Knowing What's Necessary For Salvation

"Today's Devotion" For April 27, 2006

Read: John 5:31-40; II Timothy 3;14-17

KNOWING WHAT'S NECESSARY FOR SALVATION

"This is the disciple who testifies to these thins and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them was written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." (John 21:24-25)

We live in an information age. According to some sources, more information is published every week than in all of human history up to 1800. With so much information, no one can know it all. The sheer volume of information that challenges us every day makes it quite difficult to differentiate truth from fiction and falsehood. Sometimes, because of the sheer volume of information and our own limitations, we take a "leap of faith" and believe things to be the truth that are later proven to be false. Often the only way we can make decisions about information is to fall back old axioms, such as "if it's too good to be true, it usually is." Sadly, that old axiom doesn't always hold true, and people miss out on some important and valuable pieces of knowledge or opportunity because they don't know any better.

John writes that he is the one who has given testimony of what he saw and heard as he followed Jesus and learned from Him during His ministry on earth. He provides us with a great deal of information about Jesus and shows us the very heart of the Savior in His prayers and teaching John describes and shares. He attests to the truth of his words, having lived them as he walked with Jesus. At the same time, John notes that what he's shared in his Gospel is but a small fragment of what Jesus did while He walked the earth, noting that "Jesus did many more things as well" but that the whole world couldn't hold all the books it would take to share them with everyone.

As those redeemed by Jesus' blood and righteousness, we have the assurance that we're not missing anything we need to know about Him. There are no secrets; no "lost information" - no lost "gospels" - that can possibly give us anything more of importance for our faith and salvation, than what God has already revealed to us in His Word. John reminds us that God's Word gives us the information we need to know God's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Jesus. Jesus reminds us of this when He addresses those who wanted to kill Him and reminds them that Scriptures are a testimony to who He is (cf. John 5:31ff.). St. Paul reiterates the same point as he reminds Timothy that "from infancy" he had "known the Holy Scriptures" by which Timothy and all of us are blessed to believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior from Sin (II Timothy 3:15).

By God's grace, we have received His Word of truth in Jesus Christ so that we might know our Father's forgiveness in Jesus. Can there be any doubt that there's a lot more God has done, does, and will do in our lives and the world than what is contained in John's Gospel, or even all of Scripture for that matter? What joy and comfort there is for God's people to know that they have all the information they need from God's Word so we can be assured of our salvation in Jesus. By the power of the Word and Sacraments, we know what's necessary for salvation and are at peace with God. With this assurance in our hearts, we receive the power to share God's love in Christ with others, confidently and courageously, so that they, too, may come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Prayer: Father, as I look around my environment every day, I'm grateful and thankful to You for providing me with my "daily bread." You bless me with the spiritual food I need to keep me in Jesus and live in Your forgiveness. By the power of Your almighty and gentle hand, You bless me with everything I need to believe in Jesus as my Savior and Lord, having led me to faith in Him and continuing to keep me faithful. I pray that You would continue to work in my life to focus me on the simple truths of the Gospel, knowing that the many things You do and blessings You give are far more than I could ever know - but what I do know is what's necessary for salvation and eternal life. Let my life be a living witness to Your love and forgiveness in Jesus, that others may know "what's necessary for salvation." In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.