SALVATION: WHAT AND WHEN?

The modern world is in confusion. The purpose of the human experience is unclear to the teaming millions struggling for survival upon planet Earth. Hinduism and most Eastern Oriental religions teach that there is no such thing as sin, rather we are immortal spirits entrapped in a human body ever evolving upward toward godhood through reincarnation. If we have done good works in this life, we will be reincarnated into a higher state of conscientiousness.

The Catholic Church teaches that, if we have been good in this lifetime, upon death we immediately go to paradise; if we have done evil, we will immediately upon death go to "hell" and its various compartments of purgatory. This teaching was borrowed from a medieval writer named Dante and his book, Inferno.

Most in Christianity of the Protestant community believes similarly. What is the truth? What is salvation? When will we receive it? Let's explore!!!

Who Has Sinned?

The answer to the question "Who Has Sinned?" is found in Rom. 3:23, "For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" This simple scripture indicates that every person who has ever lived has been a sinner.

If Paul states under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that ALL mankind has sinned, what is the result of those sins? Rom. 6:23a, "For the wages (payment earned) of sin is DEATH;…"

The penalty for sin, DEATH, is not new to the New Testament writings. Ezek. 18:4b states: "…the soul that sinneth, it shall DIE." Death is the cessation of all life principals - breathing, blood circulation to carry nutrients for life to all parts of the body. Do you know of anyone that does not age and die? NO!

Test of Truth

Before we proceed in determining WHAT salvation is and WHEN it will be received, we must establish the basis for determining truth. Not what men say or churches teach, BUT: II Tim. 3:15-16, "And that from a child thou (Timothy) hast known the holy scripture (Old Testament), which are able to make thee wise unto SALVATION through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ALL SCRIPTURE (Old and New Testament) is given by INSPIRATION OF GOD, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"

When Paul wrote this letter to Timothy, the Old Testament scriptures were all that was available. Paul said they were able to make one wise unto salvation. Not only that but DOCTRINE, REPROOF, CORRECTION, and to instruct us in RIGHTEOUSNESS. The New Testament is a witness of Jesus as the true Savior and HOW to internalize God's law in our hearts and minds (Matt. 5, 6, 7; Heb. 10:16).

God Can Destroy

We have seen that sin produces the penalty of death. Webster's New International Unabridged Dictionary, Second Edition states: death - "The cessation of all vital functions without capability of resuscitation either in animals or plants; without energy or activity; total privation or loss; extinction; cessation of existence." In Ezek. 18:4 and 20 the word "die" means exactly that ¾ die, destroy. In Rom. 6:23 the wages of sin is death, MEANS DEATH ¾ absence of all vital function, cessation of existence. Read Jesus' words in Matt. 10:28. "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul (Gk. #5590 breath, vitality; identical to Heb. #5315 in Strong's Concordance of Hebrew and Greek Language): but rather fear him (God) which is able to DESTROY (Strong's Concordance Greek #622: to destroy fully, perish, or lose) both soul and body in hell (Gk. #1067: valley of Hinnom; gehenna, where fire burned perpetually to burn up dead bodies of animals and strangers in the land)."

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