A Gift that You Cannot Lose

Merry Christmas to all!!

I was reading Isaiah today, and I came across some magnificent verses.  God says ...

"My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.  Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished."  Isaiah 51:5, 6

In keeping with the context, the Lord is speaking to Israel directly; however, He speaks to "the isles," a definite reference to other countries.  He also promises that Christ the Savior will be for a "light of the Gentiles."  (Is. 42:6)

God makes clear that His salvation is for all, both Jew and Gentile.  With that in mind, we may safely say that all who call upon Christ will receive eternal life.  This life has no end, and it cannot be lost.

Notice the verses; see how God emphasizes His righteousness and no one else's?  "My righteousness is near..."  "My righteousness shall not be abolished..."  Notice also, how God emphasizes His strength to save?  He does not lift up man's works; He exalts His power to redeem.  "My salvation is gone forth..."  On mine arm shall they trust..."  "My salvation shall be forever..."

Jesus the Messiah is the embodiment of the Father's righteousness and salvation.  "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."  (II Co. 5:21)

The individual who humbles himself or herself to place repentant faith in the Messiah has God's righteousness transferred to his or her "spiritual bank account."  

This righteousness cannot be abolished.  This salvation is forever.  You see, your salvation doesn't depend upon you.  It never did, and it never will.  You can't earn it, and you can't keep from losing it.  Your salvation is dependent upon the righteousness of God transferred to you through the channel of childlike faith, faith in the sufficiency of Jesus' work on the cross.

You and I will fail.  We will have victories and defeats.  We may even commit an atrocious sin that would greatly shame the name of Christ (forbid it, but it is possible); however, this doesn't change the nature of God's righteousness.  His righteousness is still forever.  His salvation is still forever.  That doesn't mean that we should sin because salvation cannot be lost.  On the contrary, we should be humbled by the pleasure of being God's child and seek to serve Him fervently and devotedly.

But in the end, good living doesn't gain or keep salvation.  Good living is an effect of salvation, not an appropriation of it.  In order to be eternally secure, I need something far more reliable than my shaky "good works."  I need something unmoveable, something eternal, something flawless.  That "something" is the righteousness of God, found in the Person of His precious Son Jesus the Messiah, whose birth we celebrate!

Christmas decorations come and go.  Pretty Christmas trees die, and their needles fall off.  Families come and go, and eventually "the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner," but the righteousness of my God, the righteousness that He gave to me when I asked Him for it many years ago, shall never be abolished.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!!