“But God who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6). The dominion of sin and the power of Satan over mankind were broken by Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, being born into this world as a man, living a perfect sinless life, and then giving his life in suffering and sacrifice to pay the debt of divine justice. Because there was no sin in Him, death had no legal hold on Him and He was resurrected by the power of God and then ascended to the throne of God (Hebrews 10:12-14).

God’s great love for us is shown, not only in Christ’s act of redemption, but in His eternal identification with us in our humanity as the second Adam, the beginning of a new creation (1Corinthians 15:45,49).

God’s purpose in offering salvation is not just to provide us a place in heaven. His purpose is to restore us to an intimate fellowship and love relationship with Him.

One author quoted:

“Longfellow could take a sheet of paper, write a poem on it and make it worth $60,000. That is talent.

Rockefeller could sign a piece of paper and make it worth millions. That is capital.

Uncle Sam can take an ounce of gold and stamp an eagle on it and make it worth $40. That is money.

A mechanic can take material worth $5 and make it into an article worth$50. That is skill.

A merchant can buy an article worth 80 cents, put it on his counter and sell it for a dollar. That is business.

God can take a worthless, sinful life, wash it, cleanse it, put His Holy Spirit into it and make it a blessing to all humanity. That is salvation.”

Got it my friend? In order for this to happen, our hearts and minds must be awakened to the passions and affections that are in the heart of God for us. The more our hearts are awakened to His love for us, the more our desire grows to return that love to Him.