Salvation: In Grace, through Faith!

The apostle Paul tells us that...

"For (in) grace, through faith, are you saved, and this (is) not out of you; (it is) God's (approach) present, not of works, lest any should be boasting". (Ephesians 2:8-9)

The agent, method, or means of our salvation is in the grace/favor of God apart from works that earn wages.That gracious gift of salvation is now a promise which we accept "through" faith. Faith is defined in the Bible as assuming and expecting God to do what He has promised even though we may not observe it during our lifetimes.

"Now faith is an assumption of what is being expected, a conviction concerning matters which are not being observed; for in this the elders were testified to. By faith we are apprehending the eons to adjust to a declaration of God, so that what is being observed has not come out of what is appearing."  (Hebrews 11:1-3)

When Paul says "through" faith he is referring to the moving forward across time toward our salvation. That faith will not become reality until we are graciously given immortality in a new, glorified, spiritual body like that of our Lord Jesus Christ at the return of Jesus. At the snatching away (rapture) for those who have faith, and at the consummation of the eons for everyone else (when the second death is abolished and they too are saved/vivified).

"For, if we are believing that Jesus died and rose, thus also, those who are put to repose, will God, through Jesus, lead forth together with Him. For this we are saying to you by the word of the Lord, that we, the living, who are surviving to the presence of the Lord, should by no means outstrip those who are put to repose, for the Lord Himself will be descending from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the Chief Messenger, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall be rising first. Thereupon we, the living who are surviving, shall at the same time be snatched away together with them in clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And thus shall we always be together with the Lord. So that, console one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18)

"For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified. Yet each in his own class: the Firstfruit, Christ; thereupon those who are Christ's at His coming; thereafter the consummation...The last enemy is being abolished: death...that God may be All in all." (1 Corinthians 15:22-28)

I sometimes find myself incredibly sad, and incredibly thankful - both at the same time.

"Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!"..."Sing to the LORD, O you His saints, and praise His holy name. For His anger is fleeting but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning." (Lamentations 3:22-23; Psalm 30:4-5)

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

There are times in my life that I have little joy. Yet that little bit of joy in the Lord gives me incredible comfort and peace - hope you too find joy and comfort in His Grace, through Faith!

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