What is Salvation?

Victory Can Be Yours!

(Art. #3)

The question has been asked, what is salvation, and what does it mean?  Of the thousands of words in our English language the most dynamic single word is salvation.  Salvation means, to affect successfully the full delivery of someone from impending danger.  The word carries with it a twofold implication.  One is that someone needs to be saved; the other is that someone is able and willing to save.  If you are sick, you need a doctor who is qualified and willing to care for you.  If you are accused, you need a lawyer who is qualified and willing to defend you.  If you are lost, you need someone qualified and willing to find you.  We are all born lost in sin and are in danger, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)  God states in His word there must be a payment for this sin.  “For the wages of sin is death….” (Romans 6: 23)  Therefore, you have a need to be saved from sin and death, eternal condemnation, separation from God.

There is only One, who is qualified and willing to save a person from the judgment of God. Many have, throughout history, claimed to be the savior, but there are certain qualifications which must be met.  He must come from the lineage of David; He must be born of a virgin; He must be both God and man; He must triumph in victory over death.  Jesus Christ has fulfilled all of these requirements.

               If you were given the choice between being rich or poor, what would your answer be? If you were given the choice between having good health or being ill, what would your answer be?  Now, God has given you a choice, between eternal life or eternal death, heaven or hell.  Your eternal destiny will be decided by the choice you make.  Jesus spoke of this in the gospel of John when He said that all people will be resurrected, some to life with God, and some to condemnation.  All will have a physical presence forever. (John 5: 28, 29)  What will you choose?

               There is One qualified and willing to help you and that is Jesus Christ.  “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” (John 14: 6)

               You can have victory in Jesus!  More to follow!

Lowell Parrish

Why believe in Jesus Christ?

Victory Can Be Yours!

(Article 2)

            One of the greatest difficulties today is understanding why a person needs to believe in Jesus Christ.  The answer is that man, since Adam, is born separated from God.  Man’s choice not God’s.

            In Genesis, chapters one and two, we read about God creating the world we live in.  On the sixth day, He created man in His (God’s) own image.  (Gen. 1: 26-28)  This means that Adam was created pure, with no inherent tendency to sin.  Therefore, man was in perfect harmony with God.  God then made Eve from one of Adam’s ribs and placed them in the Garden of Eden and provided them with food and life.  “And the Lord commanded the man, saying, ‘From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it, you shall surely die.’”(Gen. 2: 16, 17)  This was like telling a child to stay out of the candy.  Adam and Eve both ate from the forbidden tree in complete disobedience to God’s command.  As a result, sin entered into the world and man was condemned and separated from God because of sin.  The harmony between God and man was destroyed for God cannot tolerate sin.

            “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sin---.“ (Rom. 5: 12) 

            “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3: 23)

            “For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.”  (Rom. 5: 19)

            The obedient act of the One, is speaking of the death on the cross of Jesus Christ.  It is because of this single act of love that man can be restored to harmony with God.  There is, however, only one way to accomplish that, by believing in Jesus Christ.  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through me” (John 14: 6)

            Along with the many things God has given man, He gave us a free will and each person individually has a choice to make.  What will it be, obedience or disobedience?

            You can have victory in Jesus!  More to follow!

Lowell Parrish

           

What is life all about?

Victory Can Be Yours

(Article 1)

Have you ever wondered; what is life all about?  From an early age, until a few years ago, I would often find myself sitting and wondering if it was really worth it all.  I had no purpose and no direction in my life.  I believed there must be a purpose for everything but I had not found mine.  I would struggle day after day, just barely able to make ends meet.  Why?  What was it all about?  Was it really worth the battle?

I found the answer I had been searching for when I and my family began attending church regularly.  I had been a church goer for several years as I was growing up but had left it in my early teens.  Almost 20 years later I found my search for a purpose to life.  I found that what was missing from my life was a fellowship with Jesus Christ.  What a glorious time it has been for me to learn, grow, and to experience His loving kindness since that time. 

Since that time, I have learned that each person has a monumental choice to make.  The choice you make has eternal consequences.  Some may not believe that there is life after death.  But, what if there is?  If there is life after death, and I am certain there is, what if you have not made the correct choice?  What if you are not prepared for what is ahead?  What if tomorrow is your last day to make that choice?  Our time on this earth, as we know it, is nearing a time of dramatic change.  And I don’t mean as a result of the so-called “climate change”.  Are you ready?

The choice we have to make is between Heaven and Hell.  Where do we want to spend eternity?  Hell is a place where there will be eternally constant suffering and torment.  Heaven is a place of eternal love, joy, and peace.  What kind of a choice is that?  Are you ready?  This is how easy the choice is; do nothing and your eternal destiny is Hell.  Believe in Jesus Christ, and your eternal destiny is Heaven.  It is that simple.  In Acts chapter 16, the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, ---” (Acts 16: 30, 31)

Jesus, said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.”  (John 6:47)  There are so many passages like this that there should be no question of the simplicity of receiving salvation through Jesus Christ.  Many say, “there just has to be more to it than that.”  I will leave you with this; Jesus told Nicodemus, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  (John 3: 16)

We can have victory in Jesus! 

More to follow!

Lowell Parrish

Introductions

I have been an Elder at the Community Bible Church in Minneapolis Kansas. For 35+ years.  During that time I have been writing these thoughts on the Christian Life for my email friends.  I hope you find them valuable in your personal Victory March to Heaven and pass them along to those you love and care about.  You too can have victory in Jesus!  Lowell