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The Triune Work of Salvation

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Each month, we will be highlighting a particular theological topic here at the BLB blog. This month, we are highlighting the topic of soteriology—the doctrine of salvation through Jesus Christ.

The whole work of salvation for sinners is a uniquely Trinitarian work. Consider the following passages:

The Father ordains the work of salvation

Salvation was His Plan.

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him… I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do…I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.”

(John 17:1-7)

He chose us and predestined us.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
(Ephesians 1:3-6)

This was according to His wisdom and purpose.

…according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will
(Ephesians 1:7-11)

so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord
(Ephesians 3:10-11)

The Son accomplished our salvation

He reconciled us.

More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
(Romans 5:11)

He redeemed us.

he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
(Hebrews 9:12)

We are adopted through Him.

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
(Romans 8:15)

We are called into His fellowship.

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
(1 Corinthians 1:9)

We are justified by His work.

and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
(Romans 3:24)

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
(Romans 5:9)

The Holy Spirit applies the work of salvation to the Church

He gives the new birth, renews, and regenerates us. 

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
(John 3:6-7)he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit
(Titus 3:5)

He is the Helper Jesus sent.

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
(John 16:7)

He dwells within us.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
(Romans 8:9)

He conforms us into the image and likeness of Christ.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
(2 Corinthians 3:18)

He empowers us for Christian living.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
(Galatians 5:22-24)

that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
(Ephesians 3:16-21)

He helps and intercedes.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
(Romans 8:26)

He keeps us to the very end.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
(Philippians 1:6)

 

Comments

  1. (KJV)John 14:18
    I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
    Oneness explained in one verse, the son is talking in the first person, about not leaving them as orphans, fatherless, saying he will come to them, with them, but soon to be in them as the Holy Ghost.

    The Father in creation, the son in redemption ,and the Spirit in Sanctification

    Trinity- three persons in one…three persons? Coequal? Coeternal? Certainly, the son existed prior to being a son as the Word
    Man made a mistake trying to define this great mystery that is revealed in and through His Word

    • John~

      Oneness theology was a topic that was discussed at length awhile back. I wish there was some way for you to find those posts. According to this theology, God is a numerical one, and He manifests Himself as “The Father in creation, the son in redemption ,and the Spirit in Sanctification,” so how, then, do you account for the Father and the Son existing simultaneously as two separate entities as in the following verses?

      “And he said, Abba, Father, all things [are] possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt” (Mk. 14:36).
      You will also notice here that mention is made of two separate wills.

      “Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3).
      The “Majesty on high” is, of course, God the Father.

      John, the mistake that “Man made [in] trying to define this great mystery” was when he developed doctrine based upon “one verse” at the exclusion of the rest of God’s Word. That is why Mormons believe that they, too, can be god of their own world; it is because it is “explained in one verse,” John 10:34, which says, “Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?”

      ~”All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (II Tim. 3:16).

      ~“ For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).

      I pray that as you study the Word (II Tim. 2:15) and call upon the Lord that He will reveal truth to you (Jn. 16:13).

      Barbara

      • Thank you for your response Barbara, and by the way, I do enjoy your posts.

        Absolutely, Jesus was God, and I agree with your two examples that show the Father and the Son simultaneously as two separate entities. However, it’s a step further on to come up with the Trinity doctrine, a step the apostles did not take.

        This is a little different to your examples, but I imagine when Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus, He was still at the same time, at the right hand of God, making intercession for us. Romans8:34

        It grates with me a little when I hear references to “the second person of the Trinity”, or the “third person of the Trinity”, as this is not biblical language. ( I never hear “the first person of the Trinity”!)

        God bless you and your family
        Helen

        • Helen~

          I don’t know if you’ll be back to read this, but I’ll take a chance. I appreciate your comments, but I don’t really understand something that you wrote, so I would appreciate it if you would clarify it for me. What do you mean that “it’s a step further on to come up with the Trinity doctrine”? You do agree that the Father is God and the Son is God, so are you saying this because I didn’t give an example of the Holy Spirit being God, or are you saying this because you believe, as John does, that this one entity appeared as the Father, then as the Son, and then as the Holy Spirit? I’m thinking, because of your comment about “Paul on the road to Damascus,” that it is the latter, but I could be wrong. First, however, I will say that I’ve never given any thought as to how Jesus could have been “at the right hand of God, making intercession for us” and, at the same time, have appeared to Paul, but I don’t think that this is a solid analogy. We’re not talking about one entity being in two places at the same time, as in your example, and as we know from one entity, the Holy Spirit, simultaneously dwelling within each believer (I Cor. 6:19). What we’re talking about, if Oneness theology is correct, is one entity simultaneously existing as two entities as my examples (Mk. 14:36, Heb. 1:3) illustrate.

          The objection you put forth is that the “step the apostles did not take” was the “Trinity doctrine.” While they didn’t use the word “Trinity,” this doesn’t mean that their writings are void of revelation regarding a Trinity. We read that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all defined, in one way or another, as God, yet we know that there is only one God (Deut. 6:4). This is most certainly very strong evidence for a triune God. What biblical evidence can you give in which the apostles took a “step” toward Oneness doctrine, that one entity manifested Himself as three separate personages? If there were no scriptures in which they were ever together, then at least there would be a starting place for discussion, albeit a weak one, but when they are all together as they are in so many verses such as Matt. 3:16-17, then the problems are insurmountable. Just how do you begin to logically explain the Father’s comment, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” if they are one in the same entity? Mark 14:36 is another example that just isn’t reasonable. In this verse, one entity is simultaneously manifesting Himself as both the Father and the Son, something for which there is not even one biblical precedent, having a conversation with Himself in which He, in essence, is asking Himself to take the cup away from Himself, if possible, and then submitting Himself to Himself. I don’t know what you are thinking as you read this, and you might be tempted to say that I am twisting Scripture, but the truth is, this is exactly what is taking place. In addition, as we know, we are to model Christ’s subjection to the Father by dying to ourselves. If Christ is merely subjecting Himself to Himself, in what way is He truly subjecting Himself to the will of the Father over His will? In Hebrews 1:3, we have the same split God sitting next to Himself in heaven. What possible reason could there be for such a display? Also, how do you explain Christ making intercession for us to the Father if they are the same entity? These are only a few of the many problems that arise from Oneness doctrine, and I would truly like to know how they can be explained. Thank you.

          Have a blessed day~
          Barbara

          • Barbara,

            What I meant by a step further on is that when you have facts and then interpret those facts and derive a doctrine therefrom, that is the step further on.

            I do believe that the Holy Spirit is God of course, and yes, the example I gave was to illustrate that God can be in two places at once (or more of course).

            I know very little about Oneness doctrine, but I do think that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are aspects of the one God, rather than separate persons. One personality rather than three.

            Your arguments are very reasonable Barbara, but whatever understanding one has of the Godhead, it remains a deep and mysterious subject. The point I was making was that since the apostles did not clearly teach on it, maybe we should not be too dogmatic about our own viewpoint.

            God bless you!
            Helen

          • Helen~

            Thank you for your response. If I falsely assumed that you hold to Oneness doctrine, please accept my apology. However, because of the examples in which two or all three appear together and even converse with each other, I think the triune nature of God is evident throughout Scripture.

            God bless you in all things~
            Barbara

    • I’m inclined to agree with your last statement John. The tri-une way in which God has revealed Himself to man is apparent in the scriptures, but the wording of the Trinity doctrine, with its three separate persons, does not satisfy me.

      As far as I am aware, the apostles did not teach the doctrine. Paul said,
      “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” 1Ti 3:16
      He did not ever say anything about a first, second or third person of a Trinity. And he did say that if anyone preached any other gospel than he taught, “let him be accursed”. Gal 1:8-9

      On what or whose authority is the doctrine anchored?If I am required to believe it in order to be considered orthodox, but it is not in the Bible, is that “adding to the words of the book”?? Rev 22

      God bless you all as you rejoice in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ!
      Helen

      • Helen~

        When formulating doctrine, I am sure you would agree that it is important to include all Scripture (II Tim. 316) and not to add to the Word (Rev. 22:18) as you wrote. Some people on this site have denied that Jesus is God because nowhere is the exact statement, “I am God” in the Bible although there are scores of verses that do testify to His being God (see Robert Bowman, Jr.’s article in BLB commentaries). By studying all relevant Scripture, we can also determine whether God is a Trinity although that specific word is not in the Bible. If it can be determined that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, then the next step is to determine whether they are ever manifested as God at the same time. I don’t know if you read my response to John, but I gave just two examples in which both the Father and the Son exist simultaneously as two separate entities, which not only dispels Oneness doctrine but supports Trinity doctrine:

        “And he said, Abba, Father, all things [are] possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt” (Mk. 14:36).
        
You will also notice here that mention is made of two separate wills.

        “Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3).

        The “Majesty on high” is, of course, God the Father.

        I hope this helps in your study.

        Have a blessed day~
        Barbara

      • I would have to agree, your stand on the Word is great, If it’s not clear I will study and study until it makes since, good example, this subject doesnt make since. So still working it to explain to explain the Word. So far not success, but if Jesus Christ is the son of God, that makes since. God, no. not yet anyway. Great stand, let’s let the Word teach us, not what we think it says.

        Happy Studying

        • Jim~

          I know that as we bring ourselves into greater and greater subjection to Christ and truly seek Him and truly study that we will come into the truth because it is promised in John 16:13. So tell me, what is your greatest objection to Jesus being God?

          Yours in Christ~
          Barbara

    • In the gospel of John he states it so well….John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….v14 and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,…..if you speak do your words stay in your mouth?….or do they go out as your mouths’ seed?….that is beginning of Jesus….He is THE WORD….in the Old Testament he is the WORD….when God spoke it is, was, and always will be Jesus….they are one and yet they are with each other….Jesus has he’s own will…which he submits’ to the Father….he is the only begotten son of God….don’t trip trying to line up with theology that do will not allow you to see that what we are looking at… God Almighty and his son Jesus and his spirit the Holy Spirit are bigger greater and more complex than we can imagine….enjoy the walk and always be ready for what you thought you knew to be revised as God reveals himself by the spirit of revelation…..I was praying about some on this blog and he said they are ever learning and never coming to the truth….that’s what happen to the religious in Jesus’ day….even Paul had a ZEAL but was very much in error and he was a jew and knew the scriptures…..the spirit of REVELATION must shine or scriptures can be interpreted any way a person wants

      • Thankyou Donna for your thoughts. I can’t disagree with anything you say. As regards some on the blog, well God has made us all wonderfully different, and we are all still learning!!

        God bless you!
        Helen

      • Donna~

        You wrote that there was a “beginning [to] Jesus.” Yes, the man Jesus had a beginning as far as becoming flesh and dwelling upon the Earth; however, as God, He has always existed; therefore, in that capacity, He absolutely had no beginning. As I said in my post to John, we discussed this very topic sometime back. I wish I could remember the dates so that you could just go back and read everyone’s thoughts. Perhaps someone has an idea of where they might be. While we wait on that, have you studied the BLB commentary on the Trinity by Robert Bowman, Jr.?

        I don’t know how often you go back to different days to check if anyone has responded to your posts, but I commented on two of them. The first was the November 16 blog (post dated Nov. 27), and the second was the November 20 blog ( post dated Nov. 22). I would appreciate your thoughts.

        Thank you~
        Barbara

        • Barbara, the scripture, the word says in the beginning was the word….Jesus says He is the beginning and the end…..neither of us can ever hope to understand every nuance of all that means….just when you think you understand it God will open up that understanding by giving a greater understanding of the circle of forever…..I appreciate you and your zeal but please throttle back on every person that posts must pass through your judging every thing that is said….I do not know the second God opened his mouth for the 1st time and Jesus was that word….but it happened…..Was Jesus there at that point….yes…..was God before that YES….how does that work???? they know!!!!

          • Donna~

            You are correct that Jesus is the Word (Jn. 1:1), but can you show me where this, or any, verse supports your statement that “God opened his mouth for the 1st time and Jesus was that word”? This verse also says that the Word is God (“theos”). Can you give any reasoning or Scripture that would support your view that God is created rather than self-existent? We are told that He was “with” God, meaning a separate entity although in perfect union with the Father. Yes, the Word was “In the beginning” with God, but according to Thayer’s, the beginning has nothing to do with His coming into existence but that he is the “origin…of all things” (v. 3).

            To support your view that the Word was spoken into creation, you wrote, “Jesus says He is the beginning and the end,” a reference to Revelation 1:8, but there are a couple problems with this interpretation. In the first place, He is saying that He “is” the beginning, not that He “had” a beginning. In addition, if you’re going to insist that the word “beginning” is to be understood in terms of Jesus coming into existence, then, logically, you are also forced to accept the conclusion that Jesus, as “the end,” will also be going out of existence because the phrase, “the beginning and the end” is to be understood as one thought.

            Finally, you wrote, “…please throttle back on every person that posts must pass through your judging every thing that is said.” Donna, we are talking about what the Word of God says, and if you have been following the discussions for any length of time, you will have noticed that there is no shortage of interpretations for any given doctrine. Are they all correct? Obviously not, so if some of them are wrong, are believers to just allow false doctrine, whether done purposefully or even mistakenly, pollute the body of Christ? Again, the answer is obviously not because we are told that we are to “earnestly contend for the faith” (Jude 1:3), and we are told to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine [because] …the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (II Tim. 4:2-4).

            Lest you think that I gave the above verses out of arrogance and presenting myself as the sole keeper of God’s Word, I have, on more than one occasion, acknowledged that I don’t like being wrong anymore than anyone else, but if I am, especially with the Word of God, then I want someone to tell me, but this doesn’t mean calling me names or accusing me of things or taking potshots at my character. What it does mean is to logically and scripturally dismantle my argument while, at the same, logically and scripturally building another argument. When you can do this, then I will admit that my comments are from my own resources and not the Holy Spirit, and I will admit that “every thing [sic] that is said,” as you wrote, “must pass through [my] judging” rather than by my “rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Tim. 2:15b), and I will, at that time, most certainly “throttle back.”

            I look forward to your argument.
            Barbara

          • Barbara…I love your zeal….and I love that you stay with the word….I am not going to argue scripture with you…..the understandings of God that I have were not taught by argueing with other christians…..you have many errors in your beliefs….but when they are pointed out you disagree with “the interpretation” …there is a crisis of belief that we have to come to to get to the truth….that is where the ugly spirit of Religion must be put down….my beliefs are not dependent on you agreeing with them….they came with years of quite study and crying out to God and finally the Holy Spirit teaching me the deep truths….and every time I had to lay down everything I thought I knew for God to teach me…..God is not going to show up and debate you into the truth…..in fact he has instructed me to leave this blog…. believe me the flesh part of me would love to argue scripture for scripture…but I am going to do what he told me and leave….God Bless!

          • Donna~

            I said “argue,” not “fight.” When anyone tells me that I “have many errors in [my] beliefs” but nothing is forthcoming by way of true, sound correction, I have to doubt his or her claim because, while I don’t know everything, I do know that people can explain what they understand, and nowhere is this more evident and more important than in the Word of God. You wrote that my errors were “pointed out” to me but that I “disagree with ‘the interpretation.'” Are you suggesting that just because someone points something out to me or gives me a different interpretation that it automatically mean that he or she is correct? For example, you gave an interpretation on John 1:1 and Revelation 1:8, which I don’t believe to be an accurate view of what these verses are saying, so I responded by considering what you had written and commenting on it. Rather than use your last post on this blog to correct what you view as an erring sister, you chose to criticize. I am truly sorry that you were unwilling to address the few points that I brought up. I pray that you will do so in the future.

            It is my prayer that as we seek the truth of God’s Word that our eyes and hearts will be open to it.

            Barbara

  2. Oh yeah, and get rid of that pagan symbolism at the top of the page that is also on the inside cover of every nkjv bible, no need for symbolism, just straight Word,

  3. What is the image and likeness of God? The answer to this question is contrary to our lives and so is hardly comprehendible to those of the flesh. Suspend evaluation that has no comparator in this matter.

    Think on the end. We see the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb. We See the Spirit and the bride.
    Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God.
    Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
    Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb [is] the light thereof.
    Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

    The reality of human being is undergirded by thought. Truly, choice is the expression of our existence. Our choices place us where we are in a geographical location but more to the point, who we are, our person is self made. All of us have frequently been at the moment of decision when activity stops, is suspended and reserved in potential, it is very human. Humanity is participating in creation. Human life is more than animal interaction with the environment; it is an expression of beliefs. How very conscious, how precious is the ability to choose. What a perfect gift is the life that chooses to believe God. The honor, the glory due the creator then resides where it belongs. The human spectacle witnesses instead a majority of lives apart from the counsel of God.

    Luk 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

    Luke 17:20 notes that the Pharisees demanded Jesus to tell them when the Kingdom of God should come. Jesus replied that the Kingdom of God comes without observation. This kingdom is not enacted or proclaimed as all human government must be. Creation is the Kingdom of God yet is unknown to those living who do not know their Creator. God is. The Kingdom of God will come to be known by all His creatures now, or at the judgment. Jesus elsewhere rejoiced that God did not reveal things to the wise and prudent but to babes. Pride desires to alter God’s truth to sinners’ counterfeit creation; it is enmity to God. The rulers of that time and the nation Israel were seeking their kingdom as they conceived it. It is not possible for anyone focused on the physical to perceive the spiritual. After all, our life with God in His Garden of Eden ended as Adam and Eve exercised their preference, not His will. Humanity does not comprehend God, do not perceive His intent. Jesus startles, astounds, and befuddles people with a message that is hard to understand for a race of a different mind.

    “The Kingdom of God is within you.” Kingdom is a volatile word in human knowing, all who suffer inadequate governance. Jesus plainly states:

    Jhn 18:36 Jesus answered, my kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
    Jhn 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

    Jesus was born to bear witness unto the truth, everyone that is of the truth hears His voice. The Kingdom of God is not of this world. That which is born of flesh is flesh. Jesus insists a person must be born again to see the Kingdom of God. A person must be born of the Spirit because that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. The Kingdom of God is within us. Whoever would must receive the Kingdom of God as a little child. The conditions for the Kingdom of God indicate that it is not entered by reasoning or by any possible physical accomplishment. The Kingdom of God is not coercion, it is chosen by those who accept the gospel, the testimony of Jesus.

    Psa 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law [is] within my heart.

    The Holy Spirit prepares His kingdom as revealed by ninety-six verses in the order that they occur in the KJV New Testament.

    Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings [are] faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
    Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, [and] the bright and morning star.

    Gen 5:1 This [is] the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him;
    Gen 5:2 Male and female created He them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
    Jhn 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
    1Cr 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom], which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
    2Ti 1:9 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,
    Tts 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

    1Cr 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening spirit.
    1Cr 15:47 The first man [is] of the earth, earthy: the second man [is] the Lord from heaven.
    Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
    Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
    Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
    Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

    • Bob~

      Thank you for this wonderful post. I especially enjoyed the thoughts you expressed in paragraph three. They not only illustrate that we have been truly blessed but that we are fully accountable for the decisions we make with regard to God and His Word.

      Your sister in Christ~
      Barbara

  4. wow, salvation,

    Body, Soul, spirit
    Formed, Made, Created,
    groups of 3 expressed here, 3 meaning complete.

    What’s 3×3? 9 —- 9 fruit of the spirit === mmmm
    —- 9 manifestations of your gift from God == mmm

    This is what we get to apply and reap, isn’t that cool?

    anyway, my thoughts

  5. Barbara,, Bobs posts are always wonderful but you, Sis made an excellent point in our 4th paragraph.

    We must take the whole council of God through HIS word. Never the interpretations of men. The first and most dangerous act of satan was to cast doubt on what God said. In Genesis 3:1 Satan casts doubt on what God actually said.

    Mans interpretation rather than mans simple obedience will always get him in trouble. Man hears then immediately seeks to shape scripture to conform to his own will rather than Gods will. We should always let scripture interpret scripture but satan is still at it and we tend to follow the ear tickler before Gods own Word because we are either too lazy to seek to know God through His Word or because we just like what we choose to believe rather than what God actually says.

    The Holy Spirit will always lead us to truth if we will allow it through Gods Word not mans interpretation.
    Acts 17:11

    • exactly, all of this is for the glory of God, not about us. Will this life be a distraction, offense or a testimony?

    • Tess~

      I appreciate your comment, but I am just wondering about something. Did you write this as a general comment about all believers or a specific comment to me because of my stance about believers being able to lose their salvation? The reason I ask is that you took such great exception to my interpretation in an earlier dialogue that you posted a poem which was very judgmental, not with regard to my reasoning, which is fine if done logically, but with regard to me personally, which is never right. I agree with you that “We should always let scripture interpret scripture,” so anytime you would like to consider my four examples, which are also a part of the “whole council of God through HIS word,” I would very much enjoy dialoguing with you.

      Yours in Christ~
      Barbara

  6. The title, “Facebook” is succinct description for the mirror that forum is. It is an unwitting window into the mind of human being. The test of a life is the testimony of Jesus.

    The mystery of God, the outcome of creation is the testimony of Jesus. The bible, the book of human creation states that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Prophecy, “which was, and is, and is to come” is the testimony of Jesus who is the first and the last and who holds the keys of hell and death. Jesus is the first who was ordained before the foundation of the world and the last. The last excludes any other; there is none else, there is no other way. No wonder the dragon sought to devour the child and makes war with those that keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. The heathen rage, the kings of the earth and the rulers gather against the Lord and His Christ. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Jesus is the Lamb of God.

    The testimony of Jesus is the purpose for the creation of Adam, the entirety of human presence. Consider the thought, the statements before the world began contained in the words, ordained, given, promised. The pronouncement of truth is followed by proof.
    1Cr 2:7, 2Ti 1:9, Tts 1:2

    Jhn 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

    Mar 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
    Mar 13:11 But when they shall lead [you], and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
    Mar 13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against [their] parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
    Mar 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

    Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in his strength.
    Rev 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
    Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
    Rev 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which [sword] proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

    • The glory before the world began is proven through the entire saga of human existence. In what part of the word of God do you choose to dwell?

      • Hbr 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
        Hbr 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
        Hbr 5:10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
        Hbr 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
        Hbr 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
        Hbr5:13 For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
        Hbr 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.