Bible Teachings
Meaning of Salvation, Great Deception
Welcome back to another Bible Teachings brothers and sisters. Before we begin there is something that should be discussed and talk about as the days are getting harder and life is being uncertain. For many Christians, Saints and Believers I can say hang in there and endure any trails, struggles, hardships or anything even if they are easy. For the Lord is always with you, many of us will make mistakes and many of us need to pray for focus and guidance in humbleness. Today we need to discuss the meaning of salvation, one where some of us can take for granted and how we need to consider what it means to have salvation for this life and the eternity to come as the blessed hope for not just us, but for Israel that is going through more and more struggles as of late. If you watch the news you would find Israel is under conflict with other nations. Why this is important you asked, it's because that's God chosen people. Yes those times have past, but God is still watching over them and us as the church. Israel has always and will be God's people because he made a promise and swears to them with their forefathers. God's promise is for eternity and will always be kept no matter the age or days that comes.
Now to what this chapter means and why this is important is because for one Salvation shouldn't be taken like "Here is it, now you can do whatever you want" type of deal. No, What Salvation is given free gift, it's not earn by any works or deeds, it's not deserved because all of us don't deserve this gift, yet God still wants us and to worship him for all of our lives in not just obeying his words and commands, but to have relationship and loving joy for God. Yet the sad truth is some of us even reading this can call themselves a Christian, Saint and Believer, but don't really know the meaning and just call themselves that out of being religious. There is a different to serving the true God and religion as two separate entities. The first being God is three person the Lord Almighty, Christ Jesus, and The Holy Spirit. And that God is the creator of this world, wants us to know this through his Holy Scripture as the Holy Words of the Bible. The second is for many Religions, they are made by people to benefit themselves and are always going one direction or another. As Fellow Christians, Saints, and Believer, we are to spread the good news, message of Christ and how he can saved and bring change to us individuals as his servants of Christ, Children of God. Even those who are former, Catholics, occultist, and other forms of religion or cult can be saved. But they have to make that choice after hearing the words or realize what they have been doing.
The reason I'm bringing this up is because even though I have talk about this, we never dive deep into what that means for us individuals as to what salvation means. But while we're on the subject of salvation, there is another thing that needs to be mention is deception. This has made many who unknowingly serve the devil as his tools for our destruction and have been deceived by this world's ruler. Some would be doing practices that is abominable to God and are not to be practice, have nothing to do with them, or even destroy as the Old Testaments would have his people do to preserve their holiness and unblamed life. This deception has taken hold in not just Religion and Cults. It even has taken hold in other forms into media we sometime enjoy. Now some of us are into media, and I'm one of them. But I do remember they are fake and aren't to be taken seriously as some would mistaken that. There is also the boundary that there are much media that is down right evil and I shouldn't have any part, in the past I had enjoyed some of this and still can struggle with media at times. But pray for God and his guidance while also seeking help through Fellowship of other Christians, Saints and Believers.
To start what is considered a deception? In Matthew 7:16 says, "You will know them by their fruits" What's saying here is the fruits are the spirit and those who are false teachers and prophets will bear corrupt fruits. In context that's easier said then done for first timers and for those who can be either blinded or haven't known about this before hand. What this means is when your seeking God, one of his key characteristics is our Lord Jesus is Truth and light of the world. This character is demonstrated by true followers of Christ who live by his commands, while also bearing the fruits of the spirit. Those who do not you can tell by their actions and deeds. The first being Christ is our savior, he died on the cross and rose again in three days, he also bear all of our sins on him, giving us hope and salvation not by our strength, but are freely given through Christ. Some if not all religions will deny Christ's resurrection and power he holds to this very day. Some will say that the Bible isn't truth and is just inspired by moral people, some will would even try to deny God in many aspect through Science by saying evolution happen and everything is an accident.
If you want to be grounded as Follower of Christ, remember these few things as key points about religions and even churches that can be full of wolves in sheep clothing. First know that the Holy Word of the Bible is truth, but not just any Bible because even that can be deceptive base on others writing in the words or erasing them. If not by the first, secondly seek out those who are followers of Christ, those who have served the Lord Jesus long and have them give guidance as they will show you the way. Even those in the Bible had teachers and they needed to be taught God's word and truth. Once you know this, thirdly you must understand if the Church you are going to is serving the Lord or has their own agendas. I say this because there can be churches that are deceiving you, and they may do miracle works or gather great following of people. But just because they done this doesn't mean they are serving God, even in their prayer can be deceiving cause if it's not praying in Christ Jesus name then what are they doing? For straight and narrow is the way to heaven, and very few find it. Deception is key for many who have fallen to destruction or will follow when their life ends with their final breath or sudden death. Take this to heart that there is many who are deceived, and we as followers of Christ must be made examples as Christ followers and shine in the world living in truth, light and righteousness. There will be Christians, Saints and Believers who may proclaim theses things, but they can easily be deceiving either you or themselves. We are heading into some troublesome times and we need to be ready.
Since there is many news of Israel happening as of late, we'll be switching from Matthew for a moment to Revelation. This is sudden yes, but you must hear what needs to be said and how God plans for the final days. For many that are enduring these times, praise be for God giving you strength and integrity for your hardships and trails, or even when things are good and easy. Seek the Lord all your days and always keep his commands in loving joy for the Lord and worship that he deserves.