Saturday, June 18, 2016

Genesis 3:21 comments: salvation


    21 ¶  Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

Death is introduced by God into the world, as a response to man and woman’s sin, to cover man and woman’s nakedness as there is no covering for our sin apart from God’s direct action. This directly relates to one of, what Paul said in Hebrews, the doctrines of Christ. There is nothing we can do that justifies us or removes the taint of sin and rebellion against God. All of our dead works are ineffectual in covering our naked sin. The essence of Bible salvation is to repent or change your mind and turn from what you believe justifies you as a good person, perhaps regarding yourself as worthy of heaven, and turn toward God, looking to Him only as the author and reason for your salvation.

Hebrews 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

When John the Baptist made his declaration and complaint;

Matthew 3:7 ¶  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 11  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

…he blasted the self-justification of the righteous Jew who regarded his heritage as a Jew as justification before God.

Just as God Himself will shut the door on Noah’s salvation, preserving mankind…

Genesis 7:16  And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.

…with the Ark representing a type of our salvation as baptism does today, a picture of God’s salvation.

1Peter 3:21  The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

So, we must understand that it is only by God’s will and by His direct action that we are saved. You hear, read, or perceive that it is God alone who justifies and how He accomplished it and you believe and He saves you from Hell, the consequence of rebellion against Him.

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.

At that moment also He gives you faith to believe the truth about Him and to live in Him.

Ephesians 2:8  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.

Romans 10:9  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. 12 ¶  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

This is the only covering for our sin. Jesus Christ made peace between rebellious mankind and the God who created them male and female.

Romans 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Understand that you, upon your ability to discern between good and evil against God, are accountable for your sins against Him and being a sinner. From that point on there is no covering for your sin that is not provided by God Himself. Apart from His direct action through the sacrifice of His physical body, the Lord Jesus Christ, as a propitiation for our sins, as a sacrifice to appease His wrath for our rebellion, and our acceptance of that sacrifice there is nothing we can do to justify ourselves.

Genesis 22:8  And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

God justifies us. God delivers us. God saves us. Bible salvation is given and never earned and is predicated upon belief and not works, as we understand works.

John 6:28 ¶  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

All of your ritual and ceremony, your outward following of tradition and practice, if you are looking for that to justify you before God, are nothing but dead works, and is not the covering for your naked sin that God has provided.

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