Word of the week: salvation

Salvation is God's plan to save us from the consequence of sin which is death and separation from him. Hebrews 9:27-28 says, Everyone must die once. Then they are judged. So Christ was offered as a sacrifice one time to take away the sins of many people. And he will come a second time, but not to offer himself for sin. He will come the second time to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Romans 6:23 explains that when we are judged we deserve death because we have all sinned, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. God's gift of eternal life in Christ is salvation. This plan was put into effect when Jesus came to earth as a baby and died and rose again. It will come to completion when he comes again.

Imagine someone gave you a game (computer or board game - you choose). It's great  fun but then you get the expansion pack and it's so much better. When we decide to follow Jesus we get adopted as God's children and he gives us his Holy Spirit - the basic game. When he comes again we get all the expansion packs. It will be so amazing it will blow your mind!

We celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas but this is just part one. Your sins have been forgiven, God calls you his child and gives you his Holy Spirit to guide and comfort you. But when he comes again you will live with him. There will be no more sin, sickness or sadness. That's the hope that drives us, that we cling on to when life gets hard, that makes us smile when we get up in the morning. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 says, the hope of salvation should be our helmet. This hope that we have protects our minds from being disheartened, in despair and discouragement. So hold your head up cause better days are coming.