By Pastor Chinedu Emmanuel

1 Corinthians 2:12-13 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 

As believers, it’s crucial that we possess a clear understanding of salvation, lest the devil deceives us. Salvation, a divine gift, comes with numerous privileges, bestowing upon the believer unimaginable heavenly riches and blessings. These gifts, freely given, bring about immense joy. While David didn’t witness the salvation Christ brought, he had insight into its benefits and described them. 

David, a prophet, exhibited the gift of “Word of Wisdom,” a manifestation of the Holy Spirit that reveals God’s future plans and purposes. It differs from the wisdom of Solomon and the wisdom mentioned in the book of James, which believers are encouraged to pray for to navigate life’s challenges.

This gift of “Word of Wisdom” is a special manifestation of the Holy Spirit, occurring according to His will, not ours. It is one of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, not possessed by every Christian, just as not everyone has the gift of healing. Unlike the wisdom required for daily life, which every Christian should seek, David saw this salvation’s future implications, filling him with joy. This is what inspired his words in Psalm 103: 1-5.“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; Who Forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases: Who redeemeth all thine life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” 

Many Christians fail to comprehend salvation, which hinders them from fully experiencing its benefits. Consequently, they struggle to overcome challenges posed by evil forces, their own weaknesses, and emotional struggles. Some also lack understanding because they primarily focus on the law and sin, making the experience of salvation seem unfamiliar. Their knowledge often stops at Christ’s sacrifice for their sins, without a deep understanding of its implications. They may attempt to atone for their sins through fasting or penance and seek God’s favor through self-affliction when they need His intervention.

Focusing on the law and sin impedes the development of faith, for Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. To nurture faith, one must follow the guidance in the Bible, looking to Jesus rather than Moses and his laws. Faith is essential to experiencing the blessings of salvation, as they are all received through faith and freely given. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

Romans 5:2 emphasizes that, through faith, Christ grants us undeserved privilege, allowing us to stand confidently and joyfully, anticipating sharing in God’s glory.

Salvation affords us the incredible privilege of standing and sitting with Christ in heavenly places, far above all principalities and powers, becoming partakers of His Divine nature and members of His body.

Sin no longer dominates us because we receive a new life through Christ when we invite Him into our lives. This is the freedom that salvation brings. Romans 6:14 assures us that sin no longer rules over us because Christ, through His grace, has saved us from our sinful nature, bestowing upon us a new righteous and holy nature. We have received the life of Christ within us. Our old life has passed away, and a new life has begun. Christ, the greater one, now resides in us, making us more powerful than the world, the flesh, sin, or any other force attempting to control us. We surrender our lives to Him, allowing Him to live through us, as Paul did. As we enter into His rest and walk by faith, we cast our life burdens onto Him, and He takes care of our flesh and sin, positioning them where they belong, while we enjoy His faithfulness.

This is akin to a branch securely attached to a vine during a storm, drawing life and sustenance from the vine, naturally producing fruit in line with the vine’s nature without any effort on the branch’s part. The branch simply needs to remain connected to the vine to be as strong as the main tree. Through us, the Vine manifests His life and glory. Like Paul, we live simply by having faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us.

Pastor Chinedu Emmanuel is the Senior Pastor of Fountain the Living Word Church, New Jersey.