Saved FROM Our Sins

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Saved FROM Our Sins

We probably all know someone  claiming to be  Christian,  but defiantly living  in what one could gently term  a very reckless life style.     They might wear a cross  around their neck  while boozing it up  and committing adultery.     Or,  maybe they make it a practice  to lie,  steal,  bear false witness,  gossip  and flout civil laws.     Whatever they choose  to live like,  it simply does not reflect  the love  and salvation  of God  —  or the definition  of a Christian.

Confronting them  about their ungodly lifestyle  brings on  a tirade  of foul words  on being judgmental.      Consequently,  most people  don’t say anything.

But,  what does God say?

When the angel appeared to Joseph  to tell him  that Mary had conceived the Savior  through the Holy Spirit,  the angel said,  “You shall call His name Jesus,  for He will save His people  FROM their sins.”    (Matthew 1:21)      Note:   It’s not “in” their sins,  but “from” their sins.

In other words,  seeing God’s great love  in sending Jesus  to suffer  and die  a horrific death  to pay for our sins  brings on an overwhelming grief  over our sins.     Our sinfulness is ugly  and putrid  next to the perfect  and holy love  of Christ.

Unworthy though we be,  Jesus willingly  took on the punishment  we deserve.

That is love.     We are loved.     So,  what are we going to do  about it?

If we are the Christian we claim to be,  we will let that love  change our whole being.     Love will shape us  in ways  we had not even dreamed of before.     We let ourselves be saved “FROM” committing many sins  here on earth,  before reaching eternal life.

In being saved “FROM” our sins,  our old hatred  and disrespect  for others  will melt into a love  that would never consider committing adultery,  stealing,  lying,  gossiping,  or boozing it up.     An amazing love  for our Savior  forms our every thought  to be more like our Savior  in all of our living.

People who know  the forgiveness  of Christ  want to do something about it.

In this world,  every Christian has to daily admit  their sinfulness.     But,  they don’t desire  to wallow in sin.     Everything God hates  becomes hated  by God’s children.

Paul sums up this change  that takes place  in those  who want  to be saved  by the blood of Christ.     In Ephesians 4:17-24 he warns us,

“So this I say,  and affirm  together with the Lord,  that you walk no longer  just as the Gentiles also walk,  in the futility  of their mind,  being darkened  in their understanding,  excluded from the life of God  because of the ignorance  that is in them,  because of the hardness  of their heart;  and they,  having become callous,  have given themselves over  to sensuality  for the practice  of every kind of impurity  with greediness.

“But you did not learn Christ  in this way,  if indeed  you have heard Him  and have been taught  in Him,  just as truth is in Jesus,  that,  in reference  to your former manner of life,  you lay aside  the old self,  which is being corrupted  in accordance  with the lusts  of deceit,  and that you be renewed  in the spirit  of your mind,  and put on the new self,  which in the likeness  of God  has been created  in righteousness  and holiness  of the truth.”

This “new self”  is a gift  from God.   If you really want  a gift,  you must reach out  and take it.     Christians let the Holy Spirit lead  in righteous living.    We stand in love  and awe  of Christ’s holiness,  wanting Him  to live  in us.

That’s something  to think about.     Be saved “FROM” sinning.

In God’s eyes,  it doesn’t matter  what we used to be.     What matters  is what we become  for Christ’s sake.

John 15:5-6    “I am the vine,  you are the branches;  he who abides  in Me  and I in him,  he bears much fruit,  for apart  from Me  you can do nothing.     If anyone does not abide  in Me,  he is thrown away  as a branch  and dries up;  and they gather them,  and cast them  into the fire  and they are burned.”

Ever safe in Christ’s heart,  we say,  “Hallelujah!    LORD, thank You for taking us in.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional  to glorify  the LORD of lords  and GOD of gods.

Pray for our country.

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The LORD  made this day, let us rejoice  and be glad  in Him.

Psalm 118:24

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The word of the LORD is tried;

He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.

Psalm 18:30

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Sing for joy  in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;

Praise is becoming  to the upright.

Psalm 33:1

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How blessed are those  who dwell  in Thy house!

They are ever praising Thee.

Psalm 84:4

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Just as a father  has compassion  on his children,

So the LORD  has compassion  on those who fear Him.

Psalm 103:13

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O give thanks  to the LORD,  for He is good;

For His lovingkindness  is everlasting.

Psalm 107:1

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Glory in His holy name;

Let the heart  of those who seek the LORD  be glad.

Psalm 105:3

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Not that I have already obtained it,  or have already  become perfect,   but I press on  in order that  I may  lay hold  of that  for which also  I was laid hold of  by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12

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