By Mike McEuen, Pastor, New Beginnings • Ferris, Texas
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).
A rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18). He wanted to know for sure that he had eternal life, but he wanted Jesus to measure and grade his qualifications, or at least to give him some task he could do to assure him of eternity. This rich young ruler had great possessions and pride that he had to overcome and, unfortunately, the Bible tells us that he did not overcome them.
Bystanders asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus answered, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:26-27). You see, we must realize that salvation cannot be earned or bought — it is God’s unspeakable gift!
There was a woman who came to Jacob’s well outside the city of Sychar. She was interested in Jesus’ message because she thought it would make her life easier, but if that were the case people would accept Jesus only to make their lives easier, healthier or wealthier.
Instead, Jesus’ message changes us on the inside. He does not take away challenges. Rather, Jesus helps us deal with them from a proper perspective.
We read about Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus — as sincere and serious as anybody ever has been — falling on his face before Jesus and recognizing that all of his works were like filthy rags. We must face the fact that no matter how hard or diligently we work, we can never work our way into salvation.
Whether we were raised in a set of circumstances that makes it difficult for us, or whether we come from “the wrong side of the tracks,” whatever we must overcome can only be overcome by the grace of God that is offered to lost and dying mankind. Jesus draws us to Himself. Any obstacles can be overcome when God offers us His unspeakable gift!
Now I have said nothing to you about the church, baptism or service. As important as each of these things are, I want to emphasize Jesus and Jesus alone as the only hope we have for salvation. Our experience can be based on nothing else. No one else except Jesus Christ in us — God’s unspeakable gift!
