...........continued here from Current Events (Preacher looses Salvation thread)
Cornelius said:Before you guys gets into a panic about what I said, let me rather try to clarify it better. (We can then move to a new topic if you wish)
I keep on forgetting that most people believe salvation is like stepping over a line. I believe salvation is like joining a gym Joining a gym does not make you fit. You have to "walk in the ways of the gym" to become fit.
Salvation is an ongoing process.
We are saved in many ways, not just in a "I am going to heaven" salvation !
1Cr 15:1 ¶ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1Cr 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
Believing in vain ? Yes, that is what it says! Christians can believe in vain, IF we do not keep the whole gospel "in memory" !!
Your spirit is saved by faith in Jesus.But our minds (souls) are still so wrong about many things ! We do immediately think the correct thoughts when we get saved. We have 0% knowledge of the ways of God that very first day of salvation. We now have to be rebooted and formatted LOL. God now uses the Word and He starts washing our minds with it.
God wants to change us. God is not interested in the "old you". No, He wants to manifest His Son in and through you. That is the race Paul is talking about .Do not let anybody take your crown from you.
Rom 12:2 And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Transformed ! From the old you into the image of Christ. Your inner self, the way you are, your soul or mind (depending on your view) must still be saved. Saved from itself. Saved from wrong thoughts. Saved from the old way of thinking.
God must brainwash us before this can happen Eph 5:26 that he might sanctify it,(the church) having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,
Eph 5:27 that he might present the church to himself a glorious [church], not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
We do not start off like this, we END like this in Eph 5:27 when we have been washed by the water of the Word.
You see , God GIVES us salvation by and through our faith. But in the end, those who manifest this salvation is truly saved. God calls all Christians to manifest Christ.Many are called. But in the end, not all will do this. Many will not run this race to the end. Many will not allow the Word to change them. Many will cling to doctrines instead of the Word. They will loose their crowns, and some will have believed in vain.Not many are chosen. This is a narrow road.
Just think for a minute about the millions upon millions of Christians on this planet and then read this verse and see the truth of many are called , but few are chosen:
Mat 7:14 For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.