Mission Venture Ministries

John 3:16-18 gives us the clear message of salvation: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” 

As we read these verses we are made aware that saving faith has three elements: knowledge, conviction, and action. The first component being the knowledge required to believe in Jesus as our Savior. 

Who is Jesus? He is the Son of God. At the request of God the Father, Jesus set aside His divine rights, took on human form, and dwelled on earth (Philippians 2:6-7). 

What did He accomplish? To be acceptable to God, sacrifices had to be made according to Leviticus 22:20, the offering must be without defect. Jesus lived a perfect life, which qualified Him to be our substitute, bearing God’s judgment for our sins. And thus through His death on the cross, the believer is forgiven for their transgressions and has peace with God. 

Why did He have to die? We can not save ourselves, since even our best deeds are stained by sin (Isaiah 1:18). When we accept Christ’s atoning work on our behalf, we become a member of His family and are no longer enemies of God. 

Many people know that they are sinners and in need of God’s forgiveness and that only Jesus can save them; but knowledge alone does not bring salvation, since even the demons understood that Jesus was the Son of God (Luke 4:41). Salvation therefore requires knowledge, conviction, and action. 

Knowing that God loves us is a wonderful reality, but often this important truth becomes simply information and loses the power to transform lives unless we make a daily practice of receiving God’s unconditional love and letting it change us. Jesus said: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). 

We need to understand that God is love, and He is both everlasting and unchanging. His unconditional commitment to us comes from who He is, to those who trust in Him, as Isaiah writes: “I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands” (Isaiah 49:15-16). 

In His grace, God freely gives salvation to those who believe in Jesus. We can’t earn it, nor do we deserve it. He however promises, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will advise you with My eye upon you” (Psalm 32:8). 

When we heed God’s call, we can exclaim as David did: “My soul waits in silence for God alone; from Him comes my salvation” (Psalm 62:1). 

Our heavenly Father knows when we live according to His will, and He promises to reward us according to what we have done for Him once we accept Him as our Savior and make Him the Lord of our life. 

Revelation 22:12 says, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to reward each one as his work deserves.” Yes, Jesus will reward the believers in heaven and that will be glorious but there are many blessings that we can experience now. For example, there’s a profound sense of fulfillment when we lead a person to Jesus and teach them how to walk by faith. 

Whether the service done in Jesus’ name is large or small, it will be blessed; but we must be careful and mindful that our actions and motives are for Christ’s glory and not self-serving, since all praise and honor belong to God.

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