(This is the fifth post in a series)
“yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:18)
Salvation. We see this glorious word all throughout Scripture; however, I think it is a word that most of us do not ponder long enough. We skim over it because it is common and spoken of so often. We think, “Salvation? Oh, yeah I know what salvation is.” But do we really? Have we really contemplated the depths of this fruit of redemption?
Salvation is an active work of God
Help. Deliverance. Saving. Welfare. Avenged. Defend. Rescue. Safe. Victory. All of these, taken straight from the Old Testament Hebrew text, are simple words that describe what Christ has given us through salvation, but yet, they bring so much clarity to what He has done in our lives. Notice they are all words of action. Salvation is not an idle thing but, rather, something that has both immediate and everlasting affect in each believer’s life.
Salvation tells us there is something to be saved from
Salvation is what sets Christian joy apart from the carnal so-called “joy” of the world. Old Testament prophet Habakkuk understood this, along with King David, Isaiah, Paul, the Apostles and so many others. They understood that they were to find joy in Him because He defended them from the adversary. He assured their victory over death. He saved them from eternal fire and delivered them from the bondage of sin.
And, for the Christian, so has the Lord accomplished the same salvation in each of us, thus giving us the reason for our joy.
Evidence in showing the joy of our salvation.
Sometimes one of the most powerful witnesses to an unbeliever is the display of happiness and satisfaction we have, that is not of this world. It is unexplainable; it becomes an attractive light. It can be particularly effective with the family and friends we are regularly around.
In my own Christian pilgrimage, a lot of my unsaved friends always avoid the topic of Christianity in conversation, turned off by even the utterance of it. It might be the same for you. However, the Holy Spirit, sovereignly uses other ways to spread the Gospel and let His truth be known. He uses the evidences of our salvation. He uses the joy we have, from the salvation He gave, as a tool to spread the gospel. I have a constant prayer that the Lord would use my actions and attitude as He sees fit to spread His joy and let His salvation be known to the people around me—to the family and friends I care so deeply about and who need the Lord, just as I do.
Salvation, the power of Almighty God.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
Salvation. What a blessed fruit given to us—by God’s good grace—from the redeeming work of the cross.
Other posts in this series:
- Fruits of Redemption: Introduction
- Fruits of Redemption: Conversion
- Fruits of Redemption: Regeneration
- Fruits of Redemption: Security
(More to come. Stay tuned…)
2 Comments on "Fruits of Redemption: Salvation"
You make a great point, brother. I struggle with showing the external effects of the joy of my salvation but, I need to shine that light! Thatnks for the good word!!!
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