Christian, Why Are You Saved?

          What's your answer to that question?

          Is it because of something good in you or because you have more discernment
     or faith that made you come to God for salvation?


                       Answer:

                                          "As it is written:
                                           There is no one righteous, not even one;
                                           there is no one who seeks God."
                                                                          Romans 3:10-11

                     In fact, Jesus sought you.


                                          "For the Son of Man came to seek and
                                           to save what was lost."
                                                                          Luke 19:10


          You are not saved because of anything good in you.

                                  
                                        " ... all our righteous acts are like filthy rags."
                                                                        Isaiah 64:6


          You are "saved by grace through faith, and this not from yourself , it is the
     gift of God, so that no one can boast"  Ephesians 2:8-9




          You are not saved because you made a "decision to accept Jesus as your Savior."

     "Salvation is of the Lord" (Jonah 2:9).

                                       "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed
                                         in His name, He gave the right to become children of God -
                                         children born not of natural descent, NOR OF HUMAN
                                         DECISION, or a husband's will, but BORN OF GOD."
                                                                                         John 1:12-13


                                                         **********


          God chose you for salvation in Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world.
    His choosing us precedes our believing in Him.

                                      "For He chose us in Him before the creation of the
                                       world to be holy and blameless in His sight.  In
                                       love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons
                                       through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His
                                       pleasure and will, to the praise of His glorious grace,
                                       which He has freely given us in the One He loves."
                                                                            Ephesians 1:4-6



          You are "predestined, called, justified, and glorified"  (Romans 8:30).


          The Father has "given you" to Jesus, and all given to Jesus "WILL COME"  to Him,
     and He "will never drive you away"  (John 6:37).


          You can't come to Him on your own power or will  - you must be drawn by the Father
    to Jesus.


                                      "No one can come to me unless the Father
                                       who sent me draws him, and I will raise
                                       him up at the last day."
                                                                    John 6:44


          Because you were "dead in your sin" (Ephesians 2:1) and unable to respond to God,
     "you must be born again," (John 3:3) so that you will be made willing and able to come
     to Him for salvation.


          God removes your "heart of stone and gives you a heart of flesh", and "puts His Spirit
     in you and moves you to follow Him and His decrees and be careful to keep His laws."
     (Ezekiel 36:26-27). This is the new birth.


          The Holy Spirit gave you new birth as He willed.  (John 3:8).

          Jesus gave you life.


                                       " ... even so the Son gives life to whom He
                                         is pleased to give it."
                                                                              John 5:21b


                                                           **********


          Because salvation is a gift from God, you can do nothing to ever lose it.

          You are safe in the hands of the Father and the Son.


                                      "My sheep listen to my voice;  I
                                       know them, and they follow me.
                                       I give them eternal life, and they
                                      shall never perish;  no one can snatch
                                      them out of my hand.
                                      My Father who has given them to me,
                                      is greater than all;  no one can snatch
                                     them out of my Father's hand."
                                                                       John 10:27-29


          You are marked with a seal and will never be lost.


                                    "Having believed, you were marked with
                                     a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is
                                     a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance
                                     until the redemption of those who are
                                     God's possession - to the praise of  His glory."
                                                                    Ephesians 1:13b-14