Bible Study Salvation

[for_his_glory]

How many of you have gone to Church all your lives just because you were either forced to go by your parents when you were a child or just thought it was the right thing to do once a week? How many times have you walked out the door after the service ended not even remembering what the sermon was, but at least feeling good about yourself for going in the first place? Do you even know what the meaning of salvation is in your own life and that it’s a personal relationship with Jesus? How do you know you are truly saved by Gods grace and mercy that brings salvation to all who will hear God’s calling and act to that calling?

Did you accept Jesus because you were told to out of force or did you accept Jesus out of your own freewill to have that personal relationship with him? Before you answer any of these questions think about them first and be truthful with yourself as only God knows the hearts of his children who are called by his name. Our emotions can be deceiving at times when we allow ourselves to get caught up in the moment, but yet can leave us empty inside when we are left apart from that emotional atmosphere as we go back to our homes.

Gods’ plan of salvation is for everyone who answers his call as we are all sinners and it is only by Gods grace that we are saved for there is nothing we can do of ourselves. Many, like myself at first, have come to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior without much knowledge and we need to gain knowledge, wisdom and understanding of Gods word by studying through his Spirit teaching us all things rightly dividing the word of truth as we know Gods word does not come back void and will accomplish that which he pleases.

 

[Jim Parker]

How many of you have gone to Church all your lives just because you were either forced to go by your parents when you were a child or just thought it was the right thing to do once a week? How many times have you walked out the door after the service ended not even remembering what the sermon was, but at least feeling good about yourself for going in the first place? Do you even know what the meaning of salvation is in your own life and that it’s a personal relationship with Jesus? How do you know you are truly saved by Gods grace and mercy that brings salvation to all who will hear God’s calling and act to that calling?

Did you accept Jesus because you were told to out of force or did you accept Jesus out of your own freewill to have that personal relationship with him? Before you answer any of these questions think about them first and be truthful with yourself as only God knows the hearts of his children who are called by his name. Our emotions can be deceiving at times when we allow ourselves to get caught up in the moment, but yet can leave us empty inside when we are left apart from that emotional atmosphere as we go back to our homes.

Gods’ plan of salvation is for everyone who answers his call as we are all sinners and it is only by Gods grace that we are saved for there is nothing we can do of ourselves. Many, like myself at first, have come to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior without much knowledge and we need to gain knowledge, wisdom and understanding of Gods word by studying through his Spirit teaching us all things rightly dividing the word of truth as we know Gods word does not come back void and will accomplish that which he pleases.

As a new Christian, I remember being asked, "Saved from what?" I figured it was "Saved from hell."

How would you answer the question: "Saved from what?"

iakov the fool

 

[for_his_glory]

We are saved from the inherited sin nature of Adam that is imputed in us that leads to the very destruction of our soul as we violate that of God's commands. We are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners. Salvation means to be whole mind body and soul and this is what occurs through the Spiritual rebirth when we are indwelled with the Holy Spirit that renews the inner man, John 3:5-7. We are then made righteous before God by His righteousness alone by His grace through faith, Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 3:20-26.

 

[JLB]

As a new Christian, I remember being asked, "Saved from what?" I figured it was "Saved from hell."

How would you answer the question: "Saved from what?"

iakov the fool

Eternal Damnation!

 

[Jim Parker]

We are saved from the inherited sin nature of Adam that is imputed in us that leads to the very destruction of our soul as we violate that of God's commands.

Hmmmmm.....
Yet we still sin.

Salvation means to be whole mind body and soul

Paul described our situation as on in which the body (flesh), which wants to fulfill it's lusts, was at war with the mind which wants to do God's will.
Rom 7:2-23 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

We are then made righteous before God by His righteousness alone by His grace through faith,

The concept of imputed righteousness is the product of the Scholastics of the RCC. If I understand it correctly, the merit of Jesus Christ is applied to our lack of merit before God.

It seems to me that since scripture says that God created man in His likeness (Gen 5:1), which would not include death since God does not die, but that the wages of sin is death (Ro 6:23) so that when man sins, he becomes subject to death and all mankind dies because all mankind sins. (Rom 5:12)

So, what Jesus has saved all mankind from is death. Because He is risen, all mankind will be raised. Death had been defeated. (1Cor 15:51-57)

But, where we spend eternity....that's a different story.
Jesus said:
Jhn 5:28-29 “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation."

So, yes, salvation is by grace alone because God didn't have to save anyone but did so out of love for mankind. (John 3:16)
And faith includes acting like one has faith and doing the "good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Eph 2:10 - unfortunately we are encouraged to stop reading after verse 9 so we miss the rest of Paul's teaching. )

And it also seems to me that we are taught to conflate "salvation" with "eternal life" when they are actually two different things.

So, that's my understanding.

Individual mileage may vary.


iakov the fooll

 

[for_his_glory]

Yes we still sin at times for the flesh always wars against the Spirit as the carnal mind is enmity against God and the flesh can not please God. We need to be walking in the Spirit so we do not fulfill the lust, which is sin of the flesh. Grace is God's unmerited favor towards us even though we do not deserve it. Grace does not give us a license to sin and since we are still housed in this fleshly body we will always struggle with sin and that is why we need to crucify this flesh daily, Romans 8:5-8; Galatians 5:13-26.

There is no such thing as imputed righteousness, but sin that is imputed or another word present within us through the sin nature of the flesh that came to be by Adam's disobedience to God's command. Our righteousness is like a filthy rag to God, Isaiah 64:6, and this is why we can only be made righteous by God through faith in Christ Jesus, Romans 3:20-26.

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

By God's grace through faith in Christ that makes us righteous before God we are saved from the second death, which is separation from God forever as death and hell are cast into the lake of fire as there will be no more death or the need of a grave. All those not found in the Lamb's Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire.

 

[Jim Parker]

By God's grace through faith in Christ that makes us righteous before God we are saved from the second death, which is separation from God forever as death and hell are cast into the lake of fire as there will be no more death or the need of a grave. All those not found in the Lamb's Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire.

My understanding is that we are saved by faith which unites believers with Christ. In the mysterious manner by which a man and woman become "one flesh" in marriage, so we become "one flesh" with Christ through faith. The Church becomes, in fact, Christ's body and Christ's bride. Because believers are "in Christ" and Christ is "in us."

Col 1:27 ... God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

I think we are united to God in Christ and, by that union, have eternal life.
Jhn 17:20-23
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me"

iakov the fool

 

[for_his_glory]

First I would have to say it's the body of Christ that makes up His true Church. We are saved by God's grace through that of faith which is Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:8-10.

I agree as we are united with Christ as we are risen with Him and seek those things from above where He sits at the right hand of the Father, Colossians 3:1-4. The promise of our inheritance is to have eternal life with Him, Ephesians 1:1-14.

 

[Jim Parker]

First I would have to say it's the body of Christ that makes up His true Church.

Yes.
And I would emphasize that we really are, in fact, His body.
The Church bears the presence of God on earth.
As Christ is "God in flesh" so believers are God (F, S, & HS) bearing human beings. (Flesh)
I believe that is a reality that is ignored or "spiritualized."

iakov the fool

 

[for_his_glory]

Yes.
And I would emphasize that we really are, in fact, His body.
The Church bears the presence of God on earth.
As Christ is "God in flesh" so believers are God (F, S, & HS) bearing human beings. (Flesh)
I believe that is a reality that is ignored or "spiritualized."

iakov the fool

I hope by you saying "so believers are God" you mean we are of God as His own and not that we are gods.

 

[for_his_glory]

GRACE - undeserved, unmerited favor, Gods willingness to give us His power and ability even though we do not deserve it

Jesus came to show us how to overcome the sin nature of the world by teaching us how to live a moral life compatible with the word of God. Jesus gave of himself for all of us and redeemed us from the curse of sin by taking all our sin upon him becoming the final blood sacrifice for his love towards everyone who will believe on his name. When we come to Jesus it is Gods grace that forgives our sins and remembers them no more. Sin will always be present with us because the flesh will always sin for that is its nature, but when we ask Jesus into our hearts we also receive at that same moment the gift of the Holy Spirit which teaches us how to separate ourselves from the ungodliness and lusts of this world. We may have to live in this world, but as a child of God we are not part of this world because our inner man, or heart, has now become renewed in the Spirit of God and is sinless through the grace of God.

Titus 2:11 for the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Titus 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

 

[Jim Parker]

I hope by you saying "so believers are God" you mean we are of God as His own and not that we are gods.

No, we are not gods.
We united to God in Christ as the body of Christ and the Bride of Christ. We are one flesh with God the Word made flesh.
That blows me away.