6. Salvation, When do you get it and how do you keep it? One of the saddest things in the world is to lose something valuable that you have had for a while.
(By Emerson Blythe)
If you have a nice diamond ring, and then lose it, it troubles you much more than if you had never had it to begin with.
If you had a nice home for a while, and then lost it to fire or storm, you would miss it much more than if you had never had it in the first place.
Couples who had a child and lost it to disease or accident are much more hurt than those who had no children to begin with.
As Jesus illustrates the point: (Luke 15:8-9 KJV) "Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? {9} And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost."
And how much more is this true of the greatest possession man can claim: THAT IS SALVATION!
Based on a mis-application of certain verses of Scripture, there are some who teach that salvation cannot be lost. But the truth of the matter is, It CAN be lost. Many people lose it. And the Bible teaches that finding salvation and then losing it is even worse than not having yet found it .
Paul said, (1 Cor 9:27 KJV) "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."
John said, (2 John 1:8 KJV) "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward."
The Hebrew writer said, (Heb 4:11 KJV) "Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."
Jude reminds of the danger of falling in these words: (Jude 1:5-6 KJV) "I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. {6} And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."
He aludes to the children of Israel, once SAVED out of Egypt, then later DESTROYED because of their unfaithfulness. Paul also cites this example as a warning to us: (1 Cor 10:1-12 KJV) "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; {2} And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; {3} And did all eat the same spiritual meat; {4} And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (In other words, they were REALLY GOD'S PEOPLE --E.B.) {5} But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. {6} Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. {7} Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. {8} Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. {9} Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. {10} Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. {11} Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. {12} Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
The apostle Peter wrote, (2 Pet 3:17 KJV) "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness."
And again: (2 Pet 2:20-22 KJV) "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. {21} For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. {22} But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."
People get confused about salvation, "when" you receive it, and if it is possible to lose it, because salvation is spoken of in two different senses in the Bible!
Some people say that because the Bible refers to salvation as eternal salvation, there is no way it can be lost. If it is eternal it cannot end, or be lost.
Well, it is true that the Bible speaks of eternal salvation. (Heb 5:9 KJV) "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him."
And it also says, (Mat 24:13 KJV) "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."
Paul said, (Col 2:18 KJV) "Let no man beguile you of your reward... "
Jesus said, (Rev 3:11 KJV) "...Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."
How could one take our crown? --by leading us astray! James said to Christians, "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; {20} Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." (James 5:19-20 KJV)
Jesus said, (Rev 2:10 KJV) "...Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."
It is evident, as you read the Bible, that salvation is spoken of in two different senses or stages.
Jesus said, (Mark 16:16 KJV) "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
But then, the apostle Paul said, (Rom 13:11 KJV) "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."
You believe and are saved, but then as time goes by, your salvation becomes nearer. It has to be two different stages.
Think about it: when you become a Christian by believing and obeying the gospel, your sins are forgiven, you are made right with God, and thus to that extent you are saved. But you haven't reached Heaven yet. As time goes by and you remain faithful to the Lord, you are getting nearer and nearer to Heaven. In that sense, salvation is nearer than when you belileved.
Think of it this way: The initial stage of salvation occurs when you get on the boat that's headed for Heaven. Ultimate salvation does not occur until that boat docks on the shores of eternity. Because of who the captain of that boat is, you know that your salvation is secure--you know the boat is going to make it. But yet due to no fault of the captain Himself, you could still fall overboard and be lost.
The apostle Paul speaks of (1 Tim 1:19 KJV) "Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck."
We are saved through faith, but there are those who depart from the faith! (1 Tim 4:1 KJV) "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." The Hebrew writer said, (Heb 10:38-39 KJV) "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man >draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. {39} But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."
Jesus said, (Mark 13:13 KJV) "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: buthe that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."
Paul said, (1 Th 5:8 KJV) "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." The fact that we are to HOPE for salvation proves that we have not yet received it in the ultimate sense. Yes, it was to Christians, saved people, the apostle Paul was writing. But they were still HOPING for salvation. And the Apostle Paul made the comment (Rom 8:24 KJV) "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?" The very fact that we still HOPE for salvation proves that we do not yet have it in the ultimate sense.
Note what the apostle Peter said, (1 Pet 1:3-9 KJV) "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, {4} To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, {5} Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. {6} Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: {7} That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: {8} Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: {9} Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."
Romans 5:10 has us reconciled to God in the present tense, but we are not going to be saved until; some future time. (Rom 5:10 KJV) "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."
Reaping the end result of salvation requires some perseverance. (1 Cor 15:1-2 KJV) "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; {2} By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain."
(Heb 2:1 says KJV) "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip."
And again, (Heb 3:13 KJV) "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
Yes, it is up to us to keep our salvation and not fall away. (Jude 1:21 KJV) "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."
James said, (James 1:27 KJV) "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
John said, "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not." John 5:18 KJV)
As Jesus said, (Mat 24:13 KJV) "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."
And the Hebrew writer warned, (Heb 6:4-9 KJV) "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, {5} And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, {6} If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. {7} For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: {8} But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. {9} But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak."
The apostle Peter tells us how to avoid losing our salvation. (2 Pet 1:3-11 KJV) "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: {4} Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. {5} And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; {6} And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; {7} And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. {8} For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. {9} But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. {10} Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: {11} For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
These warnings we have looked at today are not meant to discourage anyone. You will notice even interspersed among these warnings are words of encouragement. We are to keep ourselves through the power of God. God has given us all things that pertain to life and Godliness. And after warning: "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." (1 Cor. 10:12,) Paul assured us in the next verse: {13} "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
But these warnings are here to help us see the importance of cherishing and nouorishing the salvation God has blessed us with. (Heb 2:1-3 KJV) "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. {2} For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense {3} How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him...?"
On that morning when the heaven has been rolled back like a scroll, all the material things we know are no more, and we stand before God to be judged for all eternity, our soul's salvation will be the only thing that matters. (Mat 16:26 KJV) "For what is a man profitted, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
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