INTRODUCTION: Salvation from a theological and doctrinal perspective is both simple and profound; it’s also very deep and intricately complex. It’s a general term that refers to all of the redemptive processes that GOD uses in the operation of justifying, sanctifying and glorifying the repentant sinner turned to righteous saint. Involved in this process is also atonement, propitiation, substitution, calling and election, imputation, conversion, regeneration and adoption. In Systematic Theology, this study of salvation and all of it's component parts is called Soteriology.
It's quite easy to get these mixed up and misapplied, especially for those who haven’t studied them from the Scriptures. This can quite often lead to a works-based salvation or at the other end of the scale, a Gospel that needs no repentance and supposedly saves everyone (Universalism).
For an examination of many of these biblical words, check out the following three part TTUF series as taught by pastor Sonny Islas (SHINE BRIGHT Church, Tucson, AZ) and myself: DEFINITION Of BIBLICAL WORDS: PART One, PART Two, PART Three!
In the following two verses we have just such an example of how misunderstanding of what Scripture teach us can happen. We must be careful to note what it says as well as what it does not say. But before we get into vss. 12-13, we need to set things up. Please be patient, we have a lot to set up!
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Does that comfort you? Does it give you confidence in this life, knowing that the Almighty GOD, the All-knowing One, Who loves you supremely (He sent His Son to die for your sin so that you could have an eternal relationship with GOD as your very own Abba Father!) is watching over your every move, is entirely aware – not at all surprised or caught off guard – when sudden tragedy strikes, or some unforeseen challenge seems to stop you in your tracks.
Joshua and the children of Israel are learning these lessons to an even greater degree. Remember, this is the second generation of Israel that has entered into the promised land. These were children during the exodus, so they were aware to one degree or another, of all that GOD did through His servant Moses. Now as grown adults, they are witnessing the everlasting and all-providing hand of GOD as He led them from one challenge to the next.
All that GOD required was their unwavering trust and commitment to be completely obedient to His every Word! It’s the same with us, isn’t it?
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TRIUMPHANT TRILOGIES – Examining JOHN 12,13 & 14
Examining JOHN 14 – Part 1 of 2
Introduction: Last time from Ch. 13 we read the following verses:
JOHN 13:33
33 "Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, 'Where I am going, you cannot come,' so now I say to you.
It was for this reason that the hearts of the disciples were troubled. Yet, the LORD – always the Encourager – addresses this here (remember, chapter breaks are not inspired, so you can read uninterrupted from Ch. 13 to Ch. 14 as this is the same scenario within the same time frame):
JOHN 14:1-3
1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
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You can also hear this teaching on the SHINE BRIGHT YouTube Channel here!
It states in:
GALATIANS 5:13-14
13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Meekness is lowliness, it’s having yourself under control, it’s esteeming others more highly than yourself. Being recipients of the grace of GOD, we have been made free from sin, we have obtained liberty by which we have opportunity to love and serve the LORD, and others.
Aside from saving our souls from the just condemnation of our holy GOD and Judge, saving us from eternal punishment, and saving us for the kingdom of GOD as its holy citizens and a blessed relationship with the LORD – we are also redeemed so that we can serve one another and make an impact in this world for the glory of GOD!
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“In the world you will have tribulation…” JOHN 16:33b. There are over 100 references in the KJV for the word “trouble”. Twenty six references for the word “tribulation(s)”
For the Christian who acknowledges GOD’s sovereignty over their lives as LORD, we understand nothing happens to us apart from His will (either for His purpose or with His permission). We sometimes struggle with the “why” question when we realize that GOD could have prevented such trials and tribulations but chose not to.
When reflecting on the life of Job and his complaints to GOD, there is never an answer to the question “why”! There may not be an answer that we with our finite minds could understand, and even if we did understand it, it probably wouldn’t bring much comfort anyway.
Rather than asking “why” what if we ask “what…” as in “what lesson do You want me to learn through this experience, LORD?” Because of the fact that He allows bad things to happen to us means He intends on teaching us some valuable lessons that will build our faith and strengthen our relationship with Him:
ROMANS 5:3-5
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
And the grace and comfort we receive from the LORD during such troublesome trials and tribulations (that sometimes seem interminable!) are precious resources that GOD expects us to “pay forward”!
2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-5
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
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As mentioned before, if you think of the Bible as a wagon wheel with sixty-six spokes, where Christ is the hub, you can appreciate that this book is literally, “all about Jesus Christ our LORD”.
PSALM 40:7
Then I said, "Behold, I come; In the volume of the book it is written of Me.
LUKE 24:44
Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."
And in order to introduce the Messiah in our world, prophetic Scripture is laid out to properly and gloriously present Him and His Gospel. This is why no detail in the Scripture is inconsequential or irrelevant – at all. In fact, the more years we put into the study of the Scriptures, the more we recognize that JESUS is on every page!
We’ll pick up where we left off, with Noah and the ark.
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