Salvation, Good Things Come From Above

In verse 4 of I Thessalonians 1, we notice the fact that salvation is of the Lord and not of man. "Knowing brethren beloved, your election of God." John writes in 15:16 "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit…"

Man's salvation, faith and victory comes from above. God planned it, Christ purchased it, and the Holy Spirit initiates and perfects it. All is of the Lord and we should give Him all the praise and glory.

This spiritual truth is spelled out for us in I Corinthians 4:6-7:

And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. For who maketh thee to differ from another?" And what has thou that thou didst not receive? Now is thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

All good things come from above as seen in James 1:17. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

The Apostle John writes in Revelation 4:11, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Worthy is the Lamb.

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Life Lines is a Bible based inspirational series authored by Brother Lowell M. Barnard of Grace Baptist Church, New Castle Indiana; and Blessed Hope Baptist Church, Huber Heights, Ohio.