The Work of Salvation
Today’s Verse:
Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. ~1 Peter 1:21
First Peter 1 is a very encouraging chapter about our salvation in Jesus Christ. We sometimes take for granted all that is involved in our salvation. In vv. 18-25, we see the work FOR salvation, the work IN salvation, and the work THROUGH salvation.
We see the blood.
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” The shedding of the blood of Christ was essential as the payment price for our sins. Paul said in Hebrews 9:22, “Without shedding of blood is no remission.” The Lord Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God Who was sacrificially slain for the sins of the whole world. We are redeemed from, or bought out of, the bondage of sin through the sinless, efficacious, shed blood of Christ. Jesus purged us from our sins with His blood.
We see the book.
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” Jesus said that the new birth is only possible through the water and the Spirit. The water is a symbol of the Word of God. The Word of God is precious seed. The Word of God is incorruptible seed. The Word of God liveth and abideth forever. God’s Word produces faith in our heart. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." God’s Word divides asunder the soul and spirit. It shows us the truth. It reveals that we are sinners deserving of Hell punishment. It shows us that faith alone in Jesus' death and resurrection saves us. The Word of God reveals the everlasting gospel, which shows us the way to Heaven through Christ.
We see the Beloved.
“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” There is the work of the Holy Spirit in salvation. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5). The Holy Spirit does the convicting of our need for salvation, and He is the One Who does the converting in salvation. Obeying the truth through the Spirit implies a sinner must obey the command to be born again by the Spirit’s prompting and place his faith in Jesus as his Saviour. The Holy Spirit gives us confirmation after we are saved that we belong to God.
We see the bidding.
After we are saved, the work through salvation is that we are to love the brethren with an unfeigned and fervent heart. This means we are to love the Christians in our local church. We are to love and respect our brothers and sisters in Christ and see them as our baseline ministry. We are to pray for one another. We are to be concerned for one another. We are to love and encourage one another. We are to come alongside and help the needs of one another. John calls this an old commandment which also a new commandment. This love for the brethren is a mark of our salvation. The work through salvation is working out our salvation in fear and trembling. Live out your faith to the glory of God and the benefit of people who need the Lord.
Have a salvation-rich God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Acts 11-13