Monday, April 24, 2006
Resurrection of Christ - Essential Belief
I took the time to re read Romans last night.
This is what I see in the scriptures, specficially Romans 10.
Salvation happens when two things occur
1) God's initiative
2) Our response
How does God initiate our Salvation? 3 ways that I see.
- Scripture says no man can call Jesus Lord except by the Holy Spirit so the Holy Spirit does a work in our heart.
- Scripture says that no man can come to God unless the Father draws Him. Now 1 and 2 could be the same. It could be that the Father via the Holy Spirit draws a man, but I like the thought of both working to draw someone to themselves.
- the third way I see God initiating our Salvation is thru the foolishness of preaching. God for His purposes has decided that preaching of the Gospel is what leads men to repentance and salvation.
These verse show (to me) what one must believe to be saved:
(Rom 10:10) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation.
(Rom 10:11) For the Scripture says, "Everyone believing on Him shall not be put to shame."
Repentance, Metanoia means a turn around, to go in a different direction.
What must be believed in the heart and confessed with the mouth?
(Rom 10:9) Because if you confess the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.
How do we know this? Where do I get the 'third way' that God initiates our Salvation?
Well here:
(Rom 10:14) How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without preaching?
(Rom 10:15) And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things!"
(Rom 10:16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"
(Rom 10:17) Then faith is of hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
So preaching is the third way I see that God initiates our Salvation. I know that not all scripture is clear. I know that there are non-essentials over which we will disagree and struggle.
But this is pretty clear.
God initiates we respond. Our response totally dependent on God's working on us first....
Then what happens?
(Rom 10:11) For the Scripture says, "Everyone believing on Him shall not be put to shame."
So. I see this as the God ordained method of salvation. Does it require an altar call? no. Can someone be saved this way at baptism, certainly.
Ephesians 1:13 really fits here as well.
"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,"
God's peace.
This is what I see in the scriptures, specficially Romans 10.
Salvation happens when two things occur
1) God's initiative
2) Our response
How does God initiate our Salvation? 3 ways that I see.
- Scripture says no man can call Jesus Lord except by the Holy Spirit so the Holy Spirit does a work in our heart.
- Scripture says that no man can come to God unless the Father draws Him. Now 1 and 2 could be the same. It could be that the Father via the Holy Spirit draws a man, but I like the thought of both working to draw someone to themselves.
- the third way I see God initiating our Salvation is thru the foolishness of preaching. God for His purposes has decided that preaching of the Gospel is what leads men to repentance and salvation.
These verse show (to me) what one must believe to be saved:
(Rom 10:10) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation.
(Rom 10:11) For the Scripture says, "Everyone believing on Him shall not be put to shame."
Repentance, Metanoia means a turn around, to go in a different direction.
What must be believed in the heart and confessed with the mouth?
(Rom 10:9) Because if you confess the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.
How do we know this? Where do I get the 'third way' that God initiates our Salvation?
Well here:
(Rom 10:14) How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without preaching?
(Rom 10:15) And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things!"
(Rom 10:16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"
(Rom 10:17) Then faith is of hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
So preaching is the third way I see that God initiates our Salvation. I know that not all scripture is clear. I know that there are non-essentials over which we will disagree and struggle.
But this is pretty clear.
God initiates we respond. Our response totally dependent on God's working on us first....
Then what happens?
(Rom 10:11) For the Scripture says, "Everyone believing on Him shall not be put to shame."
So. I see this as the God ordained method of salvation. Does it require an altar call? no. Can someone be saved this way at baptism, certainly.
Ephesians 1:13 really fits here as well.
"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,"
God's peace.
