Salvation Is the Gift of God

Salvation Is the Gift of God

In these last days, what must a person do to receive God's salvation?

1. Salvation Is the Gift of God

Ephesians 2:8–9

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

From this passage, we learn that salvation is the gift of God. The question then becomes: To whom does God give this gift of salvation?

2. Salvation Is Received by Those Who Are in Christ

Ephesians 2:7

"...so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."

Ephesians 2:10

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

These passages reveal that a person receives God's salvation because he or she is in Christ. The next question is: How can a person remain in Christ?

3. How Can We Remain in Christ?

John 14:23

Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."

From this passage, we understand that only those who keep Jesus' words will experience His indwelling presence and remain in Christ. Only those who remain in Christ can receive God's gift of salvation.

4. What Is the Result of Remaining in Christ?

Matthew 7:21

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who continues to do the will of My Father who is in heaven."

This passage teaches that those who keep Jesus' word are the ones who do the will of the Father. Only those who continue to do the Father's will shall enter the kingdom of heaven.

Conclusion

God's salvation is entirely by grace. It is His free gift and cannot be earned by human effort or purchased through good works.

However, God's grace calls for a response. The Scriptures reveal that only those who love the Lord and continue to obey the words of Jesus remain in Christ. Only those who remain in Christ receive God's gift of salvation, continue to do the Father's will, and will ultimately enter the kingdom of heaven.

Therefore, it is not enough merely to call Jesus "Lord" with our lips. We must demonstrate genuine faith by wholeheartedly obeying His words, abiding continually in Christ, and faithfully remaining in Him until He returns, so that we may inherit the eternal life God has promised. Amen.

你們得救乃是神所賜的

你們得救乃是神所賜的

在這末日世代，人要如何做，他才能得著神的救恩？

1，你們得救乃是神所賜的

以弗所書 2: 8-9

你們得救是本乎恩，也因著信。這並不是出於自己，乃是神所賜的；也不是本於行為，免得有人自誇。

從這經文可知，人的得救乃是神所賜的。那麼神會賜誰得救呢？

2，你們得救乃是因為在基督裡

以弗所書 2: 7

為了在將來的各世代中，在基督耶穌裡，藉著對我們的仁慈，可以顯出他那無限恩典的豐盛。

以弗所書 2: 10

實際上，我們是神的創作，是為了美善的工作在基督耶穌裡被造成的；神早已預備好了美善工作，要我們在其中行事。

從這些經文可知，人能得著神的救恩乃是因為他住在基督裡。那麼人如何做，他才能住在基督裡呢？

3，如何住在基督裡

約翰福音14:23

耶穌回答說：「人若愛我，就必遵守我的話語，我父也必愛他，並且我們要到他那裡去，與他同住。

從這些經文可知，人唯有遵守耶穌的話語，他才能得著耶穌內住，他才能住在基督裡；人唯有住在基督裡，他才能得著神的救恩。

4，住在基督裡會有什麼結果？

馬太福音7:21

凡稱呼我「主啊，主啊」的人，不能都進天國；惟獨持續地遵行我天父旨意的人，才能進去。

從這些經文可知，遵守耶穌的話語者，他就是遵天父的旨意者；人唯有持續地遵行天父旨意，他才能進入天國。

結論

神的救恩完全出於恩典，是神白白的賞賜，不是人的功勞，也不是靠善行可以換取。

然而，神的恩典並非沒有回應。聖經啟示，唯有愛主並持續地遵守耶穌話語的人，才能住在基督裡；唯有住在基督裡的人，才能領受神所賜的救恩，並持續遵行天父的旨意，最終得以進入天國。

因此，人不可以只停留在口裡稱呼耶穌為主，他必須要以全心全靈地遵行祂的話語來顯明真實的信心，使生命常住在基督裡，直到主再來，承受神所應許永遠的生命。

Knowing Jesus and Being Known by Jesus

Knowing Jesus and Being Known by Jesus

In these last days, only those who both know Jesus and are known by Jesus can receive God’s salvation. How, then, does the Bible define those who know Jesus and those who are known by Jesus?

1. Those Who Know Jesus

1 John 2:3–4

“By this we know that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. Whoever says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.”

This passage clearly teaches that only those who obey the commandments of Jesus truly know Him. This biblical definition is entirely different from the world’s understanding of what it means to know Christ. The next question, then, is: How can a person be known by Jesus?

2. Those Who Are Known by Jesus

1 John 2:5

“But whoever keeps His word, truly in that person the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him.”

John 14:23

Jesus answered, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

These passages reveal that only those who keep the words of Jesus receive His indwelling presence and remain in Christ. Those who abide in Christ are those who are known by Jesus. Conversely, those who do not abide in Christ are not known by Him.

3. Jesus Knows His Sheep

John 10:27

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand.”

From this passage we learn that Jesus knows His sheep and grants them eternal life. But who are His sheep?

4. Jesus’ Sheep Are His Disciples

Luke 14:26–27

“If anyone comes to Me and does not love Me more than father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.” (cf. the comparative sense expressed in Matthew 10:37)

Matthew 10:37–38

“Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And whoever does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.”

These passages teach that a person must love Jesus above all else—even above family and personal life—in order to become His disciple. Those who follow Him in this way are His sheep, whom He knows.

5. Jesus Rejects Those He Does Not Know

Matthew 7:21

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who continually does the will of My Father in heaven.”

This verse teaches that those who do not continue doing the will of God will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 7:22

“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and perform many miracles in Your name?’”

This passage shows that even those who preach, cast out demons, and perform miracles in Jesus’ name will not enter the kingdom if they do not continue to do God’s will as revealed in His Word.

Matthew 7:23

“Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!’”

These verses teach that those who refuse to continue doing God’s will—even if they have performed impressive religious works—are not known by Jesus. He calls them evildoers. If a person is not known by Jesus, how can that person expect to escape God’s final judgment and the lake of fire?

Conclusion

The Bible defines knowing Jesus not as merely professing faith, possessing biblical knowledge, showing religious enthusiasm, or even performing miracles in His name. Rather, it is demonstrated by continually keeping the commandments and word of Jesus.

Only those who continually keep Christ’s commands abide in Him, hear His voice, love Him above all else, walk in His light, take up their cross, and faithfully follow Him. These are the true sheep whom Jesus knows, and to them He gives eternal life.

Jesus’ sheep are His true disciples. Therefore, every believer should examine himself daily—not merely calling Jesus “Lord,” but living in reverent obedience to God and continually doing His will. As their lives bear the fruit of righteousness, they will be ready for Christ’s return and will receive His joyful approval: “I know you.” Amen.

認識耶穌與被耶穌認識

認識耶穌與被耶穌認識

在這末日世代，唯有認識耶穌與被耶穌認識者，他才能得著神的救恩，那麼聖經是如何地定義「認識耶穌者」與「被耶穌認識者」？

1，認識耶穌者

約翰一書 2:3-4

如果我們遵守基督的命令，從這一點我們就知道我們已經認識他。那說「我已經認識他」，卻不遵守他命令的，就是說謊者，真理也不在這個人裡面。

從這經文可知，唯有「遵守耶穌命令者」，他才是認識耶穌者；很明顯地，這定義完全不同於世界文化與屬世界的人的定義。那麼人要如何做，他才能「被耶穌認識」？

2，被耶穌認識者

約翰一書 2:5

但如果有人遵守他的話語，屬神的愛就確實在這個人裡面得以完全了；從這一點我們就知道我們是在他裡面。

約翰福音14:23

耶穌回答說：「如果有人愛我，他就會遵守我的話語，我父也會愛他，而且我們將要來到他那裡，並且在他那裡安置我們的住處。

從這經文可知，唯有「遵守耶穌話語者」，他才能得著耶穌內住，他才是在耶穌裡；人若在耶穌裡，那麼他就是被耶穌認識者。人若不在耶穌裡，那麼他就是不被耶穌認識者。

3，耶穌認識他的羊

約翰福音 10:27

我的羊聽我的聲音，我也認識他們，他們也跟著我；並且我賜給他們永恆的生命，他們絕不會滅亡，直到永遠。誰也不能把他們從我手中奪走。

從此經文可知，耶穌認識他的羊，並且耶穌會賜永恆的生命給他的羊。那麼誰是耶穌的羊呢？

4，耶穌的羊就是耶穌的門徒

路加福音 14:26-27

如果有人到我這裡來，而不恨自己的父親、母親、妻子、兒女、兄弟、姐妹，甚至自己的生命，他就不能做我的門徒。凡是不背著自己的十字架來跟從我的，也不能做我的門徒。

馬太福音 10:37-38

那愛父親或母親過於愛我的，不配屬於我；那愛兒子或女兒過於愛我的，不配屬於我；不背起自己的十字架來跟從我的，也不配屬於我。

從這些經文可知，人必須愛耶穌大於愛自己的生命與家人，他才能成為耶穌的門徒，他才能成為耶穌認識的羊。

5，耶穌憎惡他所不認識的人

馬太福音 7:21

不是每一個稱呼我『主啊，主啊』的人，都能進入天國；只有持續地遵行我天父旨意的人，才能進去。

從此經文可知，凡是不持續地遵神的話語，他們就不能進天國。

馬太福音 7:22

在那一天，有許多人會對我說：『主啊，主啊，我們不是奉你的名做先知傳講，奉你的名驅趕鬼魔，奉你的名行了很多神蹟嗎？』

從此經文可知，那些不持續地遵神的話語而卻能傳福音、趕鬼、行神蹟者，他們不能進入天國。

馬太福音 7:23

那時候，我要向他們宣告：『我從來不認識你們。離開我，你們這些作惡的人！』

從此經文可知，那些不持續地遵神的話語而卻能傳福音、趕鬼、行神蹟者，耶穌不認識他們，耶穌稱他們為作惡的人；凡是耶穌不認識的人，他們未來如何能不被神拋入燒著硫磺的火湖裡？

結論

聖經對「認識耶穌」的定義，不是停留在口裡承認、知識理解、宗教熱心，甚至神蹟事奉，而是持續遵守耶穌的命令與話語。

唯有持續地遵守耶穌的命令的人，他才能住在耶穌裡、聽從耶穌的聲音、愛耶穌勝過一切的人、行走在光中、背起十字架跟從耶穌，他才是真正被耶穌認識的羊，並得著永恆的生命。

耶穌的羊就是耶穌的信徒，他應當天天省察自己，不僅稱耶穌為主，更要敬畏神與持續地遵行神的旨意，使生命結出義的果子，直到耶穌再來，得蒙耶穌稱許：「我認識你。」