oatmeal
Well-known member
In reply to a post on another thread, it became evident that it was high time that the difference between receiving the gift of salvation and doing something with it so as to actually see the immediate benefits of using that gift. The difference needs to be expounded. This post is a primer to a lifetime of learning.
Most certainly, receiving salvation is the first step in living a godly life well pleasing and worthy of God.
I Timothy 2:4 makes that clear as can be.
God's will is
1. that all men be saved.
2. that they come to the knowledge of the truth.
The word for knowledge in I Timothy 2:4 is not referring to simply being mentally aware of something but knowledge gained by experiencing something, in this case, the truth. (See John 8:32 for another similar use, it is not simply being aware of truth that sets men free, it is experiencing truth by living it, that sets men free.)
Coming to the knowledge of truth by experiencing it takes work.
It may take hard work to enjoy the immediate and presently available benefits our salvation.
Owning a bicycle and learning to ride it to receive the benefits of ownership are two vastly different activities. Our minds and bodies must be trained to learn the skills that it takes to ride a bicycle safely and efficaciously.
Having received the gift of salvation we must experience what salvation is to really know what it is. That takes work and action on our part and the learning of new skills. Like for instance, becoming spiritually minded instead of remaining carnally minded. see Romans 8
Receiving salvation is simply the first step in living the gift of eternal life/salvation/holy spirit. Romans 6:23
We must also know what this gift contains and what we are to do with it as God would have us use it.
As a bonus, we should consider that having a gift and using it are both involved in salvation, or wholeness.
To be saved means to be made whole.
We have all received gifts in our lifetime, it is only when we use those gifts that we truly benefit in the present in having those gifts.
Let me illustrate, just because we have a God given brain, does not mean we will wisely fill it and use it. Part of benefiting from having a brain is in its active use. Our brains actually develop as we fill it with knowledge and use it. It can physically and mentally develop towards evil or toward good depending how we choose to use it.
Likewise our bodies, we can abuse our bodies for evil or use our bodies for good. Romans 12:1
Salvation is received but it is also developed and strengthened if we use it according to God's word.
As we renew our minds to God's word, that is when we choose to think what God wants us to think, see Philippians 4:8;2:5, Romans 12:2..., our salvation becomes stronger in us in that it permeates our walk with God, ie, our lifestyle to live God's way, not the way of the world.
Once having received salvation, we can stay inert and stagnate or choose to dynamically involve ourselves in using God's gift of salvation/eternal life/holy spirit.
By choosing to live our salvation by renewing our minds, we receive more benefits of that salvation. We have the basic package but how we use it determines how much salvation is evidenced in our lives. In sense, we actually grow in salvation as we use it. Thus until Jesus Christ returns, I John 3:1-3, we can continue to appropriate more and more of the benefits of that salvation, a process that is unlimited for we will always have ways to improve.
This is where verses like Philippians 2:12 come in. We are to "work out" our salvation. We have it, but it lies dormant until we renew our minds and start working it, much like going to the gym to "work out" we become more healthy and whole as we "work out" our salvation just like working out doing physical exercise increases our health and vitality
Most certainly, receiving salvation is the first step in living a godly life well pleasing and worthy of God.
I Timothy 2:4 makes that clear as can be.
God's will is
1. that all men be saved.
2. that they come to the knowledge of the truth.
The word for knowledge in I Timothy 2:4 is not referring to simply being mentally aware of something but knowledge gained by experiencing something, in this case, the truth. (See John 8:32 for another similar use, it is not simply being aware of truth that sets men free, it is experiencing truth by living it, that sets men free.)
Coming to the knowledge of truth by experiencing it takes work.
It may take hard work to enjoy the immediate and presently available benefits our salvation.
Owning a bicycle and learning to ride it to receive the benefits of ownership are two vastly different activities. Our minds and bodies must be trained to learn the skills that it takes to ride a bicycle safely and efficaciously.
Having received the gift of salvation we must experience what salvation is to really know what it is. That takes work and action on our part and the learning of new skills. Like for instance, becoming spiritually minded instead of remaining carnally minded. see Romans 8
Receiving salvation is simply the first step in living the gift of eternal life/salvation/holy spirit. Romans 6:23
We must also know what this gift contains and what we are to do with it as God would have us use it.
As a bonus, we should consider that having a gift and using it are both involved in salvation, or wholeness.
To be saved means to be made whole.
We have all received gifts in our lifetime, it is only when we use those gifts that we truly benefit in the present in having those gifts.
Let me illustrate, just because we have a God given brain, does not mean we will wisely fill it and use it. Part of benefiting from having a brain is in its active use. Our brains actually develop as we fill it with knowledge and use it. It can physically and mentally develop towards evil or toward good depending how we choose to use it.
Likewise our bodies, we can abuse our bodies for evil or use our bodies for good. Romans 12:1
Salvation is received but it is also developed and strengthened if we use it according to God's word.
As we renew our minds to God's word, that is when we choose to think what God wants us to think, see Philippians 4:8;2:5, Romans 12:2..., our salvation becomes stronger in us in that it permeates our walk with God, ie, our lifestyle to live God's way, not the way of the world.
Once having received salvation, we can stay inert and stagnate or choose to dynamically involve ourselves in using God's gift of salvation/eternal life/holy spirit.
By choosing to live our salvation by renewing our minds, we receive more benefits of that salvation. We have the basic package but how we use it determines how much salvation is evidenced in our lives. In sense, we actually grow in salvation as we use it. Thus until Jesus Christ returns, I John 3:1-3, we can continue to appropriate more and more of the benefits of that salvation, a process that is unlimited for we will always have ways to improve.
This is where verses like Philippians 2:12 come in. We are to "work out" our salvation. We have it, but it lies dormant until we renew our minds and start working it, much like going to the gym to "work out" we become more healthy and whole as we "work out" our salvation just like working out doing physical exercise increases our health and vitality
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