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Salvation
Way
Article by Tom Gilbert — November, 2005 |
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One of the great topics of discussion and
even debate in Christian circles is that of salvation. Christians
profess a belief in salvation from the fallen state of sin
that all of humanity suffers from. This salvation comes from
God through Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:8-10) |
The God-Man
Jesus as God-man is a concept many find difficult
to accept. Of course it is difficult to believe. If you believe
in one God that is the Creator of all and above all it is mind
boggling that this God would become one of us. We are marvelous
creatures, no doubt. But we are so imperfect. We cannot, even
with the best of intentions, live in harmony with others, love
and forgive those who hurt us, be completely humble and selfless
or create constant good. There are people who’ve made
valiant efforts – we call them saints. When you study
their lives you can become impressed with how beautifully they
lived, but they always recognized that they are not complete
and fully good apart from God’s help.
The Christmas story tells us of a God that so loves mankind
that He becomes one of us. God’s only Son, the Word made
flesh, comes into this fallen world to show us the way of salvation.
Jesus lived a life of love, no matter what. Eventually he gave
his life for this way. His death on the cross was the ultimate
sacrifice, because God died for us as a great act of love.
Jesus hanging on a cross in agony took all the hate thrown
at him and returned only love. At the time there were many
who thought they were doing the right thing by killing Jesus.
But God and Jesus didn’t hold that against them. “Father,
forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke
23:34)
God Dying
God dying seems like impossibility, but with God all things
are possible. God died and God resurrected shows us a pattern,
one that is for all. We must be willing to die to our old way
of living (the great sin of living without loving all and essentially
playing God by not surrendering our self will). We die to self;
we rise to new life as part of something wonderful. Jesus shows
us the way of salvation by inviting us to be part of the most
intimate relationship possible – a union with God. He
prayed for this unity with great fervor (see chapter 17 in
the Gospel of John).
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The Gift
The gift of salvation is a gift freely
given to all. All we have to do is believe and accept it.
That is all we have
to do – as a start. But it cannot end there. Just saying
you believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God who takes away
the sin of the world is not enough. This is where the struggle
lies. It is a continual surrender to God. Our lives become
transformed by living the way Jesus lived. Sometimes we focus
so much on the divinity of Christ that we miss what he showed
us about how to be human.
A Process — Not an Event
Salvation is a process, not an event.
It’s too simple to
simply say you’re saved because you believe in Christ as
the savior if you don’t follow through by changing the
way you live. A believer in Christ must also be a follower. Fortunately
this way of living is not a big secret. Read Matthew 5 and Chapter
25:31-46 to see what Jesus taught about how to treat others.
This is emphasized elsewhere in the New Testament, especially
in James 2.
God the Father sent God the Son to show
us the way to live and the way to salvation. It’s
the same message God has always given us — love God and
love others (Mark 12:30-31; Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18)
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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978,
1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout
the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks
of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for
the offering of goods or services requires the prior written
consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189, USA. All
rights reserved. |
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1 JOHN 2:10
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"Whoever loves his brother
lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him
stumble"
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(NIV)
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