Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

22 September 2025

Reading From Galatians 1

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

—Galatians 1:6-10

     It is of vital, eternal importance that we know exactly what the Good News of Jesus Christ is and what it is not.  Paul is warning here of a different gospel which is really not good news at all.  The true Gospel is by grace (undeserved favor of God) through faith (trusting in Jesus) and not of works (human effort).  Genuine transformation brought on by belief, repentance, confession and acceptance of Jesus will produce good works.  But our deeds cannot save us from our sins.  Only the grace and mercy of Jesus can do that and we receive His salvation by surrendering our wills to His.  No one can earn their own way into Heaven. 

     If it were possible for us to earn our own salvation, then there would be no need for Jesus to come.  Only He was uniquely qualified to be both the Lamb of God and our Great High Priest all that the same time; fully God an fully man.  He took upon Himself the sins of the entire world and all time, paid the penalty and rose again conquering sin and death.  As people believe, repent, confess and receive from Him, He transforms them from the inside out. 

We do good works not in our own strength and power, but His.  It is His power at work within us and through us.  Genuine love, grace and faith will supernaturally produce good works and excellent fruit in our lives. This is a key proof that an individual is born again: the love and holiness they exude in everyday life. Philippians 2:12-13 says, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

“Heavenly Father, help us never to stray from the truth of the Gospel.  It is by grace we have been saved and not of our own good deeds and therefore we are careful to give You all the praise and the glory for our redemption.  Thank You for inspiring us with Your love to do good unto our fellow man and to honor You with holiness in our daily lives.  In the Name of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ I pray these things, Amen.”

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

—Ephesians 2:8-10

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

—Matthew 3:8

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

—Galatians 5:22-25

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

—John 1:12-13