THE CONCEPT OF SALVATION

CHAPTER ONE

You may not see the urgency in teaching the making of the Body of Christ, but I dare say to you that after having listened to the message heralded as “The Grace Revolution,” it is obvious those who preach such a message have no knowledge of the ‘Mystery of Christ.’ For this cause, I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me explain it in a way that all can understand.

Let us start at a place in scripture that seems to mark the beginning of this concept and manifestation of oneness. Up to now, we have ministered relentlessly on the concept of oneness in the Spirit; but now it is time to focus on the oneness of flesh. This is that half of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is not being preached in mainstream Christendom.

John 12:24

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

Now, the above scripture was brought to me by the Father so that I might take a closer look at what prompted Jesus to speak on this wise. Well, to do so, we must go back at least as far as the 20th verse.

John 12:20-23

20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:

21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying,

Sir, we would see Jesus.

22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.

23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

The news that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead had spread throughout the region. Consequently even the Greeks (Gentiles) were asking to see Him. But when Phillip and Andrew presented Him with this proposal (speaking with the Gentiles), His answer seemingly had nothing to do with the question at hand; “The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.”

Remember, we are looking at these passages in hindsight, but the men present had no clue as to His meaning regarding being glorified. Now we know that the term glorified means to praise, honor, exalt, worship and/or increase. So the obvious question is why would this statement be an answer to their question? This was Jesus defining His own glorification. The day was coming wherein the true nature of the Son of God would be revealed.

Jesus went on to say, “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” Up to this point, He has abided alone. But after His death, burial, and resurrection, He would be increased. That which is in Him, would be revealed.

This is the concept of our salvation that many theologians have not grasped.This is what makes the gospel, one of ‘grace’ and ‘good news.’ This concept and manifold wisdom of God is so powerfully magnificent, until it is hard for some to believe. Isaiah was inspired by God to ask, “Who has believed our report?”

The Redemption Plan:

When we titled the work of God, the Plan of Redemption, our focus was placed on redeeming mankind from the penalty of sin, and allowing him to enter into eternal life with the Father.

There are some important parts of the plan that were also to be given emphasis. Let us examine these more closely.

Our understanding of the Plan of Redemption never included removing the power of sin, or the desire of sin from the flesh. Nevertheless, it was the plan of God to deal with the sin issue, once and for all. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Romans 6:1-2). The redeemed of the Lord was to be a sinless creation.

The Father was not simply interested in delivering man from sin, He also wanted a family that was of His kind. Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me (Isaiah 45:11). And again, I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High (Psalm 82:6). The same was quoted by Jesus in the New Testament, Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken (John 10:34-35). This prophetic scripture not only declares God’s intent to beget children, but it also reveals the true nature of those who will be begotten. “Ye are gods,” implies that God’s children would be divine creatures, even as He is divine. (2 Peter 1:4, 1 John 3:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:48, 1 John 4:17)

Now the great question is: “How will God beget children who are likened unto Himself?” The very question itself reveals the flaws in the mainstream preaching of salvation. We do not hear a doctrine that makes the children of God divine offspring of God. Instead, the false yet widely taught concept of salvation is that we are human beings who have sinned against God; and He has now sent Jesus to die for our sins. Furthermore, if we simply believe in Him, we human beings are saved from eternal damnation.

This message starts with humanity and ends with humanity. It fails to admit that the new creature that we have been made at salvation is divine. Nevertheless, the scripture is determined to declare these things. 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 (2 Peter 1:4).

When you neglect to include divinity in the nature of the sons, then you will end up with a creation having no power outside of its own will. Although I must say those who acknowledge the infilling of the Holy Ghost, only see Him as a helper, sent by God to help us in our walk; instead of being the place in which we walk. These are very dangerous omissions from the Gospel of the Kingdom. These voids have robbed the Body of Christ of the essence of grace and truth.

In order for God to have a family likened unto Himself, or of His kind, His seed would have to been in them. He would have to live in such a creation. It is also His intention to give a new bodies to His sons; a body that is the same as the celestial body of Christ. ‘Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is’ (1 John 3:2).

And again, Philippians 3:20-21; For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

However, His sons would have to remain on earth long enough to work the ministry of reconciliation that would bring in more sons. Thus, to satisfy the law of kinsmanship, they must remain in their earthen bodies until the mystery of Christ is finished. If they are found holy at Christ’s return, they are worthy to receive the promised new body.

It was the Father’s intent to adopt mankind, by taking the fallen creation away from Satan and recreating them His own. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father (Romans 8:15).

The Father would send His first begotten to pay the cost of redemption. Then through His resurrection, He would take the Spirit of Christ, and place that Spirit in each of the vessels that came to believe in Him.

The great mystery to be understood is that Jesus bought and paid for each of the bodies that He and the Father now occupy. These human bodies, or earthen vessels, as the scripture refers to them, were to be washed, spiritually circumcised, and sanctified before the Father would take possession and make it His dwelling place on earth.

1 Corinthians 6:13

Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them.Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20;

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

You must come to understand the concept of salvation before you can truly grow into the fullness of the stature of Christ. You must understand that your body is an individual member of the physical Body of Christ.