A Nugget from New Life Network
(excerpts from Chris Musgrove of Future Now)
Scripture for the Day (November 9, 2016)
1 Peter 2:2 says, “As newborn babies, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby.”
Salvation is a whole lot more than just forgiveness of sins and a free ticket to heaven. Forgiveness of sins is just the beginning. It is the first step. The new birth, being born again or saved, is the starting point of learning what belongs to you and learning how to walk in it.
2 Peter 3:18 says,” But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
The New Testament word for salvation is the Greek word “soteria”, which means deliverance, preservation, soundness, prosperity, rescue, happiness, and general well-being.
Psalms 91:16 says, “With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”
In the Strong’s Concordance the word Salvation has several derivatives. One of those is the Hebrew word “Y’shuwah” which means deliverance, aid, victory, prosperity, health, help, saving, and welfare. Another Hebrew word for salvation is “Y’shua” which is where we get the name Jesus!
In light of this information, check out Matthew 1:21. “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus (salvation), for He will save His people from their sins.” In Luke 2:30 Simeon says about the baby Jesus, “For my eyes have seen Your salvation.” Jesus is our salvation! That’s why Jesus told Zacchaeus in Luke 19:9 “Salvation has come to your house today.”
Luke 1:77 in the New International Version says, “To give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.”
Hebrews 6:1 says, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto maturity; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.” The Weymouth New Testament says, “Therefore leaving elementary instruction about the Christ, let us advance to mature manhood and not be continually re-laying a foundation of repentance from lifeless works and of faith in God,”
In other words, it’s time to leave elementary school and grow up in God. I recently heard someone say that most churches have only three messages preached on Sunday morning. One, are you saved, two, are you sure you’re saved, and three, do you absolutely know for sure you are saved?
Philippians 2:12 says, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,” This is not talking about the new birth, this is talking about discovering through spiritual growth who you are, what you have, and what you can do in Christ Jesus.
Romans 13:11-14 says, “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ (salvation), and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”
Knowing Jesus is our salvation, we must put him on, walk like Him, and talk like Him. Ephesians 5:1 says, “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.” You imitate God by doing what He does. You can only find out what God does by reading and studying His Word. There is more to salvation than you ever thought.
