Lesson on Debrezeit [ Mount of Olives [Mt. 24]- Is salvation momentary or lifelong process?
Nowadays people are driven by a mental thought process like “if-it-feels-good-do-it”, Let’s do it- it is not like you are harming anyone. If our motive and purpose are all driven by all things that seem and feels good to our heart, then we have been deceived. King Solomon was seduced by the evil understanding of his heart (Ecclesiastes 2:10). There was no end to what King Solomon would have tried in order to find satisfaction- tried big bank account, a larger area to rule, a huge choir, more women (3000 wives) and anything else he could imagine in his mind. He trusted his heart [and the world] to give him advice on what would bring him satisfaction and actually did it. And finally, the wisest person on earth was deceived. “Who would know? The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). We are like King Solomon that we are too preoccupied with short gratification missing the ultimate goal and our purpose in life!
King Solomon not only harmed himself but also the whole nation- later because of his deeds the country was divided into two. When we make a bad choice and want to live that life with dedication, others [family, friends, and society] around us also face hardship as well. [Ask some of our Fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters who has lost their kids and brethren to Drug and prison]. In this deceitful “feels and seems good” environment- it seems very hard to not do the obvious and simple thing- Getting along with the world. However, we need to ask the BIG QUESTION here- To what end are we pursuing the thing we are doing in our life? What is the cost for our mindless, thoughtless and purposeless life? There are people who only focus on God’s Mercy but not also on Justice. Those two go hand-in-hand. Yes, We are so precious to God that He will never let us go without fighting, be it in storm, sickness, or discontent, so as to bring us to Him. But He is also JUST to judge us on our response to His love, sacrifice, call and graceful mercy. Now, the question is can a believer lose his salvation? Can a believer like me perish?
It's very unfortunate that many people think a believer wouldn’t perish. I don’t deny that a person is “Saved” but it is very hard to say that a person can infallibly know he is going to heaven. According to the New Testament, when a person is baptized into Christ, he or she is saved from the power of sin and death and transferred from the power of darkness into the kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:13). Yet it is also possible to fall away from Christ through sin.
Apostle Paul talks this about how a believer might perish, “Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off” (Rom 11:20-22). Therefore, if salvation was indeed guaranteed as someone might think, why would there be any reason for fear? The last words ‘you also will be cut off’ are a warning to those believers that they would perish unless they continue in God’s goodness. This example is similar to what the Lord said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away” (Jn 15:1-2), “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned” (Jn 15:6). Therefore, a believer who remains unfruitful will certainly perish like that of Judas Iscariot.
Therefore, Salvation is an ongoing, lifelong process. Salvation is past tense in that, through the death and Resurrection of Christ, we have been saved. It is present tense, for we are being saved by our active participation through faith in our union with Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Salvation is also futuristic, for we must yet be saved at His glorious Second Coming.
Says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.”. .. People say, “The way of the Lord is not fair.” But it is their way which is not fair! When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it. But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live because of it. Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, I will judge every one of you according to his own ways.” Ezekiel 33.
While we are still living, or until Jesus comes again, we have every opportunity to repent. We can change our ways from evil to good. But in the end, we will all be judged. No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. You do not know when that time will come. The event, when it happens, will be swift and unexpected. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him. (Mark 13:32-33; Matthew 24:43-44)
Sooooo....... Be alert! Be Prepared!
Glory to be God
and to HIs Mother Mary
and to the Glorious Cross
Amen!
Dn Medhanie Haile
