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Vol. 16.7.19
Moses wrote this about being put right with God by obeying the law. ‘Whoever
obeys the commands of the law will live. But what the scripture says about
being put right with God through faith is this. ‘You are not to ask yourself, Who
will go up into heaven?’ (that is to bring Christ down). Nor are you to ask, Who
will go down into the world below?’ (that is to bring Christ up from death).
What it says is this: ‘God’s message is near you, on your lips and in your
heart’ – that is, the message of faith that we preach. If you confess that
Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from death you will be saved. For it is by our faith that we are put
right with God it is by our confession that we are saved. The Scriptures
says, ‘Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed’. (Romans 10:5-11 Good
News Translation)
Before I analyze if there are
steps to salvation I would like to bring out two important things from the
above verse which are salvation and believe.
Now what is salvation? Salvation
is the saving of the soul from sin and its consequences. It may
also be called "deliverance" or "redemption" from sin and
its effects. Salvation refers to the act of God's grace in delivering
his people from bondage to sin and
condemnation, transferring them to the kingdom of his beloved Son (Colossians 1:13), and giving them eternal life (Romans 6:23)—all on the basis of what Christ accomplished
in his atoning sacrifice . The Bible says we are saved by grace
through faith; and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).
Salvation is
deliverance from danger or suffering. To save is to deliver or protect. The
word carries the idea of victory, health, or preservation. Sometimes, the Bible
uses the words saved or salvation to refer to temporal, physical
deliverance, such as Paul’s deliverance from prison (Philippians 1:19).
More often, the word “salvation” concerns an eternal, spiritual deliverance. When Paul told the Philippian jailer what he must do to be saved, he was referring to the jailer’s eternal destiny (Acts 16:30-31). Jesus equated being saved with entering the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:24-25). But how do one now get saved?
More often, the word “salvation” concerns an eternal, spiritual deliverance. When Paul told the Philippian jailer what he must do to be saved, he was referring to the jailer’s eternal destiny (Acts 16:30-31). Jesus equated being saved with entering the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:24-25). But how do one now get saved?
I would like to give an
illustration with this story of boarding a bus to a desired destination. The
bus conductor – the one who convenes people into the bus (as popularly called
in Lagos state (South West Nigeria) where I reside in) scream on his voice
saying where the bus is heading towards. And the passengers going that route
get on the bus. One thing worthy of note is the fact that irrespective of how
the conductor appears (tattered, unkempt hair, smoked eyes etc.) the passengers
would all rush into the bus in anticipation to where they are going. One thing
is also worthy of note in this scenario, the bus conductor can decide who would
board his vehicle through their dressing but the passengers does not pay much
attention to who calls them into the bus. but are rather concerned about where
the bus is heading towards (Moses and the Isrealites in the wilderness). In the
course of the journey, the bus could be running at a high or low speed; in
either scenario, occupants would raise their voice at the bus driver saying he
should either reduce or increase the speed. Also in the course of the journey,
if the bus has a dirty occupant in the bus (guest called upon to eat by the
king-Mathew 22), passengers in the bus would
avoid seating close to him and may even refuse to board the bus which most
likely force the conductor to ask the passenger to alight from the vehicle so
he does not cost him a loss (1 Corinthians.15:33).
In another case scenario, the
driver could either be a rough or careful. If he is a rough driver, then, he is
in for shouts and yelling from the occupants of the bus which he might either
respond to positively or negatively. The
last scenario I would love to bring to our mind is that the bus might actually
take you beyond the point you intend to alight or change the route entirely to
a different route as beckoned by the bus conductor. All the listed scenarios
are likely to come to play from the point of boarding a commercial bus in the
state where I reside. I would like to use these scenarios in buttressing the
word salvation as stated in the above scripture.
In all scenarios given above one
thing is common to all – BELIEVE. All passengers instantly took the conductor
for his words that he is heading towards the direction he proclaimed before
they boarded his bus. What made them to believe this unknown person who they
have never met or seen? A typical Lagos bus conductor is always rough looking and
the intending passenger is most likely a well-dressed individual who would
never mind the appearance of the driver or even how the bus looks especially
when he/she is in haste.
I have asked myself severally why
is it that a whole lot of us demonstrate believe in our daily routine
unhesitant but when it comes to kingdom principles we find it difficult and
keep asking how do I believe. From the scenarios highlighted above, we can
easily get into the bus of an unknown driver but we don’t want to get into the
bus of the conductor calling for salvation bus stop of our soul. So many keep
asking how do I believe, what are the steps to believe. From the scripture it
points it clearly that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord then
you are safe. It’s that easy but the only way you can believe is by asking
yourself and examining your live if it’s in line with who you believe in; are
you keeping yourself perfect in that bus of salvation, are you living
accordingly to how he wants it. In the bus scenarios highlighted above once the
driver can’t go along with you he ask you to alight but Jesus is saying to me
and you today that he is at the door of our heart calling for me and you.
In the Christian race, the very
first thing God expects form you and me is believe and you would see it come
into manifestation (Isiah.
1:19), but a whole lot of us want it the other way. We want to see
before believing in our Christian journey. We are very quick at jumping into
the bus all because the conductor announced that he is heading a certain
direction, even when he might even be looking dirty yet we ignore his look and
take him for his words that he would take us to that direction which he has
mentioned but we aren’t willing to demonstrate such state of believe in God
despite is several plea to me and you for the home He is going to prepare for
us (John 14:2-3). A whole lot of teachings are
on ground on steps to salvation but scripturally, the only thing God requires
from you and me is to BELIEVE. It’s for us to trust him. Even thè theif that
was nailed along with Jesus demostrated believe and it earned him eternity (Luke 23:42).
What is trust?
“But blessed is the one who
trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted
by the water
that sends out its roots by the
stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of
drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8 |
NIV
Trust is to belief that someone or something
is reliable, good, honest, effective, etc. If you claim to trust God and all he
has said then we must be ready to abide with what he wants (John 14:23).
Just as we would not want the bus to forcefully alight us like he did for the
children of Israel (Numbers.
14:30). He would give and provide you with all you need in your walk of
salvation. There are times in a journey with him and it might seem like He is
too slow and you would cry, and cry. There are times it could look stagnating,
galloping, and dark but in all He has said cheer up because he has overcome the world. All this
are just there to prepare and empower you more through the journey of
salvation. Every fellow has a different journey of salvation to be run; but to
remain steadfast and unfailing, it’s for you to let him the driver be in total
charge and trust him that he would give you a good landing (Proverbs. 3:5).
May we all remain rapture able at
the end.
Author
Akolawole
Elijah
bolusamsworld@yahoo.com
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