Why it Matters

Galatians 3:6-7 Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”  7 Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.
 
WHY is it essential to know your salvation into eternal life is not your decision, but it is God’s gracious work to call you to faith in Jesus? Think of it. What would it be like if it were up to you on your own to believe, “Jesus is Savior.” How would you know if and when you are saved? Yes, the Bible tells you many rules and commands, so you can obey God. But how would you know when you’ve obeyed enough, done enough to confidently say, “I’m saved.”
    In truth, you would never know. That is the trouble with self-determination that says, “I chose Jesus.” If God were not involved in your decision, how do you know your decision is real and eternal?
    This is why Paul is so forceful and persistent to convince the Jews that faith, not any particular work or law, is the means of salvation. Paul uses Abraham as an example to continue his faith argument. Abraham’s relationship with God began when he believed God. He was not working for God. He didn’t’ know God and cared nothing for God’s commands the first 75 years of his life. It was impossible for God to say to him, “You are righteous, Abraham, because you’ve done these good works.” Instead, God chose Abraham to come into God’s salvation plan for humanity. The LORD God credited – deposited – in Abraham’s heart a faith to believe God: “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. (Genesis 12:1-2) Without previous experience with God and no understanding of his future, Abraham obeyed. So Abram left, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. (Genesis 12:4)
    God generated in Abraham a faithful obedience. Abraham’s faith in God’s commands advanced God’s gospel plan, and the nation Israel was ultimately formed. From Israel came the Savior. Through the Savior the church began. As a result, all people who call Jesus “Lord and Savior” in true faith are children of Abraham. From generation to generation, God credited faith to particular patriarchs, prophets and apostles to advance the gospel. All chose their work because God first chose them.
    Why do you need to know this? First, your faith is only a sure faith when you know it comes from God. Second, when you connect your Christian life to men and women God has chosen for the gospel, you can more deeply know that you are part of God’s eternal plan to seek and to save the lost. Your faith and love for God grows deeper roots when you know the LORD God has moved through history, one generation to another, to purposefully bring you into his eternal promise. God loves the world. He began a worldwide movement with one man, so you could know Jesus today and forever. So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. (Galatians 3:9)
    This is God’s love story for you. Embrace it, and keep telling the story. You are one of God’s anointed messengers today. 9 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.