Thursday, June 17, 2010

THE PROCESS OF SALVATION

For a long time, I was led to believe that a person 'once saved is always saved'. But I later discovered that the Bible does not teach such a thing. My study of the Scriptures shows that salvation is often misunderstood in the Christian fraternity. Many are of the assumption that once a person has Jesus in his heart, he is heaven bound. But before we can discuss salvation, one has to be first converted as a true believer. When does one become truly converted? Is it simply just saying the sinner's prayer? It is more than just meets the eyes.

A true Christian is one who has the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within him/her, for Romans 8:9 clearly states, 'But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His'. This happens at conversion when the convert repents, undergoes water baptism and prayed over through the laying on of hands for the impartation of the gift of the Spirit of God. However, things do not just stop there. The believer has to undergo a life of striving and growing in the knowledge of God and overcoming of the pull of the flesh, Satan and the lure of society in order to qualify eventually as a son of God. It takes time and hard work to become an overcomer.

Christ commands us to 'strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many , I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able'. (Luke 13:24). In other passages He warns His faithful, 'And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 10:22; 24:13). However, God has given us the Spirit of power for a purpose. We can tap into God's Spirit of power to fight the battles of temptation, persecution and demonic influence. We can emulate the Apostle Paul's example as stated in Colossians 1:29, 'To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily'. Paul was exercising the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome all adversities in his life!

There are actually three phases to the process of salvation -past, present and future. At conversion, the believer's past sins are forgiven - justified by the blood of Christ. The convert is no longer alienated from God but reconciled to Him. The believer is 'saved' from the penalty of death (Romans 6:23) but complete salvation has yet to take place. After that the process continues throughout his life - being sanctified by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is ongoing as the convert is 'being saved ' (present continuous tense - 2 Cor 2:15) which begins at conversion and ends at death or being taken up to be with Christ at His return, whichever comes first. The santification process is usually long and laborious and often involves many trials and tribulations in the life of the believer. For 'we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God' (Acts 14:22b). The life of those called and chosen to become sons of God must undergo testing, learning, discipling and overcoming and with a spirit of humility enters it (Luke 18:17).

The third and last phase is when the believer is resurrected to immortality as a spirit being at Christ Second Coming - glorified to be with Christ. Our redemption from this mortal body has yet to happen (Luke 21:28).  All the patriarchs and matriarchs of the faith are still 'sleeping in the graves' awaiting salvation (Hebrews 11:13). None has received the promised salvation yet. All true believers are forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ at His crucifixion. However, they SHALL BE SAVED (future tense) by His life (Romans 5:10), which occurred at His resurrection. Likewise, all His faithful saints will be resurrected (yet to happen in the future) to immortality to be members of God's divine Royal Family at His Second Coming (1 Cor 15:50-54, 1 John 3:2). Only the called and chosen sons of God will have their rewards (1 Cor 15:58; Rev 22:12). Sadly, few understood this truth, and those who do have not the faith to believe the words of God and go on to embrace and teach man's false doctrine of 'going to heaven when you die'. Such feel good and social gospel are popular because these are what people with itching ears would like to hear. Christ clearly teaches that no one has ascended to heaven, except the Son of Man (John 3:13). The Apostle Peter in Acts 2:34 tells us that King David did not ascend into the heavens. If David being a man after God's own heart did not go to heaven, what more the shenanigans!

Basically, the Christian life is one of striving and learning. Striving to overcome the wrong value systems and deceptions of this world (with Satan on the throne) and learning to understand the truth as revealed in the Bible and how to tap the power of God's Spirit to be an overcomer. We must submit to God and resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7). A true believer is one who will 'come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need' (Hebrews 4:16). Those who are lazy and too proud to ask God for help but always depend on others to lift them up in prayers do not have the maturity and character qualities to become sons of God. Since they depend on man (and will be disappointed) they are of all men most to be pitied for their destiny could be hanging by the skin of their teeth!