The process of salvation

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Episkopos

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I "lifted" this from another site I'm on. It goes a long way in explaining the actual reality of salvation.

Salvation
Salvation is a large concept in scripture. Noah was “saved” from the floodwaters but 350 years later he was not saved from death. David was saved many times from Saul but finally died. Israel’s fighting men were saved at the Red Sea from Pharaoh’s army but 600’000 of them perished anyway in the wilderness and never made it into the Land they were “saved from Egypt for.” So salvation must always be defined in any theological discussion. To the average Christian there are a number of salvations.

The spirit is saved
Man is made of three parts, spirit, soul and body (1st Thess.5:23). Each part experiences its own salvation. The spirit in itself has no problem, but it was designed to hold the Spirit of God. So if a man is not born again, he falls short of what he was made for. Thus, although “saved” is strictly the wrong word, the effect of rebirth elevates a man so much that to die without rebirth is akin to being lost. An unregenerate man misses the real purpose of his construction and his life. Being reborn energizes and completes the spirit of man.

In another case the spirit can be saved by the death of the person. Man is made of three parts. These three parts speak for the three parts of the Tabernacle because man is the Temple of God. The body is the outer court, the soul is the holy place, and the spirit of man is the Holy of Holies where the Holy Spirit dwells. If a man is engaged in evil works that can penetrate through to the inner man, the spirit stands the risk of being defiled. God will not allow this and will sometimes allow the Christian to die before this happens. The one sin that defiles a man inwardly is fornication, so 1st Corinthians 6:18-20 says; “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.” And we see in 1st Corinthians 5:4-5 concerning an incestuous Christian; “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”


The soul of man is saved
The soul is made up of the mind (thinking organ), the emotions (the feeling organ) and the will (the deciding organ). Due to the fall of man all three areas of the soul are desperately corrupted. “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (Gen.6:5). What an indictment on mankind! ONLY means exclusively, EVIL is the absence of any good, and CONTINUALLY means without pause.

After a man is born again, the Lord Jesus, in the Person of the Holy Spirit, starts to work on man’s soul, to save it. That means that our thoughts, emotions and decisions must be conformed to those of Christ. Hebrews 10:39 says; “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” Notice that it is not the believing to save our spirits, but “souls.” So the first step in the quest to save our souls after rebirth is a life of faith. Peter says in 1st Peter 1:6-9; “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.” Why does faith feature so prominently? Because you are going to go through fire! This faith is not the faith of believing in Christ that you need for rebirth. It is the faith you need to believe that even in the direst sufferings, God only means good for you. The soul needs to be refined like gold and silver. This takes extreme heat, but the end is good – the salvation of the soul.

Next, for the salvation of the soul, we need an inward working of the Holy Spirit PLUS our own contribution. In 2nd Corinthians 3:12-18 the context and subject is the minds of the Jews which were “blinded”. The mind is the major part of the soul. So Paul goes further to say from verse 16 onwards; “Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Notice the three means to being transformed into the image of Christ. First there is the mind that must have the veil taken away. Secondly there is us fixing our eyes on Jesus (v.18). And thirdly, the indwelling Holy Spirit must do His work.

What is a veil? It is the purposeful shutting out of what is revealed. Lets have an example. In the last point concerning suffering, when I say, “you must be prepared to suffer and thank the Lord for it,” what happens? Nobody likes to hear that being a Christian will entail serious trials and sufferings. So a veil comes down in the mind, shutting out this awful truth. But what does scripture say? “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil.2:5-8). Christ had a mindset. It was that He would suffer awfully. You and I are not required to suffer so much. But the heat of a refining oven is our portion for the purpose of the salvation of the soul, so we must have this mindset. Or is 1st Peter 4:1 “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin” in vain?

We must do two things and the Holy Spirit does one. We must “turn to the Lord” and we must “behold the Lord”, that is, keep our eyes on Him. And the Holy Spirit does the transforming work while we do this.

Next, we have chastening by the Lord. “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.’ 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness (Heb.12:5-10). If we want to be holy like our Lord (v.10) we need serious chastening.

And finally we need good food. After your human birth you needed good nourishment otherwise you become stunted physically and mentally. Likewise, after your rebirth, if you want to have a spiritually healthy soul you need to eat the right food. This food is God’s Word. 1st Peter 2:1-2 says; “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”

The salvation of the soul is the process whereby our mind , emotions and will are transformed from the original fallenness of a corrupted humanity, to the mind, emotions and will of Christ. That is the salvation of the soul. It will take most of the rest of your life. If the Holy Spirit went too fast He would destroy you.

The salvation of the body
The salvation of the body is God allowing it to die and then raising it up again with a heavenly and spiritual dimension. Romans 8:23 says; “Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” So it s also in Psalm 17:15, 1st Corinthians 15:43 & 49, Colossians 3:4 and Philippians 3:21.


1Th_5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

More on the race of faith




James 1:2- 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Our faith is tested in many ways. We will face temptations, afflictions, weariness, health problems, financial hardships, family troubles, and a host of other trials. While no trial is ever pleasant, we can be joyful in trials for they can be beneficial to us if we do not faint. James lists three wonderful benefits that the trial of our faith will produce if we stand and do not faint.

I. The trial of our faith produces patience.

James 1:3- Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

The word patience means perserverance, endurance, and steadfastness. The present trials of our faith strengthen us in in endurance. Just as a weight lifter begins with lighter weights and works up to more reps and heavier weights, God will not allow us to be tested above our ability to handle the test. When the trial of faith comes, and we do not faint, we become stronger in faith, our faith is refined and purified, and we increase in steadfastness.

Consider Daniel. His faith was tested when he purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the Kings delicacies. ( Daniel 1). His steadfastness in resolve and faithfullness prepared him for the even greater trial of the lion's den. God delivered him from all of His trials, and in all of His trials he brought glory to God. Daniel's faith, endurance, and steadfastness were also increased.

So it will be with us.

II. Endurance in trials produces maturity.

James 1: 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing .


When we continually stand steadfast in trials, without fainting and without wavering, the result is maturity. James said let patience have her perfect work that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing. In other words, let the perserverance and steadfastness of your faith finish it's work in you, so that you might reach maturity and be complete in Christ and be filled with the fullness of Him. God's desire is to bring us to maturity, growing up into Christ in all things. A mature Christian is a fruitful Christian, prepared unto every good work.

III. Those who are approved by testing receive a crown of Life.

James 1: 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried , he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

When we perservere in faith, even in trials and temptations, we are demonstrating that we truly love the Lord. Those that love the Lord will receive a crown of life at the end of the day. Soon our troubles and trials will all be over, and we will enter the blessed rest of heaven the Lord has prepared for us. Soon the trial of our faith will be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

The testing of our faith produces steadfastness, maturity, and an eternal weight of Glory. Hallelujah!

The Last mile of the Way. Johnson Oatman Jr.

If I walk in the pathway of duty,
If I work till the close of the day,
I shall see the great King in His beauty,
When I’ve gone the last mile of the way.If for Christ I proclaim the glad story,
If I seek for His sheep gone astray,
I am sure He will show me His glory,
When I’ve gone the last mile of the way.

Here the dearest of ties we must sever,
Tears of sorrow are seen every day;
But no sickness, no sighing forever,
When I’ve gone the last mile of the way.

And if here I have earnestly striven,
And have tried all His will to obey,
’Twill enhance all the rapture of heaven,
When I’ve gone the last mile of the way.

When I’ve gone the last mile of the way,
I will rest at the close of the day;
And I know there are joys that await me,
When I’ve gone the last mile of the way.
 
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Episkopos

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The start of a race does not guarantee all will finish. Pride goes before a fall. We have been born again to run a race...not claim we have won.

The parable of the talents explains the way God sees our salvation.

He gives us grace...for the purpose of winning our souls for Him. If we just are happy to have grace and not move on to win the soul with it....then we will lose the grace. We bury our talent by refusing to be humble about what God has given to us.

We must add to the faith we have been given in order to grow into the fulness of the full stature of Christ in our CHARACTER (souls). We will be judged by this.

Those who claim that grace is a guaranteed ticket to an immunity from judgment...without striving and working out the salvation of their own souls...will be rejected.
 

Axehead

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May 9, 2012
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"GET SAVED" or "ACCEPT JESUS" and He will then bless, enhance, prosper and save the life that you are living in this world. The Word of God says to forsake your life in this world and give up everything in this world in your heart and after a short time of suffering and fiery ordeals (situations God sets up to put to death the carnal nature), He will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory. Plus, upon giving up this life in this world, you immediately receive the next life here and now. Then going to heaven will just be a transition.

The Easy-believism gospel keeps us as separate entities from Christ. The Gospel of the Kingdom, however, makes us one with Christ or causes us to be joined to Him in our spirit. The modern religious realm knows very little to nothing about being one with Christ, although the Word is very clear about it.

The church-world, religious system, and denominationalism testify by their spiritual condition the lack of understanding of the New Birth.

Yet the SPIRITUAL PRIDE and PRESUMPTION in this realm say
WE DO UNDERSTAND!!

JOHN 9:40-41

Pharisees: Are we blind also?
Jesus: If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say,
we see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Axehead
 

Episkopos

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Many are taught that the race of faith is finished after the first step. Imagine watching a race where the gun goes off and almost all the runners take one step and then remain petrified on the spot. It leaves you scatching your head...how do people get so indoctrinated as to miss the whole purpose of their calling???