Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
Luke 1:34-35 NKJV
Why is child-like faith necessary for salvation? The virgin Mary was a teenage girl, not a child, but she still possessed the faith of a child. Children tend to believe without question. Adults have become cautious with their trust after being hurt and deceived many times by a world that is less than truthful.
Think about young Mary, betrothed to Joseph. They were excitedly planning their future, and a heavenly visitor surprised Mary with a major change to their plans. The sight of Gabriel caused Mary to tremble. Gabriel told Mary not to be afraid because God had shown her great favor. She would give birth to His Son. Of all the Jewish girls generations before her, she was the one God chose.
As we read the account found in Luke chapter one, we see the depth of Mary’s trust in God. Not once did she question Gabriel. She only asked how could this happen since she was a virgin. Gabriel explained that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of the Highest would overshadow her. No man would have a part in the birth of Jesus, only Mary when she believed Gabriel’s message.
Mary believed by faith. God did the rest. Man could do nothing. God did a mighty miracle in order to bring His Son into the world.
Friend, our faith is born in much the same manner. We believe. That’s all. God takes care of the rest. Our repentance from sin is a work of God. A miracle in itself. The transformation from a life of sin to a life of righteousness is all of God. The renewed mind comes from Him.
Salvation doesn’t come through baptism. It doesn’t come through church membership. It doesn’t come because of your family heritage.
Salvation doesn’t happen when we adhere to good works. That’s right, those good works occur because of your salvation. Another act of God. Salvation doesn’t come through tithing or being a good person. It doesn’t come because you sing in the choir, teach a Sunday school class, or stand behind the pulpit.
Salvation is born by faith. We believe, and God does the rest. We have absolutely nothing to do with it. Salvation is all of God, even the faith it takes to believe comes from God.
Not only are we saved because Jesus Christ was born to die for our sins, but His conception is a perfect picture of that salvation. Not by works, but by God.
Lord Jesus, thank You for leaving heaven’s glory to come to earth for me. Thank You for the free gift of salvation. Lord, today, I want to have confidence in that salvation. If I am trusting in something I have done, please reveal that to me, and come into my life and save me now. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
DIG DEEPER
Read Luke 1:45 NKJV
Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.
HIKING THE TRAIL
Sadly, many people think they are on the road to heaven, and they will never know until it is too late. Prayerfully examine your life. Make sure you are not trusting in good works, tithing, church membership or baptism. Make sure you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ before it’s too late.
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Originally posted on December 23, 2019 @ 3:00 am