Salvation is a Way. The moment someone hears the Gospel, repents and believes in Christ, in the opening of his spiritual eyes to the truth, in that moment he receives regeneration, spiritual rebirth, a new heart and a new spirit, begotten of God in Christ, within the approved and perfect life of the Son of God, begotten in true righteousness and holiness, by the Word of God, of divine and incorruptible seed, of eternal life.
“Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)
The Christian, upon receiving the new life from Christ, first in spirit, receives forgiveness of all his sins, regeneration and justification, enters through Christ's door, which is also the Way itself, and comes to possess eternal life within him, and becomes able to begin to walk the career of faith, the way to the Kingdom of God, the journey of the good fight of faith, within which it will have to be tested, by the faithful and legitimate divine tests of faith, the tests of obedience, tests of good testimony and proofs of fidelity, overcoming tribulations, processes by which you can confirm that you are a child of God and become victorious. But spiritual rebirth is not yet total salvation of the soul. Everyone who hears the Word of God and believes, receives forgiveness of sins and spiritual rebirth, from the moment the eyes of their hearts are opened, they repent and believe. But there is still a battle to be won, your faith still to be tried, and there will still be a career and a journey of fighting faith and testimony to go through until the final victory.
“Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found to praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)
At the moment of conversion, the believer receives spiritual regeneration and reconciliation with God, but he must enter the path of faith, together with the Church, united with all the other spiritual brothers who are in Christ, persevere in obedience and remain faithful until the end. Salvation is a spiritual operation in the soul of those who have been reborn and raised from spiritual death by faith in Christ. The Christian's spiritual rebirth and regeneration are instantaneous, but soul salvation is gained by entering the way of Christ, persevering faithful to the end, and overcoming.
"Why, 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." (Philippians 2:12)
The path of salvation was first built, traveled and conquered by Jesus, through His perfect life of obedience, submission to the Father, sacrifice, faith, service, fidelity, good witness, love, and the preaching of the Gospel, of manifestations of the glory of God, and finally, by the sacrifice of His approved and perfect life, given in our place, for the forgiveness of the sins of the world and the salvation of all who receive Him by faith. And when he had won, because no corruption was found in him, he was raised by the right hand of God in eternal glory for the justification of all who believe.
“Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7: 13-14)
By His death and resurrection He built and inaugurated the Way of Salvation, by His blood, for all those who believe in His Name and follow in His footsteps through the journey and the fight of faith, being Himself the precursor and the door, and He also being the way itself. The gift of salvation and eternal life, indeed, is free through faith, for it was bought with the greatest price that could be paid, the life of the Son of God, and which no one can obtain but this salvation it needs to be proved to be complete, and there is still a way and a journey for every Christian to be made a winner and glorify God before leaving this earth for the heavenly abodes of God.
“Where the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” (Hebrews 6:20)
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;" (Hebrews 10:19-20)
The believer must manifest the good testimony, glorify God and prove that in him is eternal life, which in the resurrection of Christ was generated for all who believe. After overcoming the experiences of faithfulness, submission and patience in the Ways of God, the saved Christian will reach the final proof of salvation, which will generate in him the final salvation of the soul, the proof that in him truly exists the eternal life of Christ. The gift of salvation, justification and eternal life is free through faith, but this does not mean that this salvation must not be proved, by the test of faith, by all those who receive it, first in the spirit, God's life.
"Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:9)
The children of God, born again and begotten of God to eternal life in Christ, must manifest in them the witness of the life of Christ and win the good fight of faith. Without victory in faith, enduring to the end, the Christian will not be able to prove the existence of salvation in him, and he will not be able to prove the testimony of eternal life, he will not glorify God, and he cannot be saved. For all those who have truly believed the Gospel and received eternal life, it is necessary that they go through the career of faith, be tested and overcome, holding the testimony of Jesus to the end. In order to obtain the proof of eternal life and the final salvation of the soul, it is necessary for the Christian to obtain a good testimony and win in the career of faith, remaining faithful and upholding the confession of faith in the name of Jesus to the end. Only those who overcome in faith, by perseverance, obedience and good testimony, will be saved.
“He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:7-8)
When someone who claims to be a Christian enters the way of faith, his life, his character, his posture, his thoughts , his attitudes and his works will be put to the test, because everyone who comes to confess that he is of Christ will be tested by fire, the baptism of fire of Christ, to manifest all that is in his heart, and whether genuine and saving faith really existed in him, he was regenerated and has eternal life. The true Christian must give a good witness and remain without abandoning hope, confession and witness to the faith, without going astray to the end.
"And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and unreproveable in his sight:If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister." (Colossians 1:21-23)
If anyone confesses that he believes in Jesus, and enters into the way of faith, but turns away, and begins to live in sin, bearing evil witness by evil conduct and deeds, and doing works befitting the ungodly, such as enmities, disputes, pride, vainglory, envy and jealousy, in addition to wantonness and works of the flesh, and straying from the ways of God, and denying the faith without repenting to the end, he is bearing bad witness and becoming a reprobate in the kingdom of God, dishonoring the Name of God, and crucifying Christ anew, and by giving evidence of open unbelief and contempt against the truth, he renounced the faith, and in him the proof of eternal life will never exist, and it will be lost, and its part will be together with the profane and unbelievers who love darkness.
“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, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” (Hebrews 6:4-6)
He who claims to have salvation, and who claims to know God, must demonstrate a good witness, in a life of sanctification, of devotion, of fear of God, of love for the brothers, of communion, of obedience, of piety, of sacrifice, of prayer, service in faith, love and the good fruits of righteousness.
“He that said, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:4)
Salvation is by the grace of God, through faith and the righteousness of Christ, but this does not mean that salvation is entirely instantaneous, without the need for a fight of faith and a proof. Even the thief of the cross, who was saved by faith in Christ and died the same day, was nailed to a cross in unspeakable pain and torment, and even he had a moment of trial of faith and perseverance before he departed to rest. The new birth, forgiveness of sins and justification are instantaneous, at the moment of conversion, through the life and righteousness that are in Jesus Christ our Lord, but the final salvation of the soul is a process that must be completed and an achievement, even if also by the grace of God, to those who persevere in faith and remain with Christ to the end to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
"For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)
"And you shall be hated of all men for my name' sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved." (Matthew 10:22)
Peace be with the brothers.
W. Costa.
The believer must manifest the good testimony, glorify God and prove that in him is eternal life, which in the resurrection of Christ was generated for all who believe. After overcoming the experiences of faithfulness, submission and patience in the Ways of God, the saved Christian will reach the final proof of salvation, which will generate in him the final salvation of the soul, the proof that in him truly exists the eternal life of Christ. The gift of salvation, justification and eternal life is free through faith, but this does not mean that this salvation must not be proved, by the test of faith, by all those who receive it, first in the spirit, God's life.
"Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:9)
The children of God, born again and begotten of God to eternal life in Christ, must manifest in them the witness of the life of Christ and win the good fight of faith. Without victory in faith, enduring to the end, the Christian will not be able to prove the existence of salvation in him, and he will not be able to prove the testimony of eternal life, he will not glorify God, and he cannot be saved. For all those who have truly believed the Gospel and received eternal life, it is necessary that they go through the career of faith, be tested and overcome, holding the testimony of Jesus to the end. In order to obtain the proof of eternal life and the final salvation of the soul, it is necessary for the Christian to obtain a good testimony and win in the career of faith, remaining faithful and upholding the confession of faith in the name of Jesus to the end. Only those who overcome in faith, by perseverance, obedience and good testimony, will be saved.
“He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:7-8)
When someone who claims to be a Christian enters the way of faith, his life, his character, his posture, his thoughts , his attitudes and his works will be put to the test, because everyone who comes to confess that he is of Christ will be tested by fire, the baptism of fire of Christ, to manifest all that is in his heart, and whether genuine and saving faith really existed in him, he was regenerated and has eternal life. The true Christian must give a good witness and remain without abandoning hope, confession and witness to the faith, without going astray to the end.
"And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and unreproveable in his sight:If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister." (Colossians 1:21-23)
If anyone confesses that he believes in Jesus, and enters into the way of faith, but turns away, and begins to live in sin, bearing evil witness by evil conduct and deeds, and doing works befitting the ungodly, such as enmities, disputes, pride, vainglory, envy and jealousy, in addition to wantonness and works of the flesh, and straying from the ways of God, and denying the faith without repenting to the end, he is bearing bad witness and becoming a reprobate in the kingdom of God, dishonoring the Name of God, and crucifying Christ anew, and by giving evidence of open unbelief and contempt against the truth, he renounced the faith, and in him the proof of eternal life will never exist, and it will be lost, and its part will be together with the profane and unbelievers who love darkness.
“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, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” (Hebrews 6:4-6)
He who claims to have salvation, and who claims to know God, must demonstrate a good witness, in a life of sanctification, of devotion, of fear of God, of love for the brothers, of communion, of obedience, of piety, of sacrifice, of prayer, service in faith, love and the good fruits of righteousness.
“He that said, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:4)
Salvation is by the grace of God, through faith and the righteousness of Christ, but this does not mean that salvation is entirely instantaneous, without the need for a fight of faith and a proof. Even the thief of the cross, who was saved by faith in Christ and died the same day, was nailed to a cross in unspeakable pain and torment, and even he had a moment of trial of faith and perseverance before he departed to rest. The new birth, forgiveness of sins and justification are instantaneous, at the moment of conversion, through the life and righteousness that are in Jesus Christ our Lord, but the final salvation of the soul is a process that must be completed and an achievement, even if also by the grace of God, to those who persevere in faith and remain with Christ to the end to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
"For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)
"And you shall be hated of all men for my name' sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved." (Matthew 10:22)
Peace be with the brothers.
W. Costa.
