Complete Salvation – The Secure Promise Of God

Far too many people feel God is remote, impersonal, and unknowable. Because of that, many Born-Again Christians suffer from an inability to feel forgiven, and live with nagging doubts and fear about their relationship with God. Failure to love and trust God often comes from picturing Him as unlovable and untrustworthy.

In the 50+ years, since I gave my life to Jesus and became Born-Again, I have come to understand experientially that a person's theology is shaped by the way they picture God. A dysfunctional picture of God results in a dysfunctional way of relating to Him and studying His Word, the Bible.

Jesus revealed this truth; "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?" asked Jesus. "Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him" (Luke 11:11-13 NIV).

Those that had a father who was never around when they needed him, or has experienced trauma, abuse, or extreme discipline, will have a challenging time preaching about - and pursuing - an intimately loving and trusting relationship with the Heavenly Father. They will see God as a vengeful judge - spewing out wrath and retribution when saved sinners do by nature, what they do best - sin!" The message of super-abounding grace and God's unmerited favor is very difficult for them to accept.

No one can come to Jesus unless it is granted by the mercy of the Father who chose them as the firstfruits to be saved and sanctified by the Holy Spirit to obtain the glory of Jesus (John 6:65; 1 Peter 1:3, James 1:18; Titus 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 2:13-14). The Holy Spirit sovereignly draws dead people and makes them alive because no one can come to Jesus without Him, and He will raise them up on the last day (Ephesians 2:5; Colossians 2:13; John 6:44; Acts 16:14).

Saved by the Faith of Jesus

Jesus is the one who saves a person, and they cannot save themselves. Salvation is by grace alone and not by any work a person could ever do (See Matthew 25:31-46; James 2:24; also John 3:36; Galatians 2:16;3:1-29; Romans 3:22,28,4:1-25,5:1; Philippians 3:9; Ephesians 2:8-9)

From this point on, I will use the word ‘Christian,’ for “Believer” and “Born-Again Christian,” which is defined as someone who has sincerely repented of their sin and asked Jesus to become their Lord and Savior, becoming Born-Again (John 3:3,7; 1 Peter 1:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17). They are saved by the faith of Jesus plus nothing (Acts 2:38, 16:11; Romans 3:24,6:23, 10:10; Titus 2:11-12, 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9; Galatians 2:21; Mark 16:16).

Salvation is conditional because it is based upon a person repenting of their sin and receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior and it is based upon the faith of Jesus and not our belief in Jesus because His faith is the only valid basis for, and the conclusion of, our believing. Jesus is the Author and Finisher of the one faith (Ephesians 4:5). There is no other faith besides His by which a person can be Born-Again. Jesus is the only source of the finished and perfected saving faith that is in every Christian.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 KJV)

In Greek, the verse reads, “zo en sarki (I live in flesh), en pistei zo (in faith I live), te tou Huiou tou Theou (that from the Son of God).” Paul was saying that his physical life on earth is lived in the faith of Jesus. The word “Son” is a genitive noun, which means He owns all “the faith.” The word “in” (Gk: “en”) denotes rest. The Born-Again Christian lives their life on earth before God in the finished and perfect faith of Jesus! Salvation is all about God’s grace and not a person’s works!

Some words in the Bible have no English equivalent because the Greek and Hebrew languages are significantly different and the perspective of western culture so it is vitally important for every Christian to learn word meanings and the grammar used so they can understand what the writers were saying in the historical context so that there is no misunderstanding caused by a modern way of thinking or word definition. This is why biblical Hermeneutics is so important for proper study/exegesis of Scripture. Relying on English commentaries or interpretations of English translations of the Bible may not accurately reflect what was written in the original languages and instead reflect the translator’s personal beliefs or understanding of God.