I don’t intend for this post to be long or elaborate, but only for it to speak truth and ignite an unwavering hope in the depths of your soul. Under normal circumstances I would say that’s a tall order- but considering the content is straight from the word of God, I feel confident in this endeavor 🙂
In conversation with someone yesterday I had the opportunity to share about the saving work of Jesus. The person with whom I was speaking comes from a belief system in which works are primary for reconciliation with God and to garner eternal life. This person had no certainty of having a right standing before God. No certainty that she would be with Christ forever. This absolutely breaks my heart! If you share the belief system of this young lady, please listen to the words of the Apostles John and Peter and of the Lord Jesus himself. And if you are a possessor of the greatest hope in the world, I pray these words leave you again in awe of the love and grace of God.
The Apostle John concluded chapter 20 of his gospel with these words: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31). The same Apostle concluded his first epistle in similar fashion: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). All that John had written concerning Jesus- his miracles, life, death, and resurrection- was for the purpose of giving us certainty of our right standing with God.
As the early Church emerged, the Apostle Peter preached this same good news to the Gentiles, saying, “To him [Jesus] all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43). It is through Christ alone that we are saved! There is no amount of good works we can do- nothing we can add to the cross to make us acceptable before a holy God. As the prophet Isaiah tells us, all of our good deeds are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). And as the Apostle Paul assures us, nobody is justified by works of the law (Romans 3:20, Galatians 2:16).
If this is not enough evidence that we are reconciled to God by grace through faith in Christ, consider the words of Jesus: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24); and, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).
Of course, a true faith will show itself in a desire to obey the commands of Christ. As we abide in him, we will bear fruit and grow in holiness; we will walk in the good works prepared for us as God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). But please know these works are an outpouring- a result of our reconciliation with God and of the Holy Spirit living within us! As the Apostles and Christ have clearly stated, we can have absolute certainty that our sins have been forgiven. We can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are His and He is ours.
*For more on the glorious truth of the Gospel, see my previous post: https://nicolebyrum.com/2024/04/22/apologetic-no-other-god-part-i/
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