We need to pray that, “…we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, GODLY and DIGNIFIED (eusebeia: naturally expresses itself in reverence for God) in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of GOD our Savior, WHO DESIRES ALL PEOPLE TO BE SAVED and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:2-4)
Just how easy is it to be saved? “Everyone who CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD will be saved.” (Romans 10:13) Someone asked, “…what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus and YOU WILL BE SAVED.” (Acts 16:30-31) Paul said, “With your heart you BELIEVE and are made right with God. With your mouth you SAY that Jesus is Lord. And so, YOU ARE SAVED.” (Romans 10:10)
We see that it is God’s DESIRE for all of us TO BE SAVED, and all we have to do is BELIEVE, CALL and CONFESS! “For the Son of Man came to SEEK and to SAVE the lost.” (Luke 19:10) So, because salvation is so easy to obtain wouldn’t you think that many will be saved? Well listen to what the Bible says about this, “For MANY are called, but FEW are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14) No matter how easy it is to get saved, we have to DESIRE TO BE SAVED! As we see in the parable of the ten virgins, “Now five of them were WISE, and five were FOOLISH. Those who were FOOLISH took their lamps and TOOK NO OIL with them, but the WISE TOOK OIL IN THEIR VESSELS with their lamps.” (Matthew 25:2-4) “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD HAS ANOINTED ME…” (Isaiah 61:1) When the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, “They saw what seemed to be TONGUES OF FIRE that separated and came to rest on each of them.” (Acts 2:3) Back to the parable, “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’” (Matthew 25:6-9) All the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones asked the wise to give up some of their oil, but they said No, there may not be enough, go buy some for yourselves.
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And THE DOOR WAS SHUT. “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But HE REPLIED, ‘Truly I tell you, I DON’T KNOW YOU.’” (Matthew 25:10-12) Jesus told us that, “…the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN will BE LIKE ten virgins…” (Matthew 25:1) Half of them He knew and welcomed the other half HE DID NOT KNOW. It’s possible for someone to go to church, sing in the choir, participate in other ways, and NOT BE SAVED! All we have to do is BELIEVE, CALL and CONFESS! “For the Son of Man came to SEEK and to SAVE the lost.” (Luke 19:10)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham