Working Out Our Salvation Part 1 We have debates in the church such as once saved, always saved v. losing salvation. The flaw is believing salvation is a one-time event when in fact salvation is a lifetime process. Salvation starts at our initial confession that Jesus is Savior and Lord (Romans 10:8-13), and this is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). Jesus said that only the people who endure until the end will be saved (Mark 13:13). In John 15:4, Jesus says for us to remain in Him and He will remain in us. He said in John 14:15 that if we love Him, we must keep His commandment. He said in Matthew 22:37, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind He said in John 15:10 if we obey Him we will remain in His love. Jesus said in Revelation 21:7-8 that only those who overcome will inherit the new heaven and earth. Jesus clearly teaches that many who have prophesied in His name, cast out demons, and performed miracles will be told to depart from Him because He never knew them (Matthew 7:21-23). Only believers can operate in the power of the Holy Spirit (Mark 16:17-18). Salvation is a choice, an act of our free will. Philippians 2:12 tells us to work out our salvation. We choose to walk and live in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). If we walk by the Spirit, then we will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). Paul stresses that anyone living by flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:21). That is why it is written to stand firm in Christ and walk in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:13-14, Galatians 5:1). Hebrews 6:4-8 says, it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. Hebrews 10:26-27 says, If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Our salvation will be completed the day we die (Hebrews 9:27) or on the day of the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:17). We cannot play around with God. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. Live right today, tomorrow might not come!
Posted on: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 02:26:45 +0000
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