The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"The Works of One"
"Salvation results from works, God's works. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else."
"Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity" Matthew 7:21-23).
No human being will enter Heaven, touting our own works. No deeds of our own bear any redemptive significance regarding salvation in this life, or an eternity with God in the next.
"This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent" (John 6:59).
Salvation results from works, God's works. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else. Our Savior did everything we will ever need to provide freely given redemption. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us" (Titus 3:5). Indeed, if we add even the tiniest of our own good deeds to the truth of saving grace through the Lord Jesus Christ, we have either never known Him, or we have veered from His truth. Even more, He has never known us, or He works to restore us to walking with Him by grace through faith. "Return unto thy rest, o my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with Thee" (Psalm 116:7).
Satan knows this truth much better than we do, having been bludgeoned by it over and over again through the ages (and continuing unto this moment). We must know it better and better, as the Apostle Peter mandated, "But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:18). Thereby, we overcome the devil's temptations to add anything to the new birth message for sinners, or the growth message for saints. What God begins by grace - by grace are ye saved through faith" - He continues and finishes by grace - "Let us have grace, that we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear" (Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 12:28). Believers work much for the glory of God and the blessing of others. "Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only" (James 1:22). All such endeavor, however, originates and proceeds from our Heavenly Father's freely given grace in the Lord Jesus. We live for God by living from God. Again, our enemy well knows this truth. May we know it better and better, serving as the grace-proclaiming sons and daughters of God whereby our Lord continues His battering of a devil who has no weapon against grace. "They which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:17).
The redeemed understand that our works, from beginning to end, originate and continue with God's works. "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works" (Ephesians 2:10). We seek to affirm such grace in our present lives. "My tongue shall speak of Thy righteousness and Thy praise" (Psalm 35:28). How much more shall we give Him all glory in Heaven, when we will know our Lord's grace so much better? Even more, we will look upon His hands, feet, and side, the sight of which may lead us to sing the beloved refrain of the old hymn, "Nothing in my hands I bring. Only to Thy cross I cling!" The Apostle John confirms the coming day, and we close with his foretelling of the multitudes who will forever extol the virtues and works of only One…
"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation."
(Revelation 5:9)
Weekly Memory Verse
Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness."
(Nehemiah 9:17)
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