Christ Is the Way - Lee Brainard

When man thinks of salvation, he typically thinks of things that man must do. He thinks of the austerity of Buddhist monks, the rigor of Islam, and the narrow path advocated by different groups in Christendom. Man must be engaged in right religion, good works, and clean living. This is regarded as the way of salvation. But this focus on what man must do is a tremendous mistake. The path of salvation is not a path of religion, good works, and clean living. The path of salvation is a person, the rejected Nazarene, the man who was God-manifest-in-the-flesh, whose blood was shed on the cross for our sin.

Those whose eyes are opened to this wonderful truth find their burden lifted. They don’t have to labor away in religion or good works or right living to get saved or stay saved. The price for them to be right with God has already been paid. There is nothing that needs to be added. Jesus paid an infinite price on the cross. The work of redemption is finished. All we have to do is believe. This is why we are told, “This is the work of God, that you believe on him whom he has sent.

”But don’t we have to follow the Lord? Yes, but not to earn or retain salvation. Jesus is our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30). If we don’t honor him on this point,then we are not following him at all. Get this first step right. Then worry about the rest.

~ Lee Brainard, September 26, 2015