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Salvation, what is it?
06/17/2009
What is salvation? What does it mean when someone ask you, are you saved?
When you ask this question in the context of the Hebrew scriptures it does not have the same meaning as the Christian church has defined "to be saved".
So many things today have been changed from there original meaning and so many definition have been super in-posed in our understanding of the Bible and Gods instruction to His people. How could so many things be wrong in our understanding of the Bible? How is it that for 2000 years we have redefined the meaning of things in the Bible,so that a Jewish person can no longer recognize the words of Moses concerning the one who would come and redeem Israel and the nations. In one of the oldest books of the Bible Job, we see an interesting look at the one who would redeem the world. As this story is told in the Bible, it seems that not everything is going according to the way we would except someone who is saved to be going. As a matter of fact today if someone was saved, and had the many problems Job had, someone would ask, if he was really saved, or had he really turned his life to Adonai? You see, today being saved means you are not like those Jews of the Old Testament. You have the Holy Spirit in your life and this means you are so much more blessed and filled with wisdom and understanding. The things that the Jews had to endure under that Old Law no longer has the Christian under its curse. One of the misunderstandings of today is that salvation brings you to a special position in your walk with God. That you have some how been transported pass all the laws in Gods kingdom. You are no longer under Gods Old words. You have been transported to a place where gravity and death and the breaking of Gods rules no longer apply. Since you are saved and have the promise of never having to answer for your sins. Sin is no longer defined by God any way, because "Jesus" changed all that. So what is salvation, if you can no longer do anything that would separate you from God? Well do not misunderstand me, I know we have laws that we have to follow, love God with all your heart and soul and love your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12:29-31) There are a few others, but they really do not matter, because all we have to do is the two above. Another question, who defines how we love God? I know that is a simple question, so simple that God wrote some old book about it,that we no longer have to follow. I once looked up to see how many commandments were in the New Testament and found that there just a few, like everyone had said. Here is an example from a Christian site. (note how the Law of Moses was abolished)
New Testament Commands There are 1,050 commands in the New Testament for Christians to obey. Due to repetitions we can classify them under about 800 headings. They cover every phase of man's life in his relationship to God and his fellowmen, now and hereafter. If obeyed, they will bring rich rewards here and forever; if disobeyed, they will bring condemnation and eternal punishment. They are not to be confused with the 10 commandments which were abolished with the law of Moses (note, §Acts 15:24; see Eighty-five Old and New Covenant Contrasts). They are divided below under their various headings. Seven " (http://www.puritan-books.com/books/pdf/new_testament_commands.pdf) Please just search the web and you will find many examples of the many, oops... I meant a few commandments we no longer have to keep.
I am writing again to ask the question "what is salvation"? Well, one answer is to accept Jesus in your life, and by the way the Old Testament says, that when you choose to follow Jesus there is a way to follow Him.
Exodus 23:20 Behold, I send an angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Exodus 23:21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. I wonder if this could be a prophecy about the Messiah? No... I do not thinks so, God was just talking about those in the Old Testament. (sarcasim) John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Could this be the same way that the Old Testament said was the way. No, that was spoken by Moses and we know that guy did not know what he was talking about. Deuteronomy 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. Deuteronomy 18:19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. I think this is also one of those things Moses knew nothing about. John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. John 5:47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? I think I am taking that out of context, I do not believe Moses was prophesying about some thing that would effect anyone in the New Testament Church. More to come.... In Timm Hegg Series It is often Said, in volume 2 "The Spirit's work began after the coming of Yeshua". "It is common in our day to hear people express their thinking that the Spirit of God began His work within individual believers only after the coming of the Messiah. Since the spirit was poured out on Pentecost following the ascension of Yeshua, it is presumed that He was inactive prior to that time. This popular belief acknowledges that the Spirit worked within some individuals in ancient Israel (such as prophets, kings, and artisans) but that normally He did not indwell the believer, nor did He assist him in sanctification." There is not once in the whole of the Tanach (Old Testament) given two separate ways to receive salvation. Also, salvation in the Tanach is never spoken of as a way of merely getting your sins forgiven. Salvation has many meanings and can not be boiled down to just one meaning as Christianity as made salvation as a fire escape or a promise of the rapture. Salvation in the Tanach is the goal of holiness as Timm Hegg so beautiful writes. Be Holy, for I ...am Holy (Leviticus 19:2 cf. 1Peter 1:15) "God's salvation is a divine work whereby He creates a people fit for His dwelling, the Spirit must be active in bring about this holiness.
Who are we to say who is saved or not saved?
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