Our Salvation... What is It?

Image by Thomas Didgeman

I’d like to start by pointing out that Jesus was very concerned about “False Prophets,” especially in the “Last Days,” and gives serious warnings to the saints. (Matt. 7:15, 24:11, 24:24)  And the reason I am writing now, is that my heart is broken and my Spirit is hurting.  I am home alone on a Sunday morning missing “True Fellowship” with other believers for this very reason… #*%@!!

Ok, hold on, maybe I should start again…

…I’m 71 years old this year and I guess you could call me “Old School.” Old school because I was brought up in a world that respected each other, had biblical moral values understanding “Right from Wrong.” A time when going to church was a family event, which created much conversation around the dinner table every other night of the week with other family and friends. As children, we feared (respected) our elders without question or debate, we got spanked in the classroom and then again at home with a little more “Loving Force.” I know some of you can relate.

Now please understand, we knew that our world was evil, and full of Satan’s lies, so we were taught to be bold for Christ, shinning His love to others, but also it seemed our world knew the wrong and tried to suppress and hide it from us. But now, with a megaphone in hand, our world is screaming at us because “Good is now Evil, and what was Evil is now Good.” (Isa. 5:20)

Have we been deceived by “False Prophets?”     Know too that “Deception is Deceiving.”

Satan is not coming in with a loud trumpet, dressed in red snake skin and horns to trick us into following him. He comes as a “bearer of light,” exactly what the name Lucifer means.  Jesus is warning that these “False Prophets” will come into the gathering of His saints, “The Church.” Otherwise, why so many warnings in His Word which is written to and for His children? Jesus knew that the schemes of the devil would “come in” unnoticed, like a little grease to quiet the squeaky wheel. Folks, we all have developed our “comfort zones” and none of us wants our cage rattled. Are we just looking for conformation that “we made it into heaven?”  Please God, wake us up out of this sleep, help us to see ourselves as You see us.

Let’s see…

I remember “Fire and Brimstone” messages followed by a ‘Communion Service’ preceded with a harsh warning to be “Right with the Lord before eating less ye die.” I remember Bible studies that lead us to the floor on our knees and on our faces in repentance to the Lord.  I remember at these same meetings that we could share our personal failures without them becoming gossip. I guess you could say we knew and trusted each other’s heart, we had true fellowship. By the way, these Bible studies were not on Sunday morning, but on Thursday mornings before school, heading into our day with Jesus on our minds.

So, what has happened to our worship, what has happened to our faith and practice? I’ll even go as far to ask, what has happened to the “Family of God,” what about your own personal family? Have we been deceived? Now here it comes…

…Are we really Saved?

Right after Jesus warns of false prophets in Matt. 7:15 He says in verse 21; “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Wow! “…doeth the will of my Father…,” have you read about the God of the Old Testament? Remember that Jesus and God are the same. In fact, Jesus upped the ante, “You have heard it said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, but I say unto you, that if ye have lusted in your heart you have committed adultery already.” (Matt. 5:7-8)  Then Jesus continues in chapter 7, verse 22 saying; “On that day many will say to me Lord, Lord,” then in verse 23; “And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye workers of iniquity.” Or lawlessness, or what it is really saying; “Ye workers of your own way.” Folks, we can’t come to Jesus our way, but in His way only. This could get very lengthy right now and for some it needs to, but I’m going to leave it here for the Holy Spirit to work.

So what about our salvation? First, I have shared what I have shared because no one gets saved until they know they need a saviour, not a need to belong, or needing to be part of the group, or because of what others want you to do. It’s not a “just repeat after me,” or a past moment in life of; “Oh, I’ve done that,” and it’s not because Dad or Mom said so. So many have made getting saved too complicated or too easy. Or you may hear; “This is the way we do it.” In fact, the most painful experience that I have witnessed in my life is when a friend, in heart felt joy, comes to me to share his testimony of how he surrendered to Jesus Christ, and then the Pastor standing by says; “I need to hear a Bible reason.” My Spirit was crushed, and I hugged my friend ever so tight while wondering if the Pastor would say the same thing to the thief on the cross.

Who made us a god to judge the heart of someone else? 

We are to search our own hearts, humble ourselves before the Lord and to wait on Him. We are certainly called to encourage those around us, especially “New Believers.”

So again, what is Salvation? Or how do we get saved?

We have all heard the many quoted Scriptures, one liners if you will, but let’s be very honest with each other, no one gets saved unless the Spirit calls him. I can’t save anyone, you can’t save anyone and neither can a preacher. We all are called to share what the Holy Spirit reveals to us, to be “Light” in a dark place, but it’s only the Spirit that can save. We are saved through “Faith” by God’s “Grace,” and only the Holy Spirit can give us the faith to put our trust in God’s grace and forgiveness.

Coming next: Can we grieve the Holy Spirit beyond recovery?