The Lord’s plan is to save us. (5)

I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. (5)

The Lord’s plan is to save us.  We are saved from the perils that are the results of our sin, imperfection and disobedience and of the values of the society in which we live. 

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."  This statement from 1 Tim 1:15 sums up the entire ministry and life of Jesus: to save sinners. Paul’s statement lies at the heart of the gospel.  It is the most glorious proof of God's love for us. It is the foundation of the Church's message and the key to understanding everything written in the Bible.

It also is a key truth in understanding and believing that God has a plan for our lives and that his plan is that we will prosper and not be harmed, because Christ Jesus came to the world to save sinners.

Whenever we find our faith wavering, our hope growing dim and our concerns about all facets of life we have to deal with discouraging, we should spend some time reflecting on the truth that Christ came to save sinners. Our failure to love, to believe or to hope and our inability to live for God show that we are sinners. We know that all of us need saving and that none of us can save ourselves.

But what does it mean to be saved?

It means forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, being granted the righteousness of Christ and redemption, in other words, to be bought by the sacrifice of Jesus to belong to God. It means acceptance by God for the sake of Christ Jesus and that the darkness of evil is replaced by the light of Christ's presence in our lives.

To be saved also means to receive everlasting life.

And because we are saved by grace, we live through faith and in hope.

We are not alone. We are saved from the perils that are the result of our sin, imperfection and disobedience and of the values of the society in which we live. Therefore our faith gives us the courage to look forward to being victorious followers of Jesus, in spite of our uncertainties and our concerns!

Take heart – Christ Jesus became one of us to save us from our sins and from the consequences of our foolishness and from the lack of good sense in the world. Be courageous and live with peace in your heart!

Because we have been saved from ourselves.