Category: Salvation

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A Biblical and Doctrinal Study on the Concept of Original Sin

The Nature of Free Will Examined Through Scripture

By Kathy L. McFarland

The LORD God did not make Adam and Eve sin; His most holy nature makes Him unable to sin or tempt others to commit transgressions of disobedience against Him. Satan did not make them sin; he did not force Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit or Adam to disobey God. There is absolutely no evil or defect inside Adam or Eve that forced them to sin; God created man in His Image, and formed both man and woman perfectly. Adam and Eve chose to be disobedient to God through their own self-determination, a privilege given to them through the bestowment of free will by their Creator.

The freedom to choose the direction of one’s self has consequences attached. Each free choice made by an individual is not enacted within a vacuum; rather, it influences the activity within the realm of humanity that it touches. God’s divine plans are implemented above the choices made by mere humans. While human choices change the direction of life as the various forces collide, change, build, grow, destroy, and fester, God’s plans are unaffected. He is God. His works unfold perfectly, at the time He chooses, and those works are not affected by the faulty free choices made by human beings.

It seems a simple concept. God gives human beings free will that allows them to choose their life and make it what they will, with the counter-balance of all other humans having free choice that regulates those choices. That becomes the connected life force that free choice gives all human beings. And God’s will reigns and acts perfectly in the time He chooses far above the doings of mankind. But, that simple concept is not quite as unobtrusive in the relationship between God and mankind that it seems at first glance, especially in the affairs of spiritual connectedness between natural and spiritual lives interrelating to the divine nature of God.

Historical traditions formed by religious doctrines have connected the doctrine of free will with the doctrine of original sin. The common religious consensus of the union of these two doctrines reflects that sinners cannot save themselves because of their fallen condition, and that free will has no choice but to sin and receive the punishment of damnation for eternity. Thus, it is my intentions in this study to fully explore the nature of the free will of human beings before I tackle the possibly conflicted doctrine of original sin that has developed in traditional religious doctrines over time.

Understanding Free Will through Sarai, Abram, and Hagar
Sarai and Abram are able to make free choice as all humans possess, and Sarai uses that right by choosing her maid Hagar to fulfill God’s divine promise to give her husband an heir (Genesis 11:30; 16:1-16; 21:1-20). Hagar, with much less free choice because of life circumstances but fully endowed with free choice by God, becomes the surrogate. Things go miserably wrong for Sarai as her free will fights against the will and movement of God. This leads to the removal of Hagar and Abram’s son Ishmael, to ensure their younger son Isaac’s full inheritance from his father Abram and to receive the everlasting covenant with God (Genesis 17:10-27). Hagar and Ishmael have done nothing wrong; yet, they are captive of the times and the social structures that allow Sarai to act against her servant as a human agent representing God’s will.

That Sarai’s actions are not in God’s plans are not at issue. Rather, the absolute predicament that Hagar and Ishmael find themselves, unable to prevent the events that cascade toward them, brings them to cry out to God for salvation. Though Hagar had acted according to the customs of the day, and lay down with Abram at Sarai’s orders, she was not guilty. She had done nothing wrong. Yet, as the account advances, the unchangeable direction of Hagar and Ishmael is rolling, and there is absolutely nothing they can do to prevent this from happening.

Genesis 21 reflects the results of the free choices of Sarai that brought adverse times to Hagar. Yet, the Lord is with both Sarai and Hagar and His will and ways guide them to His desired consequences and conclusions in spite of the errors made in the exercise of Sarai’s free will. The Lord’s divine plans cannot be changed or affected by human freedom even when His will unfolds in humanity’s messed up environment.

Similarly, the poor choices made by Adam and Eve bring the curse of death to every living creature made in God’s Image when life forces grow uncontrollable. In the midst of the curse of death, is life, and it is life that is formed according to God’s desired consequences and conclusions. Every person is subject to the penalty given by God to Adam and Eve for their sins of disobedience to Him. Sin cannot be conquered without death; it is the natural order of things once the curse by God toward sinful human beings was applied.

Every person is also born with free will. But, free will is not free ever. Just as Hagar was at the whims of Sarai, and unable to prevent the casting away, so too are all human beings that are subject to death and stopped from having control over life. Just as Sarai’s free will results in her creating the situation that she thinks reflects God’s intentions, she instead, guesses wrong and makes a mess of things. End analysis shows that even Sarai, blessed by God with a son in her old age and able to receive words from Him, could not use her free will to accomplish the things of God perfectly.

There is not a human being ever created that controls life and none that can act perfectly as a human agent to carry out God’s divine plans with their inferior free will. Even the most pure hearts, those able to express free will in the most righteous of ways, will run into a wall of end life that cannot be controlled. Most notable, the end of lives begins with unpreventable, uncontrollable situations and always results in death. Death is the curse given to mankind for the sins of Adam and Eve. It is inevitable. It will come to all human beings and when it comes, the unfolding events for each death are completely uncontrollable, even if free will is declared and applied by the dying.

Time, space, and limited knowledge of all the key players in this drama are affected by fallen humanity that allows human frailties to become errors and transgressions against God. If Sarai had waited on the Lord, the birth of Isaac would have been the first son of Abram, done in God’s time. But, Sarai takes matters into her own hands with her free will, and mucks things up, and creates an impossible situation of conflict that eventually requires the intervention of God to save Ishmael’s life. Sarai, even though she exercises her free will and has confidence that she is fulfilling God’s will, is not in control of anything. God’s intentions are done in His way and time, in deference to the human error of the free will of Sarai.

The Penalty for Sin is God’s Curse of Death

If free will leads a human being to commit disobedience to God, then free will has led that person to sin. According to 1 John 1:5-8, the truth of God reveals that all human beings have sin:

1 John 1:5–10 (KJV 1900)
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:5-10)

And since all have sinned through their free will to be disobedient to God, then the penalty for that sin activates the curse that God placed upon all sin that moves humanity away from His presence. Ultimately, death will come to all, in spite of human error or perfection:

Romans 5:12–21 (KJV 1900)
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:12-21)

Death will come even though some human beings have free will that seems to make righteous choices always; don’t let the semblance of perfection fool you. Every adult human being has sinned at some time. The nature of free will gives opportunity to choose righteousness or transgression, and the nature of humanity in relationship to each other leads to some disobedience to God always.

Death is God’s curse placed upon mankind because of the transgressions made by the first human beings that released the component of sin into the natures of mankind (Genesis 3:19). Only death to the physical body releases the cling of sin. God is not going to change His curse against sinful humanity with even one degree deviation. It’s too late; sin is part of the fabric of human life, and only His curse against it can release its hold upon his beloved humanity.

The Grace of God Frees Sinners from the Curse

There is no deviation from the curse against sin; death is the only thing that releases a human being from the power of sin. However, God has granted grace unto a select group of people, by allowing them to symbolically experience death while they are still alive, thereby releasing the hold that sin has upon them. This grace of salvation is given to all human beings that receive the Baptism of Jesus Christ:

Romans 6:1–14 (KJV 1900)
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:1-14)

Simply stated, human beings are sinners and remain sinners until death is brought to sin. When death comes, sin releases its hold upon a person. Followers of Jesus Christ can have this hold released by experiencing death through His Baptism because God has offered His grace by promising release from the His penalties of disobedience to His law that He bestowed upon humanity because of sin. God loosens man from the requirement of the law that brings death to sin:

Romans 7:1–6 (KJV 1900)
Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. (Romans 7:1-6)

Next Focus of Study Concerning Free Will

We have explored a bit of Scripture in this study concerning free will and what it looks like in Scripture with an examination of Sarai’s poor choice. We have examined Scripture that clearly states the curse that is brought against sin, and how death will come to every living thing as a result. We have also recognized the special provision of grace that God grants believers of Christ in allowing a symbolic death to come upon their sins while yet alive, giving them hope in eternal life through the promise of the forgiveness of past sins.

Romans 6 begins with an expression of the effects of faulty free will and carefully leads the reader into Romans 7 and 8 with the development of the condition of sin in humanity. It will be our primary focused text to discover the different connections that original sin has in its attachment to mankind. Free will Scripture has been introduced in this first study; in our next we will take a more detailed look at the development of the Doctrine of Free Will that will ultimately lead to our study of the Doctrine of Original Sin, and reveal God’s truth in this important spiritual matter.

Bibliography
Andrews, James A. “On Original Sin and the Scandalous Nature of Existence.” Journal of Theological Interpretation 5, no. 2 (2011): 231-250.

Geisler, Norman L. Systematic Theology, Volume Three: Sin, Salvation. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2004.

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DEFICIENT, WRONG, FALSE, LIES of ridiculous theories of Atonement

Atonement means the reconciliation with the LORD God that Christ accomplished through His life and resulting Crucifixion and Resurrection for the forgiveness of sin and the granting of eternal life and ability for righteousness through the complete salvation of His Followers.

In this holiest of Seasons that celebrates the Crucifixion and Resurrection our our beloved Lord Jesus Christ and the atonement of our sins through His shed blood, there are many lies and false teachings floating out their in the carnal world of wickedness. Here are possibly some of the lies you will hear:

False Theory – Ransom made to Satan

Defender – Origen (A.D. 184-254)

False Idea – Satan accused of maintaining hold on people, requiring Christ’s shed blood as a ransom on their behalf for their release

Weakness – This is an offense to Christ’s sacrifice upon the cross for the salvation of human beings; the judgment is upon Satan, and he is NOT in control!

Modern Day – This gives some falsely perceived support to Satanic worshippers who think the devil is more powerful than the LORD God.

False Theory – Recapitulation

Defender – Irenaeus (A.D> 130-200)

False Idea – Christ lived a full life of experience in the same pattern as Adam; thus, he sinned.

Weakness – Scripture upholds the sinlessness of Christ (1 John 3:5) and fully contradicts a duplication of Adam’s fallen state.

Modern Day – Efforts made to suggest Christ’s fallen state, marriage to Mary, collusion with Judas in arranging his own death are some of the popular media false reflections of Christ.

False Theory – Satisfaction

Defender – Anselm (1033-1109)

False Idea – The LORD God’s honor is betrayed and lessened by sin which can only be restored through Christ’s honoring death. Once honor is restored, God is able to forgive sins.

Weakness – Makes God’s honor an attribute that rises above all other attributes and refutes the doctrine of vicarious atonement.

Modern Day – Not much of a problem today because of the purposeful intentions of the worldly to remove all honor from the LORD God.

False Theory – Moral Influence

Defender – Abelard (1079-1142)

False Idea – The need for the atonement of sins in human beings is unnecessary. They need only to have hearts made ready to repent, accomplished through Christ’s death.

Weakness – Atonement become unnecessary an the achievement of holiness the goal.

Modern Day – Adherents include Friedrich Schleiermacher, Albrecht Ritschl, and Horace Bushnell

False Theory – Example

Defender – Socinus (1539-1604)

False Idea – Christ’s example of obedience toward the LORD God inspired reformation of sinful behavior; Christ’s death was unnecessary.

Weakness – Denies the deified part of Christ, declaring him to be fully human and a great example for human beings to emulate.

Modern Day – Adherents include Thomas Altizer and the denominational Unitarians.

False Theory – Governmental

Defender – Grotius (1583-1645)

False Idea – Christ’s death paid a token to the LORD God, that gave Him the opportunity to forgive people of their sins, through the governance of His law.

Weakness – Denies the changelessness of God. Also allows His law to be negated in order for Him to forgive human beings without need for payment of sin.

Modern Day – Adherents include Daniel Whitby, Samuel Clarke, J. McLeod Campbell, Richard Watson, H.R. Mackintosh.

False Theory – Accident

A. Schweitzer (1875-1965)

False Idea – Christ formed a Messiah ideology that caught him up accidentally into events leading to his death.

Weakness – Denies Christ’s purposeful sacrifice and substitutionary atonement.

Modern Day – Some popular media and extremist efforts develop an accidental life of Christ as a moral teacher that was caught up in events beyond his control.

THE BIBLICAL TRUTH REPRESENTATION OF THE ATONEMENT OF CHRIST:

The Lord Jesus Christ purposely went to the cross for His crucifixion after prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was sinless in all ways during his time spent on earth. He was crucified, taking upon himself the original sins of His Followers. When He shed His blood, it became the atonement that He would offer to His Father, the LORD God. This offering of atonement of Christ’s blood is based upon the promise the LORD God has made to forgive all sins and grant salvation and eternal life to all those covered in Christ’s blood. Following Christ’s resurrection, all followers became eligible for the Baptism of Jesus Christ and the Baptism of the Holy Ghost to assist in the full process of walking eternally with Christ.

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USA TODAY Letter to the Editor By Kathy L McFarland “Salvation only through Jesus”

USA TODAY May 26 2011 Page 10A

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/letters/2011-05-26-beliefs-about-heaven-and-hell_n.htm

Author Rob Bell’s words do not hold true when evaluated through the inerrant word of God. Jonathan Edwards, a colonial‐era pastor, had it right. The difference between the most carnal, sinful, wicked people in the world, compared with the most righteous, spiritual, saintly ones, is one of appearance rather than fallen nature. Those who are able to seemingly rise above common sin have done nothing of the kind; they just have the tools to hide it better from others.

When someone is lucky enough to be born in an environment that teaches these hiding skills, then he or she has the tools needed to look “good” and escape condemnation or restriction from society. Those born within a culture that neglects teaching the necessity for the outward appearance to hide sin receive blunt judgment and accusation from the perfumed pews of Christian pretenders.

Kathy L McFarland
Peck, Idaho

USA TODAY Letter to the Editor by Fulton J Waterloo, “Theology and Nuance” (June 1, 2011)

USA TODAY reader Kathy McFarland made some valid points about the fallen nature of all people in the eyes of God and their continuance in sin in her Thursday letter “Salvation only through Jesus.” However, the possible implications of her theology are nothing short of mind‐boggling.

It is one thing to state correctly, that “Hitler and Mother Teresa were sinners.” It is another to deny the reality that many people cooperate with God’s grace rather than resist it. In the reader’s world, every man is a wife beater; every adult a child molester; every mechanic a cheat; and every lawyer an ambulance chaser, but we just aren’t aware of it.

If the only difference between Hitler and Mother Teresa was that she was “lucky enough to be born in an environment that teaches these hiding skills” then we need to begin a search for the millions of innocent people that she murdered.

Even more dangerous, if there is no difference in the “lived faith” of individual people, does sin even matter? To McFarland’s credit, she has taken the doctrine of “salvation by faith alone” to its obvious conclusion.

This evening, God willing, I will obey the speed limits on my drive home. Inevitably, a motorist will blast by me, only to be pulled over several miles down the road by a state trooper. In McFarland’s reality, the speeding motorist and I were driving the same speed; I just had better “hiding skills.”

Perhaps her letter demonstrates the danger of theology without nuance, and interpretation without guidance.

Fulton J. Waterloo Aston, Pa.
Rebuttal to Fulton J. Waterloo, “Theology and Nuance” (June 1, 2011)

USA TODAY Rebuttal to Fulton J Waterloo’s Letter to Editor dtd June 1, 2011 by Kathy L McFarland

Clearly, Fulton Waterloo has learned the hiding skills of traveling the speed limit, whereas the speeder that passes him is sinfully negligent (if speed could be defined as sin in Waterloo’s world). And Mother Teresa, bless her works in His name, learned from a young age that walking the way of her beloved Christ was preferable to submitting to her fallen nature and allowing it to guide her along a life path. Hitler was evil, through and through; his fallen nature overtaken by the worst of darkness, a glaring example of what happens when fallen nature walks so far away from God.

Beware! It is easy for “good” sinners to compare themselves to “bad” sinners, and convince themselves that the salvation of Jesus Christ is not needed. Sadly, that trick of the mind convinces many to trust in their own perceived righteousness, rather than relying upon the saving grace of Christ, and that error will one day doom them.

Kathy L McFarland
Peck, Idaho

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What does it mean to be saved?

SALVATION MEANS DELIVERANCE!

In all of my travels, in remembering all of the words spoken by Preachers, Teachers and Evangelists of the Word of God, that is the meaning they understood. DELIVERANCE! Every Christian Church, every Christian Leader, every Christian Faithful believes that Salvation means DELIVERANCE!

It is not the definition of the word Salvation that causes the chasms to develop, to misdirect the focus of the Word of God. We all agree on the meaning of Salvation; the disagreement amongst our faithful brethren lies with the things we are delivered from, what results after we are delivered and why we need deliverance in the first place!

What do we need to be DELIVERED from?

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23 av)

1. Our souls are not condemned because we do great sin. We are condemned because of our sinful state!

2. All unsaved do bad actions because their heart, their core, their complete being is sin that originated from Adam’s transgression against the Will of God.

3. Some unsaved do really terrible sins, and some unsaved have no sign of the terrible condition of sin. That does not mean that some are greater sinners than others. Every living human being has the sinful nature inside him. Some may well be able to subdue those basic instincts, while others are controlled by the same sinful natures to do grievous harm to others, both the noble and the derelict have the same nature inside them. If an unsaved person does not sin, self control may be present, but the sinful nature still exists. The actions of the unsaved may well differ in degree, but not in guilt or cause!

4. Unsaved sinners must understand that they have sinful natures, and are unable to save themselves.

5. All human beings begin life with the sinful nature, and fall short of the glory of God. The LORD God is not present in the sinful realm. Sin is offensive to God. It doesn’t matter how much good people do in the world, if their works were done while they harbored their sinful natures, the greatest of works in humanity, religion, science, art, medicine, education and government are made null by the presence of sin. Those who come from families of “good stock” in the Midwest, those who are well educated and able to advance the human condition to rightful places, those who do good daily and give all they have to others, and those who struggle daily to live an honest life, are all short of the glory of God, because they have the natures of sin.

SALVATION MEANS DELIVERANCE FROM SINFUL NATURE!

“For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 av)

6. Sinners die, no matter what they do in this lifetime. The wages that come to the unsaved is death. Until death is brought to that sinful nature, then it remains inside the unsaved, leading them toward their promised destiny.

7. It takes more than the death of the sinful natures to give the unsaved hope, however. Unsaved people that die and are placed in their graves, are dead unsaved people. Eventually, the unsaved people will be resurrected to face the Judgment of Jesus Christ to answer for the things they did with their sinful natures, but until then, the unsaved lay dead in their graves.

8. The LORD God gives eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord, to those who seek deliverance from their sinful natures.

SALVATION MEANS DELIVERANCE FROM ETERNAL DEATH!

“And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (Ephesians 2:1-3 av)

9. The unsaved people with their sinful natures walk according to the course of the world. The “course of the world” encapsulates all of the degrading, grotesque, ugly things that have developed and become perilously established within our world today. They include those very things spoken of in 2 Timothy 3:1-7…

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:1-7 av)

SALVATION MEANS DELIVERANCE FROM THE WAYS OF THE WORLD!

10. The unsaved who are entrapped by their sinful natures, are led by the prince of the power of air. The prince of the power of air is Lucifer, also known as Satan, the Devil.

SALVATION MEANS DELIVERANCE FROM THE CONTROL OF SATAN!

11. People with the unsaved and sinful nature are children of LORD God’s wrath.

SALVATION MEANS DELIVERANCE FROM THE WRATH OF THE LORD GOD!

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 av)

12. Salvation can only be received through FAITH. FAITH is the gift of God, through his wonderful and undeserved Grace.

13. The Unsaved cannot give FAITH to themselves. If they could, they would boast of their godly ability. Only the LORD God gives those He Wills the faith to turn toward Him, reject their own sinful natures, and reach toward the righteous and holy nature of God, through the Lord Jesus Christ.

SALVATION MEANS DELIVERANCE FROM THE LACK OF FAITH AND BELIEF!

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15 av)

14. Everyone will one day stand before the Judgment Seat of the Lord Jesus Christ and be judged according to their works.

15. Those works done by the unsaved are nullified and void. They are vanity. Works are not measured living and righteous when done while the workers had the natures of sin.

16. If the Unsaved maintained their status in their lifetime to their death, then they have no living works that can be measured.

17.Those with dead works, those who chose to go to their grave with their sinful nature and reject the Grace of the Lord God and the salvation through Jesus Christ, will be judged guilty and sentenced to eternal damnation and be cast into the lake of fire.

SALVATION MEANS DELIVERANCE FROM ETERNAL DAMNATION AND SENTENCED TO HELL!

How does Salvation come to the sinners?

“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12 av)

18. Through the belief and acceptance of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and His Resurrection from the dead, the unsaved can receive salvation. Acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the only salvation can come to them, free them from the sinful nature, and make them whole.

SALVATION COMES TO BELIEVERS THROUGH THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST!

How do the Unsaved receive the gift of Salvation from the LORD God?

19. Salvation is a two step process. The first step is one of belief, and the second step is one of action. If the Unsaved believe, but do nothing, they remain unsaved. If the Unsaved do not believe, but go through the action of a repentant sinner, they too remain unsaved.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10 av)

STEPS TO SALVATION

1. Know that you are a sinner, and cannot save yourself.

2. Confess the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior

3. Believe that Jesus Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient to atone for your sins.

4. Be confident that Jesus Christ physically rose from the dead.

SALVATION COMES BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST ONLY!

What are the results of Salvation?

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 av)

21. The confessors of Jesus Christ as Savior are crucified with him. (Note…Our Crucifixion is joined to the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ through our Faith. Our Burial is accepting the Baptism of Jesus Christ, which we will speak of in a few more paragraphs)

22. Our crucifixion with Christ allows us to receive more faith and the love of the LORD God.

SALVATION BRINGS MORE FAITH AND THE LOVE OF THE LORD GOD!

“For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say], whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in [your] mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” (Colossians 1:19-23 av)

23. Salvation establishes peace with the LORD God.

24. Salvation makes Faithful Believers holy, unblameable and unreproveable in the LORD God’s sight.

SALVATION MAKES THE SAVED HOLY, UNBLAMABLE AND UNREPROVEABLE IN THE LORD GOD’S SIGHT

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 av)

25. Everlasting life is given those who believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the LORD God.

SALVATION BRINGS ETERNAL LIFE

“For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:4-5 av)

26. The Power of the LORD God is with all saved Faithful through Jesus Christ.

SALVATION BRINGS THE POWER OF GOD TO YOUR LIFE

What is NOT Salvation?

“For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it].” (Hebrews 4:2 av)

Salvation does not come to the Unsaved by simply the physical act of uttering words in prayer form! Their heart must be in it with a solid faith.

If the Unsaved receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ and hear with their heart and agree, then their confession will be heard. Without the understanding and repentant heart, the prayers of the Unsaved are worthless.

Salvation is NOT the physical act of walking down the church aisle following an invitation from the Pastor. The Unsaved can be anywhere, at any time, and receive salvation through their belief and confession in Jesus Christ. It doesn’t take a church, and it doesn’t take people. It just takes a sincere and repentant heart to accept Jesus Christ and be saved!

Salvation is not contingent on great emotion (or lack of) during the conversion experience. Some feel great elation, some a quiet piece, and some don’t. It is a uniquely individual experience, and varies with the experience surrounding the conversion.

Salvation does not come to a person just because they want to be saved from going to Hell! The question of whether someone would prefer Heaven to Hell is stupid. Anyone would readily choose Heaven if given the ability to discern the differences. Salvation comes to those who accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior; it does not come to those just trying to hedge their bets and cover all bases “just in case”.

Does Salvation guarantee Heaven?

Your belief in Jesus Christ brings salvation to you, and you are guaranteed eternal life. Your faith alone is all that is necessary for eternal life.

One of the major conflicts among believers is their confusion over Salvation, Heaven and Baptism. Thankfully, the answer lays solidly in the Word of God…

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6:1-18 av)

Do you remember a few paragraphs back, in point 21 concerning Galatians 2:20, where we learned that we are crucified with the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ through Faith, and Faith alone, and as a result receive Salvation?

All of the benefits of Salvation are given to a Faithful Believer the moment he accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

But there is one more step a believer must fulfill to see Heaven. A Faithful Christian must also be baptized into the death of Jesus Christ, and be buried with Him also. Our Faith allows us to share His Crucifixion, Our Baptism allows us to experience His Burial.

27. When we are baptized with the Baptism of Jesus Christ, we go to our grave in the baptismal waters. When we rise out of the waters, we are resurrected into the NEW LIFE, with a NEW BIRTH. Baptized Believers will never go to the grave again!

CRUCIFIED ONCE, BURIED ONCE AND RESURRECTED ONCE!

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Revelation 21:1-7 av)

Heaven is a temporary dwelling place, until His chosen Time, when a new Heaven and a New Earth will be established according to His Will.

The unbaptized Believers, who were faithful in the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, but failed to complete the process of going to the grave in Baptism, will go to an earthly grave for a short while. The Unbaptized but Saved Believers will be resurrected from their graves, in His Time, and given Eternal Life through His Grace of Salvation.

Through their belief and confession of Jesus Christ, the UNBAPTIZED, BUT SAVED BELIEVERS will go on to Eternal Life after their resurrection from their graves.

Through their belief and confession of Jesus Christ, the BAPTIZED, SAVED BELIEVERS will go to Heaven for awhile, and then on to Eternal Life on the New Earth, where all Believers will begin a new and blessed life under the rule of their King Jesus Christ.
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Updated Mar 25, 2024 1:22:02pm

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Faith, Salvation, Born Again, Judgment simplified even more

Salvation comes to a Christian through Faith.

A Christian must have faith that the blood of Jesus Christ was shed for the redemption of the Christian’s sins. There is nothing a person can do to save himself from sin. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ, and His crucifixion and resurrection, that a person can receive salvation.

When a person receives the promise of salvation, it is the promise of the LORD God that Believers will be forgiven of all sin, be judged innocent, and saved from the judgment of eternal damnation through His Son’s blood shed for His followers.

Faith is the condition of believing. Christians believe in God’s promise that they will be forgiven of all sin as a result of Christ’s crucifixion. A Christian must have Faith of this promise throughout his life, and even into his physical death. This Faith results in the reward of salvation, through the Grace of God.

Romans 10:9–10 (KJV 1900)
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Matthew 10:32–33 (KJV 1900)
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

This is important:

THE MOMENT A PERSON TRULY BELIEVES AND CONFESSES THAT JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, WALKED ON THE EARTH, DIED FOR THEM, AND RESURRECTED, AND AS A RESULT, PROMISED SALVATION THROUGH THE REDEMPTION OF HIS SHED BLOOD, THEN THAT BELIEVER IS SAVED AND PROMISED TO RECEIVE THE JUDGMENT OF INNOCENCE AND THE REWARD OF LIFE ETERNAL AT THE BY CHRIST.

That’s all it takes to be saved: BELIEF that is CONFESSED!

Having faith of salvation through the sacrificed blood of Jesus Christ is all that is necessary to receive the promised salvation from eternal damnation. The process of receiving salvation through this sacrificed blood is called Redemption. At the designated time, all believing Christians who come to Jesus on the Judgment Throne will have their sins redeemed through his shed blood, and they will be judged innocent by the LORD God as a result of their faith in Christ.

Salvation is not the ticket to Heaven. Salvation is the promise of a verdict of innocence following the redemption of blood, and avoiding the sentence of eternal damnation. Many misguided, young, and self focused Christians think that Heaven is a permanent place that everybody who is good gets to go to at their death. It is not. Heaven is a temporary dwelling place for the LORD God and His Spirits, Jesus Christ, the angels, and the saints who are righteous. Heaven is going to come to an end one day, at the moving of the LORD God.

All of the Christian Saints in Heaven will one day populate the New Earth, along with all of the others judged favorably on Judgment Day and who receive the verdict of eternal life.

Righteous means to be free of sin. Faith does not remove sin from a live body! Even though you have faith, original sin still dwells within you. There is only one way a person that is alive and walking the earth can become righteous. The original sin must leave his body. There is only one way that sin can leave the body. Death of the body. The moment the body dies, sin has no hold, and dies.

But here’s the problem If you die with sin still within you, then you go to your grave. Sinful people do not get to rest in heaven for awhile. In fact, that’s why death exists to start with. Because there is sin, then death must come to man. So the dead in sin stay in their graves until they are resurrected on the Day of Rapture, just before the rapture of those alive Christians, that will occur before the great Judgment Day.

1 Corinthians 15:50–57 (KJV 1900)
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 6 (KJV 1900)
6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

There is a much better option prepared for Christians. The Baptism of Jesus Christ causes the body to die, and the sins to die in a faithful Christian. If a Christian goes under the baptismal waters to their grave, they die and the original sin’s control is removed from them. When the Christian comes up out of the baptismal waters and in faith experiences the same resurrection that Jesus did, then they come out of the waters sin free and new.

John 3:3–8 (KJV 1900)
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

This new person, free from original sin, is called Born Again. The born again Christian is a new being, and sin free Baptized Christians have two options available to them to remain sin free, and increase their righteousness through His Will. The first one is the the authority of Jesus Christ to forgive sin on earth. When a baptized Christian commits sin, he has the opportunity to confess, repent, and return to a righteous state through forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit Baptism, a baptism accomplished through the laying on of hands by an apostle of Jesus Christ, is also given to baptized Christians. When the Holy Spirit is infused into a baptized believer, then that Christian has all of his innocent sins burned away, helping to maintain a righteous state.

When the baptized and faithful Christian experiences a physical death, he is immediately taken to Heaven. This Christian will not feel the sting of death or lay in the grave for even an instant. The baptized and faithful Christian is immediately taken to Heaven, where he rests for a time in the bosom of the LORD God, until the rest of the LORD God’s plans are completed.

Revelation 21:1–8 (KJV 1900)
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

At the establishment of the New Earth and the New Heavens, the Christian will assume a new life on that New Earth, along with all of the favorably judged people who stood before the throne of Jesus Christ. This New Earth life will be ruled by the Savior Jesus Christ, and will begin it’s existence with sin free people who love the LORD God, and humbled forever by the undeserved grace and salvation received as a result of His Son’s Sacrifice.

Praise Be to God!

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A little more about the healing of palsy

Just a quick contemplation related to yesterday’s post about Christ given the authority to forgive sins on earth. Remember. Every instant that the Lord Jesus Christ healed PALSY it was told to all that witnessed the miracle that He had that authority to forgive sins. Matthew 9:1-6; Mark 2:1-10; Luke 5:18:26

PALSY – 4166 παραλυτικός (paralytikos), ή (ē), όν (on): adj. [see παραλυτικός (paralytikos), οῦ (ou), ὁ (ho), just below]; ≡ Str 3885—LN 23.171 paralyzed (Mt 4:24; 8:6+ note: others see these verses as the next lexical entry)

παραλυτικός (paralytikos), οῦ (ou), ὁ (ho): n.masc. [served by 4166]; ≡ Str 3885—a paralytic, a lame person (Mt 9:2, 6; Mk 2:3–5, 9, 10+; Lk 5:24 v.r. NA26; Jn 5:3 v.r. NA26); not in LN

Swanson, James. 1997. In Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament), electronic ed. Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

1. Does that mean that if the paralyzed and the lame are healed with the miraculous moving of God that the healer would announce immediately that the healing was done to show that the Lord Jesus Christ had power to forgive sins on earth?

2. Does that mean in those rare cases that the healing of paralysis, lameness, and palsy takes place through a healer at the moving of God, that the crippled are in terrible sin before they are healed?

3. Does that mean that all these EVENTS that we see take place in revival-like settings where crippled people throw away their wheelchairs and crutches without the official announcement of Christ’s power to forgive sins might be fake?

4. Does that mean that we as Christians, fail to uphold our knowledge of Scripture, by allowing FAKERS to pretend to heal without challenging that practice? Do we justify this wrongly to ourselves by saying at least God is being credited with the pretend miracles?

What do you think?

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The power of Christ to forgive sins on earth

Christ prayed from the cross to forgive those who crucified him, because they did not know what they did. Luke 23:34

When a faithful person sins, but is completely unaware that it is a sin, then it is unintentional and covered by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

But, If a faithful person commits a sin intentionally, whether with purpose or in neglect, then that person is in the condition of sin. The blood of Jesus Christ does not cover that sin afterwards.

The LORD God has promised to give eternal life to all that Christ has brought with Him to His Father. Sin cannot come into the presence of the Holy LORD God. Christ’s blood and Christ’s forgiveness purifies Christians to give them access to God.

Thankfully, the LORD GOD has given Jesus Christ the authority to forgive sin. This power was important to Jesus Christ, and he wanted us to know about it. In fact, every time he healed someone who had palsy, he would remind us that he did so to show that he had the power to forgive sin on earth. One example of many:

Luke 5:17–26 (KJV 1900)
17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. 25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

There are many beliefs among the faithful concerning this forgiveness. Some believe that since Christ gave his life for us, and loves us so deeply, that he forgives us through that love.

Many believe that the Christ’s shed blood covers all future sin.

Others believe that they must do something to reverse their sinful
condition through penance and giving to the poor, homeless, orphans or tithing more on Sunday.

I reasoned that if it was so important that Christ was given the authority to forgive sin on earth many times in Scripture, then it was of critical importance. That Christ mentioned over and over that the healing of “palsy” was done to show He had the authority to forgive sins on earth, then surely, when I mess up and sin, I’m going straight to my Lord and fix things through His forgiveness.

I closely examined Psalm 51 that was written by David and considered closely his relationship with the LORD God. When David sinned, he went through many specific steps to let God know that he was sorry, and repented, and was going to do better.

When I find myself in the condition of sin, I approach Jesus Christ as David approached the LORD God. I do these things so I can be spiritually restored once again. Here are the prayer steps I use in asking forgiveness be granted by my Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Have true remorse for my sin with a broken spirit and contrite heart
2. Make acknowledgement of my sin
3. Request for mercy from Jesus based on his loving kindness
4. Request for cleansing from the dirtiness of my sin
5. Acknowledge my deliberate rebellion as a cause of my sin
6. Acknowledge that the temptation to sin is always present
7. State the facts of my sin truthfully, without blaming other things
8. Know I cannot be righteous on my own, but require Jesus Christ to be holy
9. Be truthful and stable in thought process, and present my sin rationally
10. Have faith Jesus and Holy Spirit can wash me of sin, and restore holiness
11. Request the joy and gladness in my soul to be restored
12. Request Jesus forget my sin, and bring it no more to his mind
13. Request Jesus and Holy Spirit give me a clean heart and renewed right spirit
14. Request Jesus allow his and the Holy Spirit’s presence to remain with me
15. Request Jesus restore my joy of his deliverance
16. Request Jesus and Holy Spirit be generous with presence to protect from sin
17. Promise to teach other Christians, the ways of Jesus for spiritual restoration
18. Request Jesus deliver me from blood guiltiness to escape sin that is not mine

Once I am forgiven, I completely remove my concentration from the horrible sin that I was forgiven for. What is the use of forgiveness if you are constantly thinking on it?

David was loved greatly by the LORD God, and favored among all, yet when he sinned, it pained him so greatly, that he shared that pain, repentance, and commitment to the LORD God in Psalm 51.

I love Jesus Christ and the LORD God that much too, and also feel deep shame and pain when I sin. I approach Jesus Christ in the same manner David approached the LORD God, and believe with all my heart that this method of repentance pleases Him greatly, and allows for my spiritual restoration to be accomplished through His grace and touch.

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Salvation Fundamentals

What does salvation really mean?

Many Christians think Salvation is the forgiveness of sin and a ticket to Heaven. Others believe that Salvation cleanses you of sin, and prepares you for the Great Judgment Day, when you are resurrected from your grave and face Jesus Christ for His verdict of life or death. One of the great divisions among Faithful Christians is caused because they define Salvation differently. Usually, unaware that their definitions differ, they condemn each other’s doctrines for being legalistic or too conservative or too liberal and separate themselves from each other in anger.

If only we could get this definition nailed down and agree on this one important concept in our Christian faith, then many of the splinters and chasms between our Faithful brothers and sisters could be healed. More importantly, our Evangelistic efforts could become more focused, as all the Christians agree on the terminology and add to each other’s ministries as they go out to preach and teach to the unsaved.

The doctrine of Salvation is often wadded up into this big ball that encompasses prayer, baptism, forgiveness, hell, Heaven, faith, peace, righteousness, gifts, and evangelism. When we leave our
churches prepared to fulfill the great commission of Jesus Christ, to spread the Good News to all corners of the world, Salvation is the one word every Christian, on every Mission, speaks and the one word that cannot be defined confidently because of this confusion.

The word Salvation has become corrupted, as various doctrines of various beliefs defined it differently. Eventually, these different definitions combined, confused, and crippled the Evangelist and the sinner, as the unified definitions of Salvation became so confusing that no one dares try to explain it, for fear of looking stupid and faithless. It’s time we understand this important concept completely, and reach agreement to the basic tenets of Salvation, so our own Christian walk, and our evangelization efforts are fruitful and reveal the wonderful Grace of our LORD God.

What does it mean to be saved?

The Hebrew word for Salvation that is written in the Old Testament of the Word of God is “yeshuwah” and means literally “something saved” and abstractly “deliverance.” The Greek word for Salvation that is written in the New Testament of the Word of God is “soteria” and means literally the act of “physical and moral rescue”.

Salvation means deliverance!

In all my travels, in remembering all the words spoken by preachers, Teachers and Evangelists through the Word of God that is the meaning they understood. DELIVERANCE! Every Christian Church, every Christian Leader, every Christian Faithful believes that Salvation means DELIVERANCE!

It is not the definition of the word Salvation that causes the chasms to develop, to misdirect the focus of the Word of God. We all agree on the meaning of Salvation; the disagreement amongst our faithful brethren lies with the things we are delivered from, what results after we are delivered and why we need deliverance in the first place!

What do we need DELIVERED from?

Salvation means deliverance from our sinful nature!

Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)

1. Our souls are not condemned because we do great sin. We are condemned because of our sinful state!

2. All unsaved people do bad actions because their heart, their core, their complete being has sin that originated from Adam’s transgression against the Will of God.

3. Some unsaved do terrible sins, and some unsaved have no sign of the terrible condition of sin.

That does not mean that some are greater sinners than others. Every living human being has the full sinful nature inside him. Some may well be able to subdue those basic instincts, while others
are controlled by the same sinful natures to do grievous harm to others; both the noble and the derelict have the same nature inside them. If an unsaved person does not outwardly sin, self-control may be present, but the sinful nature still exists. The actions of the unsaved may well differ in degree, but not in guilt or cause!

4. Unsaved sinners must understand that they have sinful natures and are unable to save themselves.

5. All human beings begin life with the sinful nature and fall short of the glory of God.

The LORD God is not present in the sinful realm. Sin is offensive to God. It doesn’t matter how much good people do in the world, if their works were done while they harbored their sinful natures. The greatest works in humanity, religion, science, art, medicine, education, and government are made null by the presence of sin, and the LORD God will not see dead works. Those who come from families of “good stock,” those who are well-educated and able to advance the human condition to rightful places, those who do good daily and give all they have to others, and those who struggle daily to live an honest life, are all short of the glory of God, because they have the natures of sin within them.

Salvation means deliverance from eternal death!

Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

6. Sinners die, no matter what they do in this lifetime. The wages that come to the unsaved is death. Until death is brought to that sinful nature, then it remains inside the unsaved, leading them toward their promised destiny.

7. It takes more than the death of the sinful natures to give the unsaved hope, however. Unsaved people that die and are placed in their graves, are dead unsaved people. Eventually, the unsaved
people will be resurrected to face the Judgment of Jesus Christ to answer for the things they did with their sinful natures, but until then, the unsaved lay dead in their graves.

8. The LORD God gives eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord, to those who seek deliverance from their sinful natures.

Salvation means deliverance from the ways of the worldly!

Ephesians 2:1-3
“And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (Ephesians 2:1-3)

9. The unsaved people with their sinful natures walk according to the course of the world. The “course of the world” encapsulates the entire degrading, grotesque, ugly things that have developed and become perilously established within our world today. They include those very things spoken of in 2 Timothy 3:1-7…

2Timothy 3:1-7
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, With out natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, overs of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:1-7)

Sexual perversion, the sacrifice of our children, the dirty habits of obscene self- love and self-focus are the ways of the world; these are just of a few of the carnal things of sinful nature that entrap the unsaved in these Last Days.

Salvation means deliverance from the control of Satan!

10. The unsaved that are entrapped by their sinful natures, are led by the prince of the power of air. The prince of the power of air is Lucifer, also known as Satan, the Devil.

Salvation means deliverance from the Wrath of God!

11. People with the unsaved and sinful nature are children of LORD God’s wrath.

Salvation means deliverance from a lack of faith!

Ephesians 2:8-9
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

12. Salvation can only be received through FAITH. FAITH is the gift of God, given to believers through His wonderful and underserved Grace.

13. The Unsaved cannot give FAITH to themselves. If they could, they would boast of their godly ability. Only the LORD God gives those He Wills the faith to turn toward Him, reject their own sinful natures, and reach toward the righteous and holy nature of God, through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Salvation means deliverance from eternal damnation and a sentence to Hell!

Revelation 20:11-15
“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15)

14. Everyone will one day stand before the Judgment Seat of the Lord Jesus Christ and be judged according to their works or their sins.

15. Those works done by the unsaved are nullified and void; thus it is only their sinful thoughts and deeds that are placed before the Judge Jesus Christ. All works of a sinner are vanity. Works are not measured living and righteous when done while the workers had the natures of sin.

16. If the Unsaved maintained their status in their lifetime to their death, then they have no living works that can be measured.

17. Those with dead works, those who chose to go to their grave with their sinful nature and reject the Grace of the Lord God and the salvation through Jesus Christ, will be judged guilty and
sentenced to eternal damnation and be cast into the lake of fire.

How does Salvation come to the sinners?

Acts 4:10-12
“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12)

Salvation comes to believers through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ!

18. Through the belief and acceptance of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and His Resurrection from the dead, the unsaved can receive salvation. Acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the only way salvation can come to them, free them from the sinful nature, and make them whole.

How do the Unsaved receive the gift of Salvation from the LORD God?

19. Salvation is a two-step process. The first step is one of belief, and the second step is one of action. If the Unsaved believe, but do nothing, they remain unsaved. If the Unsaved do not believe, but go through the action of a repentant sinner, they too remain unsaved.

Romans 10:9-10
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)

Salvation comes by faith in Jesus Christ only!

Steps to Salvation
1. Know that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself.
2. Confess the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior
3. Believe that Jesus Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient to atone for your sins.
4. Be confident that Jesus Christ physically rose from the dead.

What are the results of Salvation?

Galatians 2:20
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for
me.” (Galatians 2:20)

21. The confessors of Jesus Christ as Savior are crucified with him. (Note…Our Crucifixion is joined to the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ through our Faith. Our Burial is the acceptance of the Baptism of
Jesus Christ, which we will speak of in our foundational study of “The Baptism of Jesus Christ”)

Salvation brings more faith and the love of the LORD God!

22. Our crucifixion with Christ allows us to receive more faith and the love of the LORD God. Salvation makes the Saved holy, unblameable and unreproveable in the LORD God’s sight!

Colossians 1:19-23
“For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say], whether [they be]
things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in [your] mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” (Colossians 1:19-23)

23. Salvation establishes peace with the LORD God.

24. Salvation makes Faithful Believers holy, unblameable and unreproveable in the LORD God’s sight.

Salvation brings Eternal Life!

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

25. Everlasting life is given those who believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the LORD God.

Salvation brings the Power of God to your Life!

2 Corinthians 13:4-5
“For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:4-5)

26. The Power of the LORD God is with all saved Faithful through Jesus Christ.

What is NOT Salvation?

Hebrews 4:2
“For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it].” (Hebrews 4:2)

Salvation does not come to the Unsaved by simply the physical act of uttering words in prayer form! Their heart must be in it with the expression of solid faith.

If the UNSAVED receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ and hear with their heart and agree, then their confession will be heard. Without the understanding and repentant heart, the prayers of the Unsaved
are worthless.

Salvation is NOT the physical act of walking down the church aisle following an invitation from the Pastor. The Unsaved can be anywhere, at any time, and receive salvation through their belief and confession in Jesus Christ. It doesn’t take a church, and it doesn’t take people. It just takes a sincere and repentant heart to accept Jesus Christ and be saved!

Salvation is not contingent on great emotion (or lack of) during the conversion experience. Some feel great elation, some a quiet peace, and some don’t feel anything at all. It is a uniquely individual experience, and emotions vary with the experience surrounding the conversion as well as from the scars, blocks, and pains hidden deeply within a person from a life hard-lived.

Salvation does not come to a person just because they want to be saved from going to Hell! The question of whether someone would prefer Heaven to Hell is pointless. Anyone would readily choose Heaven if given the ability to discern the differences between the dwelling place of the most Holy God contrasted with the fiery pits of Hell.

Salvation comes to those who accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior; it does not come to those just trying to hedge their bets and cover all bases “just in case.”

Does Salvation guarantee Eternal Life?

Yes! Yes! Yes! Your belief in Jesus Christ brings salvation to you, and you are guaranteed eternal life. Your faith in Christ alone is all that is necessary for eternal life.

PRAISE BE TO GOD!

About the Author: Kathy L. McFarland is a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and Author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She has received her Bachelor of Science degree in Religious Studies and the Master of Divinity from Liberty University. Kathy is a noted expert on Old Testament exegesis, Christian apologetics, and Bible typology and mysteries.

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