“We Are Saved Through Jesus”

John 3:16-21

16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

W

e have been directed by the Lord to begin a new series because of the great need of the World for salvation. The sheer number of ministries and messages that seem to be ineffective heightens the seriousness of the situation. Because the Lord must impress upon us the severity of the times in which we live, He must try yet another approach to get our attention. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of our times is that Man is not heeding the warning of God.

The question now being asked of us all and that that must be answered is “Are you saved?” It would seem that the answer would be clear and simple, but most would not really want to answer because of being without the information by which to do so.

The subject that the Lord has given us for consideration indicates that people will try to be saved through means other than Jesus. By now, it should come as no surprise to us that if Man can “get around” dealing with Jesus, he will. So, why “avoid” Jesus? Because if He is involved, then one will not be allowed to be “human.”

If we will be saved, our only hope is Jesus. Not simply knowing whom He is, what He suffered and how He died, but understanding His death, its benefits and accepting that death for us.

Contrary to what we feel would make us happy, it does not help us to want to believe that we are saved if we are not. Of course, just going to Church does not mean that one has salvation. It is precisely because too many people are being deceived right into hell that something must be done.

So, how exactly are we to benefit from what has already been provided particularly when most do not understand what they are supposed to believe? One thing that Man does not need to believe is that faith involves “psyching (oneself) out.” We can have confidence to accept that that has already been done.

Various peoples had their difficulties with accepting that Jesus could be who He said that He was. You see, in the scripture, it is said of the Greeks that it was foolishness to believe that one Man could die for others and that, those men, in turn, could be saved. To the Jews, this was ridiculous, for they believed that Jesus had died for His sins, so therefore, His “sacrifice” would have been “tainted.”

The death that Jesus underwent was designed to lead to change. If, after salvation, we are “raised up” as was Jesus yet we continue to operate for “self,” we will find that, despite ourselves, we are “in bondage to” flesh.

The hope of all people is that because we are told that Jesus died for our sins, salvation will “naturally” be ours, with little to no change. This is not possible, for this is known as the “born again” experience. Obviously, in order to be “born again,” one would have had to die.

Does this mean that all “originates” with our death? No, what it does mean is that salvation is ours because we accept the death of Jesus. It is to be more than a statement. It means a commitment of one’s life to Jesus, for it indicates a willingness to partake of His death and to count oneself as dead in the same manner as Jesus is “dead.”

That which is “common” to Man is to continue to live a fleshly life yet, profess salvation. You see, this is because sin “agrees with” the flesh—makes us feel good. The two of them “get along.”

Since it is only the spirit that can reveal what the Word says, only through having that Spirit will one be able to “unlock its mysteries.” The holy men of old wrote the scripture by the direction of the Holy Spirit—but this does not mean that they had the Holy Spirit. One thing is certain: no matter what one is called upon to do for the Lord, ultimately, that individual still needs to be saved. Man without the Holy Spirit is dead, whether in the “cemetery” or “seminary.”

Aside from the death of the flesh, it is impossible for Man to be saved for as long as it lives, it will not allow him to follow the Word of God. He is gracious enough to us to allow us “chances” to “get it right.” Therefore, “things” constantly “resurface” to get us to see what is lacking.

No matter the problem, no matter how “tough” a situation might get, we must determine to “stay involved with God.” For no matter what, if one intends to be saved, he will be saved only “through Jesus.”