So I have Salvation Now What??
1 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.
The last part of verse four says God wants us “to come unto the knowledge of the truth". So there must be a truth we can find or come unto. So then the question becomes where do we find this truth? It can’t be a relative thing. There is no truth that changes from one person to another. Truth cannot become a thing that changes. Truth is defined as:
2. conformity with fact or reality; verity: the truth of a statement.
3. a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like: mathematical truths.
5. actuality or actual existence.
Math gives us the best example 2+2=4. It is not 3 because you decide it is 3 or 5 that isn't a separate truth it is plain wrong. The word of God like math does not have one truth for you and another truth for me. You are either saved by believing God raised Jesus Christ from the dead or you aren't. Now there maybe things you need to understand so it does not contradict other scriptures. We either are saved by grace in this age or we are not.
So where are we to look for the truth God is talking about.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The word study means to put forth a diligent effort. We are to put forth a diligent effort to rightly divide the word of God. Every one divides the word of God. The question is do you rightly divide it?
Let’s look at the ESV for a clearer understanding of this scripture.
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Most of the modern translations of the Greek word spoudazō which is the word in the Greek translate it as be diligent or put fort effort. In fact this Greek word is used 11 times this is the only place it is translated as study. It is translated: : endeavour (3x), do diligence (2x),be diligent (2x), give diligence (1x), be forward (1x), labour (1x), study (1x).
It is our job to dig into God’s word. That requires work, I know that is a four letter word but it is a good four letter word.
We have no choice but to go to these ancient words to find the truth. Please never think of the Bible as a stuffy old book it applies to all we do today.
2 Peter 1:3a According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness
That is a big claim! He gave us all things that pertain unto life.
How will you know if that is true if you never even open the book to see what it says? A person with a great deal of love in their heart said those words to me many years ago and here I am still opening the book to dig out those truths that God said, and still learning.
Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
This verse is talking about the people in Thessalonica which was a city in Macedonia. Paul and Silas were there between 2 - 3 weeks and ended up having to leave the city because they had taught the word of God so successfully that many religions were losing their followers and became jealous and had decided to kill Paul and Silas. So they escaped to a town called Bera where they went right back to teaching the bible. These men and women were called more noble because they searched the scriptures see if Paul was telling them the truth.
That is a truth for you to live by never just blindly accept it when someone says something is in the bible. Make them show it to you.I don't care if they have a PHD. If they say something is in the bible then make them show it to you.
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Jesus Christ says that the scriptures all testify about him. So if you read in the Hebrew Scriptures they are in some way talking about Jesus Christ. He read all the Hebrew scriptures. He had to figure out what they meant about him. We should do the same.
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
The stayed means to set upon like you set a speaker on a shelf. It could also be resting upon. We rest our minds on the word of God we need no more support than the word of God. How much can we rely on the word of God? Well let's see what God thinks of his word.
Psalm 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
God has magnified his word above all his name.
Word
Name
That is how important God thinks his word is.
Isaiah 50:7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
Here is what flint looks like:
Flint is a very hard stone. It is used in a lighter to make a spark which causes the wick that is soaked in a flammable liquid to catch on fire. A flint if you mind is stayed on God won't move no matter what kind of a rock you throw at it the rock will bounce off. The flint will be unaffected the rock thrown at the flint may even brake but the flint stays in place.
Read the scriptures do as they say rest your mind on God and never waver
One more thing apply these scriptures in your life.
Let's.look at one of the promises contained in the word of God.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (Proceed) them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
If those who have been saved are all ready with God then why would God need to say we won't pproceed those who are dead? If they are already dead and with God this would be a contradiction.
This is called our hope. It is suppose to be what motivates us. This is when we get our rewards. All the crowns and awards are handed out at this point.
Let's see if we can find any more about our hope
! Corinthians has a great chapter about this exact subject 1Corinthians 15:
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. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
Christ died to pay for our sins. He paid the full price by dying for us. If you remember Genesis God said the day you eat from that tree you will die. He instituted animal substitution that day they ate from the tree. The animal skins had to come from somewhere. Animal sacrifice for peoples sin continued till the death and resurrection of the savior. He paid the price by sacrificing himself.
Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
Preaty clear Christ was raised from the dead.
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man isthe Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
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