2 Timothy 1: Why Are You Saved?

Why Are You Saved?

We can forget from time to time and get haughty (prideful) about our salvation thinking that we deserve it, but in all honesty, we do not deserve salvation, i don't think there is any Bible reading believer that can honestly say scripture backs up the belief that we earned our salvation. The truth is, as we have seen through the life of Christ and the words of Paul, our salvation is a gift. You cannot brag to someone about something that someone gave you. A gift is given, while a prize is earned. So, did you earn Jesus through all of your hard work? Or was Jesus's blood shed due to God's grace? That salvation was a gift that you didn't earn. In 2 Timothy 1:9, Paul writes to Timothy about Jesus "who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began..." If that is the one thing I can teach you today, then I am satisfied in that, because in this time many of us have forgotten our gift from God.

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Ephesians 3: Prayer for Spiritual Strength

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

Paul further cements previous points made about the church believing that they have power on their own accord. Paul tells them straight forward and then also shows them how to believe by demonstrating a prayer in Ephesians 3:14-16. Paul says "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father...that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being." Look at how Paul  bows his knees before the Father. That is showing, honor and humility to one who is superior. He speaks on the riches of God's glory, not our own. It is easy to lose sight and think we can figure it all out and think we have all the answers, but to God be the glory. God grants us the strength and power through His spirit. It is not on our own.

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Matthew 18:4-6- Humble Yourself

Matthew 18:4-6- ^"4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.⁶ “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." commentary- When the disciples wanted to know which of them was the greatest, they were off base in their questioning. Jesus shows them that it is not those who are trying to be great that are great, it is those who are focused on humility that are great. He used the example of the child because children were seen as property not as individuals. Children are also not intimidating and they don't care about social status.

In verse 6, his point is if you take someone (or "something" in this context) and ruin it, then shame on you. You ruined something beautiful with human purposes over God's purposes. Those of you/us who have children, let our interaction with them be as God would want it. We are their examples. As children, didn't you look up to an adult and make that person your hero? How often are our heroes from our youth people that have no good character? We have to check ourselves with the holy spirit and seek God's purposes for our lives, over our own.