Daily Devotional
Sealing Salvation
December 21, 2019
Today’s Reading
. . . that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ROMANS 10:9–10
Sealing Salvation
I want to take the next four days to show you some of the wonderful things believing and confessing Jesus as Lord will do for you. We might call them Christmas presents that you will never have to exchange or return!
The first thing that believing and confessing Christ will do is seal your salvation. That’s what Paul is talking about in Romans 10:9– 10. He writes, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” It’s very clear. If Jesus is not your Lord, He’s not your Savior.
Today we hear people say, “You’ve accepted Christ as your Savior. Why not make Him Lord of your life?” But let me say it again. If Jesus Christ is not your Lord, He is not your Savior. Christ is not divided. Dr. Vance Havner used to say that salvation is not a cafeteria line where we order “a little Saviorhood today, but no Lordship, thank you.”
The Christmas message is so plain. The word from heaven was clear. The Baby of Bethlehem was, and is, the Lord of the universe. The wise men who came so far to bow before Jesus and present their gifts acknowledged Him as the Sovereign Lord. The angels rejoiced at the glad announcement that the Messiah had been born. Even the thief on the cross who was crucified next to Jesus confessed His Lordship and pleaded for salvation when he cried, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). Jesus instantly accepted his confession, telling him, “. . . today you will be with Me in Paradise” (v. 43).
The good news of Christmas is that when you call on Jesus and say, “Lord, save me,” He says to you, “Today it is done.” Salvation is by grace through faith, and it is immediate and total. But you must be committed to Jesus’ Lordship if you want His salvation.
Activity
Christ has given us Himself this Christmas. There is a gift we can give Him that He wants very much: our hearts! Have family members write a short poem or song or draw a picture that expresses their desire to give God their hearts this Christmas. Show God's love by calling an out of town friend or family member that you haven't talked to in awhile and wish them a Merry Christmas.
Take advantage of the related activities and resources at ExperienceChristmas.org.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
