DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT WEDNESDAY – Confused? Then Return to the Original Model! Part 1.

A university student was seen with a large "K" printed on his T- shirt. When someone asked him what the "K" stood for, he said, "Confused." "But," the questioner replied, "you don't spell "confused" with a "K." The student answered, "You don't know how confused I am." - Source Unknown.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. – Rom 1:21.

Many of the new ideas about Church are just that, ideas! By leaving a building doesn’t make us a better Church; we are the Church, no matter what the construction may be.

Whenever a good recipe is abandoned over a long period and becomes inferior, it would be wise to return to the original recipe to see where we began to fail. What did we add, and what did we delete, and what did we change?

When it comes to our recipe for salvation, and service to God we must “ask for the old paths.” Since the Bible clearly warned about departures from “the faith,” it is very important that we return to the original order of things.

One thing we have to understand is that today’s Christianity fails to speak the same thing in regard to how a person is to be saved. Various Churches will say various things, often in complete conflict with one another. Therefore, I suggested that we retrace our steps and our understandings back to the original model given to us in the 2nd chapter of Acts.

Return To The Original Salvation Model.

Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah." When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. - Acts 2:36-41.

They had heard about Jesus, and this brought conviction. They were “Cut to the heart.” This was their faith or belief. They cried “what shall we do?” This is godly sorrow produced by faith. Then they were told to repent and be baptised. This would result in their forgiveness of all sins, and the receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This shows that the “free gift” is conditional, and that only those with this kind of faith will enjoy these benefits. Modern theories and contradictory ideas do not support this “Original Salvation Model.”

Early one morning fire broke out in a house on a narrow street. The alarm was sounded by a policeman on duty. Before the fire engines could get to the scene, however, flames were leaping high into the air. Suddenly a young man appeared at an upper window in his pyjamas.

Firemen quickly placed a ladder against the burning building. But to the consternation of all, he refused to come down, shouting back that he had to get dressed first. The firemen pleaded, “Come as you are! Come as you are!” but to no avail.

From below they tried to ascend the stairs, but were turned back as the wind fanned the flames into fury. When a rescuer tried to enter through a window, the heat and smoke forced him away. Suddenly the stairs gave way and the roof fell in. The man had waited too long and was buried beneath the ruins.

How much greater tragedy awaits all who refuse to “flee from the wrath to come.” Many reject God’s provision of salvation and safety in Christ because they want to get dressed up in the clothes of self-righteousness or religion. Their delay could cost them their souls. – Source Unknown.

If this “Original Model” was used as our dependable pattern today, then confusion on this issue of Salvation, would be resolved.

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, not to be led into confusion, but to be convicted and reassured by your word, regarding the old paths. I ask this in the wonderful Name of Jesus. Amen

Be encouraged!
GBYAY