HOW DO YOU FEEL? (part-16)

HOW MUCH DO YOUR FEELINGS CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR SALVATION?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one
can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
(John 3:3)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever heard someone say,
    “I’m saved, but I don’t feel saved”?
Maybe you have even said it yourself. We have to remember
that we are saved by trusting in the finished work of Jesus on
the cross, and not by our feelings.

Does that mean there is no place for feelings in a saving faith?
There is always room for feelings in our faith, but we are not
saved by them. We may have feelings as a result of our saving
faith, but feelings have never saved anyone.

Feelings may, or may not, lead to our salvation, but they are not
the ingredients of our salvation. Love is a feeling; joy is a feeling;
inner peace is a feeling; love for others is a feeling; concern for the
lost is a feeling; guilt is a feeling; being lost is a feeling. However,
salvation is not a feeling (although feelings may follow being saved).

Salvation is based on an experience – the experience of believing
in Jesus Christ. Satan wants to convince us that, if our feelings
are not there, then we have not been saved. The scriptures do not
mention anything about feelings being a part of salvation, so we
must not let Satan succeed in causing us to doubt our salvation
when we have followed God’s requirements for being saved.

ACTION:
Have you followed God’s Word to receive His salvation? If you
have, then don’t get discouraged if you don’t ‘feel’ like you think
you should feel. Always remember that Satan will use whatever he
can to try to cause us to doubt our salvation. When he does, we can
always turn to God’s Word and recite scriptures to Satan.

Jesus recited scriptures in order to turn away Satan. If it worked
for Jesus, then certainly it will work for us. If you have received
God’s salvation, then hopefully you are experiencing an inner
peace, you have noticed an increase in your capacity to love
others, and you have embraced other characteristics of Jesus.

We should never forget that our battles with Satan are not
limited to one battle, but will continue to plague us throughout
our lives. It is not a ‘one and done’ battle. Look at what the
scriptures tell us about his efforts to tempt God’s Son, Jesus.

We can see that each time he tried to tempt Him, Jesus would quote
scriptures.
    The devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone
    to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not
    live on bread alone.”
    (Luke 4:3-4)

    The devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant
    all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to Him, “I will give You
    all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can
    give it to anyone I want to. If You worship me, it will all be Yours.”
    Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and
    serve Him only.”
    (Luke 4:5-9)

    The devil led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the highest
    point of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw
    Yourself down from here. For it is written: “He will command His
    angels concerning You to guard You carefully; they will lift You up
    in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.”
    Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”
    (Luke 4:9-12)

Did quoting scripture mean the devil would give up completely on
tempting Jesus? From this verse, it doesn’t look like it, does it?
    When the devil had finished all this
    tempting, he left Him until an opportune time.
    (Luke 4:13)

Did quoting scriptures do more than just turn Satan away?
Yes, it did! Look at how Jesus benefitted from His rebuke
of the devil.
    Then the devil left Him,
    and angels came and attended Him.
    (Matthew 4:11)

Not only did the devil leave Him, but angels came and attended to Him!
We know that Satan is real, that his temptations are real, and that his
temptations will continue even though we have received salvation from
God. However, the scriptures give us these encouraging words:
    No temptation has overtaken you except what is common
    to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be
    tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are
    tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can
    endure it.
    (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me Your salvation.
Help me to resist the negative thoughts Satan tries to create
in my mind to cause me to doubt I have been saved. Reveal
to me the “fruits of the Spirit” in my life as a confirmation
that I have been saved, and the Holy Spirit is living within
me. Give me the capability of turning away Satan by quoting
scriptures. Remind me that when You discipline me, it is also
confirmation that I belong to You. God, I thank You that
Your gift of redemption does not fluctuate like my feelings.
Thank You, Jesus, for making my salvation available!”

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