"Look Unto Me, And Be Ye Saved" - Isaiah 45:22

    Man by nature will always look elsewhere other than Christ and His finished work on the cross for salvation and assurance of salvation. He will look to himself, within himself, to his religious experiences and works. The fact is that any thoughts of salvation or assurance of salvation based upon such notions is an abomination to God (Luke 16:15) and a false refuge for sinners (Matt. 7:21-23). God’s gift of salvation as set forth in the Gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ and based upon HIS blood and righteousness imputed alone is so simple and free that the natural man cannot and will not believe it. He reasons in his depraved mind that he must work for it or, at least, have some life-changing experience within to be qualified for it and settle the issue. Although it is true that all who are saved by Christ will experience in the new birth a life-changing experience in receiving Christ by God-given faith and in being brought to repentance of dead works and idolatry, God the Holy Spirit works in us to cause us simply to look to Christ for all salvation – the forgiveness of our sins by His blood alone, the justification of our persons by His righteousness imputed alone, the giving of spiritual life by His power alone. Even the assurance of salvation is in looking to Christ Jesus as “the Author and Finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). The simple truth is this – CHRIST IS OUR SALVATION AND OUR ASSURANCE. LOOK UNTO HIM, AND BE SAVED!