1st.Peter 3:14-22 "But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; but sanctify the LORD GOD in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in CHRIST. For it is better, if the will of GOD be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
For CHRIST also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that HE might bring us to GOD, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the SPIRIT: by which also HE went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of GOD waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward GOD.) by the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST: WHO is gone into Heaven, and is on the right hand of GOD; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto HIM."
The Bible declares that "CHRIST also hath once suffered for sins, the JUST (the RIGHTEOUS ONE) for the unjust (the unrighteous ones), that HE might bring us to GOD" (v.18). Herein lies the great difference between religion and salvation. Religion is man trying to bring himself to GOD (by human effort, by sacraments, by good works, by following various rituals, by trying to measure up to certain moral standards, etc.). Salvation is wholly different. GOD knew that man, on his own, could never measure up to what GOD's righteousness requires, "for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD" (Romans 3:23). Therefore, salvation is CHRIST bringing us (sinful, helpless, hopeless, and depraved men and women) to GOD on the basis of what HE did for us on the cross. Salvation can never be earned by performing certain religious deeds: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to HIS mercy HE saved us" (Titus 3:5). It is not our doing (Romans 3:20 pictured above), but it is CHRIST's "done" (John 19:30 pictured below).
The following illustration shows the folly of a religious man trying to work his way to Heaven. Consider two men seeking to go from New York to London. One man trusts his own efforts and jumping into the ocean, attempts to swim all the way to London. No matter how good a swimmer he is, he will perish. The other man gets on a ship and allows it to do all the work. The man of faith trusts CHRIST to do all the work in order that he might be brought to GOD. "I do not work my soul to save, that my LORD hath done. But I would work like any slave for love of GOD's dear SON !" GWZ
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.featoday.org
https://www.fivestarchristianministries.com/salvation
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