EQUATION FOR SALVATION

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP 

EQUATION FOR SALVATION 

(John 6:28-29) Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” 

I was okay in math growing up and it was even kind of fun like a puzzle. But when it got complicated I really struggled.  I always asked myself if I would ever use this complex math.  It was hard to get motivated for the assignments or even to look forward to the next level.  But I pushed through and if I remember I even got a pretty good grade.  I just like the simple stuff. And you know what?  That’s the stuff I use today because it works for everyday life.   

That’s the way it is with the EQUATION FOR SALVATION.  God has made the way of redemption easy for us humans.  We don’t have to come up with some high level of a system whereby we may attain to a righteous God.  It’s just simple as can be like 1, 2, 3!  Want to know what it is?   

FAITH + 0 = SALVATION 

Don’t you love it?  Isn’t that just as simple as can be?  It means all you need to be saved is faith in the work of Christ on the cross and you will be saved!  

First of all, God gives you the faith: (Eph 2:8) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.  Isn’t that just the best?  The Lord gives you faith as a gift to believe in Jesus.  You don’t have to go out and buy your own tools!   

Now let’s talk about the zero.  That is a big zero because packed in that low number is a high degree of meaning.  It means Jesus did the work on the cross when He died for our sins.  He shed His blood to wash away everything we ever did (or will do) wrong.  When He died He said “It is finished”.  Over and done.  He paid the payment for our debt.  It’s wiped clean.  Now you can appreciate that zero because inside that circle is the suffering of our Lord who made it possible for us to measure up to the righteousness of God. 

So we have the faith and we have the zero.  Now what does that total out to?   Salvation!  Simple isn’t it?  When I first put my faith in Christ for forgiveness of sins and eternal life, I asked my friend if there was anything else I had to do.  He said not a thing.  He told me about the EQUATION FOR SALVATION and I’ve been telling people about it ever since.      

Don’t make it so hard to be saved because God has given us the EQUATION FOR SALVATION!  (Rom 10:9-10) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.   

Louie  

THE TRICHOTOMY OF MAN

 

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

 

THE TRICHOTOMY OF MAN

 

(1 Thes 5:23) Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

The Bible speaks for the trichotomy of man.  That means every person has three parts to them…spirit, soul, and body.  Let’s define each one from scripture:

 

SPIRIT:  (Eph 2:1) And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins. The spirit is that part of you that relates to God.  Prior to knowing God it was dead in sins.  But when a person is born again it becomes alive to God through Jesus Christ. 

 

SOUL:  (Psa 103:1) Bless the Lord, O my soul…  Your soul incorporates your mind, will, and emotions.  It is the expression of who you are in your thoughts, your actions, and your feelings. 

 

BODY:  (1 Cor 6:19) Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  We all know what our bodies are but think of it as a temporary shelter (tent) for the real you that will live forever. (2 Cor 5:1-5)

 

Now, because man is sinful he has the whole trichotomy turned upside down from what it should be.  So in that unregenerate state it looks like this:

 

BODY

SOUL

SPIRIT

 

Notice how the body is first.  That means sinful man lives on a bodily (low, animal) plain, fulfilling its needs and cravings first and foremost.  Then comes the soul with all of its impulses and rumblings.  Then lastly there is the spirit which we have said is dead to God.  But when a person is born again there is a reversal of the trichotomy.  It will now look like this:

 

SPIRIT

SOUL

BODY

 

See how the spirit is first which means the things of Lord will dominate that person’s life and will bring into subjugation the soulish tendencies and the bodily cravings.  This is why Paul says to walk in the Spirit and he makes us realize there will be a battle for the reversal of the trichotomy. (Read Gal 5:16-26)  Sound difficult?  Don’t worry because according to our theme verse it will be a work of the Lord to have us live like this until His coming! 

 

Louie    

UNEMPLOYED

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP 

UNEMPLOYED

(Mat 20:6-7 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’  7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive. 

Being among the ranks of the unemployed does more to insult the self-respect of a person than almost anything else.  It carries with it a stigma that needs no reinforcement by the comments of others.  You hope no one will ask what you do for work and when they do it’s hard to know what to squeak out response.  I got laid off?  I’m not working presently?  I’m in-between jobs?    

Sometimes the unexpected happens.  Things change and you might be laid off.  Your company might be struggling.  Maybe they’re restructuring or closing down your division.   Perhaps they’re moving operations to another state.  Whatever it is you might be the victim of these changes.  It happened to me on my old job.  I had been working for three and a half years for a company and a new manager came in with a hatchet in his hand.  I was summoned into his office and was told the news.  I will never forget standing there completely stunned as I didn’t see it coming.  What a long walk out the door and to my car.  What do I do now?  I’ve been working since I was fifteen years old.  So weird to drive home and enter the house with no job.   

From the beginning of creation the Lord had man working.  (Gen 2:15) Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.  Notice how this is before the fall when man was in paradise conditions.  The curse of the fall is not working, but working by the sweat of your brow (Gen 3:19).  But soon Adam and Eve would be kicked out of the garden.  That means Adam lost his job too.   

So what do you do when you are facing the ranks of the unemployed?  (Mat 7:7-8) “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  PRAY and get everyone you know to pray for you.  SEEK by researching job availabilities.  Then KNOCK on doors.  If a door doesn’t open then it’s not the one for you.  God wants to bless you somewhere else.  Be persistent and don’t give up!  Our God provides and something eventually will turn up. 

And while you are looking for work keep yourself occupied.  (Luke 19:13) And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.  God has created us to keep busy which alleviates boredom and depression.  Do some volunteer work.  Catch up on projects around the home.  Recycle those items or scrap metal for extra cash.  Catch up on your Bible reading.  Get involved more at church with the Bible studies and prayer meetings and outreaches and events.  Call the church office and ask if you can clean.  Keep from the temptation of giving up and watching a lot of TV, etc.  Keep your dignity and avoid self-pity because soon you will be among the ranks of the employed!   

Louie    

I AM

(Exo 3:14)  And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" 

This name for God is “Yahweh” and translates “I am that I am.”  It signifies that God is self-existent in His nature and Being . . . always was and always will be.  In the Old Testament Yahweh occurs over 6,000 times.  

Yahweh (or “Jehovah”) is used along with other words to construct a compound name.  These compound names tell us that God is self-existent and is able and ready to meet any need His people might have.  Study these names and references and be blessed.  See how many you can memorize.  Drink in the encouragements given.  Then look up the New Testament counterpart verses.  It won’t take long until you’ll be confident the LORD ever lives and is ready to meet your every need!   

JEHOVAH-JIREH - (Gen 22:14)  And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, "In the Mount of The LORD it shall be provided."  Concerned about how to make ends meet?  Let God guide and provide.  (Phil 4:19) 

JEHOVAH-NISSI - (Exo 17:15)  And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-LORD-Is-My-Banner.  Every army had a banner that they raised in battle.  Be assured that victory awaits you in the battles of life.  (2 Cor 2:14)  

JEHOVAH RA'AH - (Psa 23:1)  The LORD is my shepherd . . .  The Lord promises to guide, protect, feed, and nurture us.  (John 10:11) 

JEHOVAH-RAPHA - (Exo 15:26)  . . . For I am the LORD who heals you."  The Lord is able to heal you physically, emotionally, and in every way.  (3 John 1:2) 

JEHOVAH-SHALOM - (Judg 6:24)  So Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it The-LORD-Is-Peace.  Good news for those of us who struggle with constant worry and anxiety.  (John 14:27)   

JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH - (Ezek 48:35)  . . . the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD Is THERE."  Feel the Lord is miles away helping somebody else?  Forget the feeling and go by faith that He is with you now and at all times.  (Heb 13:5) 

JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU - (Jer 23:6)  In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.  Feeling guilty because of your sin?  Good news.  God has made us righteous through the work of His Son on the cross.  (2 Cor 5:21)

WHEN TWO BECOME THREE

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

WHEN TWO BECOME THREE    

After marriage and the two become one there is the future expectation of having a baby and the two becoming three.  If you think about it this is fulfilling the first command of scripture:

(Gen 1:28) Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth…  So from the beginning having children was in the mind of the Lord for married couples.   

The Bible portrays children as a blessing from God and having a family as being rewarding.  (Psa 127:3-5) Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. 5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them…  Too bad many these days see children as a bother or as a hindrance to personal fulfillment.    So what are some things couples should be thinking about when the new addition arrives? 

FLEXIBILITY:  (James 3:17) But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits…  You have been a couple for some time now and have had your routine.  But a child introduces constant variables in your life and schedule that you must make room for.  Like the old adage that says “Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be broken”  Children do things spontaneously (to put it positively) and you have to roll with it.  Having a good sense of humor is a must.  CHANGE OF PLANS might be your new motto!  Good bye rigidity…hello fluidity!    

TEAMWORK:  (Amos 3:3) Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?  Cooperation is vital in raising children together.  Each couple must find what works best for them as they fall into their separate roles.  These roles sometimes are not predefined but work out in time and with experience.  Communicate well so that you won’t become bitter at your spouse.  And just when you get things down pat in one area be prepared for something to pop up in another area that you will have to adjust to.  It’s just the nature of parenting.  It keeps you humble and dependent on the Lord and one another!  This is all the reason to pray with each as often as you can.   

SACRIFICE:  (John 15:13) Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. When you have a child there is a growing awareness that your life is no longer your own.  You used to enjoy leisurely evenings and weekends.  You spent much time on your hobbies and recreation.  You had money in the bank.  You could travel.  You were probably more physically fit.  But now you have a child of your own and much of your “me” time has been exchanged for “wee” time. But think about what you have gained instead of what you have lost.  You have the privilege and joy of raising a little life to love and honor God.  The other things are temporal but a human soul is eternal and is the only thing you can take to heaven! 

One becomes two…two become one…two become three…WE ARE FAMILY!!   

Louie