Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Are you saved, or are you being saved?


This is no mere semantic!

There is a good reason for this command from the Apostle Paul to all NT pastors and teachers"

2Ti 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

".. are saved" speaks of the completed divine action PRIOR TO and INDEPENDENT of the activities of preachers, the activity which explains the response of them that are saved, that is, they hear and perceive the gospel as declaring the power of God in salvation.

"...are being saved" speaks of the INCLUSION of man's activity of preaching in the salvation spoken of; which is seen as a PROCESS which involves the activities of men!

Men bent on synergism are acting so subtly to undermine and destroy the plain, pure, pristine grace alone. Many rave and rant about monergism, but they are really synergistic in their doctrine of salvation!

"are saved..."  - σῳζομένοις

Root: σῴζω sōzō
Tense: Present
Voice: Passive
Mood: Participle

http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=1Co&c=1&t=KJV...

I'm no Greek scholar. I can't even handle English well enough.

"σῳζομένοις" - in my understanding, being a present passive participle (I trust some cheapskate greek students' assessment) - is simply "saved ones", God being the active agent.

A participle is a word formed from a verb and used as an adjective or a noun.
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/participle

The "are saved" refers to the group of people that have been saved by God.

To those that are saved (by the free and sovereign acts of God) the gospel (the good news) is perceived as the message which declares the power of God in saving poor helpless sinners.

The gospel is the message; it has no power to save; it is the message about God's power in salvation. The two are distinct, and separate. So many just equate the two, and confound them! The gospel is the good news which declares the power of God in saving sinners in their native state of sin and condemnation.

See comments here:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204849586694945&set=a.10204849581934826.1073742733.1097484914&type=1&theater
Posted by at