SALVATION BENEFITS - PART 2

FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2024

Salvation benefits are stamped with the powerful seal of Christ's blood, and they are gifts of His everlasting love. They serve as the evidences of God's grace and mercy, and its important that we study them properly from a simplified perspective, as we appropriate them from time to time.

Reference: Hebrews 6:9 New Living Translation (NLT)

"Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don't believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation."

I appreciate this expression, "We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation." And I express my assent to this truth, by agreeing with God on a kindred level of spiritual understanding. Beloved, we are indeed convinced of possessing better things concerning our faith, and of benefits that accompany salvation. The benefits are so important, and for this reason, I made few of them quite clear and prominent in "part one" exposition. By embracing the truths contained in them, and by professing and abiding in them, we subject ourselves to their glorious effects in this present world, and even more importantly, eternal life in the hereafter.

Every moment my heart focuses on these benefits, it makes my faith effectual, because they describe my present relation to the finished work of Christ, and my absolute participation in the divine nature. For instance, one important benefit of salvation is that we've been made alive to God. To that effect, Ephesians 2:5-7 reads, "that even though we were dead because of our sins, God gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!). For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus" (NLT).

The benefits of salvation are part of the incredible wealth of God's grace and kindness toward us, as a result of being united with Christ Jesus. Another great benefit is that we are qualified beneficiaries of Abraham's blessing. To that effect, Galatians 3:29 reads, "And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are His heirs, and God's promise to Abraham belongs to you" (NLT). One thing is sure: I will forever enjoy the covenant blessings of Abraham, and in doing so, God will continually be glorified in my salvation.

In conclusion, the main benefit of salvation is the gift of the Holy Spirit. He is the original source of every other benefit, meaning that it is through Him that we experience the manifestations of the rest. It is the Holy Spirit Himself that bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Romans 8:16-17 reads, "God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who He is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us - an unbelievable inheritance!" (MSG). Got it? By the Spirit, we receive all that is freely given to us in Christ Jesus.

Therefore, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified" (ESV). Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Psalm 3:8; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Romans 12:3; 1 Peter 2:9.

Guided Prayer:

Heavenly Father, your fulfilled promises are a viable proof of your faithfulness in my life, and the great benefits that accompany my salvation denote that the sacrificial death of Christ is not in vain. Thank you for your continual work of grace in my life through your Spirit, in Jesus' Name, Amen!