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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Thanks, but what about....? | Eph 2:5 | Bill Mc | 16862 | ||
Thanks, gentlemen. I love illustrations. Jesus used them all the time (parables). Of course, our illustrations never completely portray spiritual truth but they can be very helpful. But if salvation is a 3-part process, how can we preach and teach that people can be saved before they die? To use the plank illustration, what if, on the way to shore, the person being saved decides to bail out? Was he truly saved? Or what if, while in the vehicle of the church, he sins? The church is notorious for shooting their wounded and I have seen many leave the church as a result. Are these people still saved? If the culmination of our salvation is not experienced until we are 'home', then how can we assure anyone that they will make it? Wouldn't we do better to tell people that there is no way to be absolutely sure that they are saved until the process is complete? If this interpretation is correct, how can any of us be sure? Many people are probably saved from the plank. And many more are in church. But the only way to know if you are in the arms of God is to experience it and, by that time, it's too late. You may have been in the wrong church and this 'vehicle' has delivered you to the wrong shore! What do you think? |
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2 | Thanks, but what about....? | Eph 2:5 | charis | 16866 | ||
Dear Bill, Your questions are valid, especially to those who have little faith that God is bigger than *our* understanding of salvation. The only way I could attempt to explain that would be to say that what God starts, He will finish. As I said, from His lofty vantage, salvation is a single event. This illustration was simply to expound on the path to Christ, not to take it apart. On the other hand, the explanation that salvation is a 'done deal' the moment we publicly 'accept Christ' is just a open to skepticism. I guess the answer is to discern the attitude of the hearer, and explain as the Spirit of God leads. Frankly, I like my version better. It gives God complete sovereignty, while explaining the things we perceive as creatures bound by location and time. I am certain that there is no power that can come between the receipt of the Gospel and 'Home,' and that the Holy Spirit can handle any storms that assail us on the way. (we will NEVER be delivered to the 'wrong shore!') Blessings and peace in Christ Jesus, charis |
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3 | Thanks, but what about....? | Eph 2:5 | Bill Mc | 16879 | ||
Thanks again, gentlemen. I appreciate your answers. It is hard for us, even as Christians, to understand some of these spiritual truths because, for the most part, we operate in a natural world. From the time of our birth, we are taught to trust only what we can perceive with our senses or figure out with our intellect. And neither our senses nor our intellect can completely understand spiritual things. I believe that is one of the reasons that God gives us the Holy Spirit. One of the things He does it to take the things of Christ and make them known to us. Charis, thanks for your input. I especially like what you said about God being bigger than our understanding of salvation. That's true. Our salvation cannot be greater than our Savior. The heat of the sun is not greater than the sun. The effect of something is never greater than the cause. I agree that, from God's perspective, we are saved as a single event. And we are now seated with Him in the heavenlies. Why do I think it so? Because that is what He says. My faith has to go beyond the constraints of my intellect and ability to put everything in nice, neat little boxes. Also, as proof of what God has done for us, He seals us with the Holy Spirit. As far as I can tell, all mentions of this sealing are in the past tense i.e. you were sealed. I believe that this is our guarantee of salvation. Steve, thanks for your input, brother. I appreciate that you are still willing to respond to my questions in spite of our little tangle on forgiveness. Thanks for the illustration. Here is a variation of that story I've have heard: A man is floating, face down, dead in the sea of his sins, Rom 5:12, Eph 2:1. His sins are what killed him, Rom 6:23. Jesus comes along and sees him floating there, dead as a door-nail. Of course, Jesus, being God, doesn't need a boat :). He lifts the man out of the sea of sins and breathes new life back into the dead corpse, 2 Cor 5:17; Rom 8:1,2. Christ carries the man safely back to shore and home. As I said, illustrations always fall short somewhere but they can paint beautiful word pictures for us. Thanks again, Resting in His arms already, Bill Mc |
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