Salvation really?

[Episkopos]

Yes, sanctification begins at redemption, but salvation is not a "process for us to maintain". The problem with that idea is the New Testament. Scripture is very clear that salvation is a free gift...that is has nothing to do with us at all...it is won and given to us by Christ, a process won in an instant in time (the cross) and received in another instant in time (regeneration). The proof of that regeneration is the process that follows...sanctification. Some people put up their hands and say they're Christians, but they don't grow, don't even try, and use their 'freedom' as license to sin. They have not been truly born again.
Sanctification is man working in cooperation with God as he puts sin to death every day and walks closer to God. Salvation is God acting alone save us. biggandyys illustration is correct. The thing with salvation/sanctification is that if salvation relied on our walk, we would fail. Salvation comes only from perfection...which we have in Christ. So it is just as well that redemption comes to us in the form of a free gift already won! Sanctification, because it is a lifelong process in which God helps us get up again and again and again and walk forwards after every stumble...it is not only something we can do, but are required to do.

The Israelites were saved out of Egypt. But how many pleased God afterwards? So God reserves the right to judge His own people. We must continue to lead a pleasing life to the Lord otherwise we will be cut off...just as they were. This truth maintains the proper fear to remain in obedience even when we reach a dead end...or what seems to be a dead end! ;)

But how many will have the proper fear rather than take God's salvation for a "fait-accompli" (done deal) just as the Israelites did who died in the wilderness. Have we not learned anything from them? There are too numerous instances where this is shown in the New Testament as well. God is always faithful..His people are not. We must be found to be faithful to enter into the promises of God. The "wild card" so to speak, is us! That is why we exhort each other daily to not fall short of His grace nor frustrate the grace that we have begun the race with. We are to run so as to win...always fearing the Lord...and never putting any confidence in the flesh. We cannot sit on our laurels for a past repentance and acceptance. We must continue to seek and abide in Christ if we are to pass through the trials in a satisfactory fashion. If God did not spare the natural branches neither will He spare the late comers...sobering thoughts indeed!

Here's a couple of scriptures to consider.

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Phil 1:6 (NLT)

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Heb 12:2 (NLT)

God is certainly faithful!!! And He will judge us faithfully and truthfully. All men will reap what they have sown.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

I think people are confusing the words salvation and redemption. Redemption is the one-time transaction in which we purchased as the son of God's own (what people call being saved). Sanctification is the process of abiding in holiness from start to finish. Salvation is the entire process.

Remember that God destroyed all those saved out of Egypt who didn't believe. If Timothy had been fully saved, why did Paul admonish him to continue in sound doctrine (instruction) in order to save himself?

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 1 Timothy 4:16​

 

[Episkopos]

I think people are confusing the words salvation and redemption. Redemption is the one-time transaction in which we purchased as the son of God's own (what people call being saved). Sanctification is the process of abiding in holiness from start to finish. Salvation is the entire process.

Remember that God destroyed all those saved out of Egypt who didn't believe. If Timothy had been fully saved, why did Paul admonish him to continue in sound doctrine (instruction) in order to save himself?

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 1 Timothy 4:16​

A rare bit of understanding this is!

 

[Saint]

I'm a little confused about all of this; we are saved by grace and are not saved by obeying the law, but at the same time we are told to turn from evil and obey God. So my confusion is this; by what standards do we judge evil by and by what standards do we obey God?

In Yeshua Messiah,

Bob

 

[Episkopos]

Sanctification is the process, the baking of the cake in your illustration. Salvation is turning on the oven, you don't keep turning on the oven to bake the cake, your turn it on once and then the cake can begin to bake.

We are placed in the oven. Not too many will endure the heat is takes to become fully baked. We are to be living sacrifices. A living sacrifice has the habit of getting of the altar.

I'm a little confused about all of this; we are saved by grace and are not saved by obeying the law, but at the same time we are told to turn from evil and obey God. So my confusion is this; by what standards do we judge evil by and by what standards do we obey God?

In Yeshua Messiah,

Bob

You can try obeying the law on your own...or you can obey the law through the Spirit. You can try putting out the fire with your bare hands...or else you can use the fire extinguisher.

 

[Sabitarian]

Truthseeker,
You ask me a question just before I got a nasty worm and virus that wiped out my computer back in March. I will answer it now. Yes, I was a firstday keeper when I was young and I went to Baptist Church with my mother, until they drove her away and then my brother and I still went until they drove me away and then I went to several other Churches with the same outcome. In 1994 He spoke to me. It scared me so bad that I could not speak about it for a long while. It was only a couple of words, but with great empact. For a long time I immagined that it might have been just my immagination, when it happened again and I knew that He had really wanted for me to follow Him and I have ever since. It was a very humbling experience and I will never forget it nor forget Him.
humble servant of the lord God Most High

Episkopos,
The old testamate is Christ conceiled and the New testament is Christ revealed. I hope that you get it, although I doubt the you will as you seem to be hard hearted as the Israelites were.
humble servant of the Lord God Most High

Mark S,
You are loking at the law as most do and not as God does. In Paul the translation comes out law for many different words spelled differentlyhowever if you try to garner the actual meaning that is to be derived from that scripture it becomes plainer. Som of the verses have several different spelling in just that verse, so could it be that Paul is speaking of different laws, remember there are different laws. There is the ceremonial and the sacrificial and the moral law, so which is being spoken of if all are translated law. In the translation there is not differentiation between them, thus it is up to you to decern which is the one that is being spoken of at that time.
humble servant of the Lord God Most High

Rach,
I like you explination of sin as it touches the human side of all of us. It is not hard to look at a beautiful woman and think before you engage your brain that you would>> wow did I just do that? Yes it happens to all of us and if we are sorry that sin can be covered. However, If you do not repent of it, you are not repentant then it goes against you in the Book and you will face Christ with unrepentant sin, not a pretty picture. Now as for Mark and his shrimp, boy is he in for a surprise when he meets his Maker, Shrimp eat dung and refuse all of their lives, as they are the garbage men of the ocean and are entrusted with eliminating that which the CLEAN fish will and do not eat. As for pigs they can transmit all of their diseases to us and the first heart transplants were from pig. I hope that some here will think about this and reconsiter their choices.

Saint,
Yes we are saved by grace, however that is after we have done all that is in our power to do to live a holy life, living by all of the laws of God, as 90% of Christians will not make the cut as God always keeps a reminant, but by and large most do not make it. Take the sacking of the temple in 70 AD, how many Believers were killed and how many nonbelievers, [Jews] were killed? Not one of the believers parished as they had left already as the scripture told them to do, but 1.3 million Jews parished as nonbelievers. This is not an isolated event it is the same most every time, as God tells us, He keeps a reminant.

Marksman,
I do nto drink store bough milk as it is not good for you, but I will drink it straight from the cow as the cow has two stomachs and chew the cud as God plainly states they are clean. I guess you doubt the word of God?
Angelina,
Your scripture is take out of context, please revise you way of looking at scripture. Decipher the meaning according to the whole rest of the Book, not just a single verse.
humble servant of the Lord God Most High