Are You Saved?
How do you know if you are saved?
Is it a feeling or is there a more sure way to know?

Are you saved? In Noah's day, it was easy to know if you were saved. All you had to do was to get on that boat with Noah and all the animals. If you were on the boat, you were saved. You were safe from the destruction of the flood. But what about today? Jesus is coming to judge all people and to save only the righteous people. How do you know if you are saved?

The question: Are you saved; is an extremely important question. Being a Christian is a blessing above everything else. However, some choose to downplay the eternal part of the blessings and say that our present happiness is what matters.

This view, looses the importance of eternal reality. We are all getting older and our time on this world is not going to last that long at all. It is the eternal blessings that interest me. I'm sure that it interests you as well. How can we be happy if everything we know will soon come to an end, including us! Where then is my happiness? Where then is my hope and Joy for the future? Is there anything better than the cold hard tomb that we are all going to face sooner or later?

I long for something better and Jesus has offered us exactly what we need. Imagine being included with God's people and being taken home through various galaxies and intergalactic wonders to the place where God Himself lives so that we can live with Him forever! If the wonders of the Universe is beyond our imagination, what do you think it will be like to live with the Creator of the whole Universe?

2. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:2-3

9. But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

We can not miss this chance to be really happy, to be one of God's followers and receive all the blessings! And to think that Jesus has made it all a future reality for us. It is the only way to fill that emptiness and to have that happy feeling inside that God gives His people, it's the peace that passes understanding! Nothing else really matters.

6. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7. and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

But it is Jesus that I would really like to see. To come up to Him and see His nail-scarred hands and feet. To think what He suffered in order to save us from hopeless and sure destruction and death. We deserve to die for our sins, but Jesus took our place so that we might live with Him and experience the eternal wonders of all that God has made. Jesus has suffered for us, and He has wept for us. I'm not sure if we really understand the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. I think that it might take an eternity to find out what He really did for us. It may be that the sacrifice is eternal, in that Jesus is now in human form.

So, what must we do to be saved? We need to follow Christ's example so we do not loose the blessings that God has promised to us through His Son. He spent time every day talking to His Father and reading from Scripture.

We can do the same thing that Jesus did. If you start spending time with God every day, reading the Bible and talking to Him, you will quickly realize that you are getting happier than you have ever been before. I have experienced this same happiness myself when I started reading the Bible and talking to God. You will actually love to talk to God through Jesus because you will feel this very same closeness to God! God fills us with happiness when we come to Him. Read what Jesus did and try to copy His character.

When Jesus was 12 years old, He came to the temple and talked with the priests. Jesus knew the prophecies and He knew what they meant. The priests were amazed, wondering how one so young could know so much. Actually, He knew much more than they did.

And yet, we know that when Jesus came to this earth that He limited Himself to that of a human. So we know that it was with human abilities coupled with the Holy Spirit that enabled Him to know the prophecies.

5. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6. who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
7. but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
8. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:5-8

When Jesus was baptized we find that He is indeed the Son of God!

16. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:16-17

So, we know that Jesus had a special relationship with His Father in Heaven. However, we find in Scriptures that we also are sons and daughters of God.

14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Romans 8:14-15.

1. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 1 John 3:1

We have been adopted into the family of God. I can not even imagine the thought that I am a son of God! We are all children of God! And our Father loves us more than any earthly parent.

3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Ephesians 1:3

God has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings that we need. All we need to do is to ask for it!

9. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12. Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luke 11:9-13.

Since we are sons and daughters of God, we have access to the storehouse of God. All we need to do is ask for it!

What greater promise could we have then this? Every good thing that we ask our heavenly Father for, He will provide for us! I have experienced this over and over again in my own life. He provides for our needs when ever we call on Him. Jesus called on His Father for help all the time. We need to follow the example of our "Big Brother". We must find the same joy for ourselves that Jesus had when He talked to His Father.

God's blessing can be yours when you seek Him out and choose to follow Jesus as your example. In my own walk with God I have experienced this same joy. (At the end of this web page, I will have this same link.)

Jesus is giving us even more blessings that will last for eternity!

5. and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,
6. and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7. Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. Revelation 1:5-7.

Jesus has washed our sins away and has made us kings, queens, and priests before His Father. So since we are the sons and daughters of God, we are actually royalty! And Jesus will be coming for us. Despite the fact that the world will mourn because of Him, Even so, Jesus come soon.

9. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9

We are God's own special people who were called out of the darkness of this hopeless world into His marvelous light!

So please spend time with God every day, talking to Him and reading the Bible. You must find God yourself. No one else can do that for you. If you try to use others as your connection with God, such as your pastor or religious friend, and never become acquainted with God yourself; Then, when the time comes when you expect to get into heaven, Jesus will say to you, I never knew you! (That text is found below).

We must be known by God. We must be the apple of His eye. In other words, We must be so close to God that He actually keeps His eye on us! Read this promise:

9. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. 2 Chronicles 16:9(first part).

I want that attention from God, and I know you do too.

There is no chance that God will miss us by mistake, because He is constantly searching our hearts for any sign that we might follow Him. I am reminded of Jesus when He was crying over Jerusalem:

37. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Matthew 23: 37 NIV

Jesus is literally crying over Jerusalem, longing to help them, but they were not willing to accept His help.

Jesus is not looking for any excuse to destroy us at all. He is crying over us, that we may follow Him and be saved! He waits for us since He is not willing that any of us should be lost and perish.

9. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

There is a love here that we need to try to understand. The one thing that God longs for in us, the one thing that the Lord really takes pleasure in, is when we choose to live forever and to follow God.

11. The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy. Psalms 147:11

Can you imagine God taking pleasure in you, that when He thinks of you, there is pleasure in His eyes. Can you imagine that God has this pleasure because you are asking Him for help; Or because you are asking for His mercy?

He loves it when people start asking Him for the help that Jesus gave us when He died on the cross. This is the joy we can have, that God will keep his eyes on us with pleasure when we ask Him for help or guidance.

3. But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him. Psalms 4:3

When we fear (respect or honor) Him, when we follow Him, He will have so much pleasure when He thinks of us that He will set us apart for Himself. No wonder we will be kings and queens in His kingdom. He wants us for Himself and He will set us apart for Himself right now. Look at these Scripture, to see what God will do for His people.

12. For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield. Psalms 5:12

7. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. Psalms 34:7

He puts a shield around His people, His angels will surround God's people when there is danger, to deliver them. Look at the promises He gives to those in trouble:

15. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me. Psalms 50:15

19. They will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you. Jeremiah 1:19

When things go bad, some people go to pieces, the one who worships God, has someone who will always listen! He always has someone by his side to protect and comfort him. Now look at this promise:

5. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

These promises are just a few of the hundreds or perhaps thousands of promises that God has for us.

Like the thief on the cross, we all have the same privilege to ask Jesus: Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom. Luke 23:42 (last part). Let us do that right now, let's ask God to remember us when He comes into His Kingdom.

What might He say to us? To the thief, whose life was over, He said: "You will be with Me in Paradise" Luke 23:43 (last part)! In order to get that answer from Jesus, the thief had to have courage to ask that question. Everyone around him was cursing and blaspheming Jesus; And even though the thief was dying, he still had to resist the strong temptations that Satan and his evil angels were placing on him to curse Jesus. But instead, he chose to voice his faith to Jesus by asking Him that question which was full of faith.

But to us, what might He say? Let's look in the Bible for clues to see what He will tell you.

8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9. Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10.

None of us deserve to be saved. Everyone of us has sinned and deserve to be destroyed. Yet God through His Son, has given us eternal life. It is by God's grace that we are saved! We cannot work our way to heaven. So there is absolutely nothing we can boast about.

14. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:14-18.

Remember the pleasure that God has in us? When we fear (respect or honor) Him, when we follow Him, He will have so much pleasure when He thinks of us that He will set us apart for Himself. He will do that right now. He wants us for Himself.

Because of God's pleasure in us who respect and honor Him, God wants us to be saved. So because of His gift of grace, whosoever believes in him will not perish but live forever.

38. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
39. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
40. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:40

Jesus will raise up anyone who believes the Son of God. Isn't that a promise of love?

1. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 1 John 3:1-3.

We truly do not understand the love that Jesus has for us that we would be called the sons and daughters of God!

Now, there is something else that is very interesting in this scripture. When Jesus comes, it says, the righteous will be like Him! Also, it says that anyone who has the hope of the second coming of Christ in himself will purify himself, even as He, their Jesus, is pure. It looks like there is going to be a change in God's people.

21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:21-23.

Now for the first time we get some understanding why the majority of people on earth will choose not to accept Christ's gift. God especially loves you when you hope in His mercy, when you call Him for help, when you talk to Him. God wants us to be a close friend. So, it is only those whom God knows who will be saved. If we do not have a relationship with God, if we do not talk to God, asking Him for help; Jesus will have to say depart from me because I never knew you.

Does this make sense? Jesus says that He must know us? Now of course, God knows all people. This is not what He is saying. It is the ones who are close to Jesus, who have a close relationship with Him. These are the ones who talk to God in prayer, they are the ones who will be saved.

We must remember how deeply God takes pleasure in us. When He thinks of us, there is pleasure in His eyes. Can you imagine that God has this pleasure in you, because you are asking Him for help; Or because you are asking for His mercy? He loves it when people start asking Him for the help that Jesus gave us when He died on the cross. This is the joy we can have, that God will keep his eyes on us with pleasure when we ask Him for help or guidance.

So it only makes sense that it is only those who have a close relationship with Him, who will be saved. These are the ones that God especially loves, whom God takes so much pleasure, that they may inherit eternal life.

There is an example of a man in the Bible that God really loved. This man literally walked with God. He talked with God so much that God would not wait, but He took this man to heaven while he was still living!

22. After Methuselah was born, Enoch walked with God 300 years and he had other sons and daughters.
23. So Enoch lived a total of 365 years.
24. Enoch walked with God, and then he disappeared, for God took him away. Genesis 5:22-24 Brown Bible

This man, whose name is Enoch, truly pleased God by spending almost all of his time with God. God could not stand not having Enoch with Him, so He took Him to heaven while he was still living.

5. It was because of his faith that Enoch was taken to heaven without experiencing death. He could not be found, because God had taken him away. Before he was taken, his life was such that he was a man who truly pleased God. Hebrews 11:5 Brown Bible

From our point of view, this idea should also make sense: If we believe that Jesus will save anyone from eternal death who believes and trusts in Him, it only make sense that we will want to seek Him with all our hearts. We will want to get as close to Him as possible. After all, He is saving us from death, destruction, and unhappiness. There is no closer friend possible.

So, we will want to spend time with God and to know more about Him, and because we want to know more about this Jesus who will save us from this evil world, where we are just surviving, we will start to become more like Him.

Becoming like Jesus is a process. Initially we will start to realize how evil we really are:

14. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. Romans 7:14-15.

When we start to get close to Jesus, we want to be like Him, yet the things that we want to do, to be like Him; We don't do. And the things we no longer want to do, we find ourselves still doing it. We discover that we have no power to make us be like Him.

17. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
18. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.
19. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
20. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. Romans 7:17-20.

We find that it is the sin that dwells in us that causes us to do evil. This is a troubling condition to be in:

21. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.
22. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.
23. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Romans 7:21-24.

We find that we are in a wretched condition when we are coming to Christ. We want to do what is right because we want to follow Jesus' example, but we find that we are doing evil with our actions. This is why we need Jesus to come into our hearts to change us internally. It is Jesus who saves us from this wretched condition.

1. 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.
2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
3. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,
4. that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4.

What Jesus did was to condemn the sin in our flesh. He has given us the power to follow God with our bodies. The wretched man is no longer wretched because He condemned sin in our flesh. We are free!

7. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.
8. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
9. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
10. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 1 John 3:7-10.

Jesus has given us power to become righteous. So, if we are in Christ, we become righteous. when we become close to Jesus, those who have faith are going to act on their faith through the strength and power of Jesus Christ and become righteous.

This is amazing! We know our selves pretty good. We know that we cannot really keep it up, being good for too long because it just is not in us. This is where the Holy Spirit comes in. God can actually change us from the inside out and in His strength we can act out His actions.

Every time the Disciples failed, Jesus told them that it was because they had so little faith. And so they had so little of the strength of God. Peter tried to walk on the water but his faith faltered and he fell into the water. There was a son with an evil spirit that the disciples could not drive out, again because of their lack of faith.

So it seems that Faith is directly connected with our actions and our ability to do what God asks us to do. When we try to do things without talking to God, we fall "flat on our faces".

23. Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
24. Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
25. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
26. Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
27. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
28. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
29. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
30. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last. Luke 13:23-30.

Again, many are going to try to do religious things however, they have not tried to go to Jesus. They have not tried to talk to Jesus asking Him for help and depending on His mercy and grace. It is Jesus who saves us and changes us. When we do the religious things without Jesus, Jesus will have to tell us "I know you not". Remember, without Jesus, we are a wretched man who is not able to control the body because of sin. Everything he does is useless.

We are told here to strive to enter in at the strait gate. This tells us that the righteous will struggle to do right, but it is in the strength of Jesus that the righteous struggle. If we look at the life of Christ, we find that He also struggled, especially at the end. Often we find Jesus spending whole nights in prayer with His Father. That must be an important indicator of where our strength must come from. Are we going to the one who can give us what we need to live as Jesus lived? Are we doing things from our own strength or from God? We gain strength through prayer.

12. work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14. Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15. That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Philippians 2:12(last part)-15.

So, we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling so that God can work in us to want to do his good pleasure. We will want to do what God wants us to do!

Yes, our salvation is a gift. Yet, Jesus says we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. It is so easy to find ourselves working from our own strength. But if we do try from our own strength, we are lost. Our salvation is from Jesus who heals us from the inside out. We must always be striving to seek out our Creator who has saved us from death and unhappiness.

Because God will work in us to both do things and want to do things that are pleasurable to God, we must make sure that we are following His lead and not our own.

1. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
2. By this we know that we love the children of God,when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:1-5.

Now we are told that if we truly love God and His Son, we will love to keep His commandments. It is the evidence of our faith, and it is the evidence that God is working in us. It is our faith in Jesus that changes us. God gave us that love so that the keeping of God's commandments would not be grievous (or burdensome). Instead, we will want to follow what ever God wants of us from the bottom of our hearts. We will not chafe at the bit because we will actually love to keep God's commandments. The reason for this is that we really love God! We are close to Him and He is close to us!

12. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12

That love is now referred to as patience. This patience results in the keeping of God's commandments and in having the faith of Jesus!

17. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:17

Satan, realizing what is happening, wants to destroy those who are close to God, and it is easy for him to identify them. They are those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ!

14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. Revelation 22:14-15.

Finally, God himself identifies those who are His, and He blesses those who keep his commandments because they now have a right to the tree of life. All this time we must realize that all this is a gift!

The following seven parallel text show what Jesus said to the seven churches found in Revelation 2 and 3.

In the message to these seven churches, Overcoming the world is very important! Also, see that the word repent is often used. Yes, God's people will change. They will become more like Jesus and they will love what they are doing because they love Jesus.

4. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
5. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.
6. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 1 John 4:4-6

11. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
13. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 1 John 4:11-13

Now we have a specific point to look for when we ask: Am I Saved? We can know if Jesus has been able to give us His Holy Spirit! It is very simple. If we love each other, God lives in us.

How do we get to love God? Start spending time with God. You will quickly realize that you are now starting to get happier than you have ever been before, and you will actually love to talk to God through Jesus! Read what Jesus did. try to copy His character.

Remember, Do not base your understanding of your relation with God with just a few verses of scripture. All of scripture must be considered.

The reason why I mention this is that many use a few verses like Ephesians 2:8-9 and they ignore all the rest of scripture:

8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9. Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9.

Yes salvation is a gift and there is nothing we can do to earn it. However many say they are saved, using this text in Ephesians, and then they go out and live ungodly lives. They think they have a Bible verse that protects them. But in actuality, there is nothing in them that is really Christ like, so that they would do anything for Him. They do not talk to God, giving God the pleasure of helping them. So, they have not received His gift! To them, Jesus will say, I never knew you!

Remember the verse: For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. 2 Chronicles 16:9(first part).

The hearts of God's people will be solidly in Christ. That is what's needed. That is what God's Gift provides for them. They will love Him and look for a soon return of their Master, Jesus Christ! They will do anything for Him.

Remember, the Lord truly loves us to the extent that He wants us to live with Him. This is not wishful thinking. He even now is working on our behalf to save us from sin. He is now preparing to take us home with Him. So let's plan to be among the saved. This will be the biggest homecoming that we will ever experience. I am sure that the whole universe of created beings are also looking forward to this event. We must not miss our chance to witness and feel the happiness of those who love the Lord by living with Him!

You might want to see how I have struggled with God. The following link takes you to a page that shows what God has done for me in my own walk with God.