Understanding What It means to be Saved is a simple issue, yet it has been complicated by the Church
If you are already a Christian, and you are not sure where you stand, this message is for you. Many times we run after this preacher, or that "General" as some may call them, without actually examining their teachings. If a preacher or a General doesn't have a clear, simple and consistent teaching on Salvation, you should be alarmed.
You see, salvation is not something you earn by your works. That's what the scripture says.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9.
Verse 9 says
not by works, so that no one can BOAST
Boasting is pride. The definition of pride in the New Testament, is when you boast of your works. When you think that God is pleased because of your works, that is the pinnacle of pride. So humble yourself before the Lord and accept His offer of free gift. Humbling ourselves in this instance means, accepting what God has to offer; believe in Christ. When you receive him, you are given the power to become the son of God. Don't allow pride (self righteousness and religion) to take over your life.
Before we come to Christ, we are created or made after the old man Adam. We have been created in his likeness. Adam, though he was made in the image of God, was deceived and chose pride/self righteousness. The scripture says they were made in God's image, pure and simple(read Genesis 1 -3). But when the devil made a proposal that, in order to become like God, they need to perform (eat of the tree), they fell for it. You see, they could have just said "wait a minute, we are already made according to God's image". That should have settled the issue. The devil attacked them at the heart of the problem: their identity. Once their eyes are taken off of who they are, it's a free fall. That dialogue changed the dynamics of their relationship with God. They had a relationship that was based on God's word:
Let us make man according to our image
.
They were made in God's likeness, to function like God. But they were deceived into thinking that they were not, and they need to perform or eat of the tree TO BECOME like God. Once they chose self righteousness/works/pride, they rejected God's offer.
But thank God for the Good News. Jesus came in the image of the first man, Adam. He then fulfilled the requirement of the Law, and then died, thereby killing the first Adam. When He rose from the dead, He rose a new man. He rose as the second Adam. A man that is not subject to pride, or self righteousness.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new
. If you are in Christ, you have become the righteousness of God. You are a son of God, born of God. You are not born of the flesh, nor of blood, nor of the will of man, like the first Adam. This is the strong foundation that we stand on. Our faith does not stand on shaky ground or sinking sand. Our house is built upon the Rock.
James Akot
Dallas, TX
