November 2023
Nougat 21
Are you saved? As in confidently walking in receipt of God’s salvation. If there is a niggle, perhaps today’s Holy Nougat
“For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” Romans 10:10 NLT
It’s easy as A, B, C
I know that on the whole the reflections on our nougats are directed to us believers. And that’s intentional – I feel called to feed the believing, male and female. But I recognize that there may be the occasional person in our midst who has not yet made that critical step to receive the gift of eternal life.
If you are that person, I wish to start by asking what has prevented you from doing so. For I’m hoping that you have seen proof of God’s existence daily. You’re alive, that’s one. The beauty of nature that overrides even the destructive aspects imposed by humans are also testimony to God’s God-ness. Big Bang or no, there’s gotta be One Creator behind all creation.
If you are on that track, it’s possible that you already Accept God’s existence. That is critical. For, we can’t accept Jesus as God without first accepting that God is. Paul puts it this way “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” (Colossians 2:9-10 NIV) This is either easily accepted or completely rejected by us. But, we can’t accept this Faith without grasping these foundation matters.
And that’s where Believe comes in. I don’t know whether to say belief is necessary for accepting, or if it’s the reverse that’s true; but they are definitely intertwined. Hence, we’re told in Hebrews that “… without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 it is this belief that transforms us into a member of this profoundly spiritual community.
Hence, we find over time that – “beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.” (see 1 Timothy 3:16). Jesus is that Mystery to whom Paul refers. And it is when we Accept and Believe this that we find ourselves moving toward the desire to share this knowledge with others.
That sharing is what we refer to as Confession. Like the Sychar Woman, who met Jesus by the well, we move from Accepting and Believing to Confessing our Faith. Our confession of our faith includes sharing with any and every one about our experience and privilege to be counted as children of God. But this isn’t only the spoken sharing; confession is even more powerful when demonstrated by our actions. Our love for Jesus, birthed from our acceptance of Jesus as Savior and Brother, is what leads to the Confession about our relationship.
Although there’s more to the faith than the A-B-C, we recognize that these are the building blocks for our salvation. At least in relation to our own actions. So, now that you know our A-B-C, I hope you are feeling ready to join those of us who are saved. If so, please pray with us
‘Dear Jesus, I recognize You as the Son of God, Who is the fullness of God in bodily form, and Head over all power and authority. I Accept Your authority over my life, because I believe You exist and that You are fully God, fully human, that You were crucified and You rose from Death and are seated in heavenly places, at God’s right hand. I confess You Jesus as my Savior. I receive You and God’s Spirit in my life and look forward to eternity with You. Hear this my prayer dear Jesus and take over my life from this moment, amen.
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May all we seek be found in Christ