Chapter 1

Salvation

            What do you know about salvation? More specifically, what do you know about your salvation? Most Christians have only a vague idea about their salvation. Many are not even sure they are saved. They have never been taught how to be sure. A lot of them think it only applies to obtaining their Fire Insurance; i.e. not going to the bad place. It has to do with a lot more than that. We are going to look at some of those things now. All of these are your destiny. They are not just something to look at with “Santa Claus” eyes. By that I mean they are not just something you wish for but don’t really expect to get.

We are Called/Chosen:

            Called us out of darkness into His marvelous light:

1 Peter 2:9

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

            Just like God did not just bring the children of Israel out of Egypt. He also brought them into the Promised Land. The problem was not getting them out of Egypt. It was getting Egypt out of them. They still acted like they did in Egypt. They still complained and put the blame on someone else … usually Moses and Aaron. They missed out on a wonderful experience in the Land because they wouldn’t take their eyes off their situation and put them on God’s promises He had made hundreds of years before. The Church has been that way too. Believers put their eyes on the circumstances and not on God’s promises. He didn’t just call us out of the darkness of the world to leave us hanging here. He called us into His marvelous light. He has promised us a great existence … not just to live on barely get along street. This verse says we are a chosen race. God chose us! Do you get that? God in His great wisdom chose us … that includes you too. We’re a royal priesthood. We’re royalty! Now act like it! We’re a holy nation. We should be acting like it. We shouldn’t be acting like the people of the world. We should be acting like God - holy and blameless. We are a people for His own possession. He wanted us. Everyone longs to be wanted, and God Himself wanted us. Why did He choose for all this to be ours? So that we may proclaim the Excellencies of Him. When people see us living the way God wants us to live, they will want to have Him as their Father. Let’s start acting like we are what He said we are!

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            “You were in darkness My children and could not see. Now you have been made to see and you know what is yours. You are special in My sight. I did not make you as junk. I made you as a special people; royal like Me. We will reign together one day. Your life on earth is to train you to take your place alongside of Me as we reign together one day in My Kingdom.”

            2. I have been called out of the darkness of the world that I might walk in the newness of the light of the Lord. I will excel in His Kingdom and be a beacon to others.