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  ************* WHAT IS THE TRUE MEANS OF SALVATION? *************

Ephesians 2:8-10 says (the statements in capital letters are my
comments):

 2:8  For by grace (UNMERITED OR UNDESERVED FAVOR) are ye saved
through faith; and that (FAITH) not of yourselves: [it is] the
gift of God:
 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.
 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto
good works (FOR THE PURPOSE OF DOING GOOD WORKS), which God hath
before ordained that we should walk in them (GOD'S FOREORDAINED PLAN
IS THAT HIS PEOPLE DO HIS WORK AND LIVE "RIGHTEOUSLY AND GODLY IN
THIS PRESENT WORLD"... TITUS 2:12).

Paul makes it plain that salvation IS solely by the GRACE of God.
However, most of the religious groups who claim to be part of
"Christianity" ADD VARIOUS WORKS WHICH THEY TEACH ARE NECESSARY (AS
WELL AS GRACE) in order to experience initial salvation.  The
following is a partial list of some of the various "WORKS". Please
keep in mind that not everyone teaches ALL of these are necessary.

(1)  Repentance

(2)  Sinner's prayer for forgiveness

(3)  Broken heart and tears

(4)  Water baptism

(5)  Restitution

(6)  Works of righteousness and good deeds

(7)  Membership in some recognized denominational "church"

I believe that MOST of these things have their place in a Christian's
LIFE as a part of salvation, BUT NONE of these fulfill the teachings
of scripture as to THE MEANS OF GAINING INITIAL salvation.

Paul stated in Romans 13:11b "...for now is our salvation NEARER than
when we believed".  Since salvation is by "GRACE through faith", our
salvation actually BEGINS when we receive FAITH (BELIEVE).  Yet in
this scripture, Paul seems to be speaking of the work of salvation
which extends BEYOND initial believing.

Paul mentions a similar thought in Philippians 2:
 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as
in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out
your own salvation with fear and trembling.
 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to
do of [his] good pleasure.

From this text, we can conclude that:

     (1) Paul is writing to TRUE CHRISTIAN PEOPLE who are ALREADY
saved.  He calls them saints IN Christ Jesus in Philippians 1:1, and
in verses 5 and 6 he is very obviously addressing SAVED people.
     (2) Therefore, Philippians 2:12-13 cannot be teaching these
people to work to OBTAIN salvation, but instead is only instruction
as to how to USE the salvation they already possess to work for God
as He works through them.  This then is speaking of the continuing
process of the experience of salvation.

I Timothy 4:12-16 says:

 4:12  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of
the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit,
in faith, in purity.
 4:13  Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation,
to doctrine.
 4:14  Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given
thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the
presbytery.
 4:15  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them;
that thy profiting may appear to all.
 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue
in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and
them that hear thee.

Paul is saying these things to a young man who was a child of God and
a preacher of the gospel.  He was not saying that Timothy was not yet
INITIALLY saved.  He was speaking of the continuation of his
experience of salvation.

Although there are other scriptural proofs, these should be
sufficient for us to be certain that the word "salvation" is used in
a broad sense in the Bible.  Since that is true, then it is also very
possible that some of the instances where people are being told WHAT
TO DO TO BE SAVED could ALSO be admonitions to press onward in their
salvation.  In other words, some passages referring to "salvation"
ARE ACTUALLY WRITTEN TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INITIALLY SAVED, and
NEED TO CONTINUE IN THEIR EXPERIENCE. Biblically, SALVATION is a
PROCESS!!! If that is not true, then WHY do so many texts speak of
SAVED PEOPLE BEING SAVED???

What scriptures do you think would be best to study as to the means
of initial salvation?  Historical accounts, or straight forward,
DOCTRINAL texts?  In other words, would we want to place more faith
in passages such as Peter's message to a large gathering of LITERAL
JEWS on the day of Pentecost to show us how we may be saved, or in a
text such as Ephesians 2:8?  You may be thinking that I am trying to
leave out part of the Bible.  This is not so.  However, we need to
realize that some texts of scripture which SEEM to contradict others
are sometimes directed to a particular group of people whose
situation may be altogether different than our own.  For example,
Peter's message in Acts 2:38 is used by some churches as the "plan of
salvation". Notice:

 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every
one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Several denominations today tell us that this text is the plan of
salvation. HOWEVER, since there are many other scriptures which
CONTRADICT this text, WHO IS RIGHT (we will show some of those
scriptures shortly)??? We SHOULD at least look and see to whom Peter
is preaching. Is he preaching to you and I today??? Is he preaching
the message for GENTILES??? No!!!!!!!!! Acts 2:5 shows us this
message was preached to "JEWS, DEVOUT MEN, OUT OF EVERY NATION UNDER
HEAVEN". Jesus had told the disciples to FIRST preach the gospel to
the Jews!!!! Peter was doing just that, and the message he preached
was for people who were ALREADY in a covenant relationship with God,
but needed to accept THEIR messiah. Since A.D. 70 and the destruction
God sent upon Jerusalem and the Jews, NO ONE CAN GET ANYTHING FROM
GOD BY FOLLOWING THIS TEXT IN ACTS 2:38!!!!

Paul even STATED in Romans 11:13 that he was the apostle to the
GENTILES (all who were not Jews). He called what he preached, "MY
GOSPEL" (Romans 2:16, Romans 16:25, 2 Timothy 2:8, etc.), so what
Paul preached for the Gentiles was NOT exactly the same as the
"gospel" that Peter and the other disciples preached. We must be
aware of that fact, or we will be deceived!!!!! In fact, IN EVERY
text of scripture, it is ALWAYS important to notice TO WHOM THE
STATEMENT IS SPOKEN!!! Therefore, let us examine several direct
doctrinal statements, and learn what the Bible says is the INITIAL
means of our salvation.  These texts should not conflict with the
facts that Ephesians 2:8-10 has shown us:

(1)  We are saved by GRACE through FAITH.

(2)  Even FAITH is NOT of ourselves.

(3)  Faith (and therefore salvation) is "the gift of God".

(4)  Salvation is "NOT OF WORKS" so we cannot "boast" in ourselves.

(5)  God saves us "UNTO GOOD WORKS" which He has ordained.

James 1:18 says:
 1:18  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that
we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

The Greek word translated "BEGAT" means to "breed forth"; to
"generate"; "to cause to be conceived".  This term is used due to the
fact that the Bible speaks of God as our Father and the church as our
"mother" (Galatians 4:26 and Ephesians 5:22-33).  In the Old Covenant
scriptures, the term "begat" always refers to the FATHER'S part in
the bringing forth of children.  Although it is very popular today to
talk about being "BORN again", there can never be a birth without
conception taking place FIRST. Churches who teach that INITIAL
SALVATION IS A SPIRITUAL "BIRTH" are preaching false doctrine which
is more dangerous than you might imagine, or that might appear at
first glance. What do you think would happen if PEOPLE or ANIMALS
tried to bring BABIES to BIRTH WITHOUT FIRST CAUSING THEM TO BE
CONCEIVED???

I Peter 1:23 says:
 1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for
ever.

I Hope the reader will take time to look up the Greek word which is
here translated "born again".  Its meaning is broad enough that it
CAN be properly translated by using terms which refer to the birth
process.  However, is is even MORE accurately translated by using
terms which refer to FATHER'S part in raising up a new life.  The
term that certainly would fit the context much better is "BEGAT", or
in this passage "BEGOTTEN".  That should be easy to see since the
experience is brought to pass by "seed" (of the WORD OF GOD) which
comes from the Father, GOD.

Let us now consider both these texts (ie: James and I Peter), and
determine whether or not they have to do with the means whereby we
attain INITIAL SALVATION.  Both texts refer to the WORD OF GOD as a
type of SPIRITUAL SEED which brings to pass SPIRITAL CONCEPTION, and
therefore MAKES those who attain such an experience to become
CHILDREN OF GOD.  Since the Bible makes use of such symbolism, we can
compare the SPIRITUAL with the natural, and better understand the
process of initial salvation.

For example, it is common knowledge that no one can do anything to
bring to pass their own conception.  We cannot WILL it; we cannot
WORK at it; we cannot ASK for it. In fact, until we are conceived and
allowed to grow for a considerable length of time, we do not even
know how we got here.

In the same manner, God uses the things He created in the NATURAL
realm to illustrate to His TRUE children the principle by which He
operates the SPIRITUAL realm.  This helps us to begin to see how the
child of God is given spiritual life at the moment of "conception"
through the Word of God. Then they must be SPIRITUALLY FED, NURTURED,
AND CARED FOR by a true pastor (and the family of God) until they
grow enough spiritually to learn how to HELP care for themselves.
They will NEVER get so spiritual that they have no need for their
spiritual family, but they will grow and learn to win many battles by
relying upon the power of God which is indwelling their hearts.

Most who read this will understand the natural process of conception,
so I will not have to go into detail in order to help you see the
SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES illustrated by the fact that there are MANY
SEEDS WASTED for every conception that takes place.  Jesus expressed
this same fact in a different manner in Matthew 7:13-14 where He said
that the multitudes go the way of destruction (ie: they are like eggs
which are never impregnated by the seed of the gospel) and only a
"few" find life (ie: are brought to conception by the seed of the
gospel).  This is not because there are not enough "seeds", NOR
BECAUSE THE SEEDS ARE NOT SOWN, but rather has to do with God's
FOREKNOWLEDGE, and therefore the MANNER IN WHICH THE SEEDS ARE SOWN.

We can see a literal event which "typifies" the spiritual truth
concerning this subject in Genesis 38:9-10.

 38:8  And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife,
and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
 38:9  And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it
came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he
spilled [it] on the ground, lest that he should give seed to
his brother.
 38:10  And the thing which he did displeased the LORD:
wherefore he slew him also.

The word "ground" in this text is translated from the same Hebrew
word which is usually translated "earth".  In our other Bible Studies
we cover the EARTH symbol, and prove that it is a type of the FLESH.
Romans chapter eight speaks of carnality and uses the same Greek word
as is also normally translated "flesh".  Paul says there that the
carnal (ie: FLESHLY) mind is an ENEMY of God, and cannot receive or
be subject to the Law of God.  He also makes the following statement
in I Corinthians 2:14.

 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the
Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can
he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.

The term "natural man" refers to those who are not saved, and
therefore are "natural" or FLESHLY. They do not have spiritual life,
and are therefore unable to truly understand spiritual things.

Notice the following thoughts:

(1)  The FLESH of man, whether he be a child of God or not, is
symbolized by "earth", and that is of course what we are made of
physically

(2)  Whenever any human being, saved or lost, uses their FLESHLY mind
and wisdom (which is all lost people have to use) in order to try to
interpret the Bible or to make decisions concerning spiritual
things, they are casting the "seed" of God's word to the earth (ie.
down to a FLESHLY level).

(3)  As God's people we have a responsibility to try to be very
careful and only sow the seed where it will do some good if God sees
fit to use it at that time.  A good example of this is in Matthew 13
where Jesus uses a somewhat different picture of the earth.  There He
pictures the earth in the spiritual rather than the "fleshly" sense.
He shows four types of ground, and the fact that only the "GOOD
GROUND" (that wasn't full of rocks and thorns and wasn't too packed
down to allow seed to "sink within" and germinate) was "an honest and
good heart" (Luke 8:15).  Matthew's writings in 13:10-17 make very
clear the fact that Jesus was actually trying to HIDE the truth that
He was teaching FROM the multitude.

Notice His words:

 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest
thou unto them in parables?
 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given
unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to
them it is not given.
 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall
have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be
taken away even that he hath.
 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they
seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they
understand.
 13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which
saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and
seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
 13:15  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and [their]
ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest
at any time they should see with [their] eyes and hear with
[their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and
should be converted, and I should heal them.
 13:16  But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your
ears, for they hear.
 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and
righteous [men] have desired to see [those things] which ye
see, and have not seen [them]; and to hear [those things] which
ye hear, and have not heard [them].

Why would Jesus do such a thing as this?  He did not want to be
guilty of casting the word of God to the BAD types of earth (ie:
FLESH).  He took His chosen (ELECT) ones into the house (Matthew
13:34-36), and there explained to them the meaning of the parables He
had spoken.  The multitudes were NOT given the opportunity to hear
the explanations, and therefore could not understand.

Another type which may help the reader to better understand is found
in the very familiar story of God calling Moses to lead the children
of Israel.  In the first few verses of Exodus 4, God miraculously
transforms Moses' rod into a serpent when he cast it unto the earth.
Moses' rod was a "TYPE"  (a symbolic spiritual picture) of the word
of God.  He was a shepherd and he used the rod to defend the sheep as
well as to lean upon when he was weary.  Certainly that is still one
of the purposes of the word of God in the hand of the shepherd
(pastor) today.

It is also just as true today that when a pastor or any Christian
casts the word to the flesh (literalizes it like the Jews of old...2
Corinthians 3), it becomes a "serpent" with poison in its mouth which
will bring destruction to all those who get in its pathway.

Satan transforms his ministers into "angels of light" (II Corinthians
11:13-15) by preaching out of the same Bible that God's people use.
The main difference in his preaching is that he casts the word to the
ground (FLESH).  He does that by reducing the SPIRITUAL to fleshly,
natural stories and doctrines that any lost, fleshly minded person
can understand.  He attempts to make the Bible appeal to the
"natural man".  God does not want LOST people to understand the DEEP
THINGS of His WORD (I Corinthians 2:6-14).

God does not want the shepherd's rod to become a serpent, and He
definitely does not want the seed of His WORD used for FLESHLY
PURPOSES, whether it be in the manner which seems commonplace for
"big time" television evangelists, or whether it be for the purpose
of some "small time" preacher to go into the ministry simply as a
means of making a living.  The work of the ministry must be a
definite calling from God, and not just an attempt to find a vocation
that may provide an easy life.  If a pastor is truly serving God, he
will put in much more time and work harder than he would in any other
vocation.  A true pastor's MAIN salary is paid in Glory.

(4)  God's people need to strive to follow Jesus' example and keep
the truths of the word of God in HIDDEN PARABLE form until men and
women have proven themselves to be part of the "disciples". Jesus'
disciples are those who fulfill his description of such in Luke 14,
and therefore can be taken in the "house" of the CHURCH and be taught
the meanings of the DEEP things of God.

The lost need to be shown the "mirror" of the LAW of God so they can
be made to realize their dreadful condition.  However, the Lord never
intended for lost people to feed on the glorious spiritual manna
which is sent to the family of God to provide strength for spiritual
VICTORY and GROWTH.  Therefore we can easily see that God's GRACE has
sent forth the WORD OF GOD as LAW to convict the lost of their need
of GRACE; as LAW to provide a mirror so the child of God can see
themselves as HE sees them (and thereby know where the sins are in
their life so they can strive with God's help to conquer them); as
FOOD for the spirit's of those who are God's children; and as SEED to
bring forth LIFE spiritually in the hearts of those who are
spiritually dead.  THE SEED PORTION OF THE WORD OF GOD IS BASICALLY
WHAT THIS BOOK IS WRITTEN TO "SOW".  THE "SEED" IS THE TRUTH
CONCERNING MAN'S DESPERATE NEED OF THE GRACE OF GOD DUE TO THE FACT
THAT THERE IS NOTHING HE CAN DO TO SAVE HIMSELF.  THE "SEED" SHOULD
CLEARLY REVEAL THE FOLLOWING TO THE LOST PERSON:

(1)  NO MATTER HOW "GOOD" they become, they can never become
sufficiently perfect to save themselves.

(2)  Since breaking even the "smallest" principle of God's law makes
one guilty of the WHOLE law (James 2:10), then EVEN SAVED PEOPLE MUST
STILL TOTALLY TRUST IN GOD'S GRACE.

(3)  If a person feels a definite attraction to Jesus Christ, and a
desire beginning to rise up within their heart to want to try to
serve and live pleasing to God (NOT JUST A FEAR OF HELL), then God's
GRACE has already begun to work a work in their life.  Too many
people today are turning to WHAT CLAIMS TO BE CHRISTIANITY, as a cure
all for all their problems rather than as a privilege of serving God.
While it is very TRUE that GENUINE SALVATION IS THE BASIS for solving
all man's problems, God never intended that salvation would be
something for people to use for their own selfish purposes.

(4)  A person who is LOST should not expect or hope for some kind of
SCARY, HELLFIRE sermon to bring them to salvation.  You cannot bring
to life an egg within the mother by a SCARING process, and you cannot
bring forth spiritual life in that manner either.  People who use
that method have filled our world with false professing HYPOCRITES,
who bring a great reproach on the cause of Jesus Christ.  They are
trying to get people saved by their own works as they try to get
people to CRY and PRAY their way to God.  God does not hear a
person's prayer until they are His child (Psalms 66:18, Proverbs
15:29 and 28:9, John 9:31, etc.).

(5)  Since we are saved by the seed of the word, and kept saved by
feeding upon the word, THEN PEOPLE NEED TO BE MADE TO REALIZE THAT
THEY NEED TO HEAR THE TRUTH PREACHED MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS
WORLD!

Someone reading this might be thinking, "but where does FAITH come
into the picture?"  Let's take a look at a couple of very familiar
passages of Scripture.  We already saw that Ephesians 2:8 says we are
saved by GRACE THROUGH FAITH.  Romans 10:13-17 says:

 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved.
 10:14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not
believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have
not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
 10:15  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it
is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the
gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
 10:16  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias
saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
 10:17  So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the
word of God.

This text makes very clear the order of the process of initial
salvation.

(1) God must DEFINITELY call, teach, equip, and send a true preacher.
See our study on true pastors for more information on this.

(2) The preacher must preach the TRUTH...not just something out of
the Bible. They might not have great light, but must at least have
the "seeds".

(3) The "seed" penetrates the spiritual "egg", and spiritual
conception takes place (in all except "wayside" ground).

(4) The spiritual life that is produced causes the person to "call
upon the Lord". Once communication is established, God leads and
helps the Child of God to grow spiritually, by sending them to a
true church and a true pastor who will spiritually "feed" and care
for them.

(5) As they "feed" upon the word, they gradually grow up through the
12 stages of spiritual growth and experience greater and greater
blessings from God.

(6) Greater growth allows the child of God to WORK for God in an ever
increasing manner. These WORKS earn spiritual rewards for ETERNITY.

There are HUNDREDS of spiritual "types" in the Bible which prove all
that we have stated in these pages. If the reader is interested, our
other Bible studies will give you opportunity to look into some of
these beautiful spiritual pictures, and therefore to become better
acquainted with these truths. May God richly bless your studies.
                                In His Love, Pastor Doyle Armstrong