October 29th 2023
We Can Be Joyful If We Imagine How Happy We Will Be When We Do Get To Meet Jesus Face-To-Face!
Acts 4:12 (NIV)
Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
Every religion teaches that some form of salvation is only available to their followers. The only total exception is the religion of atheism as true believers believe that there is no god or gods, or God, which does not allow for an afterlife. They believe that when you die that is the end of your mortal life, and there can be no life after mortal death! You just die and totally cease to exist. They hold no hope of a new life.
Most Christian denominations believe that their followers’ immortal soul will end up in heaven when their mortal being dies and returns to dust or ashes. However, some denominations believe that their salvation plan is correct and thus, other denominations may not lead their followers to heaven. Yes, it is true there is disagreement about what is required for claiming salvation!
Paul may have been trying to correct such an error about exactly what is required for anyone to gain salvation. Salvation is an award not a reward, as it is given based on what Jesus Christ did not on anything any individual may do. That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10). No one can earn their salvation by doing more good works, than they do sinful thing, and thus earn a place in heaven.
Heaven is ONLY available to anyone, based on the perfect sacrifice that Jesus Christ completed by leading a sinless life, dying on a cross, being buried, then rising from the dead, and ascending into heaven, thus fulfilling the requirements God established for salvation. As the selected verse states “Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” It seems that we should try our best to view salvation by keeping it simple and not adding the ideas of mankind thus confusing the issue.
Paul was stressing such belief to Timothy as he was beginning his ministry. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This letter that Paul wrote to Timothy was instructing him to study the Old Testament, as that is about all they had as God’s Word at the time. We now have the great advantage of having both the Old and New Testament available for us to study. Are you studying your Bible every day?
Peter wrote about having faith that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, but unlike Peter we never got the joy of walking and talking directly to Jesus. Therefore, today we must believe the Biblical account about Jesus, but we will not likely see Him in our mortal lifetime. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9). We can be joyful if we imagine how happy we will be when we do get to meet Jesus face-to-face, immediately after we leave this cursed world and join Him in heaven.
When Jesus was leaving this cursed world, He left the Holy Spirit behind to assist believers to understand the Bible and help us know how to pray to our Father in heaven. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. (Romans 8:26-27). So, when we pray, we can be sure that what we pray for will be acceptable to God and will reflect His will for us on this earth.
Jesus has promised to share the burdens of His followers, and thus, give us rest for our souls. "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No-one knows the Son except the Father, and no-one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:27-30).
Relax and enjoy your life and look forward to sharing our burdens with Jesus. He is willing to share His joy with us during our life in this world. And He will come for our immortal soul when He is ready for us to join Him in heaven. What a friend and brother we have in Jesus!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Acts 4:12 (NIV)
Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
Every religion teaches that some form of salvation is only available to their followers. The only total exception is the religion of atheism as true believers believe that there is no god or gods, or God, which does not allow for an afterlife. They believe that when you die that is the end of your mortal life, and there can be no life after mortal death! You just die and totally cease to exist. They hold no hope of a new life.
Most Christian denominations believe that their followers’ immortal soul will end up in heaven when their mortal being dies and returns to dust or ashes. However, some denominations believe that their salvation plan is correct and thus, other denominations may not lead their followers to heaven. Yes, it is true there is disagreement about what is required for claiming salvation!
Paul may have been trying to correct such an error about exactly what is required for anyone to gain salvation. Salvation is an award not a reward, as it is given based on what Jesus Christ did not on anything any individual may do. That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10). No one can earn their salvation by doing more good works, than they do sinful thing, and thus earn a place in heaven.
Heaven is ONLY available to anyone, based on the perfect sacrifice that Jesus Christ completed by leading a sinless life, dying on a cross, being buried, then rising from the dead, and ascending into heaven, thus fulfilling the requirements God established for salvation. As the selected verse states “Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” It seems that we should try our best to view salvation by keeping it simple and not adding the ideas of mankind thus confusing the issue.
Paul was stressing such belief to Timothy as he was beginning his ministry. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This letter that Paul wrote to Timothy was instructing him to study the Old Testament, as that is about all they had as God’s Word at the time. We now have the great advantage of having both the Old and New Testament available for us to study. Are you studying your Bible every day?
Peter wrote about having faith that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, but unlike Peter we never got the joy of walking and talking directly to Jesus. Therefore, today we must believe the Biblical account about Jesus, but we will not likely see Him in our mortal lifetime. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9). We can be joyful if we imagine how happy we will be when we do get to meet Jesus face-to-face, immediately after we leave this cursed world and join Him in heaven.
When Jesus was leaving this cursed world, He left the Holy Spirit behind to assist believers to understand the Bible and help us know how to pray to our Father in heaven. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. (Romans 8:26-27). So, when we pray, we can be sure that what we pray for will be acceptable to God and will reflect His will for us on this earth.
Jesus has promised to share the burdens of His followers, and thus, give us rest for our souls. "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No-one knows the Son except the Father, and no-one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:27-30).
Relax and enjoy your life and look forward to sharing our burdens with Jesus. He is willing to share His joy with us during our life in this world. And He will come for our immortal soul when He is ready for us to join Him in heaven. What a friend and brother we have in Jesus!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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