Tag: Eternal Salvation

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Fence Post Devotional “The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”

No Greater Love

“Ya see, God loves this world so much, that He gave His one and only Son to die, so that every man, woman, boy and girl who believes in Him will not die, but will be a-livin’ forever” John 3:16 (“The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”).

It’s one thing for a man to offer up his life on behalf of others. Some through history have done that. Given the right circumstance, you or I might be willing. In fact, Jesus at one point told His disciples “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

But, to give up one’s own son? Now that’s an altogether different thing. I might be willing to lay down my life, but to voluntarily lay down the life of my son for the sake of others, even perhaps for my enemies; that would be a difficult, maybe even an impossible choice.

There is one who from ancient Biblical history knew about such a choice. On Mt. Moriah, Abraham placed his son on an altar, his son of promise. And within a millisecond of fatally plunging a knife into Issac, God stayed his hand and offered-up a substitute instead.

Years later, on another mount, outside the city of Jerusalem, A Father stood by as His only Son was nailed to a cross as a sacrifice for all mankind. This time the sacrificial hand was not stayed. But sin, death and Satan were allowed to do their worst to the Son of God so that the best might be done for us.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

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Fence Post Devotional “The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”

Painting by Jeff Segler

An Appointment to Keep

“Jesus figured it was gettin’ ‘bout time to move on to Galilee. So He cleared on out of Judea for the time bein’. He was of a mind to follow the trail through Samaria, so they lit out” John 4:3-4 (“The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”).

When Jesus and His disciples left Judea to travel to Galilee, John made this interesting note of His traveling plans: “He was of a mind to follow the trail through Samaria.” The KJV has it, “He must needs go through Samaria.”

There were other routes to Galilee other than through Samaria, But Jesus determined, “He must needs go through Samaria.” Some orthodox Jews determined not to go through Samaria. But Jesus, Himself being a Jew had no such reservations. He said, “I must needs go through Samaria.”

But why go through Samaria? Well, the simple answer is, Jesus had an appointment to keep; an appointment that was made in eternity past, even before the foundations of the world were laid. She didn’t know it, but Jesus did. He must go through Samaria,  meet with a woman at an ancient well and offer her the gift of a lifetime, “Living Water” so she would never thirst again.

Did you know that Jesus has made an appointment with you? And like with the woman of Samaria, He offers you the most wonderful gift of all, “A well of water springing up to eternal life” (John 4:10).

And here is the amazing thing. He makes the appointment. He must needs find you. The woman of Samaria was at a well. I was in my backyard. It really doesn’t matter where you are. With overwhelming love He searches for you and finds you. And like with the “Woman of Samaria,” He offers to you the gift of eternal life.

Yam Sing, when presenting himself for membership in a Bible believing Church was asked by the Pastor, “How did you find Jesus?” Answered in his broken English, “I no find Jesus at all, He find Me.”

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How Do I know if I Am Saved?

Billy Graham said he believed one of the oldest tricks of the devil is to make Christians doubt their salvation. “When we doubt our salvation,” he writes, “We doubt God’s Word, and when we doubt God’s Word, we are powerless and ineffective tools for Christ?”

So, is it possible to truly and absolutely know that we have been born again, even if the devil tries to make us doubt our salvation? Yes! The Bible gives us many assurances; ways we may know for sure. Here are four . . .

Four Ways I May Know that I am Saved

1. First Assurance – The Absolute Trustworthiness of Scripture

God in His Word promises us that He will save “all” who believe upon His Son. The Bible says, “Whoever will call on the Name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13.  Have you called upon Jesus to save you? If you have, you can have the absolute assurance that you are saved. This is God’s genuine promise! All who have given their lives to Jesus and believed upon Him may have the firm confidence of salvation based upon the infallibility of God’s Word. Continue reading “How Do I know if I Am Saved?”

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Lost and Found ~ Never to be Lost Again!

“No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” John 10:28-29.

Have you ever lost something valuable? Something irreplaceable? And search as you will, you cannot find it?

Well, that has happened to me; I lost my wedding ring and search as much as I can, I cannot find it.

You see, I pulled my work gloves off and pitched them aside. A few minutes later, I noticed that my wedding band was missing. Apparently it slipped off my finger when I jerked my gloves off. Of course, I immediately started looking, searching and combing through grass and gravel, places when I thought it could have dropped. I searched and looked for hours. Others joined the search, but all to no avail. Next move, bring in a metal detector.

It came to mind while searching that even as valuable as that ring is, there is something in my possession that is more valuable and that is, my eternal Continue reading “Lost and Found ~ Never to be Lost Again!”