The Price of Salvation

How much does the salvation of our souls cost us? It cost Christ his life, how much must we pay for it? Paul stated, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8, and, “For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23. Salvation is a free gift from God to all men and women.

Does the free nature of salvation mean that there is nothing I must do in order to be saved? The Bible reveals that there is much that I must do to receive this free gift. I must have faith, “And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him” Hebrews 11:6. I must repent of my sins, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish” Luke 13:3. I must believe in Christ and confess his name, “Because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” Romans 10:9-10. I must live a faithful life until the day I die, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life” Revelation 2:10b. I must “repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38), or, as Jesus stated, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned” Mark 16:16. I must be a hard worker for God, “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead” James 2:26.

These examples listed above are but a few of the things that I must do in order to be saved. Why then does God tell us that salvation is free? The answer is simple: I cannot earn salvation. Salvation is not a paycheck for good works done in this life. I must do good works that God has asked me to do, but I do not earn Heaven for doing these works.

Consider Jim who inherited 1,000,000 dollars from his uncle. Jim did not earn this money by working. However, there are things Jim must do in order to receive this money. He must fill out the proper paper work and take the proper legal actions to receive this inheritance. Even though Jim did not earn the money by doing the proper actions, he received it nonetheless by doing these actions. If Jim had not done what was required to receive the money, he would not have received it.

Salvation is free, but there is much I must do in order to receive it. I cannot earn it, I simply must do the things required to receive my inheritance from God. Please join us at the Piedmont church of Christ, 118 Madison Ave., in study of God’s word. In Christ, Josh Haley, Evangelist.

How To Fight

How do I fight the devil? This question may seem simple, and some may answer it with a simple black and white answer, “do not sin”. Perhaps this question deserves a more substantial answer. It is true that when we resist sin and avoid temptation we are fighting the devil. James states, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” James 1:14. We, through our faith, must chose to submit to God, resist the devil, draw closer to God, (James 4:7-8), and refuse to be drawn away! This is how to fight the devil.

Paul stated, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” 1 Corinthians 10:13. Put simply, God will always provide a way for us to overcome temptation. The devil does not have the power to force me to sin. The phrase, “The devil made me do it” simply is not true. However, one should not think that this passage teaches that God will miraculously cause us to make the right choice and refuse to sin. By taking a closer look at the Bible we see exactly how God makes “a way of escape” thereby enabling us to bear, or overcome, temptation.

When Jesus went into the wilderness to pray, the devil showed up and tempted him. Matthew records, “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil” Matthew 4:1. Verse three records, “And then the tempter came to him…” Jesus was then faced with temptation; sin and please the devil or stay strong and please the Father. The choice, of course, was easy for Christ. Jesus chose to please the Father, refuse to sin, and resist the devil. How did he do this when the devil tempted him? Every time he was tempted he answered, “It is written” (Mt. 4:4,7,10)! Jesus, in order to defeat the devil, used the Holy word of God to combat the temptation the devil threw at him.

You too can resist the devil “steadfastly in your faith” (1 Peter 5.9). “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” Romans 10:17. What is the “way to escape” temptation from the devil? The word of God. Stay strong to the Bible and the devil will gain no foothold on your soul. “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” 2 Timothy 2:15. By serious study of God’s word, we come closer and closer to defeating the devil.

Are you a Christian? Have you been buried with Christ in baptism to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-4)? Come learn the words of Jesus at the Piedmont church of Christ, 118 Madison Ave., this Sunday. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be condemned” Mark 16:16. Josh Haley, Evangelist.

Strength In Numbers

People love strength in numbers. Having many people on our side makes us feel both comfortable and secure. Yet there is no strength in numbers when it comes to our spiritual lives. Strength in spirituality comes from God, as David stated: “With God is my salvation and my glory: The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God” Psalms 62.7. We should feel comfortable and secure when we turn to God for strength, and “lean not upon our own understanding” (Proverbs 3.5).

God cautions people about feeling strength in numbers alone. Although God wants us to fellowship with other Christians and lean upon them for encouragement, God does not want us to beguile ourselves into thinking we are doing something good just because many people are doing the same thing. Moses warned the Children of Israel about this when he stated, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil” Exodus 23:2a. Just because a “multitude” was doing something did not necessarily make it right with God.

Jesus also warned about going simply with numbers in our spiritual lives. Jesus stated, “Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby” Matt. 7:13. Many people find the way to destruction, and just because many people are going down this road does not make it right. There is no strength in numbers in this situation. Actually, Jesus states, “For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it” Matthew 7:14. Jesus is warning us that most people will not dedicate their lives to him and walk down this “narrow” way. The fact that many people are doing something does not make it right.

How then do I know that I am doing what God wants me to do? Paul stated, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” 2 Timothy 2:15. Only through study of the Bible can we approve ourselves and not be ashamed of our lack of knowledge and obedience. We must take this responsibility upon ourselves and not lean upon the multitude for our guidance. Notice the attitude of the people living in Berea: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” Acts 17:11. These people daily studied the Bible to see if the preacher was telling the truth. No resting upon the multitude, no believing in strength in numbers, just good people studying the Bible for themselves.

Have you ever studied the Bible for yourself? Please join us at the Piedmont church of Christ, 118 Madison Ave., in open discussion of God’s word. Come to your own conclusions as we carefully study the Bible with open minds and open hearts. See our listing for service times. In Christ, Josh Haley, Evangelist.