SALVATION

Parable of the sower (note the seed is the word of God) Luke 8

Seed 1 –       fell along the path, got trampled, and birds ate it. (v.5) Equivalent -some “hear” the Word but the devil takes it from their hearts.                    thus they never believe and are never saved

Seed 2     -      fell on rock, sprung up but withered because they had no moisture. Equivalent-some “receive” the word with joy but they have no “root”.                      They believe for a while but in time of testing, they fall away.

Seed 3 -       fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked the plants. Equivalent- some ”hear “but as they go on their way, they are choked by life’s worries, riches                 And pleasures and they don’t mature.

Seed 4-    fell on good soil and yielded a crop, a hundred times what was sown Equivalent -  some hear the Word and retain it because they have a good and noble heart                      By persevering, they produce a crop.

Obviously just “hearing” the Word or even “receiving it” will not guarantee that you get to heaven. You must develop a “root” so you don’t “fall away”.

Paul said, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe it in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9). Faith alone will not get a person into heaven. The Muslims and Jews believe in the same God as Abraham but Salvation can only come through Jesus because it was only through His sacrifice that our sins can be forgiven.

When you believe, you may not feel different right away….believing in your heart is that element of ‘faith’ that Satan wants to steal away before even you get started. After being saved doesn’t mean all your struggles will disappear. In fact, anyone who is accepted by God undergoes some type of ‘testing’ or ‘discipline’ because that’s how God ‘trains us’ as a father should. (Heb. 12:5-11). Yet, God will not let a person be tempted more than he can bear and He will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it.(1cor 10:13).

Jesus commanded, “Repent you, and believe the Gospel” (Mark1:15); but what exactly are we to believe? Some people proclaim a “gospel of grace”, still others believe the “gospel of miracles” the “gospel of foods” or of “healing” or of “faith”.

This is the true gospel, “…that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the scriptures…”(1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

I (Paul) am astonished that you (the Galatians) are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different Gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently, some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: if anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! (Galatians 1:6-9). A little later, Paul stressed his hope that the “truth of the gospel might continue with you” (2:5). So there is one true gospel-with all others FALSE.

RESOLVE OR TRUST?

For many, the year 2020 was dreadful and we may understand why they say so. It is a

surprise to some that several people had it as the best year yet since they were born. To me,

2020 was merely another year with a different script that I had to live by; growing in age and

closer to family as well as in academia/profession.

Speaking of resolutions, I have always wondered why several people make New Year’s

resolutions. Is it the need to have some sort of direction? To be a better person or improve

your lifestyle? Who knows really. Anyway, last year, I decided to participate in the resolution

drive. I made 2 resolutions which I will not share here. I did my best to achieve them but God

had a different plan. As you know, a man may make plans but God has the final say. The

obstacles I met along the way said otherwise and eventually ended in a happier place though

without my resolutions fulfilled. I am actually grateful to the pandemic in many ways.

2021 came with a whole different lifestyle, hard to know really what to expect. In fact, I don’t

even know where to start with resolutions - way from home and out of school yet I have lived

like that for over 22 years of my little life. Having learnt to trust in God’s plan for my life, I

find it difficult to claim what I need for my life. I can only say, if the Lord wills, He will help

me get here and there, no hard feelings if I don’t. I do not think I have discarded my

resolutions from last year, they are now things I trust God to provide this year with so many

more blessings.

As I conclude, I ask that we all be good people from this year on. You never know, you may

be fulfilling someone’s resolutions/plans – you could be the dream they have always had or

the answer to the prayer that they are trusting God for. Let’s bless and become blessings to

others.

Love God, love people.

Editor: Leah Grace Oketcho