Thankful for Salvation

In the book: “The Gospel According to Jesus,” author John MacArthur writes: “Nothing a lost, degenerate, spiritually dead sinner can do will in any way contribute to salvation. Saving faith, repentance, commitment, and obedience are all divine works, wrought by the Holy Spirit in the heart of everyone who is saved.” (pg.15)

In Psalm 116, the author asks: “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.”

According to scripture, salvation is a free gift from God to all who are saved, that is to all who truly believe. Are we thankful for this gift? (Eph.2:8-10)

It seems that inside the church or outside of the church the whole message of salvation has for the most part been watered down or lost altogether. And those who do possess it, have forgotten the wonderful blessing that it is. Where would we be without God’s gift of salvation?

Its high time to get back to the basics of thanksgiving, beginning with thankfulness in our hearts for the ‘cup of salvation.’ For those who truly know Christ and his gospel, its time to tell others the real message not the watered down easy believism of today. Part of the Psalm above speaks of fulfilling our vows to the Lord. When we are truly ‘born again,’ (John 3:3) we are changed. (2 Cor.5:17) We don’t live in the same ways as before our encounter with Christ. (note Acts 9)

Many today speak of a salvation that requires no more than saying you believe, yet the Bible teaches that much more is required. Perhaps the reason more are not thankful for their salvation is due to the fact that they believe they had such a big part in it themselves. Since they feel they chose salvation on their own, they need not thank God so much.

As you contemplate this season of Thanksgiving, I would encourage you to truly be thankful for your salvation. If your not sure of your salvation, what better time than now than to give your entire life to Jesus Christ?

Rev. J. Dale