People No Longer Need A Savior

A well-meaning Christian said - “Man is still in desperate need of a Savior.” I know he meant well and it may sound right, but think about that statement. It denies that Jesus was and still is the Savior. We do not NEED a Savior, we have one!

Jesus came “...to seek and to save those which are lost” and told people that “if I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me”.  After being lifted up on the cross Jesus said “Father forgive them...it is finished” (Luke 19:10; John 12:32; Luke 23:34; John 19:30)

Christianity is “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” claiming salvation for themselves (which is true), but denying it to everyone else....making it simply an offer from God which must be received and accepted.  In reality the salvation of "all people" was "finished" at the cross of Jesus and proved by his resurrection.  The salvation of "ALL" people is the truth that needs to be believed and shared by the church. It is the message Jesus gave to Paul...

“...the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all people....As in Adam ALL die, even so in Christ shall ALL be made alive...” (Titus 2:11;1 Corinthians 15:22)

"ALL" will become aware of their Salvation when they are "made alive".  There is an order to this knowledge...

“...each in his own order, Christ the firstfruits, then those who are alive at his coming, then comes the end...” (1 Corinthians 15:23-24) 

The ORDER is as follows: 1) Christ is the first to be resurrected to immortality, then 2) those of us who have believed in this age when Jesus returns, then 3) all others at the end of the ages. At that time (probably thousands of years from now) the Bible says...

“...then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be ALL IN ALLl.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-28)

People no longer need a Savior. The Savior came and finished the job more than 2,000 years ago - his name is Jesus!

The Second Death - What Is It?

“...in Adam all die…it is appointed unto men once to die” (1 Corinthians 15:22; Hebrews 9:27)

All people are to die once, not twice.

“...and I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God… and they were judged, each one according to their works…if anyone was not found written in the scroll of the life, he was cast to the lake of the fire - this is the second death…” (Revelation 20:7-15)

Everyone will die and be resurrected where they will be "standing before God".  The "lake of fire" is the "second death", not some eternal torture chamber conceived in the mind of religions. 

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive….The last enemy that will be abolished is death…so that God may be All in all…when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in VICTORY.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-54)

The "second death" and the "lake of fire" are the same thing...

"This is the second death - the lake of the fire.”  (Revelation 20:14)

In this figurative "lake of fire" all that seems to oppose God (unrighteousness) in this age is consumed after being "judged" before the great white throne where all mankind "small and great" appear, and are "changed". And at that judgment by Jesus Christ, EVERY knee will bow and EVERY tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

“For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that EVERY tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

This "second death" will consume mankind's enemies - the adversary (devil), the governments of men (beast) and the religions of men (false prophet), as well as death (the grave). The consummation of those things will usher in a new creation "wherein dweths righteouness". 

"But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells." (2 Peter 3:13)

The bible speaks of the death of a person as a temporary condition, and Jesus referred to it as “sleep”.

"Our friend Lazarus sleeps; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep." (John 11:11)

Paul assures us that all will be awakened out of "sleep" at the resurrection and be saved.  

“And I have a hope in God…that there is going to be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous…” (Acts 24:15). 

“…we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people…” (1 Timothy 4:10). 

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord” (Romans 6:23). 

The grave, our adversaries, our governments, nor our religions will have the Victory over people.  The "last enemy", death itself, "will be abolished" in the "lake of fire".  Then God will be "All in all", not just a few religious folks who think they are the only ones in the body of Christ...

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive….The last enemy that will be abolished is death…so that God may be All in all…when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in VICTORY.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-54)

All mankind will "be changed" in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, to become a part of the new creation where God is "All in all".

“…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... Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away…and God Himself will be among them…and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away…these words are faithful and true.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-54; Revelation 21:1-5)

The Green Mile - Dead Men Walking

Did you see the movie “The Green Mile”. It was about a man on death row. On death row when the inmate made his final walk to his death they called it the Green Mile and those around him would say as he passed by - “Dead man walking”.

Mankind, from the cradle to the grave, are simply dead men walking for the Bible tells us that…

“All have sinned...the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 3:23a; 6:23a)

But God has given us the good news that after our death…

“…the free gift of God is eternal life…” (Romans 6:23b)

Baptism is sometimes misunderstood in churches. In the church where I grew up in the Pastor would repeat these words when he baptized someone - “buried with Christ in Baptism, raised to walk in newness of life”. 

To many this meant that the one being baptized had been saved, had died to sin of the old life, and when they come up out of the water they were clean from sin and would go live thereafter in newness of life among the church family. 

That is not what Baptism represents at all. 

Baptism is the visual testimony of the Good News that just as Jesus died, was buried and was the first to be raised to immortal life, so in like manner all people die, and will be raised to walk in immortal life...That is THE GOSPEL.

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him…The last enemy to be destroyed is death…so that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-28)

So go tell somebody the good news that although the wages for sin is death, the free gift of God is eternal life…and give thanks.

Kept Blameless, How?

“May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

Kept blameless, how is this possible?

Some say it is because of a choice we make. But I think it is because of a choice God made to send his Son into the world to save it, not just to offer salvation, nor just try to save…but to actually SAVE all “ungodly” “sinners”.

“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world…the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world…you see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly…God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us…Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially those who believe…” (John 1:29; 1 John 4:14; Romans 5:6, 8; 1 Timothy 1:15-16; 4:9)

Faith is believing the gospel and it is the means by which mankind can enjoy the good news. But whether sinners have faith in this life or not, God will save all according to the Bible it seems clear to me. 

Maybe the confusion is that some people do not know what they are to be saved from. That too is pretty simple to me. We will be saved out of death, the result of sin, when Jesus returns to resurrect the dead.

“The wages of sin is death...The last enemy to be destroyed is death…Behold I show you a mystery…the trumpet shall sound and the dead will be raised…death has been swallowed up in victory.” (Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:26, 51-54)

Very few Christian leaders agree with me, but nevertheless it is my conviction that the Bible is clear in teaching the ultimate salvaton of all mankind.  

So what about being "kept blameless"? We are kept that way because after we are "transformed" we in fact will be blameless citizens of heaven, just like Jesus.

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to subject all things to himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body." (Philippians 3:21)

Is Heaven Real?

If heaven is real, if it is the utopia that we hope for, if it is a place of eternal bliss in an immortal, powerful, spiritual body, then experiencing the uncertainty and trials that we face now is in fact a “light affliction” in comparison.

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." (2 Corinthians 4:17)

The way our “affliction” is “working for us” is simply that in order for us to get to heaven, we must be born into this “present evil age” and go through some time in this hell of a world in which we live that ends for us all in death.  The path to heaven is through this "evil age" to be rescued AFTER we die to an "eternal weight of glory".

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father…” (Galatians 1:3-5)

It is God’s “will” to do just that, and the means by which He does so is the return of Jesus the Savior to save us by resurrecting the dead.

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

Is heaven real? I don’t know for sure yet, but the Bible says it is and I have chosen to have faith in what it says. For there is no hope or comfort in the alternative.

“…if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:17-19)

Our hope and source of peace and comfort is that the Bible is true, that Christ has been resurrected, the first fruit, and the harvest of all mankind will follow…

“…Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)

If A Man Dies, Will He Live Again?

The question of all questions...asked by Job

"If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my change comes." (Job 14:14)

Jesus gives the simple answer...“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26)

The simplicity of those words are overwhelming to me. And the fact that almost all Christians fail to see the simple truth is equally overwhelming. But they read into those simple words the idea that one must believe in Jesus before the resurrection in order to be among those who never die after the resurrection. The Bible says no such thing.

“I am the resurrection and the life”

Jesus says that the life mankind receives after resurrection is from him.

“He who believes in me, though he may die”

Jesus says that those who believe in him now will die.

“And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die”

All that believed in him at that time are now dead, so he was talking about "whoever lives and believes" after they die.  All of us believers today will also die for "it is appointed unto men once to die” (Hebrews 9:27).

So, how many people will be resurrected to life after they die? ALL if the Bible is true.

“As in Adam all die, even so in Christ, shall all be made alive…that God may be All in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-28)

Since everyone is to be resurrected, how many of them will believe in Jesus at that time?ALL if the Bible is true.

“Look to me and be saved, ALL the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by myself, the word has gone forth from my mouth in righteousness and will not turn back, that to me EVERY knee will bow, EVERY tongue will swear allegiance.” (Isaiah 4522-23)

“…as I live, says the Lord, EVERY knee shall bow to me, and EVERY tongue shall give praise to God." (Romans 14:11)

“For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that EVERY tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

“Come, let US bow down in worship, let US kneel before the Lord our maker” (Psalm 95:6)

“Then I heard EVERY creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and ALL that is in them, saying: To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" (Revelation 5:13)

Do not allow the teachings of men to rob you of the simple truth that Jesus is "the resurrection and the life" and he has promised that "death shall be swallowed up in Victory"...for Jesus is the Savior of the World that God loves.

Rest For Your Souls

“There will come one day a personal and direct touch from God when every tear and perplexity, every oppression and distress, every suffering and pain, and wrong and injustice will have a complete and ample and overwhelming explanation.” Oswald Chambers

That day is known as the resurrection when we all stand before the throne of the Savior of the World and hear him say...

"Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest...you will find rest for your souls". (Matthew 11:28-29)

Believe and Enter His Rest

“Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His REST, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have BELIEVED do enter that REST.” (Hebrews 4:1-3)

God has made a promise that when the gospel is “BELIEVED” the believer can have “rest”. This belief has nothing to do with obtaining salvation, that is a "free gift" from God. Believing gives us “REST” and peace. Some, however, “come short of” believing the good news of their salvation and therefore do not experience “His rest” in this life.

He is talking about "rest" and peace that we can have NOW, in this present world, while we wait for the gospel (good news) of our salvation to be manifested when Christ Jesus returns to resurrect the dead. It is now our "blessed hope” ...

"looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus." (Titus 2:13)

We have peace when we believe the "promise" and are"looking for" him to appear.  When he appears our salvation, the escape from death, will be a reality. It is this gospel (good news) that enables us to “rest” when it is believed.  For Christ Jesus…

“…has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself…And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time FOR SALVATION without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him (are resting by believing)” (Hebrews 9:27-28)

Jesus came the first time and dealt with sin as the great high priest and sin bearer. He is “the lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). He will come the second time to deliver mankind from death just as he himself was delivered from death.

At his second coming the sins of the world will not be considered against them because they were “taken away” by the sin bearing “lamb of God” at his first coming. As the result, the “judgment” of God is to grant sinful mortal mankind immortality as a free gift “in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord….when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, ‘death is swallowed up in victory’….thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”. (Romans 6:23: 1 Corinthians 15:54-57)

Some are able to "REST" in the truth that the salvation of mankind is secure…knowing that although it cannot be earned, neither can it be lost…it is a “free gift" to all sinners who will have paid the wages for sin - death - and have also experienced the GRACE of God in saving them from that death by their RESURRECTION.

Believe and enter his rest now...it is a good place to be in these troubled times.

A Good Read

"If you continue in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (John 8:31-32)

A friend of mine on Facebook posted a link to an article written by Swami Vivekananda relating to the Vedanta Philosophy and commented that it was “a good read”. He was correct and I enjoyed reading the article.

This Vedanta Philosophy reminded me of the above words from Jesus. The truth that will “make you free” remains the truth whether we believe it or not, or however and whenever God allows us to find it. And I am convinced ALL mankind will find it, and it will set them "free". They are to become one with God, finished in His very image, according to the Bible.

I occasionally read the writings of other religions, but I have made the conscious choice to restrict my personal search for truth to the Bible simply because it is the only religious book which categorically claims to be the Word of God. I cannot prove that it is but my choosing to believe it allows me to have a firm foundation for my search for "the truth", rather than be “tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine” as the Bible says. (Ephesians 4:14). It has been hard enough for me to sort through the bad translations and false teaching of the Bible.

My study of the Bible has shown me that all mankind (regardless of their cultural circumstances or religious convictions) will eventually be “made free” or as the Swami might say - be  “enlightened” or reach “nirvana”.  After men die and are resurrected from the “natural body” to their final “spiritual body” they will then be immortal and sinless (the "nirvana" of the Swami in my opinion). Jesus instructed Paul to write the following about the resurrection of the body and soul of man…

“It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, 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. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam (Jesus) became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual…Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. “O death where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-58)

And of course the “work of the Lord” is setting mankind “free” from death into immortal life. 

In referring to Jesus the Swami says…

“Jesus and others like him are free spirits; and Jesus of Nazareth took human form, not by the compulsion of his past actions, but just to do good to mankind. It is not that when a man becomes free, he will stop and become a dead lump; but he will be more active than any other being, because every other being acts only under compulsion, he alone through freedom”

The Swami’s analysis comes closer to the truth about Jesus than the views of some theologians of Christianity that I have encountered, but there is much much more to Jesus than just a "free spirit".  So I don’t plan on starting Yoga anytime soon, but again, thank you Nic, it was a good read.

”No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

When you look at the Greek words translated “temptation” and “way of escape” above you learn that they could (and should) have been translated “trial” and “sequel”. I personally am convinced this fits the context of the "end of the ages", as well as my personal experience with life. Verse 11 had said about the experiences of Israel in the wilderness…

“...they were written for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages have come.” (1 Corinthians 10:11)

Mankind has been tried in past ages and is tried in this present age. All trials show us much evil as well as good. The contrast between good and evil is what we are learning about. The trial brings out the facts about mankind’s failure when left to his own will, resources and wisdom. At the end of the trial mankind dies for missing the mark (sin)…and needs a Savior!

And he has one… there is going to be a “SEQUEL” to the present trials of the evil ages. The resurrection where God makes “all things new” and God (not man) is "All in all".

“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order…so that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-28)

“I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heard my voice” (Jonah 2:6 KJV)

Jonah was delivered out of “hell”. The Hebrew word translated “hell” in the KJV of the Old Testament means the “grave”. But then what?

“For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell…there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.” (Psalm 16:10; Acts 24:15)

So I guess it is not wrong to say that when good or bad people die they both go to hell (“the grave”) until their resurrection…but both will be delivered out of it.

"As in Adam all die, even so in Christ all will be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22)