The core of salvation is more about Him than us. The outcomes of my salvation affect me, but the working of my salvation is dependent on the Lord. In salvation I am being acted upon, not initially influencing anything…let me show you why.
So then it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.
Romans 9:16 HCSB
But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:12-13 HCSB
Salvation and Those Who Are Helpless
Feeling utterly helpless is part of the process of salvation. We’re cast on His mercy to save us, and that is so much better a place than those who think they are saved because they decided for Jesus. The decision is His to save us, and our dependence on this fact proves to us He is God. This is part of it — Lordship! If He is not Lord, we are not saved. This is proved when we have to surrender to His lordship to be saved. We are saved unto a Lord, and our bowing to His lordship is the seeing that our salvation is His choice. This is so crucial!
The Lord demonstrates to us what it is to be saved. And we need to know a Lord to be saved. If I could tell Him when, where, and how I am saved, then guess what? I’m God.
Lately I’ve had many people tell me they want to be saved. They want it now, of course. “What if I die?!” But for us to be surrendered and helpless in this is to know Him as God, Lord and then Master. This is such a kindness. We can ask Him, we can surrender and bow to Him as Lord, and then we must wait. The fact that a soul is hungering for salvation states to me that the Lord is on the move, but it still depends on Him.
Waiting to Be Saved
In the waiting, we’re being set up for the actual experience of salvation and not falsehood. And not only the moment of salvation but the living it out, too. I know tons of people who think they’re saved because they chose it. They heard the call and then said yes, so they are saved. But salvation is up to Him. He owes us nothing, but He wants to show us mercy.
It’s like a King in his kingdom. People just don’t go up and tell a King that they’re now gonna be a citizen of his kingdom. “Your kingdom has the best benefits so I am going to live here now.” You’d be lucky to leave with your head attached. No, we may ask the King, but ultimately, He has to invite us to live within His walls and become a citizen. So many of us think it’s our right. The fact is that we have no rights; we are completely at the mercy of the Lord.
So by coming His Way of salvation, we also learn the Way to walk it out before our Lord.
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:25-26
