Sunday, June 14, 2009

Salvation

What does "Salvation" mean? My dictionary gives this definition:

  1. To save a person from sin and its consequences
  2. The saving from danger, difficulty, or evil (in the Old Testament, trouble was referred to as evil)
  3. Something that saves

Jesus said this about salvation:

And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:9-10

The word salvation is used 158 times in the Holy Bible, and the Bible tells us exactly what it means.

Salvation is listed 115 times in the Old Testament, where it is referring to God, our Father, saving His people, the children of Israel. It talks about what they obtained, or what was given to them, by doing the things God the Father commanded them under His law and the Law of Moses. In other words, what they obtained through obedience.

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. Exodus 14:13

Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:1-2. This is when God delivered His people from the Egyptian army.

And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel. I Samuel 11:13. We see another example of God delivering His people from an enemy.

Salvation is listed only forty-three times in the New Testament. It is here that the word refers to the greatest hope and gift of the entire church, not only to the Jews, but to everyone in the world who is chosen to be one of God's children.

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. I Corinthians 15:12-19. Praise the Lord, Jesus Christ did rise from the dead and we do have hope of eternal life, through salvation from our Lord and Master!

Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. Acts 28:28

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16

How do we get saved?

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Romans 10:10-11.

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:10, 12.

First, we realize exactly how wretched we are in our sinful state, and how far we are from God. This makes us sorrowful, which causes us to repent (express remorse, turn away from the sinful acts, and ask forgiveness of God). We also have to believe and confess that Jesus is the risen Son of God, and that only His blood can wash our sins away. That part is free. You can't be good enough to earn salvation, and doing good deeds won't wash away your bad ones.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

After that, we must work to stay saved. Our sinful nature wants to keep jumping back into the mud.

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12. What kind of fear is that? The fear of God! The fear of what the consequences will be for us if we go back to our sinful ways.

Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. Acts 13:26. More of that fearing God!

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Hebrews 2:10. Sometimes, we will have to endure sufferings, as part of our perfecting process.

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Hebrews 5:8-9. Jesus suffered and was made perfect. We have to do the same.

There are people who play around and say, "Oh, some day I'll get myself right with the Lord, but not now. I'm having too much fun right now!" This is foolish, to say the least. Do any of us know for sure that we will be alive tomorrow? Of course not! God wants us to accept the gift that was given to us, the life and blood of His only son, Jesus. He died to be the final sacrifice for our sin. He rose again to give us hope that we can live in Heaven for eternity, after this life.

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, I Thessalonians 5:9

For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2

IN CONCLUSION

We are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation.

I Peter 1:3-5, 9-12

Doing the best we can at all times, ever striving to do better and to learn more of the Word of God, will lead us to joy and everlasting life.

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. II Peter 1:3-12

Being forgiven, being born again (being made a new creature, II Corinthians 5:17), and being saved are all through the grace of God, but it is only the start of a life of crucifixion, (denying the flesh) and going on to perfection through Jesus Christ. May God help us to do our best at all times, knowing it will bring only the best He has for us. In Jesus' name, and God bless you.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Knowing the Will of God

How are we to know God's will for our lives?

We must submit ourselves to God first, by surrendering our lives to Him; by being saved, and by reading and obeying God's Holy Word, daily. God's direction, or will, can be given to us if we will listen to Him when He speaks to us in His Word, (the Holy Bible, KJV).

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105 (God's Word will direct us.)

We must pray always, to know God's will, as well as knowing His Word, by reading and doing it. Unfortunately, God doesn't come down to us, and most of the time doesn't send us a messenger to tell us His will explicitly. But, if we acknowledge our need of His help, He will direct our steps.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

God wants us to know His will for our lives, and if we seek Him we will find it.

Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things. Proverbs 28:5

How do we seek God?

As stated earlier in this message, we must read God's Word (2 Timothy 2:15, Isaiah 28:9-13), we must hear God's Word preached (Romans 10:14-15, 17), and do the best we can by the knowledge and grace that God gives us, ever seeking more understanding and knowledge. When we have done these things, we must pray, acknowledge our need of God, and trust that He will direct our paths, when we don't get a clear answer from the Bible. We also must be patient in seeking God for an answer.

This is what Jesus said:

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:1-8

Pray, not faint. Don't get tired of asking, and quit. We must have faith, believing God will do what He says He will do.

Throughout the entire chapter of Hebrews 11, we see faith active in the lives of those great patriarchs. How did they obtain such faith? Through obedience, through works of faith, and through works of righteousness.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 1:22-25, 27

Also see James 2:14-26.

If we have this kind of faith, we can receive direction from God, as to His will. At times, however, our faith may be weak. Jesus' instruction in this situation was to fast.

Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. Matthew 17:19-21

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. Mark 9:28-29

Daniel fasted and obtained great results – an angel of the Lord came to him!

In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. Daniel 10:2-3

Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days. Daniel 11:12 & 14

The Apostle Paul fasted and received his eyesight again, and was given direction from God. He was told God's will for his life.

IN CONCLUSION

Remember how Jesus said we ought to pray? Asking for God's will, not our own!

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13

What is God's will for all of us?

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:1-3

Pray to know all of God's will for your life.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Colossians 4:12

My prayer is that God would help you to understand and to do His will. He will bless us now (in this life) and in the life to come. Praise God!