Milestones to Salvation, Part 1
2005-05-23 09:26
"But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins." (2 Peter 1:5-9).
We should safely go through eight milestones to achieve salvation. Faith is the starting point of milestones to salvation. Many people are misled from the starting point, and then cannot reach the second step, virtue.
As for faith, there is faith in the lie, and faith in the perfection. It is written, "For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie." (2 Thessalonians 2:11). And also, "let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith..." (Hebrews 10:22).
The perfect faith means hearing and believing the gospel that God sent His son into the world to destroy death and forgave the sins of all people on earth by his blood. That faith is the secure starting point to achieve salvation.
It is what God already promised to Abraham, and so is the unchangeable covenant of God. It is written, "and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." (Genesis 22:18). The gospel that only I or we received the blessing of the forgiveness of sins is false, and the gospel that all people on earth received it is true.
However, many people believe the lie by hearing a different gospel that the people of disobedience forged by the delusion of Satan. They cannot reach the second milestone, virtue, because their starting point is wrong. The forged gospel of the people of disobedience says that only I or we are forgiven. It is a different gospel that causes divisions. Salvation cannot be achieved by a different gospel. It is written, "These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit." (Jude 1:19).
Therefore, the Bible says, "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29). And again, "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2).
Virtue cannot be achieved by a different gospel that only I or we are forgiven. Virtue means noble, generous and moral character. The true gospel is that all people on earth are blessed and the atoning sacrifice is not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. We can reach the second milestone, virtue, only through the perfect faith in the true gospel.
Therefore, the Bible says, "The voice spoke to him a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.'" (Acts 10:15). And again, "He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.'" (Acts 10:28).
And the Bible also clearly says, "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14).
The eternal gospel is good news that God cleansed all people on earth from their sins by the blood of Christ Jesus. It is written, "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." (Luke 2:10). And also, "And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'" (Romans 10:15). And again, "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst." (1 Timothy 1:15). The gospel is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance.
Therefore, the gospel only for me or us is another Jesus, a different spirit and a different gospel. It is written, "For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted--you may well put up with it!" (2 Corinthians 11:4).
The perfect faith means believing that without discrimination all people on earth received the blessing of the forgiveness of sins. Only through that faith, we can receive the Holy Spirit and reach virtue, the second milestone to salvation.
We should safely go through eight milestones to achieve salvation. Faith is the starting point of milestones to salvation. Many people are misled from the starting point, and then cannot reach the second step, virtue.
As for faith, there is faith in the lie, and faith in the perfection. It is written, "For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie." (2 Thessalonians 2:11). And also, "let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith..." (Hebrews 10:22).
The perfect faith means hearing and believing the gospel that God sent His son into the world to destroy death and forgave the sins of all people on earth by his blood. That faith is the secure starting point to achieve salvation.
It is what God already promised to Abraham, and so is the unchangeable covenant of God. It is written, "and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." (Genesis 22:18). The gospel that only I or we received the blessing of the forgiveness of sins is false, and the gospel that all people on earth received it is true.
However, many people believe the lie by hearing a different gospel that the people of disobedience forged by the delusion of Satan. They cannot reach the second milestone, virtue, because their starting point is wrong. The forged gospel of the people of disobedience says that only I or we are forgiven. It is a different gospel that causes divisions. Salvation cannot be achieved by a different gospel. It is written, "These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit." (Jude 1:19).
Therefore, the Bible says, "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29). And again, "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2).
Virtue cannot be achieved by a different gospel that only I or we are forgiven. Virtue means noble, generous and moral character. The true gospel is that all people on earth are blessed and the atoning sacrifice is not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. We can reach the second milestone, virtue, only through the perfect faith in the true gospel.
Therefore, the Bible says, "The voice spoke to him a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.'" (Acts 10:15). And again, "He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.'" (Acts 10:28).
And the Bible also clearly says, "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14).
The eternal gospel is good news that God cleansed all people on earth from their sins by the blood of Christ Jesus. It is written, "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." (Luke 2:10). And also, "And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'" (Romans 10:15). And again, "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst." (1 Timothy 1:15). The gospel is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance.
Therefore, the gospel only for me or us is another Jesus, a different spirit and a different gospel. It is written, "For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted--you may well put up with it!" (2 Corinthians 11:4).
The perfect faith means believing that without discrimination all people on earth received the blessing of the forgiveness of sins. Only through that faith, we can receive the Holy Spirit and reach virtue, the second milestone to salvation.
