— Mission Statement —
Providing straightforward analysis on the intersection of contemporary issues and theology, based on a Biblical Christian Worldview.
[…] Greek language means messenger or minister. Hebrews 1:14 (NIV) goes on to state, “Are they not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who are to inherit salvation?” Wow! Angels are ministering spirits set out to serve, to do God’s purpose. And to whom? For those who are to inherit salvation! Who inherits salvation? […]
[…] Heaven? Just how much do we have to change our lives in order to get past St. Peter at the gates? To begin to answer that question, Salvation is an event in the life of the believer. It is a time when one professes Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, often based on […]
I regularly publish brief “Quick Quotes”, which are short phrases that hopefully elicit thoughtful reflection. Recently, I posted one that read, “Sadly, many skip Salvation “love God” and jump right to a false Sanctification “love thy neighbor”. Of course, this is a direct reference to Luke 10:27, Mark 12:31, and Matthew 22:39, among other […]
[…] already decided who will go to Heaven and who will not, why should the Christian risk being rejected by sharing eternal truth on the matter? Free Will Salvation A response I received reflected an individual who falls into the theological camp of “free will”, or that man has been given the opportunity to make […]
[…] he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). But what does that really mean? The journey of transformation in the life of a Christian begins immediately at salvation. In that holy moment, God breathes life into what was once dead. The Holy Spirit awakens the spirit within us, enabling us to understand truth, receive […]
[…] guidelines, and a pathway to the divine. But Christianity stands apart in three key areas: the person of Jesus, God’s posture of mercy, and the way to salvation. 1. Jesus Didn’t Just Explain the Way to God — He is the Way Other faiths revere prophets, teachers, and gurus who have received epiphanies — people who have pointed to […]
[…] faith, trust, or hope in God. The first link below is our Core Statement of Faith. The first element in that list is Essential, which is … salvation. The second link is how to be saved. So, yes, I do believe that God, in His Word, provides a “doctrinal formulation” for salvation. However, and […]
[…] written over many centuries by different writers, the Bible tells a unified story. The Bible is about God’s relationship with humanity and His plan to bring hope, salvation, and restoration to the world. God’s Love for Humanity The central message of the Bible begins with God’s deep love for humanity. From the first pages of […]
[…] way that points to Jesus without explicitly communicating the gospel message is not evangelizing. People need to hear the truth of the message of the cross, as salvation comes through faith, and faith comes by hearing the word of God. In other words, evangelizing requires verbal proclamation. The Importance of Evangelizing Evangelizing is communicating the […]
[…] does God prohibit abortions if so many who are born will spend eternity in Hell? Of course, the deeper question is why God does not offer universal salvation for all His children in the first place? 2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but […]
[…] have works? Can that faith save him?… So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Ephesians rejects works as a basis for salvation while James makes it clear that works or deeds is necessary for salvation. How can both verses be correct? The answer is that salvation is exclusively […]
[…] have any “pride” in their heart or can’t be considered “foolish” as a condition for entrance into Heaven? The verse below from Romans remains in effect, post- salvation. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Perhaps another set of verses from the Bible could have been what […]
I received a great response from a reader of a recent post, “Does Salvation and Heaven REQUIRE a Public Profession of Your Faith”. In that article, I offered the point that “being a good person will not save anyone”. He presented a Scriptural counterpoint to my statement. The Scripture In support of his claim, the […]
I wrote an article recently on the theology behind the “second” salvation of my youngest daughter. It elicited one of the top ten-percent of the nearly 3k comments I have received on Medium this past year. The author spoke about how young, impressionable, and naive she was (6 years old) to be proselytized by an eight […]
[…] God draws people to Himself. Further, He calls believers to be available to give an answer to the hope we have in Christ (1 Peter 3:15). Finally, salvation comes from faith and faith comes from God (Heb. 11:6). Seekers are looking to fill the void in their life with the gospel message, and we need to […]
[…] and accepting Jesus as Lord? I just realized thanks to this discussion that I don’t separate those things in my mind.” My Answer Good question/observation. For me, Salvation comes through two ideals which no one can achieve on this side of the grave due to our continuing sin nature. Love God The first is […]
[…] a college campus evangelistic movement, held an event at the University of Cincinnati where 5,500 young people attended. Thousands rededicated their lives or made first-time decisions for salvation, and 2,000 students were connected to local churches and ministries. Christian Post – Women are ‘easy targets’ for persecution in Christian-minority countries – Christian women in […]
[…] to go to places that it has never gone before. Through the inspiration of a child who can barely communicate, God is showing forth His love and salvation to a people who have never called on the name of Jesus. And Moses had no shortage of encounters with God where His power was displayed […]
[…] many, examples of faithful service for the Lord. John MacArthur Perhaps nothing speaks more to the legacy of John MacArthur than his popularizing the theological term “Lordship Salvation.” Initially, his views on the importance of demonstrating outward changes based on an inward conversion (James 2:26) were misconstrued to be a challenge to the traditional […]
[…] saved, we are a new creation, and as such, we will demonstrate the love of God through our actions toward others (Luke 10:27). These verses are not opposed to each other; they are complementary, as one (works) follows the other ( salvation). Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words Please Comment – here or on Medium
[…] broader picture. His statement is limited to those who believe there is a Heaven, and many do not. Further, it speaks to the difference between a works-based salvation vs. a grace-based theology (Ephesians 2:8-9), but misses the gospel message that undergirds God’s divine accomplishment in providing a pathway for those who wish to follow […]
[…] flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” At the time, I couldn’t understand how the prophet could praise God, let alone be joyful in such horrific circumstances. It boggled my mind. I had […]
[…] did not enter the temple to a throng of applause. But Simeon recognized Him for who He was. Sent from God, this baby would not only bring salvation, He was salvation. Simeon held in his arms eternal life. He, too, would be tripped and fall, but three days later He would rise forever. There […]
[…] a completely new orientation of life. To be redeemed, then, is to be forgiven, holy, justified, free, adopted, and reconciled. [gotquestions.org] Do We Need Redemption? Redemption and salvation are often used interchangeably in the Christian faith. They get at the same idea of being transferred from death to life. Christianity is unique from other […]
[…] believe mankind has some form of free will or there would be little need of a Bible (an instruction manual for Life). However, in the case of salvation, I think that God not only has foreknowledge but does predestine those He has chosen before the foundations of the world (Ephesians 1:4). Of course, from […]
[…] in the character of God. It’s the trust that holds firm when circumstances shake. And the shield must be picked up, taken, and wielded. The helmet of salvation guards the mind. It secures identity, protects hope, and filters thoughts. Salvation is not just a past one-time event. It’s a process that includes past (justification), […]
[…] a timeline of cause and effect. His limitations are only to the extent God wishes them to be. The most significant example of this is Old Testament salvation. From our human perspective, the sacrificial system was only an illustration of what was to come, for the benefit of Israel. However, outside of time, Jesus […]
[…] the heart with the character and holiness of Christ. Shoes fitted with the gospel of peace give readiness and stability for advancing God’s purposes. The helmet of salvation protects the mind with the assurance of God’s redemptive work. The sword of the Spirit — God’s Word — is the only offensive weapon in the list, used to counter […]
[…] this verse by looking at the context. It refers to leaving the earthly and material for the eternal “for my [Jesus] sake and for the gospel [ salvation].” The benefits of salvation, both on Earth and in Heaven, far exceed the value of houses, siblings, and land. It is not a material gain but […]
[…] transgenders in sports, the Trinity, same-sex marriage, Jesus Christ, and, to a large degree, even the Bible itself, … yet has within it such twisted views on salvation, tradition, purgatory, sacraments, the priesthood of believers, confession, and Mary among others? I would offer that the answer is to keep the main thing the main […]
[…] The challenge was to correct those who taught that one must follow the Mosaic law of works rather than recognizing that God provided the only way of salvation through His grace … to believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. Today – We need to keep the main thing the main thing. […]
[…] lost, including the parable of the prodigal son (15:4–32). G. Continued Journey to Jerusalem: Jesus remains steadfast in His mission, predicting His death and resurrection (18:31–33). H. Salvation of Outcasts: Jesus saves individuals like Zacchaeus, fulfilling His mission to seek and save the lost (19:9–10). Jesus’ Final Week in Jerusalem (Chapters 19–24) — The Climax of […]
[…] Jews Big Idea: Jesus is the Jewish Messiah (Christ) who fulfills Old Testament prophecies. He is the Savior of the world, and His death and resurrection offer salvation for all. b. Mark: The Gospel to the Romans (Ox) Mark, traditionally believed to be the companion of Peter (1 Peter 5:13), wrote his Gospel with the […]
[…] damnation in a real and literal Hell. Evangelism — It is a responsibility, duty, and joy to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to all who will listen. Salvation — Everyone sins and no one can save themselves. It is only through accepting Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior that one can receive eternal life […]
[…] rewarded differently once we get there? Will God show more favor to some than others, perhaps based on our works while on the earth? To Be Clear Salvation is not by Works… To be clear, we are not talking about earning our way to Heaven by the works we do while on earth. Our […]
[…] through His grace, based on the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, through the acceptance of Christ as our Lord and Savior, can forgive our sins and provide salvation for our souls (Eph. 2:8-9). Only one man has the power to forgive sins, Jesus Christ (Luke 5:24). Of course, Roman Catholics quickly point to John […]
[…] What is your opinion on this?” Does the Believer Have the Same Sin Nature? My answer is that we continue to have the “same” sin nature after salvation but should demonstrate the ability to better control it. First to the question of the word “same”. The sins expressed by our nature as original, continuing, […]
[…] that He is not willing for anyone to perish (II Peter 3:15), giving us time to respond, to believe in Him, and to call His name for salvation from His wrath. But His longsuffering is not eternal. Clearly described in Revelation as the “end times” is God’s judgment poured out on those who have […]
[…] to inwardly grow into Christlikeness, and He seals us (II Corinthians 1:22, 5:5; Ephesians 1:13–14). God must judge sin, but God has also provided a way of salvation and escape from His judgment. With that provision, He provides the Holy Spirit to awaken our spirits (John 6:63; Ephesians 2:1) so we can commune with […]
[…] Religion – 91k God – 55k Jesus – 50k Bible – 43k Church – 16.7k Christian – 14.5k Devotional – 10.5k Heaven – 3.4k Demons – 2.2k Salvation – 2.8k Hell – 1.6k Deconstruction – 1.2k Satan – 833 Lord – 591 Atheist – 548 Agnostic – 206 It is dangerous to make too […]