The Simplicity Of Salvation
By Bob CopeIt really amazes me, to see how very far some folks will stray from the simple truth found in the Scriptures, and engage in mighty human efforts to explain what they think a person must believe, in order that such may have ¹eonian [also called 'eternal'] salvation; salvation which abides the eons, i.e., time.
There are those whose bias insists that faith in a Trinity is a vital component of salvation. And that free will is also part of the salvation equation. Oh, is that so? Then I'd sure like to be shown which chapters and verses in the Bible state that; because otherwise, such ideas are just religious muck that probably originally oozed from the minds of Dark Age theologians who deliberately perverted the Scriptures. Such ideas, I'm certain, didn't come from YAHUAH, and therefore aren't worth a hill of beans.
There are others whose bias insists that those who believe in a Trinity, and in free will, are not really believers at all, and cannot possibly have eonian salvation! According even to some monotheists who also don't subscribe to the false notion of free will, it doesn't matter if Paul's evangel is believed in all other areas. According to these guys, as long as Trinitarianism, and the concept of free will are held, then, those who believe that way, can't possibly be true believers of YAHUAH's evangel for today, and therefore, aren't really saved to eonian life!
What utter nonsense!
Then, there are those who are convinced by the Scriptures, that, regardless of whether one believes in a Triune YAHUAH and in free will or not; such beliefs have no bearing whatsoever upon whether or not a person has eonian salvation.
It does not matter, to what logical ends those other two lines of belief may force one to conclude.
What alone matters, is what the Scriptures clearly state is necessary for eonian salvation; nothing more, and nothing less. This is the position I personally hold.
You see, according to the Scriptures, eonian salvation is not based upon believing 100% of the details of Paul's evangel. What we believe, is not the basis of our salvation! No! Eonian salvation is based solely upon YAHUAH's Sovereign choice of certain individuals for this earlier salvation. YAHUAH's choices in this matter were made before the creation of man, and before the founding of the earth in its original state prior to Genesis 1:2. Man has absolutely no active part in the matter of eonian salvation. Man's involvement, is entirely passive.
Eph 1:3 ¶ Blessed be YAHUAH Father of our Yahuashuah the Messiah, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Mashiach:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the overthrow of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Yahuashuah Messiah to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;How can what we believe have any bearing whatsoever upon our salvation, when the choices of whom to save with eonian salvation were already made before anyone could object, or so much as make an informed choice? Get hold of that and don't let go of it!
You know, according to the misplaced logic and the unscriptural requirements of some, in order for one to have eonian salvation, it is actually necessary for such to have soundness of mind! Oh yes! Here's what I mean: How can those with mental deficiencies, for example, possibly understand and believe in the complex details of Paul's evangel? Must they have sound minds with which to understand the details before they can obtain eonian salvation? ABSOLUTELY NOT!
Will anyone dare to stand up and say that no one with a mental deficiency shall be given eonian life?
Keeping all that in mind, what about those who do have sound minds? Are they therefore required to comprehend the ends of all the lines of logic and all the complex details of Paul's evangel before they can obtain eonian salvation? ABSOLUTELY NOT!
If it were otherwise, Paul himself could not have stated the following:
1Co 2:1 ¶ And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of YAHUAH.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Yahuashuah Messiah, and him crucified.I don't see anything remotely complex about what the apostle clearly stated in 1Co 2:1, do you?
The bottom line to this eonian salvation issue, is that:
YAHUAH made the sovereign choice on specifically who He would save with eonian salvation. He decided this before the overthrow of the original earth, and before He ever created man. Those who were chosen for eonian salvation were chosen at that time solely by YAHUAH's grace, not for any capacity of theirs for intellectual and spiritual knowledge.
What about verses like Acts 16:30-33; Romans 10:9,13?
It must be realized that these verses are the things which occur AFTER YAHUAH had made His choices thousands of years ago, before the creation of Adam. So rather than being pre-conditions for eonian salvation, they are actually, post-results for those who are the graced recipients of eonian salvation! In other words, the choice of who to save with eonian salvation was YAHUAH's choice alone. Messiah Yahuashuah secured everything with his shed blood, death, resurrection from the dead. and vivification. The hearing of the word of YAHUAH, regarding these things, by those whom YAHUAH graced for eonian salvation, produces the faith to believe. Faith, [therefore] is the assurance of things fully expected, the evidence of things not seen. IT IS NOT a precondition of eonian salvation. If one loses focus upon this truth, they won't clearly understand how one has eonian salvation.
So, if anyone (no matter who they are), comes to you, teaching any other doctrine than this, then that person is not teaching the evangel for today. That person is teaching error, and should be disregarded.
¹Eonian Salvation: What is meant by the term, eonian salvation, is the resurrection life which shall be enjoyed by those sovereignly selected by YAHUAH from before the foundation of the world during the coming thousand year reign of The Yahuashuah the Mashiach. And, yes; those saved under the evangel of the twelve also have eonian salvation. The difference is that our place shall be in the heavenlies, far above all, while their's shall be here on earth, in Jerusalem.
Universal Salvation indeed applies to all, but that won't be experienced until the consummation happens. Unbelievers won't see life again until the consummation.The Consummation
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Messiah shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Messiah the firstfruits; afterward they that are Messiah's at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to YAHUAH, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. [It is at this point that the unbelievers are given life again. It is at this point that the lake of fire (second death) is done away with].
27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that YAHUAH may be all in all.