SALVATION IS SOTERIA

SALVATION IS SOTERIA
Monday, July 17, 2017
Romans [MKJV] 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation [soteria] to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
Acts 4:10-12 be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in this name does this man stand before you whole. This is the Stone which you builders have counted worthless, and He has become the Head of the Corner. And there is salvation in no other One; for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, cultivate your own salvation [sotria] with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
Ask Christians what the word “salvation” means. Summarizing what I usually hear in response: Going to heaven; Eternal life with God; Not going to hell; Saved from my sins. Forgiven. Redemption.
All wonderfully true definitions, but each alone incomplete and with effect of lacking knowing the true magnitude of God’s salvation that limits our sight and action; what we truly believe in our heart of hearts makes for how we live. When we don’t see salvation framed with God’s enormity we think smaller than possible, doing so setting boundary on our potential to worship God and support others in godliness. (Pr.23:7; Rom.12:1-3)
Salvation is not limited to “Going to heaven when I die or am raptured.”, but is frontier place; salvation is the initial position of commencement.
To aid you in gaining salvation knowledge, I share from Scofield’s study notes:
“Salvation” The Hebrew, and (Greek, "sōtēria", meaning "safety", "preservation", "healing", and "soundness"). Salvation is the great inclusive word of the Gospel, gathering into itself all the redemptive acts and processes: as justification, redemption, grace, propitiation, imputation, forgiveness, sanctification, and glorification. Salvation is in three tenses:
(1) The believer has been saved from the guilt and penalty of sin (Luk_7:50); (1Co_1:18); (2Co_2:15); (Eph_2:5); (Eph_2:8); (2Ti_1:9) and is safe.
(2) the believer is being saved from the habit and dominion of sin (Rom_6:14); (Phi_1:19); (Phi_2:12); (Phi_2:13); (2Th_2:13); (Rom_8:2); (Gal_2:19); (Gal_2:20); (2Co_3:18).
(3) The believer is to be saved in the sense of entire conformity to Christ. (Rom_13:11); (Heb_10:36); (1Pe_1:5); (1Jo_3:2).
Salvation is by grace through faith, is a free gift, and wholly without works; (Rom_3:27); (Rom_3:28); (Rom_4:1-8); (Rom_6:23); (Eph_2:8).
The divine order is: first, salvation, then, works; (Eph_2:9); (Eph_2:10); (Tit_3:5-8).
As ever is so in God’s service, having looked up the above references, read in context, and understanding soteria more fully we may sensibly expand our practice of Philippians 2:12, or opt to live framed small.
EBB4

PIXEL OR PICTURE

PIXEL OR PICTURE

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Matthew chapter 16 … When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. [Mk.8:27-38; Lk.4:4-8; Phil. Chapter 3]

  I read history, nonfiction and fiction. I do not however consider myself even an amateur historian. My motive is not to mentally compile facts and figures, but to gain insight on life past, active enduring current results and influence, and maybe a bit of glimpsing and thereby preparing for the future. I’ve held this attitude from earliest memory, consequently formal history classes were a love/hate matter for me. Details matter. This I will not argue, but I am interested in the big picture that shapes our thinking unto this day . . . and how as with Peter we may fleetingly see the big picture and yet suffer hindering limited vision as we focus on a pixel.

  As I read and study God’s Word I pray for heightened view of life, death, and resurrection.

EBB4

PS. Grandmother McGee would say Peter couldn’t see the forest for the trees.

KNOCK KNOCK

KNOCK, KNOCK

Friday, July 14, 2017

  Recently someone sent me the message “When trouble knocks, let Jesus answer the door.”

  Ah, but who’s to say it is trouble? It could be Jesus knocking, recognition that could be troubling depending on how comfy we are behind the door.

EBB4

OVERCOMING TRIBULATION

OVERCOMING TRIBULATION

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Proverbs [MKJV] 3:5-8 Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear Jehovah and depart from evil. Healing shall be to your navel and marrow to your bones.

Matthew [GW] 4:17 From then on, Jesus began to tell people, "Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near!" [Rom.12:1-3]

Matthew [MKJV] chapter 26 … He [Jesus] went a little further and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will. … He went away again the second time and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done. … [Jn.5:30]

  As God Incarnate, Jesus suffered humanly. Christ being Omni, the complete *scope of His experience is incomprehensible to the human mind or experience. It is especially far beyond the mindset of the natural thinker (1Cor.2:14). And yet He overcame . . . and promised that we as followers trusting Him may do the same. (Jn.16:33)

  Does this mean He guarantees we can overcome cancer et al? Or is Jesus promising that as He, in obedience to the Father, overcame life and death as He suffered it? Do we not see this in His life story? Have we not seen this in people we know? (Our extended family definitely saw this in our dear Ann as she physically suffered and died.)

  God continues to provide. We individually continue to decide to trust and implement, or not.

EBB4

*As we mature we see more. Consider that Jesus as God Incarnate (Jn.1:1) fully saw all. We through maturation may see wheels turning within wheels. God sees the machinations of all hearts at all times. (Jn.1:1; Heb.4:12: in both verses “logos”)

ADVERSITY DEFINED BY O WORDS

ADVERSITY DEFINED BY O WORDS

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Isaiah 55:6-9 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Matthew [GW] 4:17 From then on, Jesus began to tell people, "Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near!"

  Our faith should never stand in the wisdom of man, but the power of God. (1Cor.2:5)

  Romans 12:1-3 instructs us to think and act according to God’s Way. Doing so is authentic worship. In Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth he addresses this issue of thinking apart from the “mind of Christ”.

  In mature understanding and applying God’s Word, adversity will not commonly be seen as calamity, catastrophe, tragedy . . . disastrous. Such rigid framing of events, conditions, and circumstances is apart from the mind of Christ.

  Jesus told His followers they would suffer adversity, explaining “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.“ Lord Jesus Christ tells His followers that adversity is opportunity to overcome. He manifested this. This truth goes against ungodly natural instincts reinforced by a lifetime of familial education. Authentic worship pleasing God is not natural! (1Cor.2:12-16)

EBB4

ADVERSITY IN PERSPECTIVE

ADVERSITY IN PERSPECTIVE

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Psalm 25:1-4 [A Psalm of David.] To You, O Jehovah, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You; do not let me be ashamed, let not my enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none who wait on You be ashamed; let them be ashamed who sin without cause. Make me know Your ways, O Jehovah; teach me Your paths.

Romans 8:14-18 [Paul explaining] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba, Father! The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And if we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; so that if we suffer with Him, we may also be glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed in us.

  The worldview of adversity (difficulties, hardships, danger, misfortune, harsh conditions) is typically negative, in one of or set of several ways.

·         As calamity, catastrophe, tragedy . . . disastrous.

·         UGH! Why me??!!

·         Always about me.

·         Puzzling.

·         Something other individuals and groups deserve.

·         Sorrowfully when happening to loved ones . . . or those we idolize.

·         Gleefully when happening to enemies or those we’re not exactly fond of.

·         Always stressful.

·         Nonchalant, detached, indifferent, unflappable: “Whatever.” “S­­­___ happens.”

·         If not stressed by, person is considered weird

·         As opposition.

·         Always coming in threes. (My familial education from Grandmother McGee.)

·         Always from Satan.

·         Always as chastening from God.

·         Investing considerable anxiety as to whether from Satan, or God.

·         Destructive.

·         Highlighting manner or environment needing more law and regulation.

·         Ruination.

·         The common rule.

·         A fun challenge to be met and overcome.

·         A number of other gloomy points that I’m sure others can add. (Please do!)

  My negative viewpoints changed wonderfully in and by God’s maturation through Romans 12:1-3 rethinking as the result of reading, studying, and application of His Word.

  I think the first lessons were understanding and accepting that all adversity as not aimed at me. God makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Mt.5:45) This includes warm delightful sunshine on a cold day, and instances of scorching heat while working on broken hot machinery in shade-less dry dusty field. And then there are rain storms that I didn’t dance in but hunkered down in boat while on the Chesapeake Bay.

  Next came accepting the truth that if I’m going to grow it will not happen on flowery beds of ease or mirror smooth waters; my Lord’s training grounds often include adversity.

  How else shall we ever meet our appointment to conform to the image of Christ? (Rom.8:13-29; 12:1-3)

  Please know this: Conforming to worldly wrong-headed perspective is the more serious adversity.   EBB4 (March 3, 2011)

COMPREHENDING THE BENEFICIAL MIX OF ADVERSITY

COMPREHENDING THE BENEFICIAL MIX OF ADVERSITY

Monday, July 10, 2017

Matthew [NLT] 16:21-24 21 From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him[k] for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!”Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Mk.8:27-38]

Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

  Depending on our life view adversity may be beneficial, or not. To further understand please consider the following sent to me by Sharon in response to yesterday DT, ADVERSITY SHOULD INCREASE ASSURANCE.

  A visiting Pastor was attending a men’s breakfast at a church in farm and ranch country.  He
asked one of the impressive older farmers in attendance to say grace that morning.  After all were seated, the older farmer began------

  “Lord, I hate buttermilk.”
  The Pastor opened one eye and wondered to himself where this was going. Then the farmer loudly proclaimed, “Lord, I hate lard.”
  Now the Pastor was worried.  However without missing a beat, the farmer prayed on, “And Lord, you know I don’t care much for raw white flour.”
  Just as the Pastor was ready to stand and stop everything, the farmer continued,  “But Lord, when you mix ‘em all together and bake ‘em up, I do love fresh biscuits.  So Lord, when things come up we don’t like, when life gets hard, when we just don’t understand what you are sayin' to us, we just need to relax and wait ‘till  You are done mixin’, and probably it will be somethin' even better than biscuits.

Amen."

  Now reading and considering Joseph’s story recorded in Genesis: After burying Jacob, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had accompanied him to his father’s burial. But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. “Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,” they said.

  So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept. Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said.

  But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them. (Gen.chapter 50)

Nuff said?

EBB4