Gospel Message

Bible Words explained: Salvation

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:05:38 +0100

Salvation
"And thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).
A word can be so familiar that it never gets explained. Many hear the word 'salvation' or 'saved' who do not really understand it.
The Need
Our text tells us what Christ saves his people from: "their sins". The non-Christian has the problem of the guilt of past sin, his addiction to sin in the present and the effects of sin in the future.
The Remedy
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He bore the punishment of sin in the place of sinners. He paid the price. He accomplished redemption.
The Remedy Applied
What Christ did on the cross for sinners is applied to individuals.
First, the guilt of sin. When a sinner trusts in Christ, all his guilt is taken away. God declares him 'not guilty'. We have seen before that the Bible calls this 'justification'. The justified man is delivered from the Hell he deserved and has a title to a place in Heaven, through Christ. This removal of guilt is the basis and guarantee of all that follows. The word 'saved' is usually used among us today in this sense of initial conversion to Christ, and the scriptures often use it in that way too. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).
Second, the presence of sin in the heart and life. Deliverance from this begins at conversion, gradually progresses as a Christian goes on through life and is completed when the soul goes to Heaven at death. An earlier article showed that the Bible calls this 'sanctification'. This also is part of Christ's salvation. This is what the Apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13).
Third, the physical effects of sin. Physical death is universal only because sin is universal. "Death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12). Even the physical world was cursed because of man's sin (Genesis 3:17-19). The salvation Christ gives includes the reversal of all this and more. Physical resurrection to glory and a new Heaven and a new earth are all part of the inheritance of the people of God (Philippians 3:21; 2 Peter 3:13). This will complete salvation and so we read of the "salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:5; see also Hebrews 9:28). This takes place when Christ comes again.
The Guarantee
The believer enjoys fellowship with God because his sins are forgiven and he has the Holy Spirit in his heart. This enjoyment of God is called the "earnest" of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14). An "earnest" is like the first instalment or deposit guaranteeing the full amount in due time.
Have you peace with God through Christ and the peace of God in your heart? Have you the deposit that guarantees all the rest of the blessings of salvation in Christ? Do you know you will be among that multitude of the glorified redeemed in Heaven who shall forever worship and ascribe "salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb" (Revelation 7:10).

Bible Words explained: Predestination

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:55:43 +0100

Predestination
"In whom we have an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will." (Ephesians 1:11).
Every stream has its beginning, its spring or source. History has its beginning in the mind and purpose of God from eternity past. History is the outworking, in all its vastness and intricacy, of the plan or counsel of God. He "works all things after the counsel of his own will". The alternative is to believe in the meaningless idea of chance. Within this all-inclusive plan, God has determined to save sinners by Jesus Christ bearing their sins on the cross. He has also determined which sinners will be saved this way.
A Meaningful Word
A destination is the place at the end of a journey. To 'destine' or 'destinate' is to appoint or determine where someone will end up. To 'predestinate' is to do so in advance or beforehand. Before the world was made, God had chosen who should be saved and has appointed all the means by which they will be brought to faith and Christ and be kept in that faith until glorified in heaven (see Ephesians 1:4-7).
A Controversial Word
Even among Bible-believing Christians, this doctrine has often caused controversy. This should not be. The Bible and experience both teach that when the gospel is preached some believe unto life eternal and others do not but remain under condemnation. What or who makes the difference? Not chance surely. No-one's salvation hinges on 'chance'. Not any superiority in the one who responds to the gospel either, otherwise salvation is no longer all of grace. That salvation is all of God's grace, or undeserved kindness, is a distinctive feature of the true gospel. "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). God makes the difference! The Lord adds to the church (Acts 2:47); he opens hearts (Acts 16:14). 'As many as are ordained to eternal life believe' (Acts 13:48). The willingness to believe is God-given. In this, as in all else, the Christian must acknowledge "who maketh thee to differ from another?" and "what has thou that thou hast not received" (1 Cor. 4:7).
A Biblical Word
The word 'predestination' appears in scripture. Sometimes other words are used to convey the same idea. At times reference is made to God's 'election' (or 'choice'). Whatever terms are used the concept of predestination is constant in the scriptures. (See 1 Cor. 1:26-31; Romans 9:9-26, 11:5-7; 1 Peter 2:7-11; Mark 11:25 etc.) This, in itself, must prevent the Christian from dismissing the subject. We may have difficulty understanding why God should invite all and command all men to repent and believe when they will never be willing to do so unless he changes their hearts. Nevertheless, he does just that. We must accept all that is in the Word of God.
A Profitable Word
Perhaps it might be said that whilst acknowledging this doctrine to be true, it should be kept 'under wraps'. This truth of predestination is just too confusing and liable to misunderstanding. We must remember, however, that 'all scripture' is not only 'inspired by God', but is 'profitable' (2 Timothy 3:16). No-one needs to be protected from anything in the Word of God, nor should any biblical teaching be kept for some inner circle of the 'initiated'. All that we believe should be held openly and above board.
A Practical Word
How is this teaching profitable in practice? This truth acknowledges God to be really God. Certainly, the biblical free offer of the gospel to sinners is to be safeguarded. Nevertheless the distortion of this which depicts God as helpless and frustrated before the independent will of man is not honouring to God. If God is almighty, then predestination must be true.
Secondly, this subject should humble every Christian. The reason we are Christians is due to God's free favour alone. We deserve to be condemned as surely as those who actually will be. Only God makes the difference. If we are not humbled by the truth of predestination, then we have not grasped it at all.
Thirdly, this teaching should cause unbelievers to wake up. You can't afford to assume that repentance will come to order when you deem it convenient. Far from simply shrugging your shoulders, you should wake up to your true position. You desperately need a new heart from God.
On the other hand, anyone who really wants Christ and his salvation should not be discouraged. That very desire for Christ is God-given and the invitation stands "… and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17).

Bible Words explained: Sanctification

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:50:59 +0100

Sanctification
"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17).
Family Likeness
When a baby is born, everyone can see, or thinks he can see, the family likeness. That likeness becomes more obvious as the child grows. This is true of the Christian also. "If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that everyone that doeth righteousness is born of him", (1 John 2:29).
The Big Break
When a sinner trusts Christ as his Saviour, he is immediately completely freed from the guilt of sin. He is justified, or declared righteous by God. But because this faith is the result of God changing his heart (called being 'born again') it always marks the beginning of a changed life. He begins to love and serve his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in thankfulness to him.
The word 'sanctified' means to be made holy, or separate from sin and devoted to the service of the Lord. When someone becomes a Christian, as well as being forgiven, his life takes on a new direction as he begins to give up his sinful ways. In this sense, the Bible calls every Christian "sanctified" or a "saint" (i.e. one who is holy or separated). (1 Peter 1:2; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 1:1, etc).
The Longer Run
Although every Christian is a changed person, he is not perfectly changed. Far from it. Between becoming a Christian and going to Heaven, the Christian life is one of imperfect holiness. All his life, the Christian is to seek to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour" (2 Peter 3:18). One feature of this growth is an increasing awareness of sins he hadn't even noticed before. The conflict between his God-given new nature and the remains of sin is a constant reality of the Christian life (Galatians 5:17).
Despite his ups and downs, his failures and falls, the overall patter of his life will be one of becoming more and more like Christ as the Spirit of God works in him day to day through the Word of God. "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).
The Finishing Post
When the Christian goes to Heaven, he will then be perfectly free from the presence and power of sin in him. He will like Christ. "We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2).
The Bible does not lay emphasis on how well a man can say he has become a Christian, but on the evidence of the fact in a changed life. A Christian has been changed, is being changed and will be changed. Are you a real Christian or have you just learned a few well-known words and phrases that Christians use? Christ's death on the cross as an atonement for sin gives every believer a title to Heaven. But those who have such a title are also being prepared for its enjoyment. Are you being changed "from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Bible Words explained: Repentance

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:57:48 +0100

Repentance
"God ... commandeth all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30).
U-turns can be dangerous. On fast roads they are often illegal. There is one U-turn, however, that is not only right, but absolutely essential. Not only are we allowed to do it, but we must. The Lord Jesus Christ said, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).
Turning Around The word translated "repentance" in our Bible is made up of two words. One of these words means "change" and the other means "mind". Repentance is a change of mind, a change of attitude, a change of direction. It is a U-turn.
Turning From Sin "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:7). This is more than an outward clean-up of the life due to fear of the trouble some sins might bring in this life or the next. This change reaches to the "thoughts" and it includes a change of attitude towards sin specifically because sin is against God. David, when confessing his sin to God said, "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight" (Psalm 51:4). Sin is every way in which we fall short of what God requires of us in our thinking, speaking and doing. A Christian is not perfect in this world but when a man claims to have become a Christian without a basic change of attitude towards sin he is deceiving himself but he will not deceive God. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13).
Turning From Pride The heart of man is full of pride ever since the devil's false promise was listened to when he said "Ye shall be as gods" (Genesis 3:5). Sinful pride makes men want to be independent of God and nowhere more so than in the realm of salvation. Some deny the existence of God, some deny they have sinned against God, while others grudgingly admit they are sinners but desperately want to believe they can save themselves. When a man repents he abandons all this futile arrogance and acknowledges himself to be what God says he is - a helpless, guilty and justly condemned sinner.
Turning To Christ The Apostle Paul preached "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21). Turning from sin (including self-righteousness in all its forms) and trusting in Christ to save us from our sin and guilt are two sides of the same thing. Conversion is turning from sin to Christ. Have you done this? Our opening text makes it clear that God requires you to do so.
"Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?" (Ezekiel 33:11).

Bible Words explained: Faith

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:44:57 +0100

Faith
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law" (Romans 3:28).
A guilty sinner is justified when God declares him not guilty on the basis of what Christ did in bearing the punishment of sin on the Cross of Calvary as his substitute.
God does this when a sinner believes, but what is it to believe? What is faith in Christ?
God's Word is True - To become a real Christian we must accept that God's Word is true. Nevertheless, it is possible to accept that God's Word is true without really trusting in Christ for salvation. A mere theoretical or mental acceptance of the truth of the Bible is not enough.
God's Verdict is True - We must accept what the Bible says about us. We really are sinners. "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). This includes you. "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us" (1 John 1:10).
God's Verdict is Right - "For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great" (Psalm 25:11). David did not think his sins were trivial and that God should overlook them for that reason. His sin mattered; his sin deserved God's wrath and he accepted that. Do you? Do you accept that the pains of Hell for ever are no more than your sins deserve? Or are you still arguing with God? Still trying to negotiate with God instead of submitting to the Almighty?
Christ Can Save - Christ is "able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25). He has done all that needs to be done on behalf of sinners to make them accepted before God.
Christ Alone Can Save - "There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5). To believe on Christ for salvation, every other ground of confidence must be abandoned. Privileges of background, upbringing, knowledge, decent life-style, church-going, baptism - all these things must be abandoned as grounds of hope and Christ must be seen as the only and complete Saviour of sinners.
Christ Will Save - The Lord Jesus said "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37). Do you believe that Christ will take your sins away if you trust in Him? "He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6). The Word of God gives you every encouragement. Ask and you will receive. Ask for what you really need, the forgiveness of all your sins through Christ. God invites you to do so. Saving faith is when we rest on Christ alone for salvation in response to God's invitation to do so and His promise to receive those who do. "I said not ... seek ye me in vain: I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right." "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God and there is none else" (Isaiah 45:19 & 22).