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"Let us go on unto perfection" Hb 6:1

Salvation

The Salvation time

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In eternity there is no salvation, if any, the fallen angels would be saved. In eternity God did not save nor save, for salvation of God is revealed for the time it is called today. Lost die following to the judgment of his works, as they are already under eternal damnation. But for those who die with Christ (when they believe), resurface a new creation where God’s purpose is fulfilled and move on to the participant eternity of life in God.


“For he saith, I have heard thee in an acceptable time and I helped you on the day of salvation, Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6: 2)

 

The Eternal Purpose of God

What is the eternal purpose of God? The eternal purpose of God is man’s salvation?

The doctrinal errors that have arisen over the centuries about how is salvation in Christ is because they could not identify which is the eternal purpose of God. Did not consider the promise of salvation is not eternal, since the door of salvation, which is now open, the day will close.

The purpose of God in Christ yes, this is eternal because it started in eternity and be perpetuated in eternity. Although salvation grant eternal life to those who by it are achieved in eternity there is no salvation.

Paul presented the eternal purpose of God to Christians in Ephesus: “And unveiled to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure which He purposed in Christ, to converge in Christ all things, in the fullness of time, both which are in heaven and that are on earth “(Eph 1: 9 -10).

God has made known his will (cracked the mystery hidden) that proposed and consented (good pleasure), to converge in Christ all things, both which are in heaven as those on earth, so that (goal) in all He is prominent (top, sublime, preeminent).

As God ‘cracked the mystery of his will’, is no reason for the argument that the man does not understand the questions about salvation by having a finite mind. As God unlocked the mystery of his will is because man is able to fully understand their purposes.

The eternal purpose of God is specific: the preeminence of Christ over all things “He is the head of the body, the church; is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might have the preeminence “(Colossians 1:18); “And so for now, the church, the manifold wisdom of God may be known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which he did in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph 3:10 -11).

The eternal purpose is according to the sovereignty of God, and can never be revoked or invalidated by any creature, since its purpose is not based on man or something that is fleeting. That is why we hear echo: “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God for us” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Now, all the promises established by God, all meet in Christ, and He is fully committed to the glory of God that is revealed in those who are saved.

Confuse the purpose of God, which is eternal, and salvation in Christ, which is secular, has raised many doctrinal errors, for salvation is restricted to the time called ‘today’.

God saves man ‘today’, as a day of probation will close, and will be known (manifest) the judgment of God that was in Adam. Salvation is for eternity, but there is an eternal purpose to save indefinitely, since God will not save in eternity.

Salvation is for the time it is called ‘today’. The allotted time for the help of God is the ‘now’. However, the eternal purpose of God in Christ is for eternity, for the preeminence of Christ over all things is something relevant eternity.

 

The Eternal Purpose and Salvation

The eternal purpose that God established before the centuries times is the preeminence of Christ over all things. And what is the preeminence of Christ? The birthright of Christ among many brethren “… so that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom 8:29).

This is because, in addition to Christ to sit at the right hand of the Majesty on high, with all things under his feet, he was also made head of the church, which is his body. Paul shows that Christ is tied to his many brothers, so that the fullness of it fills all in all (John 1:16; Eph 1:21 -23).

To lead to the eternal purpose effect (after the counsel of his will), which is the preeminence of Christ over all things, was established in eternity the creation of man in the image and likeness of God.

It all began when he was told: “Let us make man in our image and likeness” (Gen. 1:26). The man was created perfect (image and likeness), with full freedom (From every tree thou mayest freely eat Genesis 2:16), put in a perfect place (Gen. 2:15), with a defined rule (not eat it) and essential knowledge to exercise their free will (surely die).

The man stopped trusting in God’s word and gave us his senses.

Eve saw that the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eye and desirable to make one wise (lust), disobeyed God and ate of the tree, and gave Adam, forgetting that were warned not to eat (Genesis 3 : 6).

Man sinned and was devoid of life that is in God. He went on to be (separate) dead before God. Ceased to be a partaker of life there and comes from God, establishing the enmity between God and men.

However, the fall of Adam was not an obstacle to the eternal purpose, because according to his providence, the Lamb of God was slain before the foundation of the world in redemption of mankind (1 Peter 1: 9 -20).

All who obey the truth, that is, who believe in the gospel message, not according to their works of righteousness, but according to his own purpose and grace that is in God, are again generated spiritual men, to a living hope (1 Peter 1 : 3 and 23).

Salvation in Christ is announced to all men lost in Adam, and all who accept wonderful salvation are regenerated (recreated), according to God in true righteousness and holiness.

The eternal purpose was not stated in the carnal and earthly men, but that purpose is established in the spiritual men and belonging to heaven (1 Cor 15:45 -49).

The new man was created at peace with God, the image and likeness of him who again produced them according to the word of truth, that is incorruptible seed “is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly “(1 Cor 15:48 -49).

God saved men after his wonderful virtue (mercy) and grace “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light “(1 Peter 2: 9). He saved and post in Christians the word of reconciliation. Save was not enough, because according to the eternal purpose (which is the preeminence of Christ), He chose (elected) the saved, not unbelievers, according to His grace to be blameless and holy before him.

God saved men according to His grace and according to his eternal purpose (the preeminence of Christ), and then received by the children, according to what was predetermined ante hand. All who believe in Christ are saved and receiving divine sonship, that Christ is the firstborn among many brother. That is, if someone does not want to be a child of God must reject the gospel of grace, since all who are saved in Christ will not have another destination: are children of God according to His eternal purpose: the preeminence of Christ as the head of the church.

Now the election and predestination are according to the eternal purpose of God to converge in Christ all things. Different is salvation, which is according to His mercy, grace and love. In love, grace and mercy God rescues all men from the bondage of sin condition, and, according to his eternal purpose, these men are made sons of God, that Christ is the firstborn among many brethren.

 

Salvation

Jesus’ ministry was to seek and to save that which was lost “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). According a’visão ‘monergistic, we can consider that the’ elected ‘and’ predestined ‘, ultimately never lost.

The theology of free grace shows that the lost never had a chance to be saved, and the chosen and predestined, never had the opportunity to get lost. Now there is a big contradiction between what Jesus said, and they preach the supporters of free grace, since Jesus came in search of what had effectively lost, and they demonstrate that some never lost, for God saved them by election and predestination before they are lost.

However, what we see in the scriptures is that all men were lost, and that Christ came to get them and save them.

It appears from the text, which effectively men were lost in Adam, and that Jesus came in search of the lost, not saved (Luke 19:10). In other words, Jesus was not in a make-believe, looking for someone who was apparently lost, but which ultimately was never lost, as the theological preach the followers of ‘free grace’.

Jesus came to save men lost as a result of a previous conviction. No contradiction! First the men lost in Adam, and then be offered by God free redemption.

God never sent men to hell as the basis of their sovereignty, like a tyrant. Before, all the men were tried and convicted in Adam. According to the condemnation in Adam is that men follow to destruction.

But God loved the world so that he gave his only begotten Son, since all were under condemnation. Now all those who die without salvation revealed the righteousness of God, for the condemned to eternal death follow “But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust, inflicts wrath “(Romans 3: 5).

Now the love of God in giving His Son does not invalidate his righteousness and justice: it is not because Jesus died as a ransom for all men, that those who are under condemnation will not be punished. God is no respecter of persons, the soul that sins shall die, and the culprit will not be held guiltless.

The love of God is evident from the offering of Christ on Calvary’s cross. Much more evident is love because He died for sinners. Believers is offered a new life, because “life” inherited from Adam does not hold the judgment of God: to die and be buried with Christ.

God is just, and all who are born according to the will of the flesh, blood will and the will of man, the share of earthling man nature, and are therefore condemned before God for disobedience of Adam “For as by one offense came to judgment upon all men to condemnation … “(Rom 5:18).

The salvation is offered today (now), since:

  • tomorrow does not belong to man;
  • the judgment has already occurred and all men are condemned, and needs salvation ‘today’;
  • if the conviction was in the future, only after the conviction was right offer redemption;
  • before the world was there was no offer of salvation, not by election and not by predestination.

It would be counter intuitive God grant salvation to man in order a judgment and a conviction that had not occurred. But Jesus came to seek that which was lost, because all along turned aside, there was none to seek God.

If salvation is according to election and predestination, the day on a timely manner would be in eternity, before the world was. As the ‘reasonable time’ can be today if the election and predestination is before the world began? As God is ‘here and now’ the day of salvation, if all born with a certain destination?

Jesus did not come to judge mankind because everyone was already under condemnation “Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man” (John 8:15). If Jesus declare judgment on men, would invalidate the judgment established in Eden “And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I do not judge; for I came not to judge the world but to save the world” ( John 12:47).

Jesus of course to demonstrate the conviction of the men he came to save: “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already …” (John 3:18).

It is plausible to consider that God has determined those who would be saved before the world was through its sovereignty or its omniscience, if men had not yet lost?

Now Adam was free in every way, and if he had not eaten the fruit?

But God is knowing of all things by his omniscience, however, never force Adam to eat the forbidden fruit. How to determine before hand who would be saved if someone had not even lost?

Since God no one oppresses, we have the sovereignty and God’s omniscience does not take anyone to make decisions against their own will “By Almighty can not reach; is excellent in power, but no one oppresses in court and greatness justice “(Job 37:23).

God knew that man would sin, and sovereignly did not interfere with man’s decision. Rather, God opened a new door in Christ, the last Adam, so that the descendants of the first Adam realized through the gospel message that you must decide them for salvation.

Without oppress anyone to make choices, sovereign God continues the eternal purpose to converge in Christ all make amends. That complain the man? Of his own sins! But as God predestined man to destruction, and yet the blame?

Man was created destined to sin? She was not given free will?

Now what we see is that the election and predestination refer to the eternal purpose which is the preeminence of Christ over all things, and not with regard to salvation.

Salvation is for those who are lost. Salvation (is after the destruction) is after the destruction, according to the eternal purpose, which is prior to destruction. According to the eternal purpose the Lamb was slain, that he received glory and honor above every name “What with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength and honor, and glory, and blessing “(Revelation 5:12); “And loved it all that dwell upon the earth, whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life who was slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13: 8).

Salvation is not by the Lamb offer, if not all alike would be saved. The lamb supply is according to the eternal purpose, that Christ would receive power and honor above every name that is named.

Salvation is for those who become partakers of flesh and blood of the Lamb, for by faith die, are buried and resurface with Christ a new creature “For to this that Christ died and rose again, and lived again, to be Lord of both the dead and the living “(Romans 14: 9).

The death and resurrection of Christ were to establish his lordly about dead and living. But the resurrection is that the lost are refreshing “There is also like figure now saves us-baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ “(1 Peter 3:21).

God did not save anyone in eternity, for salvation is for the time of men called ‘today’. ‘Now saves you’, that is, God in eternity not determined and not predestined anyone to salvation.

The apostle Paul in interpreting announced by the prophet Isaiah, who said, “Thus says the Lord: In an acceptable time I will hear thee, and in a day of salvation I will help you, and keep you, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to the land restaurardes … “(Isaiah 49: 8) shows that here and now is the accepted time of God. That is, he did not accept anyone in eternity as says ‘monergistic vision’ or ‘gospel’ second Calvin and Arminius. If God had predestined or chosen some to salvation, ‘behold, here’ would not be the time of salvation (2 Corinthians 6: 2).

This shows that in eternity established the eternal purpose of God that in all things Christ had the preeminence. According to his eternal purpose, those who believe in Christ for salvation, that is, accepting drinks the water is a source welling up to eternal life are elected and predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ, co-heirs with Christ, He and firstborn among many brethren.

In eternity there is no salvation, if any, the fallen angels would be saved. In eternity God did not save nor save, for salvation of God is revealed for the time it is called today. Lost die following to the judgment of his works, as they are already under eternal damnation. But for those who die with Christ (when they believe), resurface a new creation where God’s purpose is fulfilled and move on to the participant eternity of life in God.

That is why the apostle Paul in writing to Timothy demonstrated that God saves us in time which is called ‘today’, in acceptable time. You need to give ear to the Eternal Father invitation that the gospel presents: “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts …” (Hebrews 3: 7).

The voice of the Spirit resonates ‘today’, and those who listen can accept it or not. But those who hear and do not resist the Spirit are saved. The saved are called with a holy calling, according to the eternal purpose which is the preeminence of Christ, and are made children of God, holy and blameless “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began “(2 Tim 1: 9).

The ‘election’ is according to the eternal purpose and the ‘grace’ is granted according to Christ. But both the grace and the eternal purpose are before the world began, since they came from Christ.

God saved Paul and Timothy according to the power that is in the gospel (2 Tim 1: 8), because we know that the gospel is the power of God for all who believe (John 1:12; Rom 1:16; 1 Cor 1:24).

The apostle Paul had an argument to those who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, which is also valid for monergistas: “If men I fought against the beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me, if the dead rise not? Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die “(1 Cor 15:19).

This argument is entirely relevant! As it is impossible to expect someone in Christ according to monergistic view, if there is no way to determine who is or is not predestined to salvation? The recommended is to eat and drink, for if you are one of those chosen for salvation will be saved. But if you do not have such luck, at least not lived in search of a dead hope.

Beloved, let us consider what the Spirit says. “For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts …” (Psalm 95: 7 -8).

Claudio Crispim

É articulista do Portal Estudo Bíblico (https://estudobiblico.org), com mais de 360 artigos publicados e distribuídos gratuitamente na web. Nasceu em Mato Grosso do Sul, Nova Andradina, Brasil, em 1973. Aos 2 anos de idade sua família mudou-se para São Paulo, onde vive até hoje. O pai, ‘in memória’, exerceu o oficio de motorista coletivo e, a mãe, é comerciante, sendo ambos evangélicos. Cursou o Bacharelado em Ciências Policiais de Segurança e Ordem Pública na Academia de Policia Militar do Barro Branco, se formando em 2003, e, atualmente, exerce é Capitão da Policia Militar do Estado de São Paulo. Casado com a Sra. Jussara, e pai de dois filhos: Larissa e Vinícius.

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