WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SAVED??
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When we use the term salvation conspiracy, some may wonder, so what's the big deal. The big deal is this; the obtaining of salvation is the most important item a human being can ever hope to obtain. It is something which not only has temporal ramification, but more importantly it has eternal ramifications. Salvation is the one thing we can obtain in this life which follows us into the next life and determines our eternal state of being. There are many today who are not sure whether they are truly saved or not. They believe they are, they hope they are, they have broken bad habits, started reading the Bible, going to church etc., but inwardly there is something missing, and they can't quite figure out what it is. However, they know it has something to do with the salvation question. Satan's first goal in his salvation conspiracy is to get men and women to focus on other things. Satan wants to keep mans attention away from the fact, that his most important need, is that of salvation. Jesus warned those of his day, he said there is nothing in this world more important, than the salvation of our souls. Jesus said if one were to accumulate all the items the world holds in high esteem, the gold, silver, cars, mansions, yachts, Rolex watches, etc, the value of all these items combined, are nothing when compared to the value and worth of real salvation. "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul"? Matt 16:26. WHAT IS REAL SALVATION? HOW DO YOU GET IT? This is the most important issue a person will ever face in their life. There are many different ways people say they are saved from God's coming wrath. It is important that we truly get saved. Jesus said we had to be born again THE MATTER OF SALVATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE YOU WILL EVER FACE IN THIS LIFE.
There are many different ways people are told they are saved. We will take a brief look at five of the most common ways. In reality all five of these ways cannot be right.
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Most people are going to willfully allow themselves to fall prey to Satan's salvation conspiracy. Christ, who is all knowing, tells us that many people are going to be lost, but only few are going to be saved. This is one of the most sobering things Christ said while on the earth. According to the Bible the majority of people will be lost. In Matthew 7:13-14 He says, "Enter by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it". Sadly the majority of people still walk the wide road of sin into eternal damnation. We must take this warning from God at face value. Only a few people will be saved. The vast majority of people will spend forever and ever in a place, Satan has convinced them does not exist, the eternal fires of Hell that will never be extinguished. According to what the Lord says, only few will make it to Heaven, but the vast majority will be lost in eternal punishment. This is both frightening and sad. God does not want anyone to be lost, but the choice is ours. 1 Timothy 2:4 says concerning God, "Who desires all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth". It is God's will that all be saved. In order to get saved we need to want to know the truth, about ourselves and our condition. Salvation is real, Satan's conspiracy stems from the fact he does not want us to obtain it. God has so much to offer us. He desires to save us and bestow upon us, all the benefits of salvation. Some of which is, peace, joy, hope, strength, fulfillment, etc. There are certain basic things most Christian churches agree on concerning salvation. They generally agree, that there is a need for regeneration, justification, sanctification, which in the at the end of this age, will lead to the glorification of the saints. We call this general agreement about the stages of salvation, the four basic components (compare below). |
There are so many different types of salvation, being offered by various religious organizations. This in turn has generated a great deal of confusion. The issue of salvation generates many questions (such as). "Just what does it mean to be saved? At what age should we get saved? How do you know when you have been truly saved/born again? What role does items such as faith, grace, repentance, baptism, good works and the Holy Spirit, play in regards to salvation? Is it true that everyone who gets saved is supposed to be monetarily rich and free of all sickness? What about those who are not saved: will they really suffer eternal torment in hell? Is salvation guaranteed to those who put it off until the last second, as long as they can say Lord have mercy on me (just before they die)? Do we have immortal souls that continue our consciousness after we die?" These are but a few of the many issues we will address, as they relate to salvation.
It is not our intent to try and take away anyone's salvation, but rather to minister to those who are not saved, and to those who are not sure, whether or not they are saved. It is also our intent to encourage those who know they are saved to stay saved. There are many today who are not sure whether they are truly saved or not. They believe they are. They hope they are. They have broken bad habits, started reading the Bible, going to church, etc. But there is something missing inwardly, and they can't quite figure out what it is, yet they know it has something to do with the salvation question. The author of these study books went through this very same thing. There are thousands of individuals who claim to be born again, or have been told by other people that they are born again. But secretly in their hearts, they are going through the same thing I went through. Inwardly they are not sure whether or not they are really born again. Many who are in this dilemma have done their best to fulfill all of the requirements of the religious organization they are affiliated with, yet inwardly, they feel that something is missing. God has designed his salvation process in such a way, to make it possible for a person who desires to be born again, not only to be born again, but for them to know once and for all that they are born again. God had promised in the book of Jeremiah that he was going to make a new covenant with his people. God said in this new covenant, all who look to him, would get to know him in an up close and personal way. God went on to say that in this new covenant, his people would know him for themselves. I HAVE FIRST HAND, PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE THAT GOD IS REAL, BECAUSE IT HAPPENED TO ME!!! TO READ MY TESTIMONY CLICK ON THE TAB WHICH SAYS "ABOUT THE AUTHOR".
IS THE REALLY A BURNING HELL, TO BE SAVED FROM??
Today more and more religious originations are rejecting the notion that there is a real lake of fire which will never be put out. Is there a real hell/ lake of fire, where lost wicked souls will be cast into and tormented throughout eternity? This questions has caused much debate over the years, with more and more individuals, rationalizing the eternal fires of hell away. The doctrine of hell is so frightening that numerous religious sects and organizations end up completely denying the reality of an eternal hell. A few examples of these groups being, the Unitarian-Universalists, the Seventh-Day Adventists, the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Christian Scientists, the New Agers, and the Mormons. All have rejected or modified the doctrine of hell so radically that it is no longer a serious threat. In recent decades, this decay has even invaded mainstream evangelicalism, and a number of major evangelical figures have advocated the view that there is no eternal hell. The wicked will simply be annihilated. God is not going to quench the fires of hell simply because men and their religious originations say hell does not exist. Then there are other who know in their heart that there is a real hell, but they don't to fully yield to God. Thier remedy is to turn to religion (minus true salvation). Many today are trying to hide from God and his offer of true salvation. The place they hide in is some church or other type of religious organization. Going to church or being a member of a religious organization, will not save us from the lake of fire. Today Most people (including those in church) fail to realize that the most important aspect of salvation is being saved from God's coming wrath, which will culminate with the unsaved being cast into the lake of fire. This was the message John the Baptist preached prior to the revieling of Christ to the world. This warning about the coming fire caused many who heard John's message to fear, repent and turn to God, (compare John's message).
7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
9 And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Lk 3:7-9
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In this study we will take a close look at the new birth. There is not a more important subject man is faced with, than the one concerning the new birth. Jesus said all who hope to one day enter into God's heavenly kingdom has to partake of the new birth. This subject has to be addressed on two fronts, one of which is on a personal level, and then corporately by the body of Christ, the church. Each of us must have our own personal testimony. God had long ago promised, that the time would come when he would pour out his spirit on all flesh, both Jew and Gentile. Throughout this study we will stress the importance of knowing for one's self, that we are truly born again. A person cannot entrust the finality of this responsibility to any one else but themselves and God. Even if others around us tell us, we are saved (born again) we must not stop with their endorsement, we must look to God himself, to confirm to our spirit, by his spirit that we truly are a son of God. Paul tells us, it is the spirit of God which bares witness to our spirit that we are the children of God, in the book of Romans we read these words " For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God". Rom 8:15-16 (3).
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