Trajectory of Salvation
It's tempting to want to find the static definition of "saved"... But being saved isn't static. Being saved isn't a location, it is a trajectory. Jesus is the way...He is the direction to follow:
Matthew 7:13“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
14“Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Walking through the gate is the beginning of salvation. Accepting Jesus' payment for the cost of your sin and turning from your sin is what it means to walk through the gate. To walk through the gate is to commit to a new direction...setting your heart to become as much like Jesus as possible. Walking in the way is the actual forward motion obtained by beholding who Jesus is, and then being transformed into that same character:
2 Corinthians 3:18But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
There is no salvation without committing to this direction of walking. Salvation is active. This is what is means to "work out" my salvation:
Philippians 2:12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
14Do all things without complaining and disputing,
15that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
16holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
Salvation is entering in to a growing relationship. Everything alive is either growing or dying.
Trying to find out what worldly stuff you can do and "still be saved" is good evidenced that you are in a very dangerous place of not actually saved. The question that marks someone moving away from God is "can I do this and still be yours, God?" If that is a question you find yourself asking a lot of the time, you are probably moving further and further from God.
The question that marks salvation is "how close can I get to you, God?"... Not "how far can I wander from Him and still be saved?"
It is worth it to find out for real what salvation is and where it is supposed to be taking me. Saying the name of Jesus isn't enough... I have to repent...change direction...into His leadership and then keep following Him deeper and deeper.
There are many false gospels, but there is only one way:
John 14:5Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Following Jesus in the true way takes me to the Father. Is that where I am actually trying to go? Everyone will end up where they wanted to go.
Matthew 7:13“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
14“Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Walking through the gate is the beginning of salvation. Accepting Jesus' payment for the cost of your sin and turning from your sin is what it means to walk through the gate. To walk through the gate is to commit to a new direction...setting your heart to become as much like Jesus as possible. Walking in the way is the actual forward motion obtained by beholding who Jesus is, and then being transformed into that same character:
2 Corinthians 3:18But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
There is no salvation without committing to this direction of walking. Salvation is active. This is what is means to "work out" my salvation:
Philippians 2:12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
14Do all things without complaining and disputing,
15that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
16holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
Salvation is entering in to a growing relationship. Everything alive is either growing or dying.
Trying to find out what worldly stuff you can do and "still be saved" is good evidenced that you are in a very dangerous place of not actually saved. The question that marks someone moving away from God is "can I do this and still be yours, God?" If that is a question you find yourself asking a lot of the time, you are probably moving further and further from God.
The question that marks salvation is "how close can I get to you, God?"... Not "how far can I wander from Him and still be saved?"
It is worth it to find out for real what salvation is and where it is supposed to be taking me. Saying the name of Jesus isn't enough... I have to repent...change direction...into His leadership and then keep following Him deeper and deeper.
There are many false gospels, but there is only one way:
John 14:5Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Following Jesus in the true way takes me to the Father. Is that where I am actually trying to go? Everyone will end up where they wanted to go.
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