The
Way of Salvation-Part 2
The New
Testament Truths of Biblical Salvation are related to principles
of the New Covenant. Since we will deal with the New Covenant
in
a separate writing, we will try to deal with only the highlights of
Salvation.
Many
today have heard about "Salvation"
from their
Pastors and Preachers. Most churches will be quick to tell
anyone
how to be "saved" – yet every church seems to have a slightly
different
description of what Salvation is. Why is this? It
is
because most do not hold to the Truth of Scripture, but to various
"paradigms" or "spin" of Scriptural Truth. This mixture of
Truth
and error is called the Tradition and Doctrines of Men, and according
to Scripture, this is what turns men from the Truth.
Today
Yahuweh
is calling His people to look only to His Word – the Bible
– for the
answers for all Truth. To do this, we
must diligently search
the Scriptures, but we must first be willing to discard the Traditions
and Doctrines of Men. We must then test everything against
the
Scriptures.
Any idea or
notion must be tested against Scripture, just as the Bereans did: they
searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things that the Apostle
Paul said, were true. How much more should we do the same,
for
things we hear from our leaders?
Over
the years, many groups
have codified and written down those views of Bible subjects as they
have understood them. Man has seen and understood only a
partial
view,
however, and has had only a flicker of Light on various subjects.
May Yahuweh open our eyes, and illuminate His Word for us
today!
Yahuweh truly is opening men's eyes today,
and
illuminating the Scriptures,
so that they might prepare to enter in to the Promised Land.
For those who
sincerely seek the Way of Life, we must return to the Scriptures, to
find the clear and simple message of Salvation. The
Scriptures reveal to us exactly
what Salvation is, and what it is not. In this
series we will look some of the highlights of Salvation,
according to
the Scriptures.
In order to help us have a good
understanding of "Biblical" Salvation,
we must look at all of Scripture. We will now look at the
primary
example the Bible gives, that will help us to see what Biblical
Salvation really is.
Israel As
Our Example
The
New Testament refers many times to Israel as our example. So,
let's look the following passage in Jude:
"I
will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how
that the Lord, having saved the people out of the
land of Egypt..." (Jude 1:5a)
In
this passage, Jude is simply recounting what is said in the Torah:
Thus
the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of
the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea
shore. (Exodus 14:30)
Notice
that the Scriptures refer to the entire event of Israel's "coming out"
of Egypt as being "saved" out of the land of Egypt.
Coming
Out Of Egypt
We
recall that it was by the "Blood of the Lamb" that Israel was redeemed
from Egypt, by Yahuweh's power, and His strength –
by His Grace.
Notice
what happens immediately after Israel left Egypt:
"Moreover,
brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our
fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were
all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and
in the sea..." (1 Corinthians 10:1-2)
Here
we are reminded that the nation of Israel, having "come out" by the
Blood of the Lamb, were next "Baptized" in the cloud and in the sea.
This scenario is a
prophetic picture of Believers today, who are first redeemed by the
Blood of the lamb, then become baptized in water, and in
the Holy Spirit.
It
was this "Baptism," we are told, that not
only saved the Israelites, but drowned the Egyptians. Notice
that
this event is what is referred to as "saved Israel" in the
above
passage in Exodus.
So we see that the
entire event of
"coming out" by the Blood of the Lamb, and being Baptized in the cloud
and in the sea, is called "having saved" the people in the
Book of Jude.
Israel's
"coming out of Bondage of Egypt," is
the exact parallel of the New Testament Believers' "coming out
of
Bondage of Sin," and becoming free to choose whom they will
serve.
Both Old and New
Testaments reveal that the "
coming out" for Israel,
and for
Believers today, is
only by the Blood of the Lamb,
and water Baptism.
It is clear also that for Israel, and for us today,
this "
coming out" is
only by
the Grace of Yahuweh.
He Brought them
Out – to Bring Them In
Scripture
has much to say about the Salvation of Israel from Egypt, and also
about Salvation of Believers today. But we must ask some
questions.
For what purpose did Israel "Save" His
people? Why did Yahuweh "Bring out" His people? Did
He bring
them out, with the intention of leaving them alone, to die in the
Wilderness? Notice that Yahuweh tells us His purpose for
"Bringing
them Out" of Egypt:
"And he brought
us out from thence, that he might bring us in,
to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers."
(Deuteronomy 6:23)
Notice
Yahuweh's purpose for "Bringing them out" by the Blood, was so that He
might "Bring them in." But did the generation that was
"Brought
out" by the Blood, enter in? No! All that generation, except
Joshua and Caleb, died in the Wilderness. They failed to enter in.
If
that seems a little harsh, let's now look at Yahuweh's greater purpose,
the very reason for bringing His people out of Egypt, and for giving
them the Promised Land.
The Purpose for
the Promised Land
First, let us recall the purpose for
bringing Israel out of Egypt:
"And
he brought us out from thence, that he
might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto
our fathers." (Deuteronomy 6:23)
Now,
let's notice the bigger picture. Notice the reason Yahuweh
gives,
for bringing them out, and for giving them an inheritance:
"And
he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen
with gladness: And gave them the lands of the
heathen: and they inherited the labour of the
people; That they might observe his statutes, and keep his
laws. Praise ye the LORD. (Psalms 105:43-45)
Notice
Yahuweh's purpose for the Promised Land was "That they might observe
his
statutes, and keep his laws."
Now
this is not just a description of purpose for the Israelites in that
day. No, it is likewise Yahuweh's statement of purpose for
His
people today! This is a description of the life of those that enter
in-- both before and after "entering in" to the Promised Land.
However, that generation of Israel refused to walk
in obedience, so they were refused entry to the Promised Land.
Most
of That Generation Failed to Enter In
"But
how did that happen?" We ask. They had been Saved from Egypt
by
the Blood of the Lamb, and by water Baptism. What
happened?
Both Old and new Testament Scriptures have much to tell us about what
happened to them, as a "Warning" to us today!
Now
all these things happened unto them for ensamples:
and they are written for our admonition,
upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him
that
thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (1 Corinthians
10:11-12)
Let us
therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering
into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
(Hebrews 4:1)
This second
epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your
pure minds by way of remembrance: 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 3:1-2)
With
such serious warnings, it seems we should be searching diligently to
find out exactly what that generation did, and exactly why they were
refused entry into the Promised Land. Let's look.
Why
They Failed to Enter In
We
are told in two chapters of the Book of Hebrews why that generation of
Israelites failed to enter in. We are told also in
the
passage above in 2 Peter, that we should be mindful of what the
Prophets have spoken.
So let's see what the
Prophets have said about why Israel failed to enter in:
But
the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked
not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments,
which if a man do,
he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly
polluted: then
I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to
consume them. (Ezekiel 20:13)
Notwithstanding
the children
rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes,
neither kept my
judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live
in them;
they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would
pour out my fury upon
them, to accomplish my anger against them in the
wilderness. Ezekiel 20:21
I
lifted up mine hand
unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the
heathen, and disperse them through the countries; Because they had not
executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes,
and had polluted
my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their
fathers' idols.
(Ezekiel 20:23-24)
These reasons
given above by the Prophets are
for our wisdom, and our learning. Notice how the Book of Hebrews refers
to these actions by the Israelites:
But
with whom was he
grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned,
whose
carcases fell in the wilderness? Hebrews 3:17
And
to
whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them
that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in
because of
unbelief <570>. (Hebrews 3:18-19)
Let
us labour
therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after
the same
example of unbelief <543>. (Hebrews
4:11)
In the
above passages, we see first, that the Israelites had
"sinned."
We then see that the reason given in Hebrews 3:19 is "unbelief," as the
meaning for the Greek word, Strong's number <570> tells
us.
Then we see that the reason given in Hebrews 4:11
is given as
"disobedience", as the Greek word, Strong's number
<543>
indicates. But what is this "sin" and "unbelief" and
"disobedience" we are warned of? Let's look at the New
Testament
definition of "Sin:"
Whosoever
committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the
transgression of the law. (1 John 3:4)
So
Israel "sinned." They "Transgressed the Law" – the
Torah.
We are told they despised Yahuweh's Statutes, and did not keep His
Judgments, and polluted His Sabbaths, and went into the idolatry handed
down from their "fathers." Does all this apply to us today?
What
we see above is confusing to many. We have been taught that
we
are saved by Grace, and not by the Law. We are saved by the
Blood, and not by works. These are true, but are only one
side of
the two-sided coin called "Biblical Salvation."
Like
Israel,
we "come out" by the Blood of the Lamb, and we then are baptized in the
water and in the Spirit. We "come out" by the Blood, and by
His
Grace.
But from what the Scriptures are
telling us,
"coming out" is only half the picture. We must then "enter in" by His
Grace, by obedience! Notice that both "coming out"
and
"entering in" is only by His Grace – by His enablement given
by His
Spirit.
Israel
failed to enter into the Promised Land in that day, due to
disobedience. Likewise, Believers today can also be
refused
entry into the Promised Land – due to disobedience
of the SAME
Commandments, Statutes, and Precepts!
Is this
true? Can
this concept be seen in Scripture? Let us look carefully at
the
words of Yahushua to determine this.
What
Did Yahushua Say?
As
mentioned earlier, the concepts of Salvation and Eternal Life are used
interchangeably throughout Scripture. Let's notice some
questions
asked of Yahushua, and the answers he gives:
And,
behold, one
came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I
may have eternal life? And he said unto
him, Why callest thou me
good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter
into life, keep the commandments. (Matthew 19:16-17)
And
when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and
kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may
inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why
callest thou me
good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest
the
commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not
steal, Do not
bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. (Mark
10:17-19)
And, behold, a
certain lawyer stood up, and tempted
him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
He said
unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
And he
answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy
mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast
answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.(Luke
10:25-28)
And
a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to
inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why
callest thou me
good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the
commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not
steal, Do not
bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. (Luke
18:18-20)
Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few
that be saved? And he said unto
them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many,
I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall
not be able. (Lu 13:23-24)
Notice
in each of the above
passages, Yahushua is asked
the same question, in broad, general terms. In each case,
Yahushua
gives the answer in broad, general terms, but does not give the
specifics on how this salvation, this "entering in," is to be
accomplished.
In
His answers,
Yahushua is telling us exactly how we must "enter in," and in the
answer
given in Matt 19:17, He tells us the clue that this refers to the
"enter-in" side of the salvation coin, rather than the "come-out" side.
Note in the last passage above, Yahushua equates "being
saved" to
"entering in."
What
Yahushua has NOT told us in His answers, is that the ONLY way someone
may enter into eternal Life, is that they must meet two requirements:
1.
They must first "come out" by Grace, by the Blood of the 'Lamb.'
2.
They must "enter in" only by "Messiah-in-you" to provide the Grace
– the enablement given by the Holy spirit from within
– to keep the
Commandments.
So we see that the
Israelites
lacked the obedience that
would have allowed them in. Likewise, everyone today
lacks this same obedience – unless they
allow
"Messiah-in-you" to
provide the Grace to accomplish this obedience!
The
basic Torah requirements have not
changed. They are the same for us, as they were for the Israelites, and
for Yahushua, except for
a few changes. The New Covenant changes, mentioned in the
book of
Hebrews, are the "Better Things" listed in Hebrews.
These
changes are simply a change in the Priesthood –
Yahushua is the
High Priest,
after an eternal order; and in the sacrifice – the Blood of
Yahushua,
which is better than the Blood of bulls and goats.
In
fact, if
the "Law" (the Torah) were "done away," we would not be "forgiven by
the Blood of Yahushua" – because it is the
Torah
that prescribes
forgiveness by Blood, and so it is
only by the
Torah that we are redeemed by Yahushua's Blood, and forgiven (Heb 9:22).
Instead
of being external, the
Commandments are now
internal. Instead trying to obey the Commandments by our own
strength, our own ability, it is now
"Messiah-in-us" who gives us the
'Grace'
– the ability to keep the
Commandments!
What Did the Apostle Paul
Say?
The
apostle Paul described both the "coming out" and "entering in" sides of
the Salvation "coin." Let's look at the following passage:
"Much
more then, being now justified by his blood..."
(Romans 5:9a)
In the above verse, we
see the "
come-out" stage of Salvation – of
being
justified
by the Blood of the Lamb. Now notice:
"...we
shall be saved from wrath through him."
(Romans 5:9b)
Above
we see the "
enter-in" stage of Salvation –
of being "
saved"
through Him (through
'Messiah-in-us' living His Life). This passage is one of many
that reveals that it is HIS life that will cause us to
walk in obedience. Now notice again:
"For
if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God
by the death of his Son..." (Romans 5:10a)
Again,
we see above a reminder of the "
come-out" stage
– of
being "
reconciled"
by the Death, the Blood of the Lamb. Now notice
again:
"...much more, being
reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."
(Romans 5:10b)
Above, we
see again the "
enter-in" stage – of being "
saved"
through His Life (again, the "Life" of 'Messiah-in-us,' as He
walks in obedience, in us).
Again
Paul is reminding us that it is Yahushua's life within us, and it is by
HIS Grace, that we will be "saved" – that we will "enter in"
to eternal
Life.
Paul understood the mystery of
"Messiah-in-you" (see Col
1:27), and he reminds us that "He-in-us" is our "only" hope of Glory
– of
entering in to the Glory of Yahuweh. Notice next what Paul
tells us:
For I delight in
the law of God after the inward man:
(Romans 7:22)
Paul
understood the importance of the Law (the Torah) being written in the
inward man, thereby allowing "Messiah-in-us" to carry out, and
to
obey, the Father's commandments through us, even though seeming to be
"unfamiliar" to us as gentiles.
Our
Salvation
We have
seen that Biblical "Salvation" is really a two-sided issue, one of
"Coming out" by the Blood of Yahushua, the Lamb, and then of "entering
in" by the obedience of "Messiah-in-us," as we allow Him to do
so. Both aspects of this Salvation are by His Grace
– His
enablement from within.
We have seen that in
Scripture, the
term "Salvation" refers to the "coming out" stage, as well as to the
"entering in" stage. We have seen likewise that the term "Salvation" is
applied in Scripture to the overall process.
We have
seen that
the ministry of the Blood of the Lamb is for Redemption, and
Justification, by Grace, to bring man "out" – out of Egypt,
out of
bondage to sin.
We
have seen that the
ministry of obedience, by Grace, by the life of "Messiah-in-you," is
to bring man "in" – in to the Promised Land – the
Kingdom of Heaven – the City of the Great King.
As
we reflect on what we
have seen, let us heed these words of the apostle Paul: