Jesus Saves

I am so excited about the messages God has laid on my heart in this new series we begin this Sunday. For the next 6 weeks we will study the who, how and why of the truth, Jesus Saves.
This Sunday morning we see Paul's heart for his own people, the Jews, and how they, and we, are saved.
The Jewish religion is like every other religion on earth in one aspect; they all believe that salvation is attained by doing something, accomplishing something. It is a works salvation. It is opposite of the gospel of grace. And yet, if you were to ask people around us, What do you believe it takes for a person to go to heaven, 95% of the people believe we have to do something-go to church, be a good person, be good to others.

The Bible teaches that salvation is not in the merit of man but in the mercy of God; not in the goodness of man, but in the grace of God.
You are not saved by keeping the law. The law says, do this and thou shalt live. The gospel says, live and you will do.
The law says, pay me what thou owest. The gospel says, I freely forgive all. The law says, Cursed is everyone who continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. The gospel says, Blessed is the man whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered.
The law says, The wages of sin is death. The gospel says, The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
The law places the day of rest on Saturday, at the end of the week. The gospel places the day of celebration on Sunday, the first day of the week. The law says, If. The gospel says, Therefore.
The law makes blessing the result of obedience. The gospel makes obedience the result of blessing.
The law tells us to run, but it doesn't give us any legs. The gospel encourages us to fly and it gives us wings.
The law demands holiness. The gospel provides holiness. The law says, Do. The gospel says, Done.

Oh, thank God for the gospel!

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:3-4