Is Salvation Personal?

“…And Peter was following at a [safe] distance. 55 After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.” 57 But Peter denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him!” 58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You are one of them too.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59 After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, “This man was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times” Luke 22:54-61

It is so easy for us to read the excerpt and quickly wonder why Peter would deny Jesus after having walked with Him for so long and even after Jesus had pre- warned him of it. But our own actions, words and even lives as born again Christians are those of denying Christ all the time.

As I read this excerpt I couldn’t help but wonder how much Peter resembled Christ. So much that three people pointed him out and associated him with Christ.

Is it the manner with which he carried himself?

Is it how he spoke?

Is it how he walked?

Is it the way he was dressed?

Is it how he prayed?

How come people automatically saw a Christ like demeanor in Peter?

Can anyone automatically point me out from a congregation as a born again Christian without my need to state it?

Does my life resemble that of the Lord Jesus Christ or

 Do I have to continually prove to people that I am actually a believer?

It sad how nowadays, Christians are all about imitating the world.

If truly you live in Him, it is a requirement that you live as He did. And that is exactly where the challenge lies. We all want to be born again believers but walking according to His statutes is not a price we are prepared to pay.

Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6

We want to be born again but still:

Talk like the world,

Act like the world and,

Seek Him in hiding

Salvation is personal is a cliché that has been over used by so many believers, and I am afraid, it might take so many Christians to hell than the devil himself.

I personally believe that the phrase was/ is meant to signify: I do not need to tell you that I am born again. All that is needed is for you to look at my actions, listen to how I talk, see how I carry and manage my cross and from that notice that I actually am born again. I have told you nothing about my relationship with Christ, my character has.

According to the now society, salvation is personal means:  I can sin all I want, talk like I want, act however I feel like. I am accountable to no one but at the end of the day, only I know my relationship with God.

Why then did he say: …Therefore by their fruits you will know them Matt 7:20

Your fruits are your character after the knowledge and acceptance of Christ in your life. The reason why salvation is personal is because, you will not need to broadcast to everyone of your believing rather by your fruits is how we will know whether you are a Christ follower or not.

If your salvation is personal why is it that your actions show no hint of Christ at all?

Peter’s salvation was personal. He did not broadcast it. I wonder however, how even in his silence and privacy people still saw a replica of Christ in him?

The problem with us is that we are obsessed with what the world is obsessed about.

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2:15-17

The gospel of prosperity has been super amplified by ministers than that of calling people to worship Jesus and be like him.

Do we then stop chasing money and wealth? Not my point.

But we need to go back to the number one reason of why were created. It was to give pleasure back to God. To give Him honor and worship and this should be seen in our daily lives. When you worship someone you adore them, in other words you want to be like them.

Today celebrities and wealth receive much glory, time and honor in their seats than God does. SAD.

Who do you really resemble?

Does your salvation speak for itself or you actually have to go around reassuring people that you indeed are born again?

How you speak,

How you treat the people that can do nothing for/to you?

Your conduct at your work place how is it like?

Is salvation a coat you wear on Sundays only?

Is it easy for people to call you a Christ follower?

When you are in a multitude and everyone seems confused can you openly ask to pray?

Are you unashamed of the gospel of Christ?

Is salvation still personal for you?

If your salvation is not visible and offers no solutions to anyone; it is time to reevaluate your walk with God.