Jesus saves! It’s more than a bumper sticker from the eighties. It is the truth. It is only through Jesus Christ that humankind has the possibility of forgiveness of sin and the hope of being reconciled to God. How soon we can forget this thought.
Many people think money will save them. Others think more education and a solid career is what will bring about the feeling of salvation. It seems like people would rather spend time trying to save face than to think about what it will take to save their souls. On a recent flight, a seatmate was explaining to me that his good works were going to guarantee him his ticket to heaven. I inquired what the minimum was to get into paradise. He said, “A lifetime of kindness.”
It’s great to be kind. In fact, it’s a fruit of the Spirit. However, ten lifetimes of kindness will not warrant the free gift of salvation from Jesus Christ. Only Jesus can save. We cannot.
He does want us to seek, even though we cannot offer eternal salvation for ourselves or anyone else. In fact, we should be specialists at seeking. Scripture instructs us to “seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6 NLT). We have a very important role in seeking the Lord. He will not force us to accept his salvation. Rather, we are to seek it through him.
We are also involved in seeking when it comes to introducing others to Jesus. We are to go the near and far places of this earth in order to let everyone possible know about the Good News that Jesus saves from sin and death. It is our privilege to go through life with family and neighbors who need to know that Jesus gave his life as a ransom for theirs. And there is nothing more that Jesus wants than to be in a personal relationship with everyone. Our seeking includes making disciples of all nations. In fact, we are to seek the good of all Jesus has to offer and we are to seek the lost who are away from Christ in order to let them know of Jesus’ saving grace available to them.
How’s your relationship with the Savior, Jesus Christ? Are you seeking Jesus and his work in your daily life? And are you seeking out friendships with others so they can know about Jesus’ saving grace?
Jim Dunn is executive director of Church Multiplication and Discipleship for The Wesleyan Church.
