Take Courage

SAVED!

This song brings back a lot of memories to me. I think it was written the year I got saved. I was a young Christian and renting a house with four other guys who were young Christians. One day one of them comes home with this Dylan album, yes an album. (Some of my readers will have to think retro. A black shinny disc made of plastic with grooves in it. It spun at 33 and a 1/3 rpm’s). We were shocked to think Dylan was even saved. I don’t really know if Dylan is saved but this album and Slow Train Coming are two very good Christian albums.

You can find Dylan and his band performing this song on Youtube. I was surprised to find that and other songs from these two albums. Check out their perfomance from Toronto 1980 to listen to this song. Man, that brought back some good memories! I was jamming in my house. Until the other day I did not know this and other performances were available on Youtube. We truly need discernment when it comes to the internet, but sometimes it is a real blessing.

This summer I will be saved thirty years. Yes, that’s right, thirty years. I have had both good and bad times. I have both easy and hard circumstances. I have seen people get saved and persevere. I have also seen people talk the talk for awhile, then turn their back on the Lord and walk away. But this I know, salvation is real. You can know if you are saved or not. Salvation involves repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. You have to understand that you are a sinner and you need to be forgiven. Then you have to ask God to forgive you and accept what Jesus Christ has accomplished by going to the cross for you.

If this sounds too personal it is because it is personal. The wrath of God is upon the sinner. He is the enemy of God. Eternal damnation and seperation awaits him. The only escape from an eternity spent in hell under constant torment is to be saved! The sinner (the one who misses the mark of God’s perfection) needs to humble himself and repent. You can be saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. There is no other way of salvation. Call out to God in humble confession and receive from God what only He can do – save your soul.

For the one who humbles himself and goes to God in God’s way, there is mercy, grace and peace for eternity. The saved one is adopted into God’s family. He is sealed with the Holy Spirit and their eternity with God is garaunteed. Salvation is real. Easter reminds us of this and should remind the Christian of their responsiblilty to live as saved ones and to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I hope this truly is a resurrection weekend for you and your loved ones.

Much GRACE and peace to you,

Bill (a fellow-laborer) Romans 3:9-31, 5:1-11, 8:1-4, 12-17, 15:13

“Saved”

by Bob Dylan

I was blinded by the devil
Born already ruined
Stone-cold dead
As I stepped out of the womb
By His grace I have been touched
By His word I have been healed
By His hand I have been delivered
By His spirit I Have been sealed.

I’ve been saved
By the blood of the lamb
Saved
By the blood of the lamb
Saved
Saved
And I’m so glad
Yes, I’m so glad
I’m so glad
So glad
I want to thank you, Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You Lord.

By his truth I can be upright
By his strength I do endure
By His power I’ve been lifted
In His love I am secure
He bought me with a price
Freed me from the pit
Full of emptiness and wrath
And the fire that burns in it.

I’ve been saved
By the blood of the lamb
Saved
By the blood of the lamb
Saved
Saved
And I’m so glad
Yes, I’m so glad
I’m so glad
So glad
I want to thank you, Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You, Lord.
Nobody to rescue me
Nobody would dare
I was going down for the last time
But by His Mercy I’ve been spared
Not by works
But by faith in Him who called
For so long I’ve been hindered
For so long I’ve been stalled.

I’ve been saved
By the blood of the lamb
Saved
By the blood of the lamb
Saved
Saved
And I’m so glad
Yes, I’m so glad
I’m so glad
So glad
I want to thank you, Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You, Lord.