Salvation

Saved From What?

Dr. Mike 2024 , ,

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.   Matthew 7:14-15

Jesus saves, Esposito scores.

As a young teenager this was our joke line. (Esposito was a high scoring hockey player at the time). Whenever someone approached us about Jesus and salvation this is how we replied. At that time, there was no correlation between life as a teen and Jesus. The entire discussion was unrelated to a young man trying to enjoy life while growing up. Words like sin, heaven, hell, and regeneration were not even in my vocabulary.

The message of Jesus just wasn’t relevant. The same can be said today for many who look at the religious Jesus as a myth of yesterday. There is a vast communication problem between the Church and the world. In many ways it looks like the world is winning. But we know differently. We may lose the battle, but Jesus has already won the war.

And it starts with one person at a time hearing the relevant message of Jesus. As the spiritual cylinders click in alignment, one captures the vision and life is never the same.

Yes, if a young man approached me today and ask “saved from what”, this is how I may respond.

Jesus came to save you from yourself, from the world, and from HIS enemies that want to destroy you. Jesus wants you to experience your potential. To enjoy everything good and wholesome that HE has created for you. You are uniquely designed for a meaningful and purposeful life. But the world is brainwashing you.

There are those who are pawns of supernatural forces that want to make you subservient to them. They will do anything in their power to distract you from God’s purpose for your life. The battle is primary for your mind, soul, and spirit. If they capture your inner world, your outer world is theirs forever.

They come in many different forms. They are governments, corporate businesses, and non-profit organizations. They first capture your attention and then begin to play with your mind. They hook you through entertainment. The movies. The music. The fashion. The educational systems. The news media. They know who you are and present their products and services to get your attention. They promise you utopia, but never deliver. They are masters of their craft. But their lives are empty. They themselves are crying out for help, but are caught in the roller coaster of the machine. They are afraid to jump off. They are looking for a savior, but in all the wrong places.

Enter Jesus. The God-Man who walked the talk. Divinity clothed in skin. The first of HIS kind. A man who was tempted by power, money, and fame. But denied himself to serve HIS God and mission. HE fulfilled Scripture written hundreds of years before HIS arrival on earth. The probability of one person fulfilling all HE did is next to impossible. But HE did. HE proved to the world HE was and is who HE claimed to be. God resurrected HIM from the grave after a brutal death. Naturally impossible, but then only a God can supersede the physical laws of nature.

HE started a movement. HIS message of a way of life that allows people to live life now to the fullest began to transform the world. People joined the movement. Lives changed. Hope became alive. But somewhere in history, the message became distorted. The good news became abridged. The message of God’s kingdom being available now on earth disappeared. Instead, the message became focused on the future. Accept Jesus and you will live for eternity in heaven. The now was being postpone for tomorrow.

It is easier to recruit converts by promising them utopia. The Church message spun into a worldly religion and into the 21st century as a commodity to consume. The power of the gospel message dissipated. But the Spirit didn’t back away. Renewals occurred. People still experienced the power of the Spirit in their lives. God isn’t going away. People may move the institution away from God, but God still remains with HIS people.

Saved from what?

The Bible writes about sin. Sin is the outcome of living life apart from God. Without God, one will live a life that causes anxiety, worry, and loneliness. Do you know anyone suffering from such emotional behavior? Jesus came and revealed a way of life to save one from such negative traits.

He brought heaven to earth via HIS kingdom. HE made HIS kingdom available for everyone. But you must first submit your kingdom under HIS authority. When you do, HE will bring HIS Father and Spirit with HIM to live HIS life in and through you. You will discover a way of life that produces real freedom and fulfillment. You will flourish emotionally. You will produce Godly fruit through your life. HIS love, joy, and peace will become the anchor of your soul. You will belong to a family who reigns in life.

What HE saves you from are the poisons this world throws at you and your neighbor. You find your spirit grows more and more like HIS. You develop defenses to protect yourself from the enemy. You even develop a swagger in your walk. You have come to know your heavenly Father. You have a Friend in Jesus. You also have a coach and trainer in the Holy Spirit. You are in good hands no matter what happens in this life. For you are HIS child. You get to play on HIS turf. And you know you have a home for eternity with HIM.

What does Jesus save you from? HE saves you from yourself and HIS enemies so you may live life to the fullest with HIM now and for all eternity.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Finished. Done. Now What?

Dr. Mike 2023 , , ,

2 Corinthians 5:20

…be reconciled to God.

Ephesians 5:1

…be imitators of God, as beloved children.

Religion is man’s attempt to appease their god. They desire to obtain favor today and reserve a place in heaven tomorrow when their human life is over. The rituals, rules, and observations are designed to make one feel good about one’s effort to be righteous before their god. The “to do list” of religious practices are as short or as long as the community one participates in.

Christianity, many times, is erroneously categorized or practiced in a similar manner. Yet, when one reads the New Testament one realizes Jesus Christ truly turned the entire world right side up with a new paradigm of salvation. Salvation is not something you and I need to do, but something to be. Salvation is a relationship with the living God.

We all like to think we are good because we occasionally do good things for others. And we think because we are good, we have a place reserved for us in heaven. Sure, we may at times mess up, but 51% of the time, we do more good than bad. Thus, we justifiably have earned the right to be in heaven. This is what many people incorrectly believe what the Bible teaches.   

But nowhere in the Bible does it say good people will go to heaven. Instead, Jesus spoke about repentant sinners entering His kingdom before the righteous Pharisee. The apostle Paul writes in Romans that no one is righteous before God, all have sinned, and none are good before God (Rm. 3:10,23).

What saves you is not your good deeds, but a God-Man. He took on human flesh and lived a perfect life without sin. He sacrificed himself on behalf of all humanity to restore our relationship with God Almighty. The fact is Jesus Christ lived a vicarious life for you and me. So now we have direct contact with the Divine. We are adopted into the inner circle of the Triune God.

Jesus Christ saved you and me. Past tense. Done. Finished.

But what does that mean for you and me now? Glad you asked.

Paul writes that we are now to “be reconciled to God.” And again, “be imitators of God as beloved children.”  Being already saved by Jesus Christ, we are now to focus our entire being to walk with God, to be one with Him, and to imitate Him in our dealings with each other.

Like children playing grownup, we are to put on His garments and act and behave in similar ways. We are to make His values and viewpoint ours. Like the disciples of their rabbi, we watch, observe, discuss and ponder with Him whatever and wherever He invites us to participate with Him. We are His student, His sibling, His bond-servant. We are to develop a personal, meaningful relationship with Him.

We are to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Pt. 3:18). It is coming to have so much faith in Him, your life explodes with His character and His Spirit being fully expressed through you for the sake of others. Your worldview becomes centered around the Triune God and His work. Life becomes a love adventure. God’s love overflows within you and you cannot help share His love with everyone you meet.

Yes, Jesus did the impossible for you and me. So now, through Him and in Him and for Him, He has equipped and empowered us to be free to do the same for each other.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager, Faith-Integrator, Scribbler

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Lost. Lost. Lost.

Dr. Mike 2022 , , , ,

Luke 19:10

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

At one time or another, you will or have found yourself lost. Whether as a child, separated from your parents at the store or as an adult traveling toward a destination and your GPS leads you to an unknown place outside your knowledge base. At that moment the realization hits you that you are lost.

The only one who was never lost was Jesus. When HE started his ministry, HE looked around and began to intentionally focus on others. Even as a twelve-year-old separated from his family during the Feast, his parents searched frantically and couldn’t locate him until they eventually found him safe and secure with the teachers in the synagogue. Jesus’ only reply was HE was going about doing his Father’s business. Jesus wasn’t lost, but his parents were.   

So, who is lost today?

When you look around, you begin to notice how more and more people seem to live with a fearful purpose. Their head is in the clouds and their feet move in the opposite direction from their mouth. They have lost their way.

The worst part though is they don’t realize it. They move with great speed and determination but have no clue where they are going. Or they just woke up from a spiritual stupor and don’t realize whose bed they are laying on. They keep looking for love and companionship in the wrong places. But most often, many are suffering from spiritual dementia and don’t know where their heavenly home is located nor recognize their heaven-bound siblings.

When Jesus preached about the lost, he included you, me, and everyone else in that equation. He demonstrated with parables that:

You are lost because you don’t know where is your true, permanent home.

You are lost because you don’t know where you are going after this life.

You are lost because you don’t even know where you are at in God’s plan.

HIS life revolved around fulfilling the mission given to him by our Heavenly Father – to save the lost.

HE did.

You and I have a home with Him, His Father, and Holy Spirit. Since the foundation of the world, the Triune God planned to birth a family (Eph.1:4-5). You and I are included.

Through HIS life, death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven, HE has opened the door for you and I to know HIM, walk with HIM, and learn from HIM in preparation for our eternal role.

Because of HIM, we are no longer lost. We know our home, we know our destination, and we know where we are today. Life aligns up with HIM for now and forever more.

Once we were lost; but today we have been found – in HIM. And so are you!

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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