Do you have to be saved to get forgiveness for your sins?

Do you have to be saved to get forgiveness for your sins?

QUESTION:

Do you have to be saved to get forgiveness for your sins?

INCORRECT AND UNSCRIPTURAL ANSWER:

The best way to be forgiven sins is to try and make amendments for all you have done that weighs on you. If you cannot make things right in particular instances then try and sort out what is happening around you, being helpful and loving making things better in the here and now.

The fact is that no form of words will wipe out your ‘sinful’ past only ‘good’ actions from now on. There’s no-one floating about elsewhere who can alter the past.

SCRIPTURAL ANSWER:

Yet now henceforth know we him no more

Yet now henceforth know we him no more

Paul writes to the Corinthians and says a startling thing in 2 Cor.5:16. He tells those in the church at Corinth that they should not know man after the flesh, and even though they knew Jesus in the flesh (at that time), they should know Him no more (in the flesh). I emphasize (in the flesh) because this is how we must understand Paul's statement. Paul is not saying we do not recognize Jesus' ministry, but he is saying we do not follow after the teachings and practices that Jesus taught in His earthly ministry, which were specific to Israel’s Kingdom program. Why?

What does ‘working out our salvation in fear and trembling’ really mean?

What does ‘working out our salvation in fear and trembling’ really mean?

Php 2:12-13  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.  13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

To keep this short, let me get straight to the point. “Working out our own salvation” is not us doing good works to justify our salvation. It is not acts of kindness. It is not giving money to the church. It is not activities of any kind that make us feel we did something right or good. To put it bluntly, it is not any type of ‘physical’ actions that we do in this world that ‘works out our salvation’. How can I know this and confirm this? Well, consider this to start with. If our salvation is ALREADY SECURE in Christ (Rom.3:21-28), just by us believing in Jesus and trusting His death, burial, and resurrection (1Cor.15:1-4), then what is this ‘work’ I must do in fear and trembling? What can this ‘work’ do to contribute any more to a salvation I have that is ALREADY 100% SECURE? That does not make sense! In this regard, the ‘work’ being mentioned here has a different context than, to earn, or contribute to, or justify, salvation.

The King James Bible - Purified Seven Times

The King James Bible - Purified Seven Times

The word of God is pure, perfect, and preserved throughout all ages.

Psalm 12, verses 6 and 7 tell us "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever." Let's break these verses down part by part.

1. The words of the LORD are pure words

Notice how the verse says that the words of the LORD are pure. Every one of His words are pure (Pro 30:5). The word pure can take on different meanings but in this sense, it means free from defects; perfect; faultless. There is not a single word in scripture which is in error or that God did not intend to be there.

As believers today, our walk is by faith, not by the physical senses

As believers today, our walk is by faith, not by the physical senses

Faith is the route by which all spiritual blessings come into our lives. God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Paul writes, “Col 3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” We must understand that we can't see them with our physical eyes, we can't hear them with our physical ears, and we can't seek them with our natural senses.

So, how do we seek things that we can't sense with the natural man? How do we see those things and take hold of those things? It’s by the Word of God. We see them, and obtain them, through faith.

In Romans 5:5 Paul says, “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” How does the Holy Ghost shed God's love abroad in our hearts? Is it a feeling? Do we just close our eyes and see if we can feel that love being shed abroad in our hearts?

Qualified to use the Sword of the Spirit

Qualified to use the Sword of the Spirit

The sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, can save a man, Rom.1:16, but it can also kill a man, 2Cor.3:6. If a believer does not use the sword correctly, it can do great harm to those on the receiving end.

Did you notice that in Eph.6:13-18, the sword is the sixth item on the list for a soldier to take up. It is the offensive weapon in the midst of the defensive armour, which is to be put on first. In context and in application, the believer is to be familiar with his armour first, before he goes for the sword. Before he wields the swords, he is to first gird himself with truth, which is the knowledge of the Word. Thereafter, he is to stand straight with righteousness, which is to apply that truth, resulting in a proclamation of the gospel, the exercising of faith, and abiding in that hope of salvation. It is only then, when that soldier is fully prepared, fully qualified, and thoroughly furnished, that the sword should be picked up.