Another Look at Salvation

Ephesians 2:1-3

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Oftentimes in our salvation, we forget that we were once dead in sin. There was a time that we lived according to death and it was the controlling factor in our lives. Death is more than the end of life on the earth. Death is captivity. Those that do not have the Spirit of God dwelling on their inside live according to death. They are prisoners and just as prisoner in jail, they have no identity. In prison, the first thing that happens is a stripping of the identity of every inmate. The inmates have no rights and make no decisions. All decisions are made for them and often, they are forced to do what they don’t want to do. The power to choose what one does, establishes identity.

The power to choose also exemplifies freedom. Prisoners are not free. The sons of the devil are not free and do not choose according to their own identity. The captivity of death will drive young men to make something demeaning into a style that appeals to them. The captivity of death will cause a young lady to enjoy being with a man that abuses her and listen to songs that criticize her. This is what it means to be a sinner. There is so much in our world today that does not make sense. There are styles that are not feasible and activities that are dangerous. The world of entertainment promotes every sin that there is and it appeals to most of the world. I can remember a time when I did foolish things even though I knew I was putting my life in danger and going against everything I was raised to be. We can all testify that before salvation we were bound. We can remember what it was like to miserable because we did what was in our nature, which was often detrimental.

Romans 7: 19-23, 25

For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

The only remedy to the captivity of death is the salvation of Jesus Christ. This is why it is so important that people are not simply conformed to church but are baptized in the Spirit. Christ’s spirit will evict the spirit of death and give the power to live according to God’s will. The power of the Holy Ghost and only His power will truly deliver the drug addict, the homosexual, the liar, the prostitute and the depressed. The power of salvation is a miracle that redeems our identity. By salvation, we can now choose the lifestyles that are successful and pleasing in the sight of God.

The old nature that caused us to be full of anger and violence, is changed to a nature of mercy and love. We were once blind but now our eyes have been opened. We can testify that the persons we used to be have been done away with. We can have compassion on the one that is still being held bound by death. God has not given us salvation simply for us to be changed. His intent is that we guide those still captive by death, to His life. Our testimony can change someone else’s life. The former fornicator can tell the fornicator that they don’t have to lay down with someone that is not their spouse. It is not meant that we judge the world. It is meant that we preach to them the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the power of salvation.

Romans 1:16

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

The Lord has recently moved upon me to consistently teach salvation. It is vital for people to understand salvation and the evidence of such. We are living in a time when people are being deceived that they are saved when they are not. The world looks at the Body of Christ and for the most, can not see any difference between themselves and those that profess Christ. There are two reasons for this. The first is that many who profess salvation are not filled with the Spirit of God. Many come to church and can feel the anointing of God. The presence of God will rest in the service and hundreds may go to the altar.

Everyone at the altar will feel the Spirit of God but only those that come with a broken spirit and contrite heart will be filled with the Holy Ghost. Only those that are free from sin when they leave the altar are truly the sons of God. They will be able to overcome sin and deal righteously in their situations. Their desires will be unto holiness. The problem is that the unsaved will believe that they are the same as those that are saved, because they too may have felt God’s spirit. However, I submit to you saints that the two are not the same. The bible describes the sons of God and if an individual does not match that description, they are not filled with the spirit of God.

The second reason is even worse than the first. If a person professes salvation but does not walk according to the dictates of Christ, they may have been filled with God’s spirit but because of preference, they live a sinful life. This individual has been given the power to choose life. If after salvation, one prefers to go back they will feel captive once again.

2 Peter 1:3-9

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.

Remember that I said this type of person is worse than someone unsaved. Someone without the Holy Ghost has the opportunity to seek out the Lord for salvation. However, the bible says that it is impossible to renew again he that has seared his conscience with a hot iron. It is impossible to fill him again that was baptized in the Holy Ghost before. He cannot find his way to repentance. God has to permit repentance and if a person has fallen away from the faith, it is because God has denied him contrition as He did Esau. God has revisited us examine ourselves to be sure that we are in the faith. The unsaved need to seek God for salvation and the saved need to live after the Spirit that dwells in them. We have been given mercy by Almighty God and the opportunity to make into Heaven. If we choose to, we can make it in God.

God Bless You, Apostle Michael Thomas