Hello to the faithful few who read,
"Basic Instruction BEFORE Leaving Earth", on a regular basis!
SALVATION, is the topic of discussion today. Yep! Salvation.
You knew this was coming! Even though I have already written about some major things that play a huge part in the life of the Christ follower; Faith, God's victories and blessings, I have to spend much time on the subject of Salvation. Because without it, nothing else about the Christ followers life, really matters!
You know something, in the middle of researching the bible and learning, applying to my own life and teaching you about hospitality, (last weeks topic) I was taken to a scripture that reminded me that even when we are doing righteous things "in our service to God,", we also must not forget to spend time with him, learning who he is and who we are and SHOULD BE, in Him! We do this by studying and reading the word of God, (scriptures & scrolls, if you got em') listening and praying, meditating on "the things of God." How I got to that verse was that I actually was looking up another verse for hospitality) and instead of going to page 2132 in my bible, I went to page 2032, without my realizing it though! Still, I went on reading the same chapter and verse number as was specified by my concordance as to the location of the passage, I thought I was searching for one thing and low and behold...there it was another, reminding me about my time with God!
You know something, sometimes you can read a verse and say , "What does that one have to do with where I am now," and so it seems irrelevant at the moment. But then, other times, the verse you didn't know you needed, upon reading it and meditating upon it, you suddenly realize, Yeeeepppp! I needed that one! And If you are like me, in those special moments, you say without shame, sometimes openly, "Thank You God, Thank You Jesus, for knowing better than I,what I need." "God, You know me so well." In any case, after reading it, I hardly felt right to complete my previous task of writing about hospitality and how that is important to God. But, I became at ease, believing that God is pleased at that as well. But I tell you, I made up in my mind what the NEXT B.I.B.L.E. article (which is this one) would be about. Can you guess the subject matter?
"Sacrifice is good to the Lord, but OBEDIENCE IS BETTER!" according to Biblical Scriptures. So to be obedient to the Lord, without further adu, I present to you, SALVATION, at least, a beginning discussion concerning it. There are SO MANY verses about Salvation. What it is? How do we receive it? What you can expect in your life, from receiving it! So, let's go!
What IS Salvation?
In brief, Salvation is the saving of ones soul from sin and it's consequences. Especially concerning Life after death! It is also act of faith.
Why do we NEED Salvation?
Jesus explains it well in this passage. According to this, you cannot enter into the kingdom of God without it! No matter what you do in this life or how "good of a person" you think you are, there are commitments of faith, in God, that you must make in order to prepare your soul for eternal life in heaven!
This is from a Life Application Study Bible, N.I.V.
New International Version),
JOHN Ch. 3: verses 1-15
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." In reply, Jesus declared, " I tell you the truth, noon can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked, "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying , "You must be born again." The wind blows where it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
"You are Israel's teacher, " said Jesus, " "and you do not understand these things? I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how them will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven - the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
OK! People, as you can see, Salvation has alot going on. This topic is very lengthy and it will be the running topic in the next few B.I.B.L.E. article. So, I will end her and pick it up
NEXT TIME with discussion and footnotes of these verses. In the meantime, I'll leave you to ponder what has already been written. 'Cause it IS food for thought!
See you next time, God willing.
PEACE OOOOUTTTT!
Meetta
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