One day, early in his ministry, Jesus stood on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

He saw Peter and Andrew fishing.

He said to them, Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

And they did.

Matthew wrote it this way. “Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

There was something so moving about Jesus and the word that he spoke, Peter and Andrew gave up their livelihood just to be in his presence.

Now, their decision may seem hasty or rash, but not when you realize who called them.

Here is the good news.

That same Jesus called out to you at a point in your life.

Aren’t you glad you left your old way life just to follow him.

Categories: Faith Hope Salvation

A rich ruler asked Jesus, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus’ first response was this, “you know the commandments.” And he listed five of the commandments.

To which the ruler said, “All these I have kept from my youth.”

Well this wasn’t enough.

Jesus told him he still lacked something.

He should sell everything that he had and distribute it to the poor.

And then come follow me.

Those who heard the conversation asked, then who can be saved?

No one can through obedience to the law. Scripture is clear on this point.

But that’s never been the way of salvation.

It’s always been by grace through faith in Jesus.

That’s the path to eternal life.

And here’s the good news, when you received him you inherited eternal life.

Categories: Salvation

Jesus had many interesting conversations with the religious leaders of the day.

In one, he told them “you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

They were outraged by these words.

“We have never been enslaved to anyone.”

Jesus explained what he meant.

Everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.

Now later on, Jesus defined sin as unbelief in Him.

That’s the sin that holds us captive, that enslaves us.

Here is the good news. Truth unshackles us from the sin of unbelief and sets us free.

It breaks the power that sin and death held over us.

Now this truth is bound up in the person of Jesus Christ.

And when the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.

Categories: Salvation Forgiveness/Repentance

What was your life like before you received Jesus Christ.

My life on the surface was really good.

I had a great family, lots of love and support, many friends, and opportunities to do most anything.

But even as good as it was, there was still something missing.

I felt empty on the inside.

Peter described what I was experiencing to a T.

He called it “an empty way of life.”

Maybe you’ve experienced the same sense of emptiness.

Well hear is the good news.

Jesus Christ redeemed you from that empty way of life

Not with silver of gold, but with his precious blood.

And then he filled you with his very life.

In Christ, you are no longer empty on the inside

And your new life has substance and is filled with meaning and purpose.

And that’s good news.

Categories: Righteousness/Justification Salvation

“For what we preach…”

These words flowed from the pen of Paul and were directed to the Corinthian church.

All kinds of spiritual gurus, philosophers and super apostles were bringing all sorts of messages to this city.

These guys were polished and persuasive with their presentations and they had many in Corinth questioning Paul and his apostleship.

Paul certainly didn’t compare as a speaker to these super apostles.

As he said, he came to the Corinthians in weakness and humility.

But as Paul pointed out, it is the message itself that matters.

What is preached.

When Paul opened his mouth, he preached Jesus as Lord.

He should be the message of every preacher.

Because in Him and Him alone is life, forgiveness and freedom.

Categories: Jesus Christ Salvation

Peter and John were arrested.

It was not because they had committed a crime or violated the law.

They were arrested because they healed a crippled man, and then explained to the people that it was through the name of Jesus the man was made well.

This annoyed the religious leaders. So they put Peter and John in custody.

The next day, these leaders asked Peter and John, “by what power or by what name did you do this?"

Peter stood, and filled with the Holy Spirit, said… “by the name of Jesus, this man is standing before you well.”

You see, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Well, let me ask, aren’t you glad his name was proclaimed to you.

Categories: Jesus Christ Salvation

You have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus.

Which means, right now you are alive in Christ.

All your sins have been forgiven and you are righteous in his sight.

It also means that you are now seated with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Your future with Christ is guaranteed.

And when he comes back, you will stand as a trophy of his grace.

Paul put it this way.

“So that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

Wow! You are a recipient of the immeasurable riches of God’s grace.

And one day, in the coming ages, God is going to show you off to world because you were saved by that grace.

Categories: Salvation Grace Righteousness/Justification

Jesus is coming back.

For some reason, this truth scares many Christians.

But it shouldn’t.

Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures.

Hebrews 9:27-28 explains what that means.

“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”

You see, Jesus judged your sins and paid the price to set you free from sin and death the first time he came into the world.

So when he comes again, he is coming to bring salvation to those who have been sealed with the Holy Spirit.

And Christian, that is you.

Categories: End Times Hope Salvation

How we spend our lives as Christians changed at the moment of new birth.

Peter put it this way:

“For whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions, but for the will of God.”

You once lived to gratify the desires of the flesh. And you followed the ways of the world.

But God saved you from that empty way of life.

Now the world is going to bully you and do all it can to lure you back.

When it does, remember, you’ve already had enough of “the evil things godless people enjoy.”

You've been raised with Christ for something much better and more rewarding…

the good and pleasing and perfect will of God.

Categories: Sin Salvation God's Will

The greatness of salvation.

That’s the heading in my Bible describing 1 Peter 1:10-12.

Now, the prophets of old wrote about this great salvation of yours.

They were so taken by the message of Christ, they wanted to know more.

They wanted to know the when and the how and the who. And I’m sure they wanted to know what it would be like to experience the fullness of God’s grace first-hand.

But that’s not all…

Your salvation has captured the attention of the angelic world.

They are looking on intently, watching God’s grace work salvation in and through you.

And as Luke wrote, your salvation is cause for great joy among the angels.

This makes me think that we should be looking at the greatness of our salvation in the same way — with awe and wonder and great joy.

Categories: Salvation Faith Hope