“Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus.” (Acts 13:23)
Saving faith, as described by Paul in Ephesians 2:8-9, not only believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, but comes to Him for forgiveness and cleansing of sin, obeys His Word and follows His will, and trusts Him to fulfill His promises. Some may say that Jesus is the Son of God while remaining unchanged because their “belief” begins and ends in the mind only. This is different from true, saving faith that results in a changed heart and life.
During His earthly ministry, many found Christ’s message hard to believe… that this Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, the long-promised Messiah, the Saviour of the world. The Roman government of that day wanted to silence Him because He disrupted their need to keep peace among the people. The traditional religious Jews rejected His message, for they couldn’t believe the Messiah promised by the prophets could ever be born to a poor Jewish girl from Nazareth; He didn’t meet their expectations. Even those Jews who did believe in Him really wanted a king to rescue them from Roman oppression, not a homeless “Savior.”
For these reasons, those who became His disciples and apostles were exposed to intense reproach, suffering, and even death. And yet because they truly believed that this Christ was the Son of God, the Savior of the world, they continued to trust Him despite all opposition.[1]
A man may say he believes Christ is the Son of God, and yet never trust Him, never obey Him, and never commit his soul to Him. Such belief cannot save. True, saving faith, on the other hand, produces trust, obedience, dependence, and perseverance.
The Father promised a Saviour, and in the fullness of time He sent His Son. And the same God who sent the Saviour must also grant us the faith to believe in Him. Salvation, from beginning to end, is the work of God’s grace. Let us therefore offer up thanksgiving and praise to God for sending His Son to be our Saviour, and for gracing us with the faith to believe in that Saviour. For both Christ and faith are gifts of God.
Contemplations:
- Thanksgiving for the Promised Saviour. Lord, thank You for not leaving the world without hope, but according to Your promise You sent us a Saviour, Jesus. In Your mercy You sent Christ into the world to save sinners. I praise You for Your faithfulness and Your grace.
- Thanksgiving for Faith in Christ. Father, thank You that faith is Your gift. Left to myself, I would never have come to Christ, never trusted Him, and never rested my soul upon Him. But You opened my eyes to see His power and His sufficiency, and You drew me to Him.
- Thanksgiving for the Power and Authority of Christ. Lord Jesus, I thank You that all power and authority belong to You. You are able to save, able to heal, able to forgive, able to keep, and able to bring Your people safely home. I thank You that my salvation does not rest on my strength, but on Your power.
- Thanksgiving for a Faith That Acts. Lord, thank You that true faith does not only speak, but comes to Christ, trusts Christ, and follows Christ. I am grateful for every work of grace in my life that shows that my faith is not dead, but living and active.
Prayer (Thanksgiving)
Gracious Father, thank You for Your great mercy in sending a Saviour into the world. You promised from the beginning that You would send One who would save Your people, and in the fullness of time You sent Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You that salvation was planned, promised, and accomplished by You alone.
Thank You for the Lord Jesus Christ, that He is the promised Saviour, the Son of God, full of power and authority, able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him. Thank You that He obeyed the law, suffered for sin, rose again from the dead, and now reigns with all authority in heaven and in earth.
You not only sent a Saviour, but You also gave faith to believe in that Saviour. Left to myself I would have remained blind, unbelieving, and unwilling to come to Christ. But You opened my eyes to see my need and His sufficiency, and drew me to Him.
Thank You that my salvation does not rest on my strength, my works, or my worthiness, but on Christ alone, and that He is able to save, keep, and bring me safely into Your presence. Let me trust Him more, obey Him more, love Him more, and live as one who belongs to Him.
Thank You for the promise, for the Saviour, for the faith to believe, and for the salvation that is found in Christ alone.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Further Scripture References Acts 13:23:
Luke 2:11; Matthew 1:1; Acts 5:31; Romans 1:3
[1] Thomas Manton, The Complete Works of Thomas Manton, vol. 17 (London: James Nisbet & Co., 1874), 147–149.
