Scripture: “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” – Zephaniah 3:17
Explanation of Song: Although a priest and missionary, in May 1738, Charles Wesley (1707 – 1788) was unsure of his own salvation and agonized over his eternal state. After reading Martin Luther’s commentary on the book of Galatians, he finally understood the concept of justification by faith alone and finally found the assurance of salvation he so desperately sought. Two days later, Wesley wrote “And Can It Be?”, a hymn reflecting his amazement at his own conversion. In his lifetime, he wrote more than 4,500 hymns including “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” “Christ the Lord Is Ris’n Today,” and “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”.
Application: We live in a culture that thrives on “entitlement”. This means that people believe they inherently deserve privileges or special treatment simply because they exist. Being entitled means that an individual doesn’t need to work for what they want; they believe they should be given anything they desire without needing to do anything for it. It is their faulty thinking that this is a God-given right. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
The Bible states in Romans 3:23 that we are all sinners. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” As sinful creatures, we deserve absolutely nothing from a holy and righteous God. In fact, Romans 6:23 explains that “The wages of sin is death”. This means that all of humanity deserves an eternal death, that is, separation from God forever in a place of everlasting torment that He created specifically for Satan and the evil angels that aligned themselves with the devil. Jesus confirmed this in Matthew 25:41, “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” We are NOT entitled to salvation.
However, the good news is that God loves us more than we can imagine, and because of that love, He designed the one way to reconcile sinners to Himself. Romans 5:8 gives us the solution. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” He did this, not because we are entitled to salvation, but because of His inconceivable love for us. John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The only way to spend forever in heaven with God is through faith in Jesus Christ, God’s beloved Son. Jesus died on the cross, becoming the sinless sacrifice for the wicked ways of all mankind. Through the shedding of His precious blood, He alone paid the price for our redemption. Romans 5:10 states, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” There is absolutely nothing we can do to earn the gift of eternal life, which Romans 6:23 clearly states, “…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
While Jesus offers the gift of forgiveness of sins to anyone who asks, we must remember that we are in no way entitled to it. The truth is that we are so undeserving and incapable of earning God’s forgiveness and favor, the simplicity of God’s mercy and grace becomes a stumbling block to many. But the Bible clearly states how to be saved in Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” That’s it. No charitable works required. No baptism required. No donations of money required. No recitation of “special” prayers required. Only the penitent heart that asks for the forgiveness that only Jesus offers can receive it.
We don’t deserve salvation. We cannot work for it; we cannot purchase it, and we most certainly are not entitled to it. We can only humbly place our faith and trust in a holy, merciful, loving Saviour who desires to forgive us and welcome us into the family of God for all eternity.
Memory Verse: “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” – 1 John 4:14
Stretching your thoughts:
1. Why is it so difficult to accept the free gift of salvation from Jesus when the philosophy of “entitlement” is so prevalent in our society?
And can it be that I should gain an int'rest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be that Thou, my God, should die for me?
Amazing love! how can it be that Thou, my God, should die for me!
He left His Father's throne above, so free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love, and bled for Adam's helpless race;
'Tis mercy all, immense and free; for, O my God, it found out me.
Amazing love! how can it be that Thou, my God, should die for me!
No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Amazing love! how can it be that Thou, my God, should die for me!
(from “And Can It Be?” by Charles Wesley)