SALVATION AND NEW LIFE

LUKE 8:1–18

“But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold”

(Luke 8:8).

Many people erroneously believe that their salvation began when they repented of their sins and put their faith in Christ. This, however, is not what Scripture teaches. While faith and repentance are the first visible signs of a changed heart, it is spiritual rebirth that begins our new life. John Murray wrote, “We are not born again by repentance or faith or conversion: we repent and believe because we have been born again.” In the account of Lydia’s conversion in Acts 16, we see clearly that her new life was initiated by God moving to change her heart: “Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us.… The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.” God called Lydia to Himself, not only outwardly, but inwardly and effectively by the power of the Spirit.

The initiative in our salvation rests with God. No matter how many sermons we hear, how many calls to repentance from family and friends, we will not turn from our sins and embrace Christ until God has given us the ability to do so by changing our hearts. Without this change, without being born again “from above,” we will continue in darkness. We might attend church, and even think we are Christians, but unless we are changed at the root, unless the bad tree is made good, we will only prove to be hypocrites and formalists in the end.

Because salvation begins with God, without any cooperation from man, we must acknowledge our total dependence upon Him in evangelism. No matter how much we persuade, argue, and quote Scripture, unless God regenerates and quickens that dead heart, our words fall on deaf ears. This should not discourage us, but encourage us to press on, to pray that God will open the eyes and ears of the lost, and to rely on His power and strength in proclaiming the Gospel. Acknowledging that redemption begins with God humbles us and removes the burden we place on ourselves in trying to convert others. This does not mean we should become slack in proclaiming the Gospel, quite the contrary. By resting in the sovereign power and grace of God in redemption, we are freed to obey His command to tell the world about Christ while giving all the glory to Him instead of to ourselves.

CORAM DEO

Joshua 23–24

Luke 9:46–62

WEEKEND

Judges 1–3

Luke 10

Read the passage for today. How does this parable testify to the necessity of new life in redemption? Compare the different types of ground on which the seed fell. Which one yielded fruit? Who can be said to have a “noble and good heart”? Praise God today for displaying His sovereignty in salvation, without which no one would be saved.

For further study: Ps. 51 • Acts 16:11–15 • James 1:12–18

WEEKEND