What Are You Smuggling In?

Posted on July 15, 2020 by Catey Stover in Victory Call

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

 

I once heard a pastor make this statement, “I tend to smuggle my works into the Gospel.”  Isn’t that true?  We have such a hard time accepting that the Gospel of Grace is all of God – we can do absolutely nothing to accomplish our own salvation.

We want to smuggle in a regular quiet time, Bible reading, giving tithes, asking forgiveness, not drinking or smoking, wearing the right clothes, going to church, making meals for the sick, praying, etc.  The list goes on and on.  Don’t get me wrong, these things may be good and evidence of love for our Savior, but none contribute one iota to our salvation.

Jesus doesn’t need our help.  If we were responsible for only one millionth of our own salvation, we would mess up that one millionth.

Paul doesn’t want us to miss the truth that salvation is a free gift.  Note these seven references to gift/free gift in just 2 chapters (5, 6) of Romans.

  1. Romans 5:15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.
  1. Romans 5:16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.
  2. Romans 5:17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
  3. Romans 5:18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment cameto all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
  4. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Free is free. Absolutely, gloriously, amazingly FREE.  Ponder again this simple truth, lest we try to smuggle something into our salvation today.

 

Written By Diane Hunt: Diane Hunt serves on the board of America’s Keswick and provides ministry support from her home in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.


Think About This: “God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain.” -C.S. Lewis

The Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 27-31 | You can download our 2020 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: I, therefore, the prisoner [a]of the Lord, [b]beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. – Ephesians 4:1-3

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.

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