Subject: need for a bible-anyone |
Bible Note: A few more thoughts on salvation: Heb 2:1 2:1For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. NAS We frequently hear that salvation is a free gift and there is nothing a person can do once he is saved to lose that salvation. That once a person accepts this gift he is saved from hell; will receive the Holy Spirit and will be sealed for eternity. This sealing in the religious world’s mind is something akin to freeze-drying food; once it is complete, that food will last forever! However, we know, Satan has deluded people to believe various ideas which are really subtle twistings of the truth. First, that no one can fully understand the Bible while they live, because it is too complicated and because mankind will only know all of God’s plan after they have died. Thus all we have today are people’s opinions. Secondly, even though we have hundreds of different religions, they all believe in a God and that God is most likely, God Most High, just named by different, inconsequential names. Thus it really doesn’t matter what religion you are, as long as, you are a "good" person. Thirdly, no work, or even more mildly, any effort is needed to obtain or maintain a person’s salvation once they have believed that Jesus died for their sins. "It is a free gift!" Fourth, the Bible is written for all mankind, Christian and non-Christian, alike. What does God say about this? First of all, what is salvation? SALVATION 1. soteria NT:4991 denotes "deliverance, preservation, salvation." "Salvation" is used in the NT (a) of material and temporal deliverance from danger and apprehension, and (b) of the spiritual and eternal deliverance granted immediately by God to those who accept (obey) His conditions of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus, in whom alone it is to be obtained, (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright (c)1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers) How do we obtain salvation? 5 STEPS OF CONVERSION 1. LISTEN Romans 10:17,18- Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ (to the word of God) Revelations 3:20- Jesus is standing at the door and knocking- we who hear His voice and open the door are welcomed by Him. 1 John 4:6- Those who know God, listen to those from God; those who do not know God, do not listen. 2. BELIEVE John 3:16- Whoever believes SHOULD not perish. (That Jesus is the Son of God) John 3:36- He who believes in the Son has eternal life, he who does not OBEY shall not see life. Hebrews 11:6- Those who come to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. 3. REPENT Acts 17:30,31- God is declaring that men everywhere should repent… Acts 26:20- Performing deeds (works) appropriate to repentance. Romans 12:2- Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Revelations 3:19- Jesus disciplines, therefore be zealous and repent. 4. CONFESS Matthew 10:32-He who confesses Jesus will be confessed by Jesus to God. (with mouth) Romans 10:8-10- If you confess Jesus as Lord you shall be saved. 1 John 1:9- If we confess our sins He forgives. 5. BAPTISE John 3:5- Unless one is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter God’s kingdom. (immersion) Romans 6:3,4- Baptism is symbolic of death and renewal in spiritual life. 1 Peter 3:21- Baptism now saves you / and appeal to God for a good conscience. Revelations 2:10- Be faithful until death. 6. We must not continue in Sin (Ro 6:2), but remain faithful until death (Rev 2:10) If we do not remain Faithful until death we will not be given the crown of life. See all of Rev 2:10 and furthermore: James 1:12 12Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. NAS LOVE (NOUN AND VERB) "Christian love has God for its primary object, and expresses itself first of all in implicit obedience to His commandments, John 14:15,21,23; 15:10; 1 John 2:5; 5:3; 2 John 6. Self-will, that is, self-pleasing, is the negation of love to God. "Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all, Rom 15:2, and works no ill to any, 13:8,9,10; love seeks opportunity to do good to "all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith," Gal 6:10. See further 1 Cor 13 and Col 3:12-14." (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright (c)1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers) We already know that the love spoken of in JA 1:12 is agape, not philio; thus we are reminded again that obedience is key. |