Friday, November 11, 2011

Is Salvation Permanent? Couldn't We Lose It?

Salvation is not mainly a concern of man. It is one of God's greatest "worries" in the first place.


Though many from the human race worry on their afterlife condition, God had been through it already even before he created the universe to host this tiny planet of ours-earth, the habitation of His creation with whom He was concerned of providing salvation.


So what is this so called "salvation" before we have to bother of knowing whether it could be lost or is permanent?


We can not cover this thoroughly in this article with verse by verse presentation from the Bible. So we'll just make it by Biblical principles less its references.


I-What is Salvation?


In the context of our topic, it Biblically means "God delivering man from the punishment of his offence against Himself."


A-It is a work of a Savior


By common sense, one only needs a savior when he is not able to save himself from a pitiful condition, whether he admits it or not.


The Bible says, man is in his miserable condition. Some don't see it, thus they don't seek and trust anyone to trust just like most of the modern humanity.


Some understood that they are in miserable condition, but they try to resolve by their own selves and did not look for any savior nor acknowledge the Savior to be the answer of their own misery. Many were killed during calamitous times for refusing to get evacuated. This is a perfect example of these sort of victims.


But scripture is clear that Christ is the Savior, if what humanity thinks of having no need of any savior, then Christ was only wasting His time and effort. But "He left the splendor of heaven" took off His glorious state and takes a form of a human servant that He may die at the cross to accomplish the saving work. 


 
B-It is beyond what humanity could accomplish.


If man could accomplish his own salvation, why God has to send a Savior? If man does not need of any savior, Christ was only a moral teacher or some sort of prophet. But many times, He was referred in the Bible as Savior, Redeemer, etc..


All these because man is not able to accomplish salvation for himself.




II-Why is salvation necessary?


A-Man offended God's justice that he is unable to restitute (pay back)


Mankind (through Adam) committed crime against the perfect (infinite) God by not believing on His word (instructions) at the garden of  Eden. In fact the worst happened. Mankind exchanged God's truth with the Devil's lies by listening and obeying his deceptions. The Bible says the offence of man incurred upon himself, death penalty (meaning: separation from something, someone, etc).


The offence of violating a perfect (infinite) principle in God's word is so grieve. It's magnitude is infinite, thus the finite man offended an "infinite justice" which results to infinite punishment-a suffering that has no end or limit. Thus the eternal torment in hell.


B-Payment of this offence is beyond the capacity of his possessions




Man, being finite has nothing in his possession to be able to pay back an infinite debt...nothing but eternal (infinite) punishment in hell. His good works are finite. No matter how good they are, God calls them "as filthy rags", meaning in shortfall of God's standards. Because finiteness is not comparable with infinity.




C-Only Someone with the capacity is able to pay for his offence


Who then from the human race has the capacity to pay? Nobody. Yes, that is why all are doomed to death.


Here came the "worries" of God. Who among the creatures has the capacity to save himself and others? An angel? Lucifer, an Archangel has just fallen.


God sees no other solution than Himself. So "He left the splendor of heaven" and took a human form, 100% human and 100% God. That was the only being that has the capacity to save.




III-Who can do and undo salvation?


A-Salvation is God's completed job.


Daily, the Jewish priests STOOD at the Tabernacle and Temple offering sacrifices continually. But Christ after he had offered Himself as sacrifice, SAT down at the right hand of God.


The fact that Jews perpetually offer burnt offerings at the altar  implied that their work of atonement (payment for reconciliation) is continuous. For hundreds years, the work goes on. But, when Christ came, when He offered Himself ONCE, His work was completed, He SAT down. Because with it He is able to save mankind to the uttermost.




B-Infinity Lacks Nothing and Can't be Lacked by Anything.


If what Christ had completed belongs to the order of infinity, could finiteness deduct anything from it? Infinity, when deducted and multiplied with any number will always be infinity.


C-Man Can't Undo What God Has Completed.


How many percent should man in his finiteness add to God's infinite accomplishment to make it complete? This is the most foolish question I have ever asked. Because..


1- Infinity is more than complete and do not lack anything.


The work of salvation is already complete. It is foolish to complete the work of an Infinite Being by a finite human. Hence, our good works are just "filthy rags". They are "no good" at all for salvation. However, we will reserve good works for its proper place later.


2- You can not take any amount from it to make it lacking.


If man can not add anything to God's  works to make his salvation, could his sinful works (finite) take away God's completed (infinity) work?

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