 From the Editor |
|
Salvation Begins w/the Word of GodTrue RepentanceGod’s Patience & YouBaptism, Are You Ready?Real SalvationHeaven & HellWill Non-Christians be Saved?Infused at the Feast of Tabernacles |
|
Is the Bible Real?What’s Your SeedMy Memories From the Feast of TabernaclesWhat Does Baptism Mean?What’s Wrong With Counting?Q&ABy You: PoetryFinding Financial Peace and Freedom |
|
Real Salvation
By Loren M. Chamberlain
Salvation is to save all mankind, “if they accept it” from the spiritual consequences of sin. Salvation also means preservation, and the Bible affirms this definition.
There are many people who profess to being Christian but unknown to them their belief is in a “dead faith.” It is not enough to believe in Jesus Christ, and the fact of His sacrifice for the sins of mankind. The Scriptures explain it this way. “We were created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them, (Ephesians 2:10). Obviously the responsibility of Christians is to do good works, and these good works cannot be done with a dead Faith. The true Christian will obey God and do good works, for “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). Our good works do not save us, but they do demonstrate faith. James wrote, “I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18). If we do not obey God we possess nothing but a “dead faith,” which is no better than that of the demons who themselves believe God exists but refuse to obey Him (James 2:19). We Establish the Law By Faith Please note what the apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, “Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law” (Romans 3:31). By these words of Paul we see that Faith establishes the Law. James goes on to remind us of the Faith of Abraham. How he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar. “Because he was willing to do this, he was justified by works,” (Genesis 22:16-18; James 2:21-24). Faith establishes the law, and by obeying the law, faith is made perfect. Is it possible for us to keep God’s Commandments? Take note of the fact, that we are justified “forgiven” our past sins, reconciled to God, through our faith in the sacrifice of Christ (Romans 3:24-26). See also that only those that obey God’s spiritual law are justified (Romans 2:13). Jesus Will Save Us From our Sins In this order, we must believe, repent, and have a willing heart to obey. We are justified, or forgiven our past sins, by our faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, not by being law keepers (Romans 3:20). But, this justification is conditional. We must repent of transgressing God’s Law, and then begin obeying by the power of the Holy Spirit, that we receive after baptism, by the Laying on of Hands. We who are now justified live out lives of obedience by Faith (Hebrews 10:38; Romans 1:17). The Faith of Christ Now we can begin to understand that it is by the “Faith of Christ” Himself that we are enabled to live a righteous and obedient life in harmony with God’s Spiritual Law (Philippians 3:9; Romans 3:22). It is no longer necessary for us to live our lives by our own inadequate faith. We can have the very “Faith of Jesus Christ.” This is a most marvelous gift. The very “Faith” of Jesus Christ by which we receive eternal salvation, is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). By reading Galatians 5:22 we will learn what the fruit of the Spirit is. Take note of the fact that Faith is one of the virtues of the Spirit! When we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive all these virtues and faith is among them. We were not born with the kind of Faith Jesus has, but God wants us to have this living Faith, once we repent and turn to Him. It is this Faith of Christ that enables us to obey God’s Spiritual law. The Holy Spirit furnishes us with this Gift of Faith. As long as we continue in contact and fellowship with God, growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 3:18; 1 John 1-3), all by God’s grace as His Gift, and not anything we have earned by our works; and now if we continue overcoming, growing spiritually, and all this actually through God’s Power, you shall inherit The Kingdom Of God, and be made immortal to live forever in happiness and joy. Now that’s “Real Salvation.” | |
Text
|
 |
Text
| |