If The Car Can...Can We Not Also?

Yesterday afternoon, with my little brother, I took my car to get washed, when we arrived there was a slightly larger vehicle in front of us that managed to squeeze through a narrow gap. My younger brother said, 

“If that car can go through, we also can.”

I replied,

“If Paul, the chief of sinners was able to be saved, can we not also?” 

There are many people who have a strong dependence on their emotions as a sign that they are saved, but how wrong are they.  Ephesian 1:6, it reads, “To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” To be accepted means salvation. On earth Jesus was condemned because he accepted sinners (Luke 15:2). Jesus does not accept sinners once only, but this gracious act is ongoing. Because of Jesus we are accepted by God.

Note, the text does not say salvation depends on how we feel, or what we have done as the reason why we are saved, but it is all in what Jesus did. When we accept this reality despite the unavoidable emotions, memories and atmospheres this text will then be fulfilled in our lives.