The Truth About Salvation

By R.S. Neaville

Section One: The Free Gift

The first thing a person needs to know where salvation is concerned is that it only comes through God’s son Jesus the Christ.

John 14: 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

There is no other way or path to being saved. The second thing a person needs to understand is that salvation is a free gift from God. It cannot be earned.

Romans 5: 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

10. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

11. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

13. (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

14. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

15. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

16. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

17. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

18. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

This gift was offered to us while we were the enemies of God. It is based on nothing we have done to deserve it or anything we could ever do to show ourselves worthy. We must accept it through faith. It is God’s gift of righteousness to us for we possessed no righteousness of our own.

The third thing is that salvation is by God’s grace (favor we could not earn with God, that Jesus earned for us) through faith in the sacrifice. It is about showing faith that the sacrifice of Jesus was enough to bring us a right standing with God the father. It is through this faith that we can be adopted into the family of God. By faith in the sacrifice of Jesus we can be born again of the imperishable nature of the Spirit.

John 1: 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

1 Peter1: 21. Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

22. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

23. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Galatians 4: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

7. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Ephesians 1: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

This adoption is by the grace of God through faith in the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus. And so this is where our salvation starts. It is offered to all men as a free gift from God. All we must do is accept it. But exactly how do we accept it? Study the following verses carefully.

John 1: 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

John 3: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Romans10: 6. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

7. Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

8. But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

We accept the free gift of salvation through faith! But what is faith exactly? This is where many get confused. The next section deals with faith. This is where the child of God really needs to pay attention.

Review Questions

How did God show his love to us while we were still sinners?
What is Grace? Discuss this with the class
Who is the free Gift of salvation offered to?
Our faith is in what?
Is there any salvation apart from faith?

Section Two: What is Faith?

As we showed earlier this great salvation come to us through faith. It is offered to any and all who will believe. But what exactly does believing involve? What is faith?

Hebrews 11

1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2. For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

4. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

5. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

7. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

8. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

12. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

13. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

The above scriptures show us four things about faith.

Faith is the evidence of things not seen. It is the proof of the spiritual realm.
Without faith it is impossible to please God.
Faith was shown through what the people did, not just what they claimed to believe. Faith always demonstrates itself in what it does.
None of those who were standing on their faith received what was promised in this world. They stood in faith for what they would receive later. They were all looking for the next world. They waited patiently on God to fulfill his promise. What they had was only by faith.

Let us deal with each of these four points in order. It is within these four points of faith that we find the true nature of our salvation.

Faith is the evidence of things not seen. It is the proof of the spiritual realm.

Faith is not about what you have. Neither is hope. These are based on what we will have. Notice what the writer of Hebrews tells us concerning the heroes of faith.

Hebrews11: 13. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Hebrews 11: 32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

33. Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

34. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

35. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

36. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38. (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

40. God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

All of those people of faith received only manifestations or pictures of the true promise of salvation. Salvation in its fullness is the resurrection of the dead. None of those received that. They only saw it through the pictures or shadows and welcomed it from afar. What they did was not based on what they could receive in this world. It was a faith based solidly on eternity and the resurrection of perfection that only comes through Christ Jesus. Our adoption through faith is really no different than theirs was. We have the promise of that great resurrection. It is the hope of this Gospel. It is the fullness of our salvation…and theirs.

Hebrews 11: 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

41. God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Romans 8: 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

22. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

23. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

24. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25. But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Our faith in Christ is the evidence of what is promised. It is our hope in this Gospel. It is a faith in something not yet visible. It is something we do not yet have. Our adoption into Christ is not just our spirits but our bodies as well. This is the fullness of our adoption as sons. This is our salvation that we do stand in faith for and wait in hope to see. Our salvation is the same as our forefathers in the faith. It is the resurrection of the dead. As Paul told the Philippian church:

Philippians 3: 10. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

12. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

18. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19. Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

20. For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21. Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

This is the end of our salvation by faith. God’s promises through the Word and the deposit of his spirit in us are the proof of it. This is our basis for the faith in which we now stand in his grace.

Without faith it is impossible to please God.

Hebrews 11: 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Faith is an operation of the spirit not of the flesh. Without it there is no communion with God. Without it there is no salvation. What we have in Christ Jesus we have through faith. Faith is not a one-time exercise .It is a continuous function in our relationship with God. If faith ceases so does the hope of salvation. A good example is when Peter walked on the water. As long as he focused on Jesus he was ok. The minute he focused on the waves he sank. This shows the operation of faith. It also shows the consequences of a lack of faith.

Matthew 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Romans1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

This is how we are to live..from faith to faith. In other words a growing faith. A continuous faith. It cannot stop. If it does so does our hope.

Romans11: 17. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

18. Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

19. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

20. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

21. For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

22. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

This is our Gospel. Without faith there is no salvation. We do not walk according to what we have in our hands or see with our eyes. We walk and live and breathe in the realm of the Spirit through faith.

2 Corinthians 5:7. (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Galatians 3: 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

14. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

15. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

16. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

17. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

18. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

20. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

21. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

22. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

23. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

24. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

It is plain from the Scriptures. What we have of salvation is through faith. The loss of faith is there fore the loss of the hope of salvation . It is a denial of Christ and him crucified. Your faith is that God will keep his promise.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9. Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Colossians 1: 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

19. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

20. And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

21. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

22. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

23. If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

It is a sad fact that there are those who have thrown away their faith in Christ…and there fore their hope of resurrection in him.

1 Timothy 4

1. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

2 Timothy 3

1. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

9. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

Hebrews 10: 35. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

36. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

37. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

38. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

39. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

If you cast away your confidence in God which is your faith; God will have no pleasure in you. Without faith you cannot please him.

Faith was shown through what the people did, not just what they claimed to believe. Faith always demonstrates itself in what it does.

Matthew 24:45. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

46. Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

47. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

48. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

49. And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

50. The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

51. And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

As shown clearly in the above verses faith proves faithful. The word faithful means obedience. Faith will always demonstrate itself in obedience. You cannot be “full of faith”, or “faithful” without being obedient. The fruit of faith is what it does in obedience. If you are not obedient you do not bear any fruit appropriate to faith. Faith produces good works of obedience.

Hebrews 6: 4. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5. And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6. If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

7. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

8. But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

9. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

10. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

Notice the similar wording of Jesus in regard to obedience and bearing fruit.

John 15

1. I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

4. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Whether it be a field that bears thorns or a branch that bears no fruit , notice both will be burned. This is a picture of the second death.

Revelation 20:11. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The imagery is unmistakable. Without faith God is not pleased. With out faith there is no good fruit.

James 2: 14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15. If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16. And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

19. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22. Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

If your faith produces no works it is not true faith. Faith is shown by what you do.

None of those who were standing on their faith received what was promised in this world. They stood in faith for what they would receive later. They were all looking for the next world. They waited patiently on God to fulfill his promise. What they had was only by faith.

Hebrews chapter 11 is a great example of this. In the following we will detail the faith of some of the Old Testament saints. We will show what they received and what it is they were truly looking for. We will also detail the same thing from the New Testament. We will show from Scripture that our faith works exactly in the same way. Since faith is manifested or shown in what we do it is also show in the shadows or physical fulfillments of God’s promises. Let us look at how it worked with Abraham.

Hebrews 11: 8. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Here God called Abraham out of his family and country to show him a better one. It may of started out a physical promise but somewhere in the practice of following God in faith it became a spiritual one. Abraham began to look through the physical promises to see the spiritual ones. This is the purpose of the physical. It testifies to the spiritual. Faith is the key that makes the transition. Paul tells us this in Romans chapter one.

Romans 1:16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

19. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

In the corrupt nature we look at the physical things and do not acknowledge their creator. In the way of faith we look through the physical to see the spiritual things they represent. We acknowledge the God that is revealed through them. This happened with Abraham. In the process of following God in faith he began to see eternal promises instead of physical ones. The physical ones to him were just manifestations of the true things promised. This is why he didn’t settle for a foot of ground in the promised land but rather lived in tents. Isaac and Jacob followed suit in faith. Stephen noted this in Acts.

Acts 7

1. Then said the high priest, Are these things so?

2. And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

3. And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.

4. Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.

5. And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

Hebrews 11:9. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

11. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Abraham looked for the eternal. He and his offspring lived in tents. Tents are temporary dwellings just as we live in the tent or “tabernacle ‘ of this body. It is temporary because we look for that same city Abraham sought. We look for our eternal house in that city which is the resurrection.

2 Corinthians 5

1. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

3. If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

4. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

a. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

Consider now the promised child to Abraham. Was Isaac the true child of promise? Or was he only a manifestation of the promise that spoke of Christ Jesus?

Hebrews 11: 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

18. Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

20. Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Isaac is only a figure or shadow of the true child Abraham would be blessed through. Jesus was the true seed of Abraham. He was the seed born of the eternal not the temporary. Abraham greeted him and the promise of his resurrection from afar.

Galatians 3: Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

18. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

So the physical promises were not the ones Abraham was looking for. He only received them as a sign of better promises that God would bring by Jesus. In fact the writer of Hebrews tells us that Abraham died without receiving what was promised. He did live to get Isaac but it was Christ he was looking for.

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

15. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

16. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 11: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

34. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

35. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

36. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38. (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

40. God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

All the heroes of faith died looking for the resurrection in Christ Jesus. What they received as far as physical blessings were only signs to them of the promises that were eternal. We too have yet to receive this resurrection. It is our hope. We and they together will receive it at Christ’s return.

1 Corinthians 15: 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

17. And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

18. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

19. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

20. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

21. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

22. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

24. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

So now let us look at the trail of faith from the New Testament. We will see it is the same for us. We have what we have of salvation through faith. In the Gospels when you see all of the miracles of Jesus we must begin to realize that all of these were only temporary manifestations of his eternal promises. They were only shadows of the true.

Think of those whom Jesus healed.

The lame: A picture of those who could not walk with God spiritually.

The blind: A picture of those who could not see the Kingdom of God

The deaf: Those who could not hear what the Spirit was saying.

The leprous: Those who were unclean in sin.

The demoniacs: Those in bondage to the devil.

The dead raised: A picture of the eternal resurrection.

In Jesus healing those things it shows God’s promise for deliverance for all mankind. Once again we see that the physical is only a temporary picture of God’s eternal promises. The point of all this is simple. What we have now are only pictures of our salvation in the manifestations of God’s promises. What we have now is a relationship based on faith. What we have now is the promise of the resurrection. God has given us a deposit of his Spirit as a guarantee that if we continue in this relationship we will receive all that is promised when Jesus returns. Yes we are now saved…but it is by faith! It is by what be believe or rather whom we believe…not what we see. We believe God and his word.

1 Corinthians 15: 22. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

23. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

Ephesians 1:

9. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

10. That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

12. That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Philippians 3: 20. For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21. Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

1 Peter1:3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

8. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

9. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

What we have of salvation is a communion with God through the Spirit which was bought for us with the innocent blood of God’s dear son. Jesus has first restored our communion with our maker. He is our peace with God. Next he will restore our bodies so that at his coming we will be complete in him. This is our adoption as God’s children.

Romans 8: 8. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

10. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

12. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

13. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

20. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

21. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

22. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

23. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

24. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25. But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

The Spirit of the living God dwells in us now by faith in the sacrifice of Christ. He himself is the surety that God will complete what he began. It is by this Spirit we can call ourselves even now the children of God. It is a statement of our faith in his promises.

Philippians 1: 6. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Romans 8: 16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

This is our salvation. It is one of faith. We wait patiently in hope for God to fulfill all that he is promised. We walk in this communion of the Spirit and sow to the resurrection by walking in obedience and continuing in faith. Walking by the power of the Spirit of a living God through Jesus and his sacrifice and the power of his resurrection. This is our faith, our hope, and our Gospel. Like Abraham, we have not yet received what is promised but by continuing it faith we will with Abraham and all the heroes of faith.

Hebrews 9: 27. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

27. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Romans 13: 10. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

11. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

12. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Review Questions

1. What are the 4 things Hebrews chapter eleven tells us about faith?

2. What is the token to us that God will complete our salvation?

3. Is belief just a one time thing? Discuss this with the class.

4. Can salvation be earned?

5. Does faith always have works to show that it is faith?

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Discerning God's plan, pattern, and propriety by the leading of the Holy Spirit through Scripture