Here is the revelation that is shaping my life today – it’s impossible to be saved, it is only possible to know you are saved.
Matthew 19:25-26 NLT
[25] The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. [26] Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
Observation
We always want to judge who is in and who is out. It makes us feel safe and secure to know we are in. But that demands criteria for assessment, and it requires judgement, and it requires that some are in and some are out. We pay a high price for this fragile security. We want to be in the saved group, so “who in the world can be saved?” Well, Jesus says that from a human perspective you can’t save yourself, “saved” is only possible for God. So we give ourselves the rules for “saved” and then sit in judgement over those who keep the rules. But it is all ridiculous, only God saves. Saved based on any human effort criteria is impossible.
So what are the criteria for “saved.” No criteria, just confidence that God has saved us. He comes to save – Jesus says “I have come to save the world.” And I think he was successful. So God now has defeated the capacity of enslavement not to be saved, and released forgiveness and righteousness on all people. So all are saved, the real question is not what must I do, but do I know I am. For too long religion has been trying to convert people to what they must do to be saved, but clearly, that is impossible, God says so. Instead, the message should be “you are already saved, so come and enjoy being loved by God and join the freedom party.” There are no in and out parties, there is only the in party, sure you can reject it, but really who rejects being loved, forgiven, free? Only those who have been told what they must do, not those who are told they are already.
Application
I will not try and convert people to the impossible, I will only openly invite people to the party of their already state of saved. It’s not conversion now to what I must do, but an invitation to what’s been done. Doing comes from being, when I meet the beauty and love of the who I am saved to, then doing flows as I reflect the beauty of him, and realise that he is me. Stop trying the impossible and celebrate the God who does the impossible.
Response
Thank you that you save me and I don’t save me. I have been saved all my life, I have lived in its beauty for a big chunk of that journey, and I thank you that what is impossible for me is done by you. I love “saved” on your criteria. I love this life with you, already, always, all by you, saved.
Meditation
Meditation – God has saved everyone.
Consider:
How do you see people being saved, what is the criteria?
Are you enjoy being saved by God alone, or are you still judging salvation based on human efforts?
JOURNEY DEEPER
