The Incredible Gospel of Jesus
Part 5

Salvation

The Church View:
     There is one way to be "saved"; accept Jesus as your personal savior.  If one does not do this in this life, they are, at the very least, in grave danger of suffering eternal damnation and suffering. There are no considerations for the billions of others in the world who do not use the Bible as their source of inspiration, or simply do not know about this requirement. 

The Bible View:
     Jesus died for the sins of all mankind; through his death and resurrection all mankind will be brought to that realization Some will be aware before others.  God, the Father, gave Jesus the authority over all mankind and commissioned him to give eternal life to all those he was given.

Salvation for All

♦  I Timothy 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
♦  I Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
♦  John 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
♦  Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
♦  Acts 17: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
♦  I Thessalonians 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
♦  John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
♦  John 1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
♦  Romans 11:32. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
♦  Luke 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
♦  Luke 3:6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
♦  1 John 4:14. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
♦  1 John 2 2. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
       The word "propitiation" comes from the Greek word "hilasmos", pronounced hil-as-mos', meaning atonement, i.e. (concretely) an expiator: Expiate means: to put an end to, to extinguish the guilt incurred by, to make amends for.
       The concept that "all" mankind will be saved is difficult to comprehend and almost impossible to accept.  The evil as well as the good, and not just some of the evil, but, even the lowest of the low, is an anathema to all that we are taught. Yet, there it is, that all will see the salvation Jesus died to deliver. 
       And, the difficulty in accepting this was as troublesome for his followers to accept, as it is for all who have ever considered it.  He was approached by a rich man searching for salvation and Jesus told him he must sell what he had and give it all to the poor, which he could not do.  Jesus then gave the well-known example comparing a wealthy man's chances of entering the Kingdom of God to the difficulty of trying to squeeze a camel through the eye of a needle.  This led to the question from his disciples about how those unworthy could make that transition.  His answer is the key to this dilemma: 
♦  Mark 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.     
♦  Romans 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
♦  I Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
♦  A study of Paul, God's ambassador to the Gentiles, will show that he was one of the foremost persecutors of the saints.  It was said that in the day of his reign of terror against the church that Jerusalem was lit up at night from the fires he started to burn the Christians alive.  There are no figures available about how many he killed, nor the unspeakable horrors he visited upon the church, but, no doubt, he was considered the Hitler of his day, committing a holocaust against the first Christians.  Yet, we see him called into Jesus' service and forgiven of the most serious sins against the beloved church Jesus established that any man could commit.  Paul, a sworn enemy of the saints of Jesus, was saved; and you can't get much worse than him.  He knew Jesus and not only rejected him but was committing genocide against his followers.

Salvation is the Gospel

♦  Mark 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
♦  Romans 1:16 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.
♦  I Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
♦  Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
♦  2 Timothy 1:9 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, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
♦  2 Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Salvation From Death
♦  Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
♦  Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
♦  Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
♦  James 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Salvation and Everlasting Life
♦  Luke 18 26. And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? 27. And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. 28. Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. 29. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, 30. Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

Salvation, Endurance and Everlasting Life
♦  Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.(1)
♦  Mark 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
♦  John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
♦  James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Salvation and Knowledge of the Truth
♦  1Timothy 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Salvation and a Calling to Immortality
♦  2 Timothy 1:9 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, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Salvation and Heirs
♦  Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Salvation and Sons
♦  Hebrews 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Eternal salvation
♦  Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Salvation, Faith, Belief, Hope, and Everlasting Life
♦  Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
♦  Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
♦  John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
♦  John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
♦  John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
♦  John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
♦  John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
♦  John 7:30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
♦  John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
♦  Acts 16:30 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 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
♦  Luke 7:50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
♦  Luke 18:42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
♦  Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
♦  1Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
♦  1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
♦  1 Peter 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

Salvation and Reverence to God
♦  Acts 13:26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
     feareth - phobeo, pronounced fob-eh'-o; to frighten, i.e. (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. revere:

Salvation and Confessing the Lord Jesus
♦  Romans 10:9 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.

Salvation and Calling Upon the Name of the Lord
♦  Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Salvation and Selflessness
♦  I Corinthians 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Jesus as Saviour
♦  Luke 1:47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
♦  Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
♦  John 4:42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
♦  Acts 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
♦  Acts 13:23 Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:
♦  Acts 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
♦  Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
♦  I Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
♦  I Timothy 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
♦  I Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
♦  2 Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
♦  Titus 1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; 4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
♦  Titus 2:10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
♦  Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
♦  Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
♦  Titus 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
♦  2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
♦  2 Peter 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
♦  2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
♦  2 Peter 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
♦  2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
♦  I John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
♦  Jude 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

     There can be no doubt that the incredible realities of the gospel Jesus brought to mankind are the same treasures humanity has desperately searched for throughout its existence. Scripture absolutely confirms that this great gospel is that humans were created in the image of the Gods, to become gods, with all the characteristics of those Gods and full conversion into that divine race. The highest goal to which a human can aspire is to become an immortal, wise, all-powerful being with complete dedication to a perfect universal force. This, we believe, is the ultimate and true destiny of humanity. We also believe this is the gospel defined in the Greek as "a good message" that Jesus preached, and every word in the Bible leads to. What better "good message" could he bring? While the church will no doubt scream blasphemy and heresy from the rooftops, the biblical realty stands firm in its most important and relevant declaration to the entirety of humanity, the greatest message ever to fall on human ears: