“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”
–Hebrews 5:8-9
One would think that something as important as ETERNAL SALVATION would be cut and dried; settled beyond the merest shadow of a doubt. After all, the committed follower of God and His Son, Jesus Christ is concerned with spending ETERNITY with them.
BUT, one would not count on Satan and his workers of iniquity and the many stories they tell about eternal salvation in order to CONFUSE and CONFOUND.
One would NOT count on the legions of church folk who have their own stories to tell about ETERNAL SALVATION. Many (most?) of these stories make MAN the center of attention–even if man has NOTHING to do with that important aspect of God’s love.
Besides all of that, God’s Word may itself contribute to the confusion–particularly to those who WREST Scripture instead of merely FOLLOWING its plain meaning.
“And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”
–2PETER 3:15-16
In fact, God’s Word only contains ONE reference to ETERNAL LIFE: which is found in Hebrews 5:9.
Therefore, it has been decided to present a few of the finer points of eternal salvation to the reader in the hopes that he will avoid all such confusion.
[NOTE: The reader may be aware of ALL of these finer points–OR, he may be UNAWARE of them ALL. Perhaps the reader was aware of all but one–HOWEVER, the one may be the point which contributes to the reader’s eternal salvation.]
1- Eternal salvation is a gracious gift from a loving God to His creation–especially MAN.
Although the church folk learn a great many stories about ‘making a decision for Christ,’ it is GOD ALONE who decides who is eternally saved or not.
NOT man.
“For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”
–Romans 9:15-16
2- We do NOT choose God. God chooses US.
” Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
–John 15:16
This makes all of those who tell such PRETTY stories about ‘deathbed conversions’ to be LIARS.
Deathbed Conversions: Another Tall Tale?
(Just for the reader’s info: God is not lonely. God does NOT sit in heaven wondering if anyone will show up.]
3- NO ONE is saved UNTIL he is “born again” SPIRITUALLY.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
–John 3:3
When a man is born again spiritually, he receives God’s Holy Spirit to live within him for the rest of his days. NO MAN is eternally saved UNTIL he experiences the new birth.
4- Belief in Jesus Christ as the Messiah is necessary to be eternally saved.
God’s Word spells this out repeatedly.
“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
–Acts 16:30-31
As Jesus is recorded as stating:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”
–John 6:47
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
–Romans 10:9-10
Who can tell how God works? Perhaps God’s great mercy is activated by a belief on His Son, Jesus Christ? Perhaps a belief on Jesus is all that is required to experience the mercy of God? Regardless, God’s Word STRONGLY advises a belief on Jesus Christ to enjoy eternal salvation.
As the reader can see, ETERNAL SALVATION revolves around God’s mercy and a belief on Jesus Christ, His Son. Man enjoys being the center of attention–even when that attention is focused on WRONG information about ETERNAL SALVATION.
HOWEVER, it is about God.
NOT man.
HAS the reader considered the finer points of eternal salvation?
It is not YET too late–although time is surely running out: there is still a LITTLE time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
—1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
A Reminder: The Gospel is Simple
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: July 25, 2023.]
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
image: ETPR file/pd
© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-23. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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