072 - The salvation of Jesus is dynamic, daily and a progressive process

The salvation of Jesus is dynamic, daily and a progressive process

 

On Friday tonight (24/01/2020) I come across a guy that avouched to be saved in Christ. I tried to come him around to what the Holy Scripture says, but he, using of sarcasm, tried to put me out. Fortunately, Jesus afforced me. After this, Jesus shew me how dangerous is this belief and I saw that this belief calls for an well-done essay.

For you to work out the problem behind this creed, when people have such a belief, they become braggart, cynical and thoroughly unaware of the voice of the Holy Spirit carrying out His works through His people.

This get worst when they read this verse out of the context:

 

·       “I know both how to be brought low, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” (Philippians 4.12,13).

 

These people think that they are the super-believer.

Not to mention that they become nonchalant in regard to ameliorate their character and get over the sin. After all, they look on themselves as someone saved and that has the Holy Spirit close to them.

Even if this last statement is true, we need to go on approaching of Him.

I know that this can seem queer, but think on the marriage, for instance. Many marriages brake up because the husbands don’t try to approach of his wife in virtue of her being is beside him. They think that, once they are married, the union is taken for granted and they don’t need to care for their wives.

Nevertheless, when they get married, the Creator didn’t give them a wife, but a promise to be conquered. Look on the marriage as a Canaan, a land to be conquered. When the husband married the wife, he conquered the first “piece of land”. However, the husband needs to put “the sole of his foot” in every place (see Joshua 1.3), on a daily basis, by and by, until all the heart of the wife to be conquered, to wit, when the day of the death of one of the spouses is arrived.

Alike, to be close to Christ isn’t suffice to get saved (you can recall the case of Jude). It’s necessary go ahead in knowing Jesus and His will for us.

The crony that I quoted above set in to gainsay me, trying to instill in my mind that I am a blind. Unfortunately, at that moment, I couldn’t recall the following verse:

 

·       “And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, if all of you were blind, all of you should have no sin: but now all of you say, we see; therefore your sin remains.” (John 9.40,41).

 

Based on this verse, if the person can’t perceive the beam that is in his eye (Matthew 7.3-5), he stays in his sins. Jesus said in Revelation:

 

·       “Because you say, I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,” (Revelation 3.17).

 

Who looks on himself someone who doesn’t need anything, truly is wretched, incapable of seeing the wonders of Jesus and utterly naked of the true justice.

 

And Paul adds:

 

·       “Now as concerning things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if any man think that he knows any thing, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.” (1Corinthians 8.1,2).

 

If the person think he knows something, he still didn’t take in that the apprenticeship doesn’t aim at making the person into robot, let alone at turning the person independent of Jesus. Rather, the learning aim at make us aware of our spiritual condition and, with this, stimulate us to forget the things that are left behind so that Jesus can lead us forward to the things that are before us (Philippians 4.13).

 

Hereby we can see that nobody can show himself off as though he is a great persona, much less consider himself saved. Notwithstanding, let’s see other verses:

 

o   “Wherefore, my beloved, as all of you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2.12,13).

 

See that our salvation isn’t ready. It needs to be developed. We do this when we strain to give room so that Jesus works His teachings, feelings and gifts within us. So much so that until today we sin and need someone to advocate us:

 

·       “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For your is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” (Matthew 6.12,13).

·       “My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. But if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the just:” (1John 2.1).

 

Not to mention that we need to watch over ourselves and pray lest nobody lead us into temptation (Matthew 6.41).

 

·       “Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1Corinthians 10.12).

 

Even after we commit ourselves with Jesus Christ, we need get away from all appearance of the evil (1Thessalonians 5.22). This is so because, physically, our reality is described below:

 

·       What then? Do we excel? No, in no way; for we have before charged both Jews and Greeks all with being under sin, as it is written:

"There is none righteous, no not one; there is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God." 

“They are all gone out of the way, they have together become unprofitable, there is none that does good, no, not one." 

"Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they have used deceit, the poison of asps is under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness;" 

"their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their way, and the way of peace they did not know." 

"There is no fear of God before their eyes." (Romans 3.9-18).

 

·       “Then has that which is good become death to me? Let it not be! But sin, that it might appear to be sin, working death in me by that which is good; in order that sin might become exceedingly sinful by the commandment. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 

For that which I do, I know not. For what I desire, that I do not do; but what I hate, that I do. If then I do that which I do not desire, I consent to the law that it is good. But now it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing. For to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I do not find. 

For I do not do the good that I desire; but the evil which I do not will, that I do. But if I do what I do not desire, it is no more I working it out, but sin dwelling in me. I find then a law: when I will to do the right, evil is present with me. For I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man; but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin being in my members. 

O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then with the mind I myself serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” (Romans 7.13-25).

 

·       “Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their activities: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goes therein shall not know peace.” (Isaiah 59.7,8).

·       “Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26.41).

 

It is for being aware of it that Paul lived as described below:

 

·       “I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our LORD, I die daily.” (1Corinthians 15.31).

 

He worked out what the Holy Scripture asserts:

 

·       “Yea, for your sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.” (Psalms 44.22).

·       “As it is written, For your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” (Romans 8.36).

 

That is to say, we need to do our earthly nature to die (Colossians 3.5).

Someone can object to:

 

1 - but Jesus washed (past) us from our sins:

 

·       “even from Jesus Christ the faithful Witness, the First-born from the dead and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,” (Revelation 1.5).

·       “who being the shining splendor of His glory, and the express image of His essence, and upholding all things by the word of His power, through Himself cleansing of our sins, He sat down on the right of the Majesty on high,” (Hebrews 1.3).

 

And, pursuant to that guy, when a surgery is well-succeed, it’s unnecessary to do it again.

However, what Jesus finished was His work of the salvation. That is to say, every resource that is necessary is available to turn our salvation out. Notwithstanding, these resources need to be worked now:

 

·       “And He is the propitiation concerning our sins, and not concerning ours only, but also concerning the sins of all the world.” (1John 2.2)

 

Note that Jesus “is” (present) the propitiation for our sins. In addition to this:

 

·       If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1.9)

 

Once more, we see Jesus cleanses us at this present time.

 

2 – Jesus blessed (past) us in the heavenlies:

 

·       “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ;” (Ephesians 1.3).

 

Jesus purveyed us with His boons. Nonetheless, we need to go to Him to get these ones.

 

3 – Jesus has raised (past) us and made us (past) to sit in the heavenlies:

 

·       “and has raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus, “ (Ephesians 2.6).

 

In Christ Jesus, we have the privilege of passing through this world keeping a deportment worthy of someone that abide in the heaven. We are here, but we can on a daily basis get access to the heavenly revelations, what will allow us to live without give in to sin until the day that, finally, we will be physically sit in the heavenly city.

 

Meditate on Romans 4.25; 1Corinthians 15.3; Galatians 1.4; 1Peter 2.24; 1John 3.5; 1John 4.10. You will see that the salvation of Jesus is a process. Jesus gave us promises, namely, seeds to be developed by us.

 

And John said this in his gospel:

 

·       “But as many as received him, he gave them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name.” (John 1.12 – Douay-Rheims).

 

We “aren’t” sons of God; instead, we “are being made” sons of God. This is corroborated by this verse:

 

·       “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day.” (Proverbs 4.18).

 

Our concepts and values go increasing in so far as we walk with Jesus. Initially, our quest for Christ is selfish:

 

·       “And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? says the LORD.” (Jeremiah 30.21).

 

As it was said before, there is none that can take in the will of the Creator, much less someone that seeks after God (Romans 3.11). People go into seeking Jesus only caring about their desire and necessities.

Hence Jesus to have said:

 

·       “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” (Matthew 11.27).

·       “No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that has heard, and has learned of the Father, comes unto me.” (John 6.44,45).

 

Nevertheless, when the Creator brings someone to Jesus and Jesus reveals the Father to this person, Jesus and His will are, by and by, turned into something beautiful and marvelous. If this person endures unto the end in Jesus, the same shall be saved.” (Matthew 24.13).

But, for this, the person needs:

 

1 – Never to look on himself as someone saved:

 

·       “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judges me is the Lord.” (1Corinthians 4.3,4).

 

2 – to seek in Jesus to be always aware of his veritable reality:

 

·       “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139.23,24).

 

3 – to fight in favor of working out what is the will of Jesus (Ephesians 5.16,17) for himself and people around him:

 

·       “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was necessary for me to write unto you, and exhort you that all of you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3).

 

Someone can scathe: but Paul said:

 

·       “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. Now there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that Day; and not to me only, but also to all those who love His appearing.” (2Timothy 4.7,8).

 

Apparently Paul had for sure his salvation. Right. However, what he said before this?

 

·       “For I am already being poured out, and the time of my release is here.” (2Timothy 4.6).

 

Note that was said to Paul by Jesus that the day of his death had come. As he carried on his ministry until his end, in the eve of his death he could be sure of his salvation. Otherwise, our stance before Jesus have always to be:

 

·       “And he spoke this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank you, that I am not as other men are, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing far off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but stroke upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be brought low; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18.9-14).

 

If you pine for being saved, own up your sinful nature, recognize that you need of Jesus Christ in everything, even in the minimal things, pray and watch over relentless (1Thessalonians 3.10; 5.17), meditate on the Holy Scripture day and night (Psalms 1.1,2), be grateful and happy always for what you are and have (Philippians 4.4; 1Thessalonians 5.16,17) and rest and wait always in Jesus (Psalms 37.7; 91.1).