Ephesians 1:13 “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”
Our salvation is not earned by what we do or accomplish through our own effort. It is freely received by believing the message of what Jesus Christ has already accomplished for us. The gospel is the announcement of good news about someone else’s successful work on our behalf. We do not labor to be worthy of God’s grace, nor do we work to maintain it. We simply hear the good news that “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16) and accept this free gift. Trusting in what Jesus did for us releases us from the crushing pressure to attempt to earn favor with God. “Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness” (Rom. 4:4-5). Rest in his finished work today.
Questions:
- Is there any part of you still trying to earn God’s acceptance? How can resting in what Jesus did release you from this pressure?
- How will you share the free gift of salvation with someone else this week?
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