; that He lived a perfect and sinless life of miraculous power as witness to the divine love and eternal nature of God the Father; that He suffered and died at the hands of the very people whom He came to save (you and me) so that we might be forgiven and adopted as children of God; that He bodily rose from the tomb through the power of the Holy Spirit; that He ascended to Heaven to sit at the Father’s right hand; that He sent the Holy Spirit to live within each and every believer; and that one day in the future Christ will return to claim His bride, the Church.
I believe whole heartedly that the Gospel of Jesus Christ saves me completely and eternally. Can you believe it? Do you believe it? Paul exhorts us: So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2Ti 1:8-10; NIV). I have been saved. I am being saved. I will be saved. I have a Savior: He is Jesus Christ, the living Son of God to Whom goes all glory, honor, and praise. Amen.
Save Me Today—Part Eighteen: I Need A Savior
by rev dave c
I need a savior. I need to be saved. I am just smart enough, just aware enough, to have learned that on my own I am not able to live a life that turns away from, that overcomes, personal sin. I know that this is true right here and right now (I have over 50 years of life lessons in that knowledge), and I strongly suspect that it will be true tomorrow. I used to say, “I’ve never met a temptation that I couldn’t give in to.” I wish that statement was only a poor attempt at humor during my pre-Christ days. Colossians 1:16 (and Hebrews 1:2) tells me that Jesus is my Almighty Creator, but I need more than just being created. He could have “wound me up” and walked away like a great watch maker. Colossians 1:17 (and Hebrews 1:3) tells me that Jesus is my Faithful Sustainer, but I need more than just sustenance. He could be a divine “feeding tube” that disinterestedly provides the necessities of air, food, and water. Romans 10:9 (and First Corinthians 12:3) tells me that Jesus is my Righteous Lord, but I need more than just being “governed.” As our Lord, however, Isaiah tells me in 33:22, “...The LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us (NIV).” Therein lies hope.
If I am on my own before the rule of iron fisted Righteousness...I am lost. If I am required to meet the standard of God’s Holy law through perfect compliance...I am lost. If I must face Divine Judgment alone in my transgressions...I am lost. Blessedly, Isaiah also assures me in 38:15-17 and 42:4-7 that my Creator loves me and created me to love Him—and John “the Beloved” agrees (1John 4). Jesus is my Judge, and (because He loves me) He is my Savior-Advocate. Jesus is my Lawgiver, and (because He loves me) He is my Savior-Teacher. Jesus is my King, and (because He loves me) He is my Savior-Shepherd. ...It is He who will save me. ...It is He who will save me. ...It is He who will save me.
I still have a problem. In 1982 I asked Christ to forgive me all my sins and to begin the process of taking over my life. He most definitely answered and fulfilled that prayer. But what about since then? What about today? Tomorrow? God didn’t take me home the moment He came to dwell within me, and I have since been guilty of sin—not just rarely, and not just the little ones. The painful truth of the matter is, I needed a Savior in the past, I need a Savior today, and I will need a Savior in the future. I am literally a three dimensional person (mind-body-spirit) who lives in a three dimensional universe (space-matter-time), and I am created-sustained-judged by a three dimensional God (The Father-The Son-The Holy Spirit).
[Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them (Heb. 7:25; NIV). Thankfully, the Bible teaches me that I have a great and gracious God Who can, and does, save me completely...in all aspects of existence. The Apostle Paul tells me in The New Testament that salvation is simultaneously a past event [For it is by grace you have been saved (Eph2:8)], it is a present event [For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1Co 1:18)], and it is a future event [This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved--and that by God (Ph 1:28)].
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith" (Ro 1:16&17; NIV). Life can become complicated—theology, doctrine, and religion can become complicated—but faith is simple. “Jesus loves me this I know, for The Bible tells me so….” I know that God’s plan from before the beginning was for Jesus to be born of the virgin Mary into this world almost 2,000 years ago as fully the Son of God and fully the Son of Man; that He lived a perfect and sinless life of miraculous power as witness to the divine love and eternal nature of God the Father; that He suffered and died at the hands of the very people whom He came to save (you and me) so that we might be forgiven and adopted as children of God; that He bodily rose from the tomb through the power of the Holy Spirit; that He ascended to Heaven to sit at the Father’s right hand; that He sent the Holy Spirit to live within each and every believer; and that one day in the future Christ will return to claim His bride, the Church.
I believe whole heartedly that the Gospel of Jesus Christ saves me completely and eternally. Can you believe it? Do you believe it? Paul exhorts us: So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2Ti 1:8-10; NIV). I have been saved. I am being saved. I will be saved. I have a Savior: He is Jesus Christ, the living Son of God to Whom goes all glory, honor, and praise. Amen.