The key to salvation is that we remember that salvation was accomplished for us on Calvary’s Cross by the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by His suffering and death, paid the penalty that we owe for the sins that we have committed. The devil wants mankind to want to reject that fact, and to take at least partial credit for our own salvation due to the good works that we have done.

We are all sinners, saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. And although we are saved by the goodness and mercy of the Lord, we all still have the sin nature, that carnal man that we inherited from Adam. But it is ours to recognize our shortcomings, and to do all that we can to avoid sin and improve our situation.

I am reviewing the relationship between the Heavenly Father and His earthly sons, using the stepping off point of the parable of the Prodigal Son.

It is incumbent upon every good father to make sure that his sons and daughters are exposed to the wisdom in the Word of God, without which, the children are destined to go down the primrose path to destruction. Yes, it is possible for the children to avoid the trials and tribulations of this life without the guidance of their father, but it is unlikely that they will do so.

If anyone fit the definition of a new creation, it was Saul, who even stopped using his Hebrew name and began using his Greek name, Paul. But the fact of the matter is that anyone who is converted to Christianity has some radical changes to make.

The saints of God have always committed sin, which is why the Lord Jesus Christ died on Calvary’s Cross that sins might be forgiven. And even Jesus Himself did not preach perfection, but restoration.

We must learn to accept rebuke calmly, consider the objective content of the rebuke, be slow to take offense, but always be ready for repentance and reconciliation.

We ought not let childhood things negatively influence our behavior. It is not ours to look back at the slights we feel from our history, but to move on to our destiny.