SALVATION: or How
To Be Saved?
Before delving into the “ins and outs” of the meaning of
the word “salvation”, let me state
upfront exactly what salvation is at this current moment in time and likewise
for the past two thousand years since the advent of Jesus Christ.
Since the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, to
be saved or obtain salvation is to be a functional practicing citizen of the
Kingdom of God. In other words, a person
is either called as an elect member of the Kingdom or that person is not. People like to believe they make the decision
to follow Jesus but a citizen of the Kingdom has to be called by God. Jesus explained this truth (Matthew 22:14
& John 6:44) and Paul later restated it.
Matthew 22:14 KJV For many are called, but few are chosen.
John 6:44-45 NET No one can
come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at
the last day. (45) It is written in the prophets, 'And they will
all be taught by God.' (Is 54:13) Everyone who hears and learns from the Father
comes to me.
Romans 8:28-30 NET And we
know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are
called according to his purpose,
(29) because those whom he
foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his
Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (30)
And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also
justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
2 Timothy 1:9 KJV Who hath saved us, and called us with an
holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and
grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Jesus specifically says in John 6:44 that no one can come to Him unless God the
Father draws or calls that person. Roman
8:29 and 2 Tim 1:9 states this calling occurred before the world began and this
calling was for His specific purpose and grace.
Those Who Died
Before the Advent of Jesus
On the surface, it would appear that the billions who
died prior to the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ could not be
called by God to follow Him and the principles of the Kingdom of God. However, the apostle Peter gives the answer
to the problem that most of us have missed.
At the moment of His death, as His earthly body was still hanging on the
cross, Jesus was made alive in the Spirit. At this time, He entered the dimension of the
dead (some refer to it as Hades, the grave, or Hell) and preached the Gospel of
the Kingdom to the dead souls (or spirits).
In 1 Peter 4:6 it is implied the dead would be able to consider the
spiritual implications of God’s standards.
1 Peter 3:18-19 KJV For Christ also hath once suffered for
sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to
death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (19) By which also
he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
1 Peter 4:6 NET Now it was
for this very purpose that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead,
so that though they were judged in the flesh by human standards they may live
spiritually by God's standards.
Contradictions?
It may appear that the theology of being called by God versus
other scripture verses contradict each other.
The statement consisting of “Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” seems to be a more
simplistic concept than the “citizen of the Kingdom of God” as outlined
above. The jailor featured in Acts 16:30
would have been called by the Holy Spirit according to the scriptures. In the jailor’s situation the concept of believing
could possibly include the Gospel and a submission of his services to the
Kingdom of God. There is much more to
salvation than just claiming to believe.
Acts 16:30-31 KJV And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what
must I do to be saved? (31) And they said, Believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Romans 10:13 basically states that one only needs to call
on the name of the Lord to be saved which is a variant of believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ. As an example, suppose someone
said, “Hey Lord, I’m calling on Your Name, am I saved now?” This statement will appear ridiculous to most
people. There is apparently a deeper
meaning and understanding than just these particular words in 10:13 since other
scriptures insist on a deeper meaning.
Unfortunately, many people only read one and two lines of scripture and
believe they have the complete answer to the salvation issue.
Romans 10:13 KJV For whosoever shall call upon the name of
the Lord shall be saved.
Paul adds more detail to the process in Titus 3:5 by
adding the mercy of God, a regeneration of our spirit, and the receiving of a
token of the Holy Spirit.
Titus 3:5 KJV Not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by
the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
There are at least two examples of demons recognizing the
identity of Jesus and it could be said they are calling the name of the Lord
but not necessarily “calling ON” the name.
James 2:19 NET You believe
that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that — and tremble with
fear.
Matthew 8:29 NET They cried
out, "Son of God, leave us alone! Have you come here to torment us before
the time?"
The familiar Ephesians 2:8 verse gives much more depth
and detail to the salvation experience issue.
One is saved by the grace of God through faith. However that faith is not your personal invention
but is given to you by God as a gift.
Ephesians 2:8 KJV For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
The book of James has been stigmatized by some
theologians for its assertion that works are a sign of salvation. It has been said that Martin Luther thought
the book should be omitted from the New Testament.
Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of
works, lest any man should boast. (10) For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath
before ordained that we should walk in them.
Of course, James was saying that a Kingdom citizen
would be compelled by the Holy Spirit to perform good works as Jesus taught
that principle. It appears some people
of his time were taking Paul’s phrase “you have been saved by grace and not by
works” and claiming that good works were not necessary.
Dictionary
Definition of “Saved”
The word “saved” is used 57 times in the KJV New Testament. Below is a Greek dictionary definition. Always keep in mind that Greek dictionaries
are influenced by the opinions and theology of the authors. There is no longer a 1st century
Greek speaking individual to validate any definition.
Word Study Dictionary: sōzō sode'-zo (saved)
Specifically of salvation from eternal death, sin, and
the punishment and misery consequent to sin. To save, and (by implication), to
give eternal life. Especially of Christ as the Savior.
The basic meaning of the verb sṓzō is to rescue
from peril, to protect, keep alive. Sṓzō
involves the preservation of life, either physical or spiritual.
Certain ministers, particularly Baptist preachers, will
often exclaim that “once saved – always
saved”. There is a certain amount of
truth in that statement but first it must be explained exactly what a saved
person is saved from.
Several early Church Fathers, the most prominent being
Origen, believed in “universal reconciliation”, meaning all creation will
eventually be conformed to the Glory of God.
Augustin did away with universal reconciliation and began the theology
of eternal death and suffering within the Lake of Fire. The eternal fiery hell theory has been
proclaimed since Augustin and is today used as a weapon against the unsaved
i.e. “believe in Jesus Christ or burn in
hell forever”.
Two
Resurrections
To my knowledge, the Bible teaches two
resurrections. The first will occur any
day now (NO, there will not be a tribulation period as described by Tim LaHaye,
although things are becoming somewhat lawless at the present) and the second
will take place at the end of the thousand year Millennial Kingdom and is
called the Great White Throne Judgement.
The first resurrection, at the return of Jesus Christ,
will only include the elect overcomers of all past ages and a few still alive (”many as called but few are chosen”). At His return, Jesus will receive His Jacob
inheritance which is the fruitfulness promise first given to Abraham, then
Isaac, Jacob, and finally Ephraim and Manasseh (who are mostly living in
Canada, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Great Britain, and parts of Europe).
An overcomer is essentially a person who forgives and
lives by the principles and standards of the Jubilee which is forgiveness of
all things. It is a person living the
principles of the Kingdom of God (i.e. the laws and standards of Jesus Christ). It is one who is coming into a state of
maturity in Him. An Overcomer is putting
on His Father’s mind and coming into agreement with Him. He is learning to say “Amen” to all that God
does, bearing witness to Him in all things, and not disagreeing with Him. In essence an Overcomer is one who is coming
to understand the Father and His ways.
All who are called are most likely saved in some manner,
but Jesus stated that “many are called,
but few are chosen”.
Matthew 22:14 KJV For many are called, but few are chosen.
The Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:16-24) tells
the story of a certain man (Jesus) who prepared a great banquet (the Millennial
Reign or Kingdom of God) and invited (or called) many people. A servant of the man was sent to inform the
called individuals that the great banquet was ready. However, each invited (called) guest gave the
servant some lame excuse and said they would not be able to attend.
This certain man became irate at this news and told his servant, “Go out quickly to the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the
poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame”. After performing this task the servant
replied, “Sir,
what you instructed has been done, and there is still room”. So then the certain man said to his servant,
“Go out to the
highways and country roads and urge people to come in, so that my house will be
filled”.
Luke 14:24 NET For I tell
you, not one of those individuals who were invited will taste my banquet!
Again, many are called, but few are chosen.
The chosen few will experience the first
resurrection. This group is referred to
as the elect or the overcomers. The
remainder of the dead from Adam through the Millennium, which is the Kingdom of
God, will be resurrected at the end of the 1000 years.
Like John the Baptist, Jesus preached the coming of the
Kingdom of God. It is my belief this
Kingdom and the Millennial Reign are the same.
Only the dead overcomers and a few living overcomers will be resurrected
at the return of Jesus to be teachers, administrators, and care takers of the
Kingdom of God under the authority of the King Jesus Christ.
The second resurrection will consist of two groups of
people. The somewhat righteous individuals
who have undergone a salvation experience of some type will represent the sheep
on one side and the lawless individuals with no salvation experience will
represent the goats on the other side.
Note in John 5:28 that all (i.e. everyone) in the graves (i.e. the dead
- no live people mentioned) will come forth in a resurrection. Those that have done good (the saved) will be
judged out of the “book of life” (Revelation 20:12) and those that have done
evil will be judged out of other books which are most likely the books of the Law
of God.
John 5:28-29 KJV Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming,
in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, (29)
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life;
and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Revelation 20:12 KJV And I saw the dead, small and great,
stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which
is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were
written in the books, according to their works.
A few people mistakenly claim there are three
resurrections but they are confusing the two groups (sheep and goats) of the
second resurrection as two separate events.
The Harvests
The barley is the first harvest of the growing
season. The barley is the first fruits
and is represented by the first resurrection consisting of the elect
overcomers. The second harvest is
wheat. Jesus’ teaching or parable of the
wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24-30)
represents the second resurrection. The
tares are not removed until the harvest is occurring when they are easily
recognizable and cam then be bound together and burned in the fire. The wheat is then threshed until it consists
of only wheat seeds.
At the White Throne Judgment the threshed wheat receives
minor discipline to make them pure while the tares will be burned by the
refining and purifying judgment of God which is metaphorically described as the
fire of God in the scriptures and as the Lake of Fire in the last chapters of
the Revelation.
Luke 12:49 NET "I have
come to bring fire on the earth — and how I wish it were already kindled!
Matthew 25:31-34, 41 KJV When the Son of man shall come in
his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne
of his glory: (32) And before him shall be gathered all nations:
and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep
from the goats: (33) And he shall set the sheep on his right hand,
but the goats on the left. (34) Then shall the King say unto them
on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world: (41) Then shall he say
also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting (aionios) fire, prepared for the devil
and his angels:
Aionios is considered by many to be a mistranslation that should be
“for an age”. More detail for be given later in a section
entitled Aionios.
In another story or parable, Jesus referred to the second
resurrection and metaphorically describes the kind or type of punishment (or
judgement by the fire of God) various levels of the unlawful will receive. The evil slave will be metaphorically cut in
two and assigned a place with the unfaithful (perhaps atheists, agnostics, Muslims, Kabbalist Jews, Luciferians, or
Satanists). A saved individual who
was aware of the law but didn’t perform it will receive a severe beating. (Note
that a beating was a type of punishment for wrongdoers in the Mosaic Law). Those unaware of the Law (such as perhaps an
Amazon Indian) but still performed a few unlawful acts will receive a light
beating. The more one knows of the Law
and refuses to perform it the more severe the punishment in the judgment of the
fire of God .
Luke 12:46-48 NET then the
master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an
hour he does not foresee, and will cut him in two, and assign him a place with
the unfaithful. (47) That servant who knew his master's will but
did not get ready or do what his master asked will receive a severe
beating. (48) But the one who did not know his master's
will and did things worthy of punishment will receive a light beating. From
everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and from the one who
has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.
I Never Knew
You
An interesting and perhaps problematic scripture occurs
in Matthew 7:21. Many commentators have
misunderstood these verses to indicate that very few individuals will be saved
and be raptured to heaven. Actually no
one will be raptured to heaven and according to the universal reconciliation
principle everyone will eventually be redeemed although it may take several
thousands of years.
Again, the main preaching point of Jesus was the coming
Kingdom of God (or Kingdom of Heaven as identified in the book of
Matthew). Most of the resurrection
teaching of Jesus focused on the first resurrection with the second
resurrection hinted at twice. Paul
almost entirely devoted his resurrection teaching to the first one with only a
hint of the second which can be found in Acts – not his letters.
Acts 24:15 KJV And have hope toward God, which they
themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of
the just and unjust.
In verse 7:21 below, Jesus is referring to the overcomers
of the first resurrection entering into the Kingdom of Heaven as a glorified
entity. Many others, who think they
should have glorified bodies will be told they were called but not chosen. They were Church people with a token of the
Holy Spirit and apparently performed some good deeds perhaps because they were
basically good people, but otherwise they were significant violators of the Law
of God and were not deemed an overcomer.
Matthew 7:21-23 KJV Not every one that saith unto me, Lord,
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my
Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in that day,
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out
devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then
will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity.
Everyone else alive at the return of Jesus will continue
living as normal people within the Kingdom age.
Technological advancements will continue without the covering up and
control of any government. Many diseases
and physical problems will be cured and lifespans will increase.
It is often said by preachers: “being good will not save
you” and “doing good works will not save you” and there may be some truth in
those statements. However, being good
and doing good works will not place you in the first resurrection but it might
place you on the side of the sheep and wheat at the second resurrection. As noted in this article, “the one who did not know his master's will
and did things worthy of punishment will receive a light beating” an
individual caring for his fellow humans whether from ancient Africa or the
jungles of South America will fare much better at the final judgment. There is no wrong in doing right even if a
person has never heard of the Laws of God.
The research that has been done to write this article has
changed my understanding about salvation considerably. There will eventually (soon I hope) come a
time during the Millennial Kingdom where everyone will know and understand the
Laws of God. Most people will fervently
attempt to live the standards of the Kingdom of God. However, many will reject it in their heart
because there will be a rebellion at the end of the Millennium by a large group
called God and Magog.
Revelation 20:7-9 NET Now
when the thousand years are finished, Satan will be released from his
prison (8) and will go out to deceive the nations at the
four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to bring them together for the
battle. They are as numerous as the grains of sand in the sea. (9)
They went up on the broad plain of the earth and encircled the camp of
the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and devoured
them completely.
Some commentators
claim that Ezekiel 38 and 39 is the same invading group as the one listed in Revelation
20:8 and the two prophecies are the same.
The Gog and Magog invasion of Ezekiel has already been fulfilled by the converted
Khazarian Jews from Russia (along with Edomites and Persian Jews) who invaded
and destroyed the Palestinians of Canaan and declared an unlawful state of
Israel in 1948 (and they continue to destroy the Palestinians). They are of the linage of Japheth and
Japheth’s descendant named Ashkenaz.
Thus they are called Ashkenazi Jews.
It may be that the Gog and Magog uprising toward the end of the
Millennium are the descendants of Ashkenazi Khazarian Jews, although they will
not call themselves Jews during the Kingdom of God era. It is said that Jerusalem will be destroyed
prior to the return of Jesus Christ which will fulfill the destruction of the
invaders as described in the Ezekiel prophecy in chapters 38 and 39.
Aion or Aionios
The doctrine of eternal punishment rests on the meaning
of two Greek words: the noun aion (αιων) and its adjective aionios (αιωνιος). The noun aion is used in several different ways in the New Testament. The
way that concerns us here is its use in phrases like eis ton aiona (εις τον
αιωνα - literally to the eon) and eis aionas aionon (εις αιωνας αιωνων -
literally to eons of eons). In traditional translations these phrases are
translated as “for ever” and “for ever and ever”. For example, “The smoke of their torment rises
for ever and ever” (Revelation 14: 10-11). The adjective aionios has
traditionally been translated eternal or everlasting. We find both the positive
phrases eternal life, eternal inheritance etc and the negative phrases eternal
fire, eternal judgment, eternal destruction (lostness) and eternal punishment.
Several phrases in both the Septuagint (Greek translation
of the Old Testament Hebrew) and the New Testament show that often eis ton
aiona cannot be translated for ever and actually be considered
sensible.
He shall be your servant for ever' (Deut 15: 17).
Will you take him as a slave for ever?' (Job 41: 4).
That he may appear before the Lord and stay there for
ever' (1 Sam 1: 22).
Its smoke shall go up for ever' (Is 34: 10).
The earth with her bars was about me for ever' (Jonah 2:
6).
No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you' (Mat
21: 19).
You will never (aion) wash my feet' (John 13: 8).
I will never eat meat again' (1 Cor 8: 13).
All these phrases are clearly limited in time. Many of
them imply for life.
The following phrases in the New Testament show that aionios
cannot always be translated eternal:
The mystery hidden for long ages past' literally 'hidden to aionios times' (Rom 16:25).
Before the beginning of time' literally 'before aionios times' (2 Tim 1: 9 and
Titus 1: 2).
The Greek word aionios
is also used to translate this Hebrew word olam
in the Septuagint. The Hebrew noun olam does not mean an age. Rather it
comes from a verb root alam meaning
to hide. The word olam implies hidden
time. The phrase to olam looks
forward as far as can be seen to the future time horizon, beyond which
everything is hidden. The phrase from olam
looks backward as far as can be seen to the past time horizon, beyond which
everything is hidden.
When we look at the New Testament we find that the noun aion and the adjective aionios are used in exactly the same
way. They look backwards or forwards to the time horizon, beyond which we
cannot see. These words refer to the hidden spiritual realm, which is before,
throughout and after time.
The things of God belong to a realm that is beyond time
(or without time). Eternal life, or we
could say, aeonian life does not
simply mean life that goes on for ever and ever. Rather it means spiritual life
that is experienced in a dimension without time. In a similar manner Aeonian judgment is not
one that goes on forever as if God was counting time, rather it is a judgment
that takes place in a spiritual dimension that is without time.
Lastly we will examine the phrase “eternal (aionios)
judgement” in Hebrews 6: 2. The root
meaning of judgement is “separation”.
The flesh must be separated from the spirit. It is a process that we should
experience in this life. We should judge ourselves, if we do not want to be
judged, and we must put to death the deeds of the flesh that we may walk in the
spirit. If we are not willing for judgement now, it must come later.
Hebrews 6:1-2 KJV Therefore leaving the principles of the
doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the
foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
(2) Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of
resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
The picture that now emerges from this section is not a fiery
hell of unmitigated, unending torment. Rather
it is a place of judgement for correction (purifying the flesh from the spirit).
We should begin to visualize a loving
Creator who will not be content with his created people until they are
ultimately purged, purified, and cleansed of every sin. He is taking infinite pains over their
perfection. In our mind, His purposes may be long in their outworking, although
we cannot comprehend a dimension without time, but in the end they will be
perfectly accomplished.
1 Timothy 4:10 NET In fact
this is why we work hard and struggle, because we have set our hope on the
living God, who is the Savior of all
people, especially of believers.
