WHAT IS BEING SAVED? WHAT IS SALVATION

(THE SOJOURN TO PEACE & PARADISE)

PART 6: PART 2 DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM ARE NOT GUARANTEED SALVATION (MATTHEW 3: 9)

In the name of God Master, of the Universe, Ruler of the earth

Editors Note: All out over the earth I see various modes of transportation. I bought a used car. I also paid my fare on a bus a train and I purchased an airplane ticket. The train was also accessible especially along the eastern sea board. When will they come to the south?

Meanwhile John knew that his ticket was paid for in advance for the place called Heaven. But it cost nothing in money that man used. However there were some that did not realize the Biblical meaning of this free-gift. They also thought it was a free-ride.

What do you do to get to Peace and Paradise? I realize the promise but nothing is guaranteed except what God will do. What will you do? Does this trip this ride that is not free but is a free-gift granted to all? Yes and no. Some will accept the ride and some will believe they can buy the gas in their own time.

Greetings Brethren,

Peace be unto you. To the Church (the Church of Christ Jesus the Prophets and Apostles) and believing Christians everywhere. To those that believe in the Bible (the Spirit of God) as the supreme authority that governs all of humankind. In this we give thanks to God the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit that leads and guides us the straightway. We also come with no material motive or gain or profit from rendering the Truth of God. Those called to great service are given the greatest prosperity that exists by God and not man.

Beloved praise God for the time and effort granted to us to be able to look to God’s Word for His Truth. Thus we are grateful today, yesterday and tomorrow for the will of God toward our on-going conversion. We salute you with love and the compassion of the saints that has been handed down to all that keep God first. We resume our most important discussion with the 9^th verse taken from Matthew 3. Here we will find an additional report on understanding the components of salvation.

Matthew 3: 9 “And think not to day 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.”

Again we note that our beloved John the Baptist was preaching to the brethren at this place. The Bible also reveals that John was an inspired man. As willed by Almighty God John could read the thoughts of those that were full of pride and boasted of their greatness. They were great pretenders very similar to those that play a wicked game of Church during the days in which we now eat and take breath. Meanwhile for your thought and mediation what is the inspiration of those that speak, write and preach for God during the days in which we now live?

Regardless of this reality these particular Jews were full of pride regarding their ancestry. Are there any parallels with this thinking and those that believe today that they are so holy that they are guaranteed Heavens door? Do these same people believe that they can also pass on their divine salvation to their heirs? Stay with us as we will eventually see actually what the Bible teaches about heirs and salvation.

John showing compassion and love to his brethren did not seek to belittle the works of Abraham the patriarch. But he noted that just because one has descended from Abraham does not entitle one to special favors in their wrong doing. For the record it was God’s will that the lineal (direct line of descent, hereditary) descendants of Abraham become a special race for His purposes. But this was not because no other plan would have been possible. God has all power and He wills things as He sees fit. This was one such instance. Also we remind you that the word lineal used here (to note the descendants of Abraham) makes a transition to include those not lineal and those that by faith accept Christ.

Look now at a further note on God’s power. He could have ordered or commanded the stones to give birth to those that would be Abraham’s seed. However, God never intended to do that. But the conversion of the Gentile heathen into the descendants of Abraham by faith would be forthcoming. To see this follow us to several cross references and sweet companion scriptures.

At John 8 verses 33-39 Jesus teaches us about the true children of God. Our primary verse is verse 33:

“They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?”

Beloved to fully understand this verse and our interest toward the aspects of salvation look now with us to several verses prior to our primary verse.

John 8: 31-32 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;”

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth it shall make you free.”

Merely or simply verbalizing or say you believe in the Lord is not enough. Is this what the “Once saved always saved,” people believe guarantees them salvation? Do they also then apply the fact that Jesus died for our sins to this equation? Meanwhile we see that a profession of love for the Lord must be followed or answered with obedience and adherence to His teachings. You have to do something yourself to be saved to Peace and Paradise.

How is the Truth obtained by the saints? Is the Truth automatic? Nothing is guaranteed with Lord without your involvement. For example you have to open up your heart to allow God in. Then God can work His divine will upon you. Now as we review verse 33 we see that they answered Him. These were the ones that had not become believers. They thought the statement made by Jesus to mean bondage forced upon them by man, in social and political circles.

But even from this realm of thinking they were incorrect if they were talking about Abraham’s descendants as a group. For the record they had spent over four centuries in bondage in Egypt and 70 years of captivity in Babylon.

We have to include verse 39 for it also teaches us more about this topic especially faith which is at the core of receiving salvation to Peace and Paradise.

John 8: 39 “They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father, Jesus saith unto them, if ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the work of Abraham.”

The mention of Abraham as their father means that they were in the blood-line of Abraham. Remember the lineal descendants. But remember this is no reason for special privileges because all (Gentiles) will be included as the seed of Abraham with the acceptance of Christ. Meanwhile Jesus says, “If ye were Abraham’s children.” Here Jesus means to question their true relation to Abraham in faithfulness. So if they were truly the children of Abraham they would have shown the traits worthy of their ancestors. So what does faith have to do with receiving the free gift of salvation to eternal life?

Cont. Part 7: What Does Faith Have To Do With Salvation (Romans 4: 11)

Peace and Paradise,

Dr. Carl A. Patton writing for the FreedomJournal Press 21 July 2010 in the year of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus.