Salvation: What Is It All About?

After hearing the gospel explained, people often say, "you mean there's nothing I can do to deserve it? That's too easy." It seems natural for people to object to the idea that Father Yahweh 's unmerited favor can be given so freely to the unworthy. Many find it difficult to trust a Father Yahweh who offers salvation as a free gift.

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Acts 16:16-31 Computer salvation; saving over and over again or finally losing everything . . .

TEXT: Acts 16:30b What must I do to be saved?

Saved and Salvation come from the Greek words sozo and soteria; these have three main meanings in classical Greek: to escape destruction, to be healed, to be rescued from death. Saved is used over 90 times in the N.T., salvation 46 times. The concept of salvation is therefore very important to the New testament writers. The majority of use is in connection with Father Yahweh 's deliverance through faith in his son, Yahshua Messiah .

There are four foundational truths about salvation:

1) Salvation is one of the main purposes of Father Yahweh in the Bible:

Luke 19:9-10 (Yahshua to Zachaeus) Today salvation has come to this house... {10} For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.

John 14:6-7 (Yahshua to Thomas) I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

2) Yahshua is an essential part of Father Yahweh 's plan of salvation

Acts 4:12 (Peter to the crowds) There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.

3) Father Yahweh uses people in bringing about salvation:

1 Cor 9:22 (Paul) To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.

4) Salvation may be refused:

Mat 10:14 (Yahshua ) If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.

Two friends went for a boat ride. The boat upset. The river was swift and deep. The man to whom the boat belonged had taken two life jackets along. He said "I put one on, but my friend laid his down beside him. When we were thrown into the river, my life jacket soon brought me to the top, but my friend never came up again." Messiah 's death, like the life jacket, will not save you unless, by faith in Him, you put it on.

Saved from what?

1) From the penalty of sin (death)

James 5:20 ...whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner's soul (psyche) from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

2) From the wrath of Father Yahweh

Rom 5:9 Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of Father Yahweh .

3) From the power of evil and disease

2 Tim 4:18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever.

Psalm 103:2-3 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, {3} who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases.

4) To an eternal life - to restoration, revival, resurrection

John 11:25-26 (Yahshua to Martha) I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, {26} and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die...

Saved When?

1) In our past:

Titus 3:4-5 But when the goodness and loving kindness of Father Yahweh our Savior appeared, {5} he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Devoted Spirit.

2) In our present:

1 Cor 1:18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of Father Yahweh .

2 Cor 2:15 For we are the aroma of Messiah to Father Yahweh among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.

3) In our future:

John 14:2-3 In my Father's house there are many mansions. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? {3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.

What Happens When One is Saved?

1) You are removed from the Dominion of Darkness to the Kingdom of Yahshua

Col 1:13-14 He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, {14} in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

2) You become justified before Father Yahweh , able to boldly approach him with a clear concience

Rom 5:1 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with Father Yahweh through our Lord Yahshua Messiah ,

3) You undergo spiritual birth, and become a spiritual babe

John 3:7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.'

4) You begin a journey to perfection

2 Cor 7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and of spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of Father Yahweh .

(Frederick Buechner) "Car inspection stickers used to have printed on the back 'Drive carefully -- the life you save may be your own.' That is the wisdom of men in a nutshell. "But what Father Yahweh says is 'The life you save is the life you lose.' In other words, the life you clutch, hoard, guard, and play safe with is in the end a life worth little to anybody, including yourself; and only a life given away for love's sake is a life worth living.

To bring his point home, Father Yahweh shows us a man who gave his life away to the extent of dying a national disgrace without a penny in the bank or a friend to his name. In terms of men's wisdom, he was a perfect fool, and anybody who thinks he can follow him without making something like the same kind of fool of himself is laboring under not a cross but a delusion."

5) You will never die

John 3:14-15 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, {15} that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

6) This is only the beginning - you become eligible for the baptism of power, healing, the spiritual gifts, the fruit of the spirit, and the signs which follow believers.

Gal 5:22-23, 1 Cor 12:1, Mark 16:17

Education in Ancient Israel: Across the Deadening Silence By James Crenshaw / Random House, Inc Education in Ancient Israel offers an unusually wide and diverse view of this complex and difficult subject. What was worth knowing, for the ancient Israelite sages, and how could things be known; how was knowledge passed on to the next generation, and where and in what forms did this learning take place. These are just some of the fundamental questions that Crenshaw explores in his new book.

Essential factors that lead to salvation:

1) The preaching of Messiah crucified:

1 Cor 1:18,27 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of Father Yahweh . ... But Father Yahweh chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; Father Yahweh chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.

2) Father Yahweh 's grace, or "unmerited favor":

Eph 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of Father Yahweh -- {9} not the result of works, so that no one may boast. (There's nothing you can do to deserve it, yet it's not cheap.)

After hearing the gospel explained, people often say, "you mean there's nothing I can do to deserve it? That's too easy." It seems natural for people to object to the idea that Father Yahweh 's unmerited favor can be given so freely to the unworthy. Many find it difficult to trust a Father Yahweh who offers salvation as a free gift.

There was a coal miner who once said to Campbell Morgan, "I would give anything to believe that Father Yahweh would forgive my sins, but I cannot believe that He will forgive them if I just ask Him. It is too cheap." Morgan said, "My dear friend, have you been working today?" "Yes, I was down in the mine." "How did you get out of the pit? Did you pay?" "Of course not. I just got into to cage and was pulled to the top." "Were you not afraid to entrust yourself to that cage? Was it not too cheap?" Morgan asked. "Oh no," said the miner, "it was cheap for me, but it cost the company a lot of money to sink the shaft." Suddenly the truth struck him. What had not cost him anything -- salvation -- had not come cheap to Father Yahweh . This miner had never thought of the great price Father Yahweh paid to send His Son so He could rescue fallen humanity. Now he realized that all anyone had to do was to "get into the cage" by faith.

3) Human repentance:

2 Cor 7:9-10 Now I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance; for you felt a Father Yahweh ly grief ... {10} For Father Yahweh ly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death.

4) Belief and faith in the risen Yahshua Messiah

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of Father Yahweh for salvation to everyone who has faith....

5) Endurance until the end:

Mat 10:21-22 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; {22} and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

6) The intercession of Messiah :

Heb 7:25 [Yahshua ] is able for all time to save those who approach Father Yahweh through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

John 17:11 (Yahshua ' prayer) And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Devoted Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

What must you do to be saved?

1) It all begins with acknowledging that you are out of fellowship with Father Yahweh , and that you desire reconciliation. You realize that the only way of reconciliation is through Yahshua . Like the thief on the cross, you tell Yahshua , "Remember me, Lord, when you come into your Kingdom."

2) Yahshua will say to you, "This day you will be with me in paradise." It will be the first day of the rest of your life. Father Yahweh 's grace will extend to you, and a place will be prepared for you. You don't believe this because you read it in the Bible, you believe it because you have faith in Yahshua ' ability. "Believe on the Lord Yahshua , and you will be saved, you and your household."

3) Then you must respond by living for Yahshua instead of for the devil, the world, or yourself. You must repent and then change. You must turn your life around. And Yahshua will help you every step of the way. Remember, as you strive in the faith, he looks upon the intention of your heart. Your intention is more important than the rightness of your actions.

Concluding his book "Born Again", Charles Colson writes:
It was that night in the quiet of my room that I made the total surrender. "Lord, if this is what it is all about," I said, "then I thank You. I praise You for leaving me in prison, for letting them take away my license to practice law, yes -- even for my son being arrested. I praise You for giving me your love through these men, for being Father Yahweh , for just letting me walk with Yahshua ."

 With those words came the greatest joy of all -- the final release, turning it all over to Father Yahweh .

 Colson knew that although salvation was a free gift, there was a cost to following Yahshua .

Jackson Snyder, November 8, 1994

Health According To The Scriptures: Experience the Joy of Health According to Our Creator

Get Healthy Now

Why do some people who eat a very unhealthful diet not get sick?

Are they just blessed? Are they just in the right place at the right time?

Our Creator designed our bodies to be perfect and never to get a disease. He made us to be perfect. Anytime you experience discomfort, it’s because you’re not following our Creator’s commands. The answer to feeling well again simply comes down to going back to our Creator’s words. What does He say about health? What does He say about diet and food? What does He say about exercise and rest? Do you know what He says? Do you follow what He says?

Get Healthy Now

All the answers can be found in the Scriptures (holy Bible). During my lectures on the road, our Creator promptly guides my thoughts toward the very scriptural passages that run parallel to and shed light on my ideas. The Scriptures are a great instruction manual of how to live life; though its messages date back thousands of years, still they hold strong and ring true to this day. I wrote this book to help you find these timeless answers. Enjoy!

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths

-Proverbs 3:6

Get Healthy Now
 
Health According To The Scriptures: Experience the Joy of Health According to Our Creator