XI. What Methods does GOD use

for Man’s Salvation?

            “Once upon a time” all was harmonious in the Paradise of Creation.  Every living thing stood in the fullness of GOD’S intended purpose; and the purpose for all life was simple: live to the blessing of others.  Herein lies the greatest joy.  As long as angels and man focused their intelligent attention to the study of GOD’S subservient love towards His Creation, aspiring to its full understanding, GOD would remain forever praised and exalted as The Elite Minister of this Love.

         When GOD created life He created a vast spectrum of creatures ranging from the lowly to the most lofty.  He assigned to each a specific duty accompanied with a psychological/emotional constitution whose greatest joy was to be found in fulfilling that specific duty—all under the umbrella of subservient love.  Through this balance of nature all would be tranquil and constant.

            But with the entrance of sin the universal tranquility was stolen life. And as a result “the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Rom.8:22).  The tapestry of salvation woven on the loom of heaven reveals that without GOD'S every gesture, in His efforts for the salvation of His children, multitudes would have been lost.  And the Apex of Salvation is the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross of Calvary, as the Apostle Paul verified: “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (I Cor.2:2).  GOD has given Man all necessary provisions for his redemption. 

            Included among GOD’S methods to reach the hearts of His children is the intellectual/emotional constitution of the mind.  The Bible defines these tools as three faculties of comprehension, and each step in the growth of these faculties leads to a deeper and more profound understanding in life, which in turn provides a corresponding increase of discernment.  The Bible’s wisest man, Solomon defines these faculties of comprehension in just three words: "knowledge," "understanding," and "wisdom." Knowledge is facts. Understanding is the coordination of knowledge with personal

Experience.  And wisdom is the ability (given of GOD) to communicate one's understanding with your fellow man.

Through these faculties the heart of man is enlightened to see

GOD’S sole objective: the restoration of His visible companionship with man.  Therefore, Scripture teaches that His desire is for His children to understand three basic facts:

1. Our justification to everlasting life is only through the sinless life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ whose merits as “the last Adam” place Him as the “Everlasting Father” of the human race (Isa.96; Jn.5:24).

2. The refinement of our character, and our resurrection from the grave to an eternal life with Christ is only through the Holy Spirit’s residence within our hearts (Romans 8:9-11).

        3. The Christian's standard of righteous living is through

        unwavering reverence to GOD’S Ten Commandment Law,

            (John 14:15; 8:58; Romans 8:7).

1.   Does GOD use nature to teach men of His sacrifice and salvation?

Psalm 19:1-4  The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. (v.3) There is no speech nor language, _________  _________  _________  ____  _____  _________. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun.

Romans 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen _________  _________________  ____  ______  _________  _______  ______  _______, even his eternal power and godhead; so that they are without excuse.

Matthew 6:25,26,30  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body more than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? (v.30) Wherefore, it God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, _______  ____  _____  _______  _______  _________   _____, O ye of little faith?

2.   How does our ability to reason contribute to our salvation?

Proverbs 4:7-9  Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting _____  _________________. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou doest embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

Isaiah 1:16-18  Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. (v.18) _______  ______  ______  ______  _____  ___________  _____________, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Acts 14:11-17  And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, (v.15) And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? _____  _______  ______  ______  _____  ________  ______________  _______  ______, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

3. Can we be assured of GOD'S Presence of peace in our

     lives even when life is hard?

John 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that ____  ____ ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but ____  ____  ________  __________; I have overcome the world.

4.   If I have sinned willfully or even ignorantly, how can I

rest in GOD'S assurance that He accepts me and will cleanse me of all unrighteous thoughts and deeds?

I John 1:9  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to ____________  ____ our sins and to _____________  ____ from _____ unrighteousness.  

I John 2:1,2  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And ____  ______  ______  ______,  _____  ________  ____  ________________ with the Father, __________  __________ the righteous:  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

         The temptations we all face will never cease until Satan’s presence is removed from our lives.  Through this spiritual reality Christ desires our union with Him to gain the victory.  It rests in our cooperation with Him to resist temptation, understanding Satan’s purpose to destroy us, and to shun his intimidation to control our lives.  We all have areas of our lives where resilience is strong and unflinching.  It is just a matter of applying that same strength of will to the areas of our character where we are weak.  Remember the saying, “the chain is only as strong as its weakest link.”  But even in the vulnerable areas of our lives we can rest “in Christ” to bring victory as the apostle James stated: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Ja.1:2-4.

5. When unbelief plagues my character, what can I do?

 Mark 9:23,24  Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, _____  __________  _____  _______________  ____  ______  _______  _______________.  And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, ________, ___  _____________; ________  _______  _____  __________________.

James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ______  _____  ______, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6. Can I overcome my weaknesses in my own strength?

John 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He. that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: _____  _____________  ____  ____  ______  ____  ___________.

Psalm 138:8  _____  _______  _____  ____________ that which concerneth _____: Thy mercy, 0 LORD, endureth forever:  ____________  ______ the works of Thine own hands.

7. Does the Indwelling Holy Spirit remove my liberty of

     freewill?

Psalm 119:30  ____  _______  ___________ the way of truth: Thy judgments _______  ____  _______  ___________  _____.

8. Does GOD measure my victories as my own even though

     they are drawn from me by the power of His Presence?

Ezekiel 14:14  Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls ____  _______  ________________________, saith the LORD God.

Revelation 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; ____  ______  ________  ____________________ will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

9. When did GOD put the plan of salvation into action?

Genesis 3:15   And I _____  _____  ___________  ________________  ______  ______  ______  _____________, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.

         When Adam and Eve made their decision to eat the forbidden fruit in defiance to GOD’S command, “Thou shalt not eat of it,” humanity then lost the ability to obey GOD.  From that moment forward they forfeit the dignity of GOD’S purpose for their lives.  Only through faith in GOD’S “free gift” of salvation can man find the restoration of all that has been lost, and find refuge from the threats that assails every living thing.  Under the umbrella of GOD’S jurisdiction man can be protected from Satan’s power to bring suffering into the life of every man, woman, and child.  Through GOD’S Ten Commandment Law all the blessings of heaven become available to every believer and they will witness His Power to bless and thus fortify our resolve to withstand temptation.

         But this is always in light of the fact that the restoration of godliness in man is to be drawn from us by a power outside of ourselves.  We are incapable of living out our love for GOD or obey the righteousness of His Law without His Power and Presence in us.  This is why King David prayed, “Take not thy Holy Spirit from me…uphold me with thy free Spirit.”  Ps.51:11,12.  Through man’s companionship with the Spirit of GOD the fruits of this union give “faith, hope, and charity” (I Cor.13:13).  It is GOD'S love that led Him to save us, as it is written: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jer.29:11).  He gave us our ability: to choose life over death, to avoid the harmful ways of life, and to encourage the lives of those around us to embrace the superior way to live.  To this end, the prophets through the ages were unanimous in their cry, “Repent:” Separate from the sins that destroy the soul.

10. What assurances does GOD give for the Resurrection?

John 6:40  And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and __  ____  _______  ____  ___  ___  ____  _____  ____.

II Kings 13:20,21  And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming of the year. (v.21) And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, ___  _________, and ______  ___  ___  ____  ______.

Matthew 9:18,19,23-26  While he spake these things unto them behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. (v.23) And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise. He said unto them, Give place, for the maid is not dead but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. (v.25) But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, ____  ____  ______  _______. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

John 11:41-44  Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. (v.44) ____  ___  _____  ____  _____  _____  ______, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Acts 9:36,37,40,41  Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. (v.40) But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. ____  ____  _______  ____  _____: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

Philippians 3:10  That I may know him, ____  ____  _______  ___  ____  _____________.