Salvation is redemption through Jesus’s blood, the forgiveness of sin according to the riches of God’s grace. (Eph.1:7) It is God’s grace in conjunction with man’s faith response. (Eph.2:8) Salvation is not earned by man’s good works, but by God’s grace. It is an assurance of eternal life. (John.10:28)

Salvation is an unmerited gift of God to mankind by which God redeemed man who cannot help himself from the wages of his sin. Salvation is a permanent gift because those who responds to the grace of God are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of a possession that is yet to come but which God has promised. (Eph.1:13, 14) It is as a biological father remains the father of his child by virtue of the permanent effect of his seed. God’s fatherhood remains permanent by the effect of His grace upon who once believes in Christ as his Saviour. The conversion experience like conception, is an irreversible process.

The assurance that salvation is permanent is expressed in God’s covenant with David in which He promised not to take away David’s seed from the throne as He took it away from Saul. God was referring to Solomon and our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah as David’s seed who were yet to come at that time. (2 Sam.7:12-16) God says He will show Solomon mercy and chasten him if he commits iniquity, but the kingdom given to him shall be forever. Regarding the Messiah, Jesus established His Church which is the house of God. The kingdom reign of Jesus which is everlasting in the sense that it will continue until Jesus returns all authority to God, that God may be all in all. (1 Cor.15:25-28)

Though salvation is earned by God’s grace and not by keeping the Law of Moses, it is not a license to disobey God. The bible while establishing the fact asks a question, “What then, shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? And it answers, “Certainly not.” (Rom.6:15) “Certainly not” because grace does not become license to ignore the will of God who offered grace, but freedom that gives the right to obey Him. The Bible says, “As free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.” (1 Peter.2:16) Salvation provides believers the forgiveness of sin and the power to overcome sin through Jesus Christ. (Rom.6:6)

Despite that God’s mercy shall not depart from Solomon and the kingdom shall not be taken away from him, God says, He will chasten Solomon with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men if he commits iniquity. (2 Sam.7:14) It means there is consequence for taking the salvation for granted.

Apostle Paul expresses a more sever consequence of taking salvation for granted when he recommended that a believer who committed adultery with his father’s wife be delivered to Satan. (1 Cor.5:1-5) A believer who is handed over to Satan is removed from God’s protection. While such believer is not denied God’s sonship, his removal from God’s protection exposes him to the destruction of his body by Satan and he is prone to early physical death even though it is hoped that his spirit may be saved when Jesus returns.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, taking salvation for granted leads to gradual spiritual disconnection from God. Spiritual disconnection often occurs as a gradual drift rather than a sudden decision. When there is disconnect from God, the grace of God is taken as licence to continually live unrepentant life so much that one receives God’s discipline rather than God’s blessing. We must therefore be careful to do the good things that result from being saved, obeying God with deep reverence, and withdrawing from all that might displease God.

Shalom

Evangelism The grace of God is very much available to whoever that believes in Jesus. Tell someone about the truth today and experience the goodness of God.

Rev. Shobayo Kayode The Gospel Study Centre