2. The Foundation Of Salvation

We must first look at the foundations of Salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

[23] The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing; [24] Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 

[25] Therefore He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 

[26] For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens; [27] who has no daily need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because He did this once for all time when He offered up Himself.

Hebrews 7:23-27 NASB

The Transformative Journey of Salvation: From Sin’s Shackles to Purposeful Redemption

Introduction

The concept of salvation is a beacon of hope that permeates Christian theology, offering a profound transformation from a life bound by sin to one marked by purpose and eternal promise. In this article, we will explore what a sinner is saved from, outline the steps to salvation, and illuminate the dual purpose of salvation—both on earth and in heaven.

What A Sinner Is Saved From

Salvation is, at its core, a rescue mission from the devastating consequences of sin. The Bible teaches that sin separates humanity from God, leading to spiritual death and eternal separation. Romans 6:23 poignantly articulates this reality, stating, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Through salvation, a sinner is saved from the penalty of sin, the enslaving power of sin, and the eternal separation from God, finding reconciliation and restoration in the arms of a loving Saviour.

What A Sinner Must Do To Be Saved

The pathway to salvation is built upon the foundation of grace and faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 emphasises this truth, affirming that salvation is a gift from God, not earned through human works. To be saved, individuals must recognise their sinful condition, repent from their sins, and place their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Acts 4:12 declares, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Through a surrendered heart and belief in the redemptive work of Jesus, individuals receive the gift of salvation.

What We Are Saved For On Earth

Salvation is not a mere escape from the consequences of sin but a transformative journey with earthly implications. Those who are saved are called to a life of purpose, marked by righteousness, love, and obedience to God. Ephesians 2:10 beautifully illustrates this, declaring that believers are God’s workmanship, created for good works. The saved are empowered to live a life that reflects the character of Christ, making a positive impact on the world around them through acts of love, compassion, and justice.

What We Are Saved For In Heaven

The promise of salvation extends beyond the boundaries of earthly existence, offering the hope of eternal life in heaven. John 3:16 encapsulates this promise, affirming that those who believe in Jesus will not perish but have everlasting life. In heaven, the saved will experience the fullness of God’s presence, enjoying eternal fellowship with Him and fellow believers. Revelation 21:4 beautifully describes this heavenly reality, stating, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any-more, for the former things have passed away.”

Conclusion

Salvation is a transformative journey that begins with acknowledging one’s need for a Saviour and culminates in a life of purpose on earth and the promise of eternal joy in heaven. What a sinner is saved from is not just a list of consequences but a profound deliverance into a life infused with divine purpose and the hope of everlasting fellowship with God. As believers navigate this journey of salvation, they are invited to live out the transformative power of grace, bringing light and love to a world in need.

Understanding God’s Loving Discipline for Believers

No believer gets away with continuing in sin. There is an eternal cost

In the journey of faith, we often encounter moments of stumbling and sin. Yet, as believers, we have the assurance that our Heavenly Father loves us deeply and desires our spiritual growth. So, why does God discipline us when we sin, and how does His discipline differ from condemnation?

Hebrews 12:6 (NASB) reminds us that “those whom the Lord loves He disciplines.” This verse underscores the loving nature of God’s discipline. Unlike condemnation, which seeks to punish and destroy, God’s discipline aims to correct and guide us back to the path of righteousness. It’s a sign of His care and commitment to our spiritual well-being.

God’s discipline is not doubtful; it is assured. Just as a loving parent disciplines their child out of love, God disciplines us as His beloved children. And even though God has promised eternal salvation to those who come to Him through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:25 NASB), He does not turn a blind eye to continued sin in our lives. Instead, He lovingly corrects and disciplines us to lead us away from destructive patterns and toward a life of obedience.

But how does God discipline believers, and what does it look like? The apostle Paul provides insight in 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 (NASB). He likens believers to builders working on a spiritual foundation. Some build with materials like gold, silver, and precious stones, representing works of the Spirit that endure. Others use wood, hay, or straw, symbolising fleshly deeds that will not withstand the test of God’s cleansing fire.

When the day of judgement comes, the quality of each believer’s work will be revealed through fire. Those whose works endure will receive rewards, while those whose works are consumed will suffer loss. However, even those whose works are burned up will still be saved, though only as through fire.

This passage highlights the distinction between the works of the Spirit and the works of the flesh. The works of the Spirit, represented by gold, silver, and precious stones, result in great rewards in eternity. In contrast, the works of the flesh, represented by wood, hay, and straw, lead to suffering loss.

God is faithful to His promises, including the promise of salvation. Yet, our choices and actions have consequences, both in this life and for eternity. Those who invest their lives in doing the works of the Spirit will receive great rewards, while those who spend their lives walking in the flesh will suffer loss in this life and the next.

1. Proverbs 3:11-12 (NASB) - "My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord or loathe His reproof, for whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights."
2. Hebrews 12:5-6 (NASB) - "And you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, 'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.'"
3. Psalm 94:12 (NASB) - "Blessed is the man whom You chasten, Lord, and whom You teach out of Your Law."
4. Revelation 3:19 (NASB) - "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent."
5. Deuteronomy 8:5 (NASB) - "Thus you are to know in your heart that the Lord your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son."
6. Job 5:17 (NASB) - "Behold, how happy is the person whom God reproves; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty."
7. Proverbs 13:24 (NASB) - "He who withholds his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently."
8. Hebrews 12:10-11 (NASB) - "For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."
9. Psalm 119:71 (NASB) - "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes."
10. Proverbs 15:10 (NASB) - "Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way; he who hates reproof will die."

In conclusion, God’s discipline is an expression of His love and commitment to our spiritual growth. It is not a form of condemnation but a means of correction and restoration. As believers, let us heed His loving discipline and strive to build our lives on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ, knowing that our labour in the Lord will be rewarded in this life and for all eternity.

The Penalty of Adam’s Sin

According to the Biblical interpretation of the scripture, the doctrine of original sin explains how mankind became sinners. Original sin is a foundational theological concept in scripture that teaches that all human beings inherit a sinful nature due to the disobedience of Adam, the first human, in the Garden of Eden. Therefore it’s not our personal sin that separates us from God. Here are some key passages and theological principles that support this understanding:

1. Genesis 2:15-18 NASB: Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and tend it. [16] The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may freely eat; [17] but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die.” [18] Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” It is important to note that God gave the commandment not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil to Adam personally. Before He created Eve.
2. Genesis 3:6-7 (NASB): This passage describes how Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in disobedience to God’s command to Adam. As a result, they realised their nakedness and sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. This act of disobedience is referred to as the “Fall of Man.”
3. Romans 5:12 (NASB): “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind because all sinned.” This verse, written by the Apostle Paul, explains that through the sin of Adam (the “one man”), sin entered the world, and this sinfulness has been passed down to all human beings.
4. Romans 3:23 (NASB): “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This verse underscores the universal reality of sin, indicating that all individuals, as descendants of Adam and Eve, have fallen short of God’s glory.
5. Psalm 51:5 (NASB): “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” This verse from the Psalms reflects the understanding that human beings are born with a sinful nature.

How Man-kind Became Sinners?

The doctrine of original sin teaches that because of Adam’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, all human beings are born with a sinful nature. This inherent sinfulness is referred to as a “sin nature” or a “sinful state.” It means that from birth, human beings have a natural tendency to sin because they are separated from God. Therefore, we don’t become a sinner because of anything we have done, but because we are born with a sinful nature, and therefore we naturally sin. The evidence of this is no good parent has to teach their child to lie or steel. In fact a good parent must teach their child not to lie or steel. They do these things automatically.

To address this condition, the bible teaches us the need for personal faith in Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God. This faith, often referred to as “regeneration” or “being born again,” is seen as the means by which individuals can be spiritually reborn and have their sinful nature transformed.

The First Commandment Given to Adam

God gave Adam his first commandment personally, before Eve was created. Note; He did not give Eve the commandment personally. Therefore, the penalty of Adams sin was death. And this death spread to all men. Adams DNA was corrupted, which caused death to be passed on down the generations genetically.

Genesis 2:15-18,20-22 NASB Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and tend it. [16] The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may freely eat; [17] but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die.”  

God creates Eve [18] Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” [20] The man gave names to all the livestock, and to the birds of the sky, and to every animal of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. [21] So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. [22] And the Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. The Penalty of Adams Sin Spread to All 

Romans 5:12 NASB Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned—

Adam Sinned Wilfully, But Eve Was Deceived

Now the serpent was more cunning than any animal of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” [2] The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; [3] but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” [4] The serpent said to the woman, “You certainly will not die! [5] For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will become like God, knowing good and evil.” 

[6] When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband with her, and he ate.  [7] Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves waist coverings. 

[8] Now they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. [9] Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” [10] He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” [11] And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I commanded you not to eat?” 

[12] The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me some of the fruit of the tree, and I ate.” [13] Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 

Adam Was Held Accountable for Violating God’s Commandment

The Shadow Of Yeshua’s Sacrifice For Adam’s Sin

[20] Now the man named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all the living. [21] And the Lord God made garments of skin (blood sacrifice) for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. [22] Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might reach out with his hand, and take fruit also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— [23] therefore the Lord God sent him out of the Garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. [24] So He drove the man out; and at the east of the Garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.

The Penalty of Adam’s sin resulted in the death spreading to all

[10] 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.  [11] And not only this, but we also celebrate in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. 

[12] Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned— 

[13] for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not counted against anyone when there is no law.  [14] Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the violation committed by Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

The Law Exposes Adams Death

[5] For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were brought to light by the Law, were at work in the parts of our body to bear fruit for death.  [6] But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. 

[7] What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? Far from it! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.” [8] But sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.  [9] I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin came to life, and I died;

Through one offence the result was condemnation to all man-kind

But the gracious gift is not like the offense. For if by the offense of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many. [16] The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one offense, resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the gracious gift arose from many offenses, resulting in justification. 

[17] For if by the offense of the one, death reigned through the one, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. [18] So then, as through one offense the result was condemnation to all mankind, so also through one act of righteousness the result was justification of life to all mankind. 

[19] For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

The Reason For The Virgin Birth

This death has been passed down the generations through the male seed, till it got to us. We don’t sin to become a sinner. We sin because we were born with a sinful nature that’s separated from God. Therefore the evidence that we are sinners, is that we sin. The law simply exposes our sinful condition and shows us our need for a Saviour. This was the reason for the virgin birth. If Yeshua had of had a human father, he would have been born with sin like the rest of mankind.

[19] Why the Law then? It was added on account of the violations, having been ordered through angels at the hand of a mediator, until the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made. [20] Now a mediator is not for one party only; but God is only one. [21] Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? Far from it! For if a law had been given that was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. [22] But the Scripture has confined everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. [23] But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, being confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed.

Now that we have laid a foundation which shows us how we became a sinner and have inherited the penalty of Adam’s sin, we shall move on and have a look at the difference between Law and Grace, and how this effects’ us spiritually.

(Next Page 3 : THE LAW VS. GRACE)