It’s very unfortunate that there are many Christians struggling with certainty of their eternal life. There are believers, who lead fearful lives, so afraid that they might lose their salvation. It seems their new life in Christ has imprisoned them away from expressing themselves in life lest they miss the mark. They start and end each day worried whether they are still in the book of life. Their confidence is eroded. Much ground has already been covered so far in this column to arrive at our conclusion today. One previous piece that will help you so much is titled, Of Movie Houses in Heaven.
Devotion Erasmus Makarimayi
On confessing Jesus as Lord, one is born again and receives eternal life. One becomes a new creature. Receiving and believing the Gospel, that is, the grace of God moves one from death to life and that life is of God and is everlasting.
Ephesians 2:5 explains: “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”.
The word quickened means made alive. It’s called eternal life. Eternal means continuing forever or indefinitely. Without knowledge of rocket science, if something is eternal and then becomes temporary or momentary then it was never eternal. If a believer receives eternal life, it’s everlasting. Period.
God became man in Jesus, incarnation, then died, was buried, rose to life and ascended to heaven. It’s the life of the result of His resurrection and ascension that is the believer and that life is unending. Believers shouldn’t waste time by entertaining thoughts and demonic suggestions of not making it till everlasting.
Hebrews 2:14-15 clears the mystery: “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
Please don’t waste time by doubting the power of God. Free yourself from fear and bondage.
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Jesus explains the joy when a sinner is saved. Luke 15:10 records: “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”
If salvation doesn’t guarantee eternal life, surely angels will not be celebrating. A clear understanding of this should give you hope and confidence. With this knowledge, you will have zeal for soul winning and evangelism. It’s so worrying that preachers quote well in having sinners saved, but go on to confuse themselves.
Usually used is John 3:16, which reads, “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.” From this verse, it’s clear that the life is everlasting and that you will not perish.
To instil fear in you, Apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 2:12 are wrongly explained. It reads, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
Mischievous elements teach that you have to work for your salvation misquoting the last part of the verse. You picked it right. The Bible doesn’t say work for but work out. So it’s working out something inside you.
Further, it’s not you who does the working. You don’t work for salvation, it’s by grace. The next verse settles the matter. Philippians 2:13 says: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
The whole issue is on God, who gives you the will and the grace to do. Should you ever lose your eternal life, then it wasn’t eternal in the first place. Please, always remember that the Spirit that raised Christ from death is in you. Let it sink in you that God gave Jesus to die for you and me not to punish us, but to save us. Salvation is by grace not performance. Righteousness is not conduct, it’s by faith. Please note that you don’t become a child of someone by behaviour, but by birth.
Consider Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore, he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
Jesus saved you and takes it upon Himself to see it to eternity. Please note that even if your pastor or prayer partner doesn’t pray with you, Jesus will save you to the uttermost. If you are a born again believer you have eternal life. You are going somewhere.
All Bible quotations are from the King James Version. Email: [email protected] Fellowship with Pastor Makarimayi on Facebook and on www.twitter.com/PEMAKARIMAYI. Telephone +263 712 332 632
