FULL SALVATION PART 1

FULL SALVATION

The Word tells us that Jesus was slain before the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8). Thus, the transgression and failure of Adam did not take God by surprise, as the Lord had a purpose in mind when He created man.

"In the beginning, God ..." Before anything was created, God already existed. It is very difficult for us to comprehend that God is "without a beginning." Also, the vastness of the universe is incomprehensible. I have wondered why such a vast universe was brought into being. E. W. Kenyon teaches that the universe was made for the earth,  that earth was made for man, and man made for God.

Because God is a social being, (we are created in His likeness), He has, from eternity, desired "fellowship" with a satisfaction gained from communion. with mankind. Thus, God created the universe, seeking, but never finding, that which He desired. He returned from searching the universe, to a small planet called "earth", and created a man in His image and likeness, and placed him in a desirable environment. Then, He came to fellowship with this man.

"And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden, in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden."

"And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said to him,where are you?" Gen 3:8-9.

Adam hid from the presence of the Lord because he had transgressed the word of the Lord to him. The Lord asked this question, not because He did not know where Adam was hiding, but rather to expose the condition of his heart in order to restore fellowship with him. Any counselor knows that to be successful, he must come to the root of the problem. Here, man is hiding, but the Lord is seeking restored fellowship. We should be encouraged in knowing that our Lord takes the initiative in seeking fellowship with us.

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." Gen 1:26a.

"Let us…" This speaks of the totality of God; Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus was involved in our creation. "Image" has to do with the fact that God has shape and form. He sits on a throne. He is Spirit, but He has shape and form. He fills heaven and earth, and yet He has a localized Presence.

"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him." John 14:23.

"Likeness" has to do with our personality being like His. He, unlimited, but we limited. As we desire to be loved and have fellowship with others, so also, God has these desires. "Likeness" also has to do with our moral character, meaning we have the ability to think, to choose, and to act.

Man was formed to have fellowship with God, but there is a further purpose - "Let them have dominion," (Gen 1:26b). This speaks of mankind being given an authority over his environment, the climate, the weather, and over all that was created. If this "dominion" were completely active today, there would be none of the tornadoes, hurricanes, or the devastating storms that we experience today. We have the authority to speak to, and calm these storms just as Jesus did.

It was never the Lord's intention that these storms exist as they presently do. Many say, "If there is a God, why does He permit these destructive storms? The answer is that man chose "the tree of knowledge," to go his own way and rule himself, apart from God. 

  

But there is more. In redemption, we become a new creation, and all that Adam lost is restored to us.  However, earth is still out of order, groaning for the manifestation of the sons of God. It is up to us to set it right.

God created man in "His image and likeness." This speaks of a "potential" which must be acted on. There is a present working of the "dominion" which we gained in our redemption. It is very possible that we can turn a hurricane, a tornado, or a bad storm if we will believe and speak forth the authority that we received in our redemption. 

Satan deceived Adam and Eve, and assumed authority that really wasn't his. It's all a deception.  The earth belongs to mankind.

But when they hid from the presence of the Lord, it was the Lord who sought to restore that which had been lost. Our "salvation" is the beginning point of this restoration and has two purposes. The first is to prepare us  and mature us, wholeness in spirit, soul and body.  There is also a present restoration of all that Adam seemingly lost which is much neglected.

God created the earth and placed man on it with a purpose. He came "in the cool of the evening" during which there was a special atmosphere, in order to walk and fellowship with man. He found pleasure in doing this. He still finds pleasure in communing with you.

As far as dominion is concerned, it is up to you to exercise it.

PAUL'S PRAYERS

Paul’s Prayers 

That God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places], Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come.

And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church], Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself].

For this reason seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name].

May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your heart! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourself] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself].

Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]-- To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. 

I pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end  I keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people, but especially for you.

And [pray] also for you, that [freedom of] utterance may be given you, that you may open your mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel),  I pray that you may declare it boldly and courageously, as you ought to do. For this reason we also, from the day I heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make [special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things--

That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition].

[I pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy, Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God's holy people) in the Light.

[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, And at the same time pray for you also, that God may open a door to you for the Word (the Gospel), to proclaim the mystery concerning Christ (the Messiah) That you may proclaim it fully and make it clear [speak boldly and unfold that mystery], as is your duty.

I am always striving for you earnestly in my prayers, [pleading] that you may [as persons of ripe character and clear conviction] stand firm and mature [in spiritual growth], convinced and fully assured in everything willed by God.

And may the Lord make you to increase and excel and overflow in love for one another and for all people, just as we also do for you, So that He may strengthen and confirm and establish your heart faultlessly pure and unblamable in holiness in the sight of our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) with all His saints (the holy and glorified people of God)! 

Now may the God of peace [Who is the Author and the Giver of peace], Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament),Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages). Amen (so be it)."

Thank you Father for meeting every need- spirit, soul, body, finance, and social life. In the matchless and mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN! SO BE IT!!!

These scriptures are found in Ephesians 1:15-23; 3:14-21; 6:18-20, Colossians 1:9-13; 4:3-4, 12; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13; Hebrews 13:20-21.

JUSTIFICATION

Justification

The verb to justify in the New Testament Greek is dikaioō. Dikaioō has a range of meanings, but a very common use of the word is “to declare righteous.” This is the general meaning of justification in the New Testament. Furthermore, the use of the word indicates that justification is a legal declaration, in this sense, by God.

justification – the act, process, or state of being justified (declared righteous) by God.

Applied by God in salvation

In Romans 8:30, the apostle Paul provides an overview of the process by which God applies salvation to us, and he includes the verb form of justification:

“Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”

Here Paul explicitly mentions that this is something that God Himself does. It is not a product of man. “Those whom he called he also justified.”

Double imputation

When God declares us to be just in His sight, there are two aspects involved:

1. We  have no penalty to pay for our sins because of Christ.

2. We are declared righteous because of Christ.

This is often called double imputation, or “Our sins are imputed onto Christ, and His righteousness is imputed onto us.”

The believer’s sins are imputed onto Christ. Paul tells us, in Romans 8:1, that “there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” Thus, those who are justified in Christ are no longer obligated to pay the penalty for sin. And why are we no longer obligated? Because our sins have been imputed onto Christ on the cross and there, as He hanged, He paid the penalty for God’s children.

Christ’s righteousness was imputed onto believers. If God’s act of salvation toward sinners only included the payment of sins on the cross, we would still remain morally neutral before God. Remember how I mentioned that justification is the act of being declared righteous before God? Well, if we are to ever be declared righteous before God, we cannot stand on our own righteousness since there is none righteous (Romans 3:10). Therefore, God has imputed Christ’s righteousness onto us.

How God Can Declare Us to Be Righteous

When we say that God imputes Christ’s righteousness to us, this means that God considers the righteousness of Christ as belonging to us (Romans 4:6).

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-26)

How are we justified-- by the faith of Jesus Christ--(Gal 2:16)  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Praise God for justifying us by the faith of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior!

ACHIEVING UNITY IN THE BODY- BEING ONE

Achieving Unity in the Body-Being One

We are one in Christ Jesus. Many must wake up to this truth.

1. John the Baptist was the voice of "one" (not two)(Matt. 3:3; Mk. 
1:3).

2. Husband and wife are to be "one flesh" (Matt. 10:7-9; Eph. 5:31).

3. Jesus prayed that we all might become "one" (Jn. 17:11,21-23).

4. The disciples continued in "one accord" (Acts 1:14; 2:46; 4:24; 
5:12).

5. The early Church was of "one heart" with all things common (Acts 
4:32).

6. The Samaritans heard Philips's preaching with "one accord" (Acts 
8:6).

7. God has made of "one" blood all nations ("ethnos") of men (Acts 
17:26).

8. We are to glorify God with "one mind and one mouth" (Rom. 15:6).

9. He or she that is joined to the Lord is "one spirit" (1 Cor. 6:17).

10. We being many are "one bread, and one body" (1 Cor. 10:17).

11. God has set every "one" of the members in the Body (1 Cor. 12:18).

12. If "one" suffers or is honored, all suffer and rejoice with him (1 
Cor. 12:26).

13. We are all "one" in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28).

14. Jesus, our Peace, has made Jew and Gentile both "one" (Eph. 2:14).

15. The Church, the Body of Christ, is "one new man" (Eph. 2:15).

16. There is "one body" of Christ with "one Lord" and "one faith" (Eph. 
4:4-5).

17. We are to be of "one accord" and "one mind" (Phil. 2:2; 1 Pet. 
3:8).

18. He who sanctifies and we who are sanctified are "all of one" (Heb. 
2:11).

19. "One" offering perfected forever those who are sanctified (Heb. 
10:14).

20. We seek "one" continuing city (an abiding remnant)(Heb. 13:14).

21. "One" sat upon the throne in the Most Holy Place (Rev. 4:2).

22. Each of the twelve gates of the City was made of "one" pearl (Rev. 
21:21).

23. New wine found in the cluster. 65:8a Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: 

24.We as the Body have the mind (one mind) of Christ 1Co 2:16)  For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

 This is already truth but  is an on-going process of renewing the mind, growing in the knowledge of this completeness. (Eph 4:13)  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: