Daily Devotional for Monday, December 23

One Believes by Turning to the Gospel

"This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit

One of the biggest lies that false teachers promote is the idea that you must work for your salvation. The very first lie recorded in the Scriptures was told to Eve by the serpent in the Garden of Eden. Even after Eve acknowledged what God had told her about eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3:3), the serpent still deceived her. As with every lie ever told, the serpent's lie was in direct contrast to the truth: "Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil" (verses 4, 5). Sadly, though, the serpent's lie was effective because it appealed to Eve (verse 6). The serpent deceived Eve into believing she could be like a god, just as there are many liars in our world today deceiving people into believing that they have the ability to save themselves. Only Jesus saves.

In Paul's scrutiny of the Galatian Christians in Galatians 3, he confronted the false teachings with a series of questions. The first five verses of this chapter end with pointed questions for the Galatians to consider, including how they received the Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells the believer at the moment of salvation (Ephesians 1:13). We become new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). None of the benefits of salvation occur by our efforts. Since no one is innately righteous (Romans 3:10), it is impossible for anything we do ourselves to be sufficient for salvation.

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Do not trust in your ability to get yourself to Heaven. Only trust Him.

CHALLENGE

Never underestimate what Jesus did for you. He is the reason we have eternal life.

Chris Floyd