Bible Reading: Acts 16:16-31
Paul and Silas were in jail for telling people about Jesus. One night, at about midnight, there was a terrible earthquake. The jailer thought everyone had escaped and
was about to kill himself.
Paul and Silas called out and told him to stop, that all the prisoners were still in the jail.
At that, the jailer rushed to Paul and Silas and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (verse 30).
Paul and Silas replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household” (verse 31).
Most of us have wondered, “If I’m really saved, why can’t I quit sinning altogether?”
When we believe in Jesus and ask for God’s forgiveness for our sins, we are saved instantly and forever from sin’s control. We are no longer forced to sin, we can, from that moment on, choose to sin or not to sin. Sin is no longer an uncontrollable habit. Nothing we did or can ever do will make us any more or any less saved.
Then we come to Philippians 2:12 which tells us to “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” That part of salvation refers to the continual process of God’s saving us from the power of sin. While we can choose not to sin, we still slip up occasionally. God keeps working on us to help us avoid those slip-ups.
Finally, Romans 13:11 says, “our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” If we have been saved from the habit of sin and are being saved from the daily temptation to sin, how can salvation still be ahead of us somewhere? This aspect of sin refers to eternity in heaven. When we get to heaven, we will finally be saved from the presence of sin. There will be no sin anywhere around us to tempt us or hurt us!
Isn’t salvation even more amazing than you thought?
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for your amazing gift of salvation! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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