Bible Studies
Our Own Cross
Part Two
As of the Church Age, God is glorified and the soul is saved, if and when any human soul makes a one-time choice to believe (1), when he or she is presented with the unadulterated Gospel Message.
God (not human clergy) responds to this one-time decision by “sealing-Eph. 4: 30” the soul and “regenerating-Titus 3: 5)” what had been the individual’s dead spirit, with which we all come into this world.
As of that moment, the individual is born-again, and becomes the recipient of God’s irrevocable (2) gift of eternal life.
Compensation is earned. Gifts, are neither earned or deserved!
After having the issue of one’s spiritual status and destiny permanently resolved (3), the born-again believer then has the daily opportunity to bring additional glory to God. He or she does so, by learning and applying the doctrines and principles of the Word of God to his or her personal life, and circumstances.
To what extent, if any, that a born-again believer embraces and advances in post (after) salvation discipleship, neither increases or diminishes the integrity the salvation that he or she has already received.
The devil, those who do his bidding, and our own fallen nature, will be quick to suggest that since our salvation is eternally secure, we can now neglect the things of God, and live as we please, without any fear of earthly or eternal consequences.
Why, they will ask, be bothered with all of the inevitable adversity that the life of discipleship will bring, since we are eternally secure? Isn’t it true that one can get “more” and or get it sooner, by operating in the ways of the world?
This of course, is one of the devil’s persuasive arguments, containing half-truths, half lies, and omissions.
It IS true that we ARE eternally saved. It IS true that by participating the life of discipleship, that it WILL bring any ever-increasing amount of adversity and persecution to us, keeping pace with whatever forward progress we make, as advancing disciples, in the post salvation plan of God.
But what is NOT true, is that a born-again believer can live outside of the post salvation plan of God, and then not experience divine discipline (4) here on Earth, and or suffer the forfeiture of specific rewards and privileges in Heaven, and eternity future, that are reserved for those who were disciples, here on Earth.
The devil conveniently leaves out the Mark 8: 36 consequences in this argument.
Although salvation cannot be lost (5), divine discipline (6), that takes place here on Earth, impacts our Earthly experience, involving anything from living with a guilty conscience, up to and including, physical death.
The forfeiture of reward and privileges at the 1Cor. 3: 12-15 event, that takes place in Heaven, impacts our Heavenly experience.
You might not get caught in the act, or held accountable by Man, but be it in this life, or in the life to come, nothing goes unseen by God, and no one gets away with anything (7).
The word disciple is an English translation of the Greek word mathetes found in the original transcripts of New Testament Scripture. Born-again believers are called to become disciples themselves, and then to make disciples out of others (8).
Mathetes (disciple) means to be a technical (detailed) STUDENT. In the spiritual realm, a disciple is one who grows in the accurate knowledge (9) of the Lord, and who consistently applies (10) this knowledge to all that he thinks, says, and does.
End of Part Two
(1) John 3: 16, 18 (2) Rom. 11: 29 (3) Rom. 8: 1 (4) Heb. 12: 6 (5) Rom. 8:1 (6) Heb. 12: 6 (7) Gal. 6: 7 (8) Matt. 28: 19, 20 (9) 2Pet. 3:18(10) James 1: 25
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