Monday, October 22, 2012

"Saved from WHAT??"



Superman: Listen; what do you hear?
Lois Lane: Nothing.
Superman: I hear everything. You wrote that the world 
doesn't need a savior, but every day I hear people crying for one. 


HOW MANY TIMES have you read the comment on Facebook, when discussing
the subject of SALVATION . . . "Saved from what?" It is a question that has bothered
me so much as of late, I just had to write on it. My hope is that the answer to this question
will take us from skepticism to wonder to amazement, and lastly to . . . reality.  For I
strongly believe that there are some certain realities regarding salvation and "getting or 
being saved".

On Facebook, if you are a 'christian believer' of any kind, you will find many, many views
on God, what it means to 'walk the walk', freedom in Christ, and most certainly the message
of salvation. Since the majority of my "friends" are "christians" or "believers", then I will
be confining my remarks based on what some of them say, what scripture says and what
I BELIEVE.
The greatest debate on this subject first lies with the concept of sin, in a modern world, 
contrasted with the "world that then was".
One of my dear friends Dave Lewerenz has some potent thoughts on this:

"The wages of sin (consciousness) leads to "hell" / spiritual deadness (shame, guilt, perceived separation from God)... that's why Paul says in Romans 8:1, there is now therefore no condemnation (guilt / shame because of sin) for those who are in Christ Jesus. Read in audience context, the Jews were under the Law (ministry of death - sin consciousness), so THOSE who were leaving the Old Covenant Law mindset / consciousness were no longer condemned inside (hell), but those who remained under the Law mindset, didn't find rest (Sabbath) for the soul (mind), but remained in "hell". 

Likewise, Christians who focus on the Law mindset remain outside the Gates of Peace, Joy and Assurance of being right with God (the kingdom Romans 14:17)... they remain in "hell", in agony and torment spiritually... taking on the servant mindset ('I gotta do this and that or God will be angry with me' / works mentality) instead of realizing their rightful place as a child of God inside the King's palace ....

Being "saved" (being made whole - Greek word = Sozo)
 I believe speaks about passing from the law/sin mindset to one of life, joyfulness, inner peace, etc."

{"The Wages of Sin is Death" by Dave Lewerenz ...

And one from my friend Robert Rutherford:

"Jesus died for our sin and transgressions.  SIN: Sin, singular. NOT sins.  NOT individual trespasses. The SIN John the baptist spoke of when he said: "BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD WHICH TAKETH AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD." Sin, collective. The entity of sin. The sin nature. The idea of sin and it's power. Jesus didn't die for your cigarette sucking.
TRANSGRESSION: The individual's trespass. Crossing the line. Going against what you know to be wrong. Messin' up. Slippin'... Thankfully, He took care of both. Seeing the difference will help you understand the process. There IS NO SIN problem in the world today. That bill is paid. Thank you, Jesus!"

And also from my friend  Allen D. Brooks:


" The Law did not pass at the cross of Jesus, it passed when it ALL was fulfilled in AD 70.
Paul knew that salvation, or freedom from sin came when the Old Testament would be completely fulfilled or abolished.
Paul said in Romans chapter 8 verse 23; ‘And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”
Romans 13:11, says, “’And knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”
Peter said in 1 Peter 1:13,  “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Verse 5,’Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

All of the disciples and most of the first century church understood that Christ’s death on the cross was the atoning work. But they also knew that until all of the Law or Old Testament was fulfilled, the salvation had not been delivered to Israel.  Salvation is defined as freedom from the power and effects of sin.  The law is what produced sin.
The Bible says, Romans 4:15, “Because the law worketh wrath; for where no law is, there is no transgression.”
Listen to this folks, “for where no law is, there is no transgression!”


As we can see  from the above comments (and the scholarship of these commentators is excellent, I might add!), the SIN ISSUE has been soundly dealt with by The Lord Jesus Christ! So then . . .
what are we saved from?? Is it "Hell"??
Tony Trumino gives a sound and skillful argument against this fallacy, and I will go on to show,  through the scriptures, just EXACTLY what Jesus came to save us from!

TONY TRUMINO:

" Organized Re-LIE-gion has accused our Loving Father (who can not lie) to be the God of "Double Jeopardy"
 The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides, "No person shall … be subject for the same offence [sic] to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb." This provision, known as the Double Jeopardy Clause, prohibits state and federal governments from prosecuting individuals for the same crime on more than one occasion, or imposing .. MORE THEN ONE PUNISHMENT FOR A SINGLE OFFENSE.

How about that. Even in our wicked society we don't do what Organized Re-LIE-gion is accusing our Loving Father of doing.  For those who disagree, can you tell me HOW and WHY God would punish someone for the SAME SINS Jesus died for?

Is that justice or is that "Double Jeopardy"?

"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have ALL men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for ALL, to be testified in due time." 1Tim. 2:3-6

BTW:  To those who are looking for some EXCUSE to try and make God into a liar .. REJECTING Christ is also a sin and he didn't leave that one out either. God's Plan of Salvation to save ALL of mankind took ALL sin into consideration and didn't leave any out so he could have an excuse to condemn certain sinners as Organized Re-LIE-gion wants us to believe.

WAKE UP Christians!!! God is not the savior of a few he is the "Savior of ALL men" (1Tim. 4:9-11) and the DEATH of Christ that paid the DEBT of our sin was not done in vain. "



MY TURN NOW

I think it is highly valuable and noteworthy and even shout-worthy that Jesus Christ IS "The Savior of ALL men" and NOT a few!! This theme was also repeated in John ch. 4, regarding the "woman at the well" (which btw, I don't believe was an "immoral" or sexually loose woman as religion has often portrayed her!) ... the townspeople said they BELIEVE, not because of her testimony anymore, but they saw/heard for themselves that Jesus INDEED was "Savior of The World".  His very name means: SAVIOR.  And, we ALL NEED a Savior. I will now present truth from some scriptures:

* For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom 
      of His beloved Son; in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.
     (Colossians 1:13, 14)

* He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according 
     to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit  (Titus 3:5)

* For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might 
    be saved through Him. (John 3:17)

* And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men
    by which we must be saved.  (Acts 4:12)

* Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath 
     of God through Him.
      (Romans 5:9) -- wrath = condemnation, guilt, darkness, bondage, inner judging, 
      negative effects, etc.

* For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, 
    much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  (Romans 5:10)


* For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift 
     of God (Ephesians 2:8)

*  [God] desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  (1st Tim. 2:4)

* who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, 
      but according to His own  purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from 
      all eternity  (2 Tim. 1:9).

* For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has 
     freed me from the law of sin and of death.  (Romans 8:2)

* But now having been freed from sin and became willing servants to God, you derive 
    your  benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.  (Romans 6:22)

And now since we did all "inherit" the effects of sin in the earth, we can also "cash in"
on the benefits of Christ's sacrifice which eradicates all the negative effects of sin from our lives;
and reconciles ALL THINGS and ALL PEOPLE for
all times, tearing down every wall of barrier, partition and division between us and God, and
between us and others! The Amazing and Powerful Salvation of Jesus Christ, by virtue of
the very definition of "save" brings us the following:

1. PEACE / PROTECTION
2. HARMONY / LIFE / JOY / TRUE LOVE
3. RESTORATION
4. FORGIVENESS / RIGHTEOUSNESS / SANCTIFICATION
5. WHOLENESS / TRANSFORMATION
6. HEALING
7. DELIVERANCE (from every evil work!)
8. SOUNDNESS (of mind)
9. DIRECTION AND PURPOSE
10. FULFILLMENT IN THIS LIFE & SUPER-ABUNDANT ZOE LIFE
11. POWER FROM GOD / GIFTS OF GOD / INSIGHT / REVELATION / TRUTH
12. DESTINY REALIZED.

There is much more  because this salvation is far-reaching and extensive, and
is brought to you by a glorious good=news GOSPEL that is the power of God!! One
can almost say that the real question should be "what are we saved TO??"
For the spiritual benefits granted to us BY GRACE are indeed phenomenal.
The requirement: ONLY BELIEVE. That's it. God did all the work already.
There are many more scriptures that I can cite, if I had the space.

To utter the question "saved from what??" now seems to border on the ridiculous.
I usually get this question from folks who have never been filled with The Spirit
of God, or have never been in love with the real JESUS. Those who question the
need for "salvation" just don't get it! How many times have you, or someone you
know had to "cry out" for help, and God came running, to deliver you from "all
your distresses"? (Psalm 107).  How many times have you heard of someone 
travelling on an icy road (or maybe it was you?) . . . and you cried out his name
"Jesus, Jesus" . . . and you were SAVED from a terrible accident?
How many times have you heard of someone totally vile or totally "lost",  one day,
just up and turned around and "got saved" and transformed?? 
How many times has God rescued you, when it seemed like your whole world
was spinning in darkness, and you didn't know, couldn't figure out how to escape?
There have probably been, truth be told, COUNTLESS rescues, countless deliverances,
and countless salvations . . . where God and only God was responsible for the safe return.

OKAY.  What are saved from exactly??

1. SIN / DEATH / SEPARATION / ALIENATION
2. DARKNESS / CONFUSION / LIES
3. RELIGIOUS BONDAGE
4. THE LAW AND ITS WORKS & JUDGMENT
5. FUTILITY
6. DANGERS
7. PERFORMANCE MENTALITIES
8. WORKS BASED RELIGION
9. POWERS OF DARKNESS
10. OLD WAY OF LIFE
11.  DESTRUCTION or WRATH
12. MISERABLE LIFE.

This is all SALVATION, my friends. All provided by our Great God & SAVIOR
JESUS CHRIST.  And the greatest "save" of all? Saving us from "ourselves".
Our stupidity, our lack of foresight, our pride and surely a number of other
faults that we can't fix by ourselves, no matter how many "do-it-yourself"
manuals we possess. As the movie lines up above state, Everybody needs
a Savior . . . sooner or later.  :D

***Special thanks to my Facebook friends Dave Lewerenz, Robert Rutherford,
Allen D Brooks & Tony Trumino ... thanks for letting me borrow your marbles
of truth for this blog. God Bless You.

ALL FOR NOW,
TONY  ;) 

No comments:

Post a Comment