Full Surender to God – Salisbury Baptist Church

Ruth

A Worthy Life

25th May 2025

The Old Testament concept of worthiness, seen in Ruth and Boaz, is updated and clarified in the New Covenant. To find God's will, especially in relationships, requires three things. First, we must be equally yoked with fellow believers, as true worthiness is found in Christ. Second, we must offer a total commitment to the Lord, a full surrender like that of Ruth to Naomi. Finally, we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds, learning to listen to the Holy Spirit's leading from within rather than conforming to the pressures of the world.

Ruth

Resting in His Purpose

11th May 2025

Discovering the will of God is less about finding a specific answer for every small decision and more about surrendering to His overarching purpose. When we pray for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven and commit our lives to Him as a living sacrifice, we can rest in His sovereign ability to direct our paths. God is perfectly capable of arranging circumstances, even through apparent coincidences, to achieve His plan in our lives. By focusing on living a godly life and trusting Him, we allow Him to work His purposes through us, just as He did through the lives of Ruth and Boaz.

The Seven Sayings of Christ on the Cross

The Seven Sayings from the Cross #2

2nd March 2025

The dying thief's unexpected encounter with Jesus demonstrates that salvation requires nothing from us—no religious works, doctrinal knowledge, or moral righteousness. The only reason anyone enters heaven is because of "the Man on the middle cross." We bring nothing to the table, neither positive achievements to impress God nor negative failures that disqualify us. Our natural tendency toward pride in our accomplishments or guilt over our failures is overcome only when we adopt Jesus' dying attitude: "Father, into Your hands I commit my life." This surrendered faith, like the thief's simple request "remember me," is the only response to Christ's finished work that brings eternal life.

The Three Steps of Salvation

28th July 2024

There are three stages in God's plan of salvation: justification (initial acceptance by God), sanctification (ongoing growth in holiness), and glorification (final perfection in Heaven). While all Christians are equal at the foot of the cross, not all progress equally in their spiritual journey. The story of Caleb in Numbers 13-14 illustrates the importance of fully surrendering to God, following Him throughout one's entire life, and living by the power of the Holy Spirit. These qualities set Caleb apart and enabled him to enter the Promised Land when others could not. As Christians, we are called to this same level of commitment and reliance on God's Spirit to fulfil His purpose for our lives.