|
Paul wrote, "A man is not justified by the works of law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ; even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by works of the Law" (Galatians 2:16). JUSTIFIED is the word. Salvation does not depend on our works. It comes from justification. It gives us free access to the eternal dwellings in the kingdom of God called heaven.
Salvation is the avoidance of Abaddon- the place of destruction or hell. We are saved from it by accepting the gift of God, salvation by faith through the work of Yeshua on the cross. Therefore, God gave us grace to live by its power perfecting us through fulfillment of the Law by His grace, as Yeshua did. So we can then "Deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him" (Matthew 16:24, paraphrased)
What is the cross? The cross is something sin is nailed to, something that causes death; "...Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf" (2 Corinthians 5:21). The cross is an instrument of torture and execution. Therefore anything in our lives can become an instrument of death to sin and self by following the simple teachings of our Great Rabbi Yeshua. His teachings were nothing else, but teachings of perfection. His cross and resurrection paid the way for victorious living, denial of oneself through repentance.
He said "As I have overcome and sit on My Father's throne, so you can overcome and sit with Me on My Father's throne" (Revelation 3:21, paraphrased). "Faith without works is dead"(James 2:26). You might say "I have heard this before; I know the Scripture." Yes, you do. Notice the context. The Holy Spirit makes everything clear and straight. Therefore, we need the anointing of the Holy Spirit to clarify and straighten the crooked ways that religious traditions have created. Therefore John the Baptist was sent to proclaim "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord, make HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!" (Matthew 3:3).
There is t'shuva, our mental decision to return. And there is naham, the "fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matthew 3:8); and then there is metanoia, the granted repentance (Acts 11:18). We need the understanding of these three to be changed.
First, the three types of repentance have three different fruits. T'shuva literally means "to return". From a Jewish perspective it means to return to God and to the right path (cf. Hosea 14:2, II Kings 17:13; Jer. 1:14; 18:11; Joel 2:12,13, etc). Because we have an evil inclination or a tendency to sin, an antidote has been provided, that is t'shuva. In Yoma 86a, we find the rabbis? telling us great is t'shuva, for it brings healing to the world. Great is t'shuva, for it reaches to the throne of God. Great is t'shuva; it brings redemption near. Great is t'shuva, for it lengthens a man's life. Ezekial 33:11 tells us that God delights not in the death of the wicked, but that he turn from his evil way and live.
T'shuva is a firm mental decision. There comes a point when someone has had a revelation and the desire to change has gripped his or her mind. |
|