"only the righteous can be saved." - Paul M.

This may look simple at first glance, but I believe Paul touched on a deeper lever. Ever wonder how many salvations we have?

-- Luke Juarez (hubertdorm@yahoo.com), October 01, 2004

Answers

Here's what I first noticed. Righteous people have no reason to be saved. In God's eyes, no such person exists on earth. But if there had been a righteous person, he would not need to be "saved" because he would not have anything to be saved from.

2nd thought. When we come into the body of Christ, our names are written down in the Book of Life. This book is set before the court of God, and all those with names here will have everlasting life.

Hebrews 9:28 ...and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Are we saved when we believe in Christ or are we saved when Christ comes again?

Even though our names are written in the Book of Life, we have this space of time in which we are considered "saved" but have yet to actually have escaped hell.

But then, each man without Christ already stands condemned. I think I am having problems realizing an eternal God, who exists outside of time itself.

-- Luke Juarez (hubertdorm@yahoo.com), October 01, 2004.

We can only be saved when we are unrighteous, for Jesus did not shed his blood for the healthy but the sick. But we cannot experience the actual reward of salvation--heaven, unless we live a holy and righteous life. It is during this "space" called life, in which we must allow ourselves to be transformed. The transformation itself cannot even begin until we are reborn by the Spirit. And then we must submit our will daily to allow the righteousness, powered by grace, to work in our lives.

-- Luke Juarez (hubertdorm@yahoo.com), October 01, 2004.

This is one major reason (besides Matthew 18) I changed my position on once saved always saved. Now I suppose I believe Once saved to be Saved. As kevin posted, there are many things a born-again person can fall into if he doesn't trust and obey the numerous instructins given by God, through his apostles, for a pleasing life to God. LIke the parable of the ten minas, we are all given the gift of Jesus, but it is also a duty we receive, and for those of us who do nothing with the grace bestowed upon us, we are judged wicked, and are killed in front of God.

-- Luke Juarez (hubertdorm@yahoo.com), October 01, 2004.

I hadn't heard this explanation before Luke. I'm glad you posted it.

I think you have a good way of explaining the difference between being "saved" and obtaining the reward of eternal life. Let me know if I seem to have misunderstood what you're saying.

-- Andy S ("ask3332004@yahoo.com"), October 02, 2004.

The only way that one can be righteous before God's sight--is if he has clothed himself in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. By faith we receive Christ as our Savior. That is what makes us righteous. It is a faith thing.

Abraham was considered righteous because he believed God....it was because he had faith--that God called him righteous.,not because of anything he did.

-- ("faith01@myway.com"), October 02, 2004.

Exactly, Faith - which is what I meant by "righteous people" in the first place - those who have been made righteous. Those to whom Christ referred when he said "... truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me. These will go away into eternal punishment, but THE RIGHTEOUS into eternal life." (Matthew 25:45) Obviously He was not referring to the self-righteous.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), October 02, 2004.

"The righteous shall live by faith"

We are saved by an ACTIVE faith not by an ACT OF faith.

Those who possess an active faith are continually being saved/preserved... from the moment they first believed until the Day.

One salvation that touches multiple aspects of our lives...

-- Max Darity (arrowtouch@yahoo.com), October 07, 2004.