Reading Ephesians 2, I am beginning to see that when Paul uses the word 'saved', he is using it for two separate way or event. In Ephesians 2, it is used to signify the event when one is 'saved' from a life of sins. It is the turning point, when one becomes 'alive' to God, realises what he has done is wrong and is given the Spirit to lead a new life. The second meaning of 'saved', especially in the book of Romans, refers to the event in the future when we are finally delivered from our sinful bodies and given a new 'resurrected heavenly body' in which we will sin no more (Romans 8).
This understanding helps me to solve an issue that I have been deliberating on in my previous postings. In my previous postings, I mentioned that salvation is an ongoing process and journey which would only be completed when Christ returns. This goes again the common practice that sees salvation is completed the moment you 'received' Christ and 'said' the so-called 'sinner's prayer'. I see that such an understanding has a weakness which gives the avenue to believers to fall back on a false assurance that they are saved simply because they said the sinner's prayer, but continues to live an unrepentant life, unrenewed by the life of the Holy Spirit (me included).
While convinced with my own interpretation, I was unable to solve the dilemma that arose from the verse in Romans that says one is saved when he believes in his heart and confesses with his mouth. This shows that the event of being 'saved' has occurred in the past. Yet, there are so many other verses, e.g. Romans 5, that says otherwise. Having understood the two separate usage of the word 'saved' by Paul, I am able to find a solution to this dilemma i.e. Paul is referring to two different points of salvation. The first point is when we believed, rescued from living in sins and disobedience towards God's law and covenant. The second is when we are delivered from our bodies of sin and death completely.
Comments
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.
What about this verse?
completion of our salvation process. It fits the notion that salvation
still needs to be worked out through faith and love; submitting to the
Spirit and abiding in His words. It is not like how we were taught -
say the sinner's prayer and you are saved forever no matter what you
do. I think such teachings are not found in the bible.
A sister also asked me about on the same question last week. My answer is that one has to repent and believe in Jesus for salvation. It has to do with your heart not the lips. The man on the cross beside Jesus repented and believed in Jesus at his last moment. Jesus said that he will be in paradise with Jesus the same day. Hence, I believe that mere saying of the sinner's prayer coupled with a repent and believing heart, does obtain salvation.
Luk 23:39-43
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
The question is can you lose you faith? The dying thief-saint on the cross has no chance to lose his. But what about us? Can we lose faith and unlike Paul, not finish the race? Not enduring to the end? Fall away like what the author of Hebrew says and beyond repentance? Can we believe and confess initially, but later on decided to continue to live in sins and die, of which Paul has warned us of?
These are the questions you need to ask as well. But the greatest concern for me is that whatever teachings we hold on to, it needs to be biblical and supported by what we read in the bible rather than merely accepting what we are taught when we first entered the community of believers.
The trick is keeping it.
An analogy.It is like loving your wife to the end. How many actually does that in our present day? Or rather give up, and be seduced to another or something ?