The thing that our Lord has done for me is something that I cannot ever do for myself nor would I ever try. Not to say that I have not tried, but our Lord asked that we be forgiven because we know not what we do (see Luke 23:34). The Holy Spirit did not plant me into a virgin – I have not lived my life perfectly in God for all of mankind – my death cannot free anyone, not even myself. God has done these for me. The Son of God, Jesus, came to this world as a man. The creator came into the creation and lived as all men do, but did not give way to the lies that corrupt or the temptation to turn away from our Father in Heaven. Because of Jesus, death can be (and is) made life. I am dead except that Jesus lives and the Spirit of the one that sent Him makes me alive (“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11)).

There is reason in my life to rejoice and that reason is life with Jesus forever and life and peace on the earth in this life; eternal life predates this life. Why then would I still be sad? God has given to some (and I am one) a passion for the children of God that have been taught lies and are not rejoicing (while they are sad, I cannot fully rejoice). The lies being taught are not about the trueness of the Son of God, the grace of God, or His death and resurrection. The lies that are being taught are about the chains on the hands and feet of the children of God.

The lies being taught are not about freedom. It is true that the freedom I speak of does not stop us from being saved. Salvation will set us free because it is truth and truth sets us free. Salvation is a gift from God sent by His Son. Freedom is the result of living as ones that are saved. When you live as if you are saved, you do not fear that salvation can be taken from you. That is where the lie comes in. Some brothers and sisters are teaching that salvation is not sure and can be lost. Jesus is our salvation and He has already done what was required. How can that be lost? It cannot.

What if salvation is never accepted? What if someone will not believe that Jesus died for them? Or what if someone does not accept Jesus as the Son of God? Jesus is still the Son of God and Jesus still died and rose and salvation is still truth. A death is required to pay the penalty for sin. If I pick something up in a store and someone else pays for it, is the store owner still owed a debt. No. If I refuse to accept that it has been paid for, do I still owe a debt for it? No. If I leave the item in the store because I will not accept that another has paid and the store owner will not accept a payment from me, is the item mine? No. If one does not accept the payment Jesus made for his or her salvation, then that one leaves salvation on the shelf. God will not accept our attempts to pay for our own salvation. What if I accept the item and take it from the store with me but continue to feel as though I owe something for the item. Is the item mine? Yes. But I do not have the joy that I should? No, because I feel the burden of debt. Freedom is accepting that I owe nothing for the gift and enjoying the gift without burden.

Why then would I still be sad? Because too many of the children of God have been told that they owe something for the gift of salvation. Too many children of God will not go and meet with other brothers and sisters in Christ because they fear they will be asked to pay for the gift. Too many say the word tithe and do not know what they have said – they know nothing of the law of tithing. I wish the word would be struck from the language. Too many say Sabbath and do not know the peace or rest of our Lord. Everyday belongs to God. Too many say baptism and do not know that it must be first in the heart. If we do not truly die and rise with Jesus in our heart, we do no more than get wet when we are baptized. Of the baptism of Spirit, some say it is not for us today. Romans 8:8 reads, “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Are we still saved? Yes, if we believe that Jesus, the Son of God, died for our salvation. If we have faith in Jesus Christ. Is the Holy Spirit for us today? Yes (“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11)).

Why then would I still be sad? Some believe or are being taught that we still owe a debt, and there is no way to pay the debt because it has already been paid. It is like staying in prison after the door has been unlocked and you are told to go home. These still in prison are our brothers and sisters. Are they saved? Yes. Why are they still in prison? Because we have left them there and they have not tried to open the door because they fear it is still locked. Why do they fear it is still locked? They have been told that the doors are still locked and that they owe a debt before they can be opened.

In Romans 8:10-11 we read, ”And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:1 reads, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” In Psalm 32:1-2 it is written, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” David and Paul are saying the same thing. Jesus Christ, by His death, forgives our transgression and His blood covers and washes away our sins. But neither of them stop there, they could have; we are saved. They also wrote there is no condemnation and the Lord does not impute iniquity. Who are they talking about? Those that walk in the Spirit; those with no deceit in their spirit; those that walk according to the Spirit and do not deceive themselves or are not being deceived. What are Christians being deceived about? The fact that God has done it for us – Jesus has paid it for us – we are free.

Hebrews 11:6 reads, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” We read in Romans 8:8, “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” These two things are not different. Remember Romans 8:10-11, ”And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Faith in Jesus Christ is our salvation, but we also need to believe in the One that sent Jesus.

Salvation is a gift and eternal life is a gift; salvation is a gift that we accept or we do not accept, but we cannot buy or earn. What are the rewards? Peace, joy, happiness and much more. We must have faith in God, (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Love is a fruit of the Holy Spirit – without the Spirit we are loved by God, but do not have the capacity for true love. First John 4:9-10 teaches us, “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Accept that Jesus died for your sins and is your salvation and righteousness; be saved. Accept the Holy Spirit and walk in the Spirit and work “seeking first the kingdom of God” now in this life. Know the One who sent Jesus and receive the rewards today and forever. Know that the door is unlocked, open it, and walk through.

© 2004, 2017 Tim D. Coulter Sr.