who can be savedWho can be saved? John 3:16 is an oft-quoted verse for good reason. It declares, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." Whoever believes in Jesus can be saved. He extends the invitation of salvation to all. Galatians 3:27–28 says, "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Jesus is the great unifier of humanity (Ephesians 2:11–16). He does not exclude people from salvation, but lovingly offers it to all.
Sometimes people think they must perform certain good works in order to be saved, but this couldn't be further from the truth. Romans 3 makes it clear that no human is righteous. We cannot do good on our own. Romans 3 also explains that it is only by God's grace, received through faith, that we are justified. Ephesians 2:8–9 says, "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." Therefore, we do not have to be a "good person" in order to be saved. In fact, we can't be! Sometimes people think that they have committed too many sins, or too heinous of sins, to be saved. This is also patently untrue. God is able to forgive all sin. First Corinthians 6:9–10 lists some types of people who won't inherit the kingdom of God, and then verse 11 says, "And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles and one of the most prominent writers of the New Testament, persecuted the church with great zeal before he was saved (Acts 9). Paul wrote, "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life" (1 Timothy 1:15–16). Forgiveness is available to all who will believe in Jesus. Anyone who wants to be saved can be. The requirement for salvation is to put your faith in Jesus. Admit that you are a sinner and that you deserve eternal death, the punishment for sin (Romans 6:23). Believe that Jesus is who He says He is—God in human flesh, who lived a perfect life to fulfill the law, then died the death we deserve in our place, then rose again victorious over death, and offered salvation to all who would believe in Him. Trust that God has applied Jesus' sacrifice to your account (2 Corinthians 5:16–21). Leave behind the emptiness of trying to save yourself or trying to live your life apart from God. As a new believer in Jesus, you can get to know God more through reading the Bible, praying, and joining a Bible-teaching church. And give God praise that He offers salvation to all! Have you made a decision for Christ because of what you have read here? If so, please let us know and we can help you on in your journey with God.
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Lynne Mcilrae will be our speaker at our Ladies Fellowship
Come connect, discover and grow together with us this Saturday the 18th May at 6 Queen Street. All ladies welcome always and feel free to invite your friends. We look forward to seeing you all there. Lagoonside Baptist Church, Knysna www.lagoonside.org Happy Fathers Day
16th June Our fathers carry half of our genetic makeup. Our relationship with our father plays a huge part of who we will become. In many segments of society, people grow up without ever knowing their fathers. This is unfortunate because fathers should play as important a role in raising their children as mothers. A father is the model of a man for his daughter and she will choose a man who is like him. A father is the model for his son as well. A father is the model after which our children will grow up to perceive our Heavenly father and what He is like. Fortunately, there is a trend for fathers to be more active in their children's lives. Eph 6:4 And, you fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Join us for our Father's Day 9:30 on the 16 June 2019 All Welcome Always Join us at Lagoonside Baptist Church in Knysna, Garden Route On Sunday 12th May 2019, Lagoonside Baptist Church in Knysna will have a Mother's Day Service, celebrating and honouring Garden Route mothers for their dedication and love.
We would like you to come be a part of that special day, so come along and bring your mother or a friend to join in with you as you come. Men, remember the words of the apostle Paul, Col 3:19 "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." Kids, Col 3:20 "Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord," and Wives, Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. Remember, the family is a critical entity instituted by God. So make this Mother's Day in Knysna a key page in your book of life. We hope to see you there, we would love to have you join us. All Welcome Always This year we will be hosting a Combined Easter Service in Knysna
A combination of three sermonettes covering the Easter Events will feed your spirit with the Word of the Lord, and a Worship time to really set the tone for a true Eater event that will glorify God and uplift your heart. We are planning on having Lagoonside Church, Belvidere and The Den together for this event. This Service will be held at the Premier Hotel in Knysna at our regular time of 9:30am. We are expecting to see you there with your loved ones as well. Let's make it an Easter to remember. For more information about Lagoonside Baptist Church, visit our Website |
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