Jesus the Source of Eternal Salvation!
2008-07-12 20:38
There are two kinds of salvation. One is of this world, but the other is of that world. The salvation of this world is seen, but the salvation of that world is unseen.
The salvation that is seen is temporary, but the salvation that is unseen is eternal. It is written, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18). The salvation that is seen is for flesh and blood, but the salvation that is unseen is for soul.
It seems that the salvation that is seen and the salvation that is unseen are the members of the same household. However, the salvation that is seen is of the flesh lusts, but the salvation that is unseen is of the Spirit. The Bible says, "For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." (Galatians 5:17). And also, "For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ." (Philippians 3:18).
If Jesus had come as a savior of this world, he ought to have been the prince of this world. Jesus is not the source of saving flesh and blood from disease and poverty, but the source of saving soul from sin and death eternally.
It is written, "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 5:7-10).
Sin entered the world through the disobedience of the one man, and death through sin. Therefore, man is destined to die once. In order to take away sin and death from the children of God who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death, God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and made him the source of eternal salvation.
If he had not been in the same flesh as men, the new and living way to the saving of the soul would not have been opened for men, and so he would not have been the source of eternal salvation for all who obey and believe in him.
The testimony that he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him means that he himself is the beginning of eternal salvation. The Bible testifies that what is different from Jesus, the source of eternal salvation, is heresy--its end is different.
Therefore, God spoke through his apostle, "Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him." (Titus 3:10). And also, "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves." (2 Peter 2:1).
If the next fruit is different from the first fruit, it is heresy. Therefore, Jesus is the firstfruits of all those who will receive eternal salvation. The truth says, "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power." (1 Corinthians 15:19-24).
Therefore, those in whom Christ is not formed cannot have salvation. Christ, the source of eternal salvation, is formed in us only by the law of faith. It is written, "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith." (Romans 3:27).
The source of eternal salvation comes through a man. "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man." (1 Corinthians 15:21). Amen. Thank you, Lord the Son of Man. Thank you, and thank you, Lord the source of eternal salvation.
The salvation that is seen is temporary, but the salvation that is unseen is eternal. It is written, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18). The salvation that is seen is for flesh and blood, but the salvation that is unseen is for soul.
It seems that the salvation that is seen and the salvation that is unseen are the members of the same household. However, the salvation that is seen is of the flesh lusts, but the salvation that is unseen is of the Spirit. The Bible says, "For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." (Galatians 5:17). And also, "For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ." (Philippians 3:18).
If Jesus had come as a savior of this world, he ought to have been the prince of this world. Jesus is not the source of saving flesh and blood from disease and poverty, but the source of saving soul from sin and death eternally.
It is written, "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 5:7-10).
Sin entered the world through the disobedience of the one man, and death through sin. Therefore, man is destined to die once. In order to take away sin and death from the children of God who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death, God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and made him the source of eternal salvation.
If he had not been in the same flesh as men, the new and living way to the saving of the soul would not have been opened for men, and so he would not have been the source of eternal salvation for all who obey and believe in him.
The testimony that he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him means that he himself is the beginning of eternal salvation. The Bible testifies that what is different from Jesus, the source of eternal salvation, is heresy--its end is different.
Therefore, God spoke through his apostle, "Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him." (Titus 3:10). And also, "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves." (2 Peter 2:1).
If the next fruit is different from the first fruit, it is heresy. Therefore, Jesus is the firstfruits of all those who will receive eternal salvation. The truth says, "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power." (1 Corinthians 15:19-24).
Therefore, those in whom Christ is not formed cannot have salvation. Christ, the source of eternal salvation, is formed in us only by the law of faith. It is written, "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith." (Romans 3:27).
The source of eternal salvation comes through a man. "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man." (1 Corinthians 15:21). Amen. Thank you, Lord the Son of Man. Thank you, and thank you, Lord the source of eternal salvation.
