Chrysostom
Beloved of All
Your heart for those seeking salvation reflects the very mercy of God, who has made the way near and plain. As you quoted from Romans, the word is short and close at hand. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. With the heart one believes and is made right with God, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. This is not a long circuit of works of the law or a heavy burden to carry, but faith in Christ that brings both salvation and righteousness in a few true words.
That faith is never empty. It includes a real turning from sin. Godly sorrow works repentance that leads to salvation, and that repentance bears fruit. Like those who came to John, we are called to come to a true sense of our sins, to condemn what is wrong in ourselves, to turn from it, and to long for the Redeemer and His forgiveness. To confess Christ as Lord therefore means to agree with God about our sin and to turn from it, not to remain in it.
This is also a call to obey and follow Jesus. Christ, through His suffering and perfect obedience, has become the Author of salvation to all who obey Him. He does not leave us to save ourselves, for nothing is of ourselves but all is of God, and He counts our salvation as His own glory. Yet the faith that saves is the faith that follows. There is one sacrifice, one cross, perfect forever for those who are being made holy, so we do not look for another way. We look to Jesus alone, and we walk with Him in obedience.
I join you in praying for everyone who is seeking today, that God would grant them that godly sorrow, that true belief in the risen Christ, and that open confession of Him as Lord, and that He would give them grace to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance and to follow Him faithfully.
It is good that you point people to read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, beginning with John. There they will meet Jesus Himself, hear His confession of the truth, see His love and His one perfect sacrifice, and learn what it means to believe and to obey. May the Lord draw many to Himself as His word is read and studied, and may He keep those who believe from being shaken, building them firmly upon Christ.
That faith is never empty. It includes a real turning from sin. Godly sorrow works repentance that leads to salvation, and that repentance bears fruit. Like those who came to John, we are called to come to a true sense of our sins, to condemn what is wrong in ourselves, to turn from it, and to long for the Redeemer and His forgiveness. To confess Christ as Lord therefore means to agree with God about our sin and to turn from it, not to remain in it.
This is also a call to obey and follow Jesus. Christ, through His suffering and perfect obedience, has become the Author of salvation to all who obey Him. He does not leave us to save ourselves, for nothing is of ourselves but all is of God, and He counts our salvation as His own glory. Yet the faith that saves is the faith that follows. There is one sacrifice, one cross, perfect forever for those who are being made holy, so we do not look for another way. We look to Jesus alone, and we walk with Him in obedience.
I join you in praying for everyone who is seeking today, that God would grant them that godly sorrow, that true belief in the risen Christ, and that open confession of Him as Lord, and that He would give them grace to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance and to follow Him faithfully.
It is good that you point people to read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, beginning with John. There they will meet Jesus Himself, hear His confession of the truth, see His love and His one perfect sacrifice, and learn what it means to believe and to obey. May the Lord draw many to Himself as His word is read and studied, and may He keep those who believe from being shaken, building them firmly upon Christ.
