Soul Master Handbook -Salvation/Redemption

Salvation is the promise that we will find God. Redemption is acceptance of God's love. The traditional idea about salvation is that it has been taken care of by someone else (Jesus's death on the cross) - but each one of us must come to terms with our own salvation in order to gain our rightful inheritance of "Child of God" and Atonement (At One with God). We do this by redeeming ourselves, which means that we release the idea of ourselves as anything other than one with ALL and accepting the idea that we are always, eternally, at one with God (Atoned).

        For every heart that is troubled, there is salvation through atonement and redemption. These words sound like a great sacrifice and within some religious traditions it can be, but true salvation is simply the moment when we truly experience our oneness and inseparability to God. Redemption is the steps we take to reach this state of salvation (which can also be considered our true authentic nature). We can redeem ourselves by releasing the layers of guilt and shame we have put upon ourselves for our past transgressions.

        This is the work, and sometimes it is not easy work. Releasing ourselves from "sin" is like scraping the tarter off our teeth, it's hard, unpleasant and sometimes even painful, but when it's done, it feels so refreshing and clean. You would think we would jump at the chance to release ourselves from a sinful past, but we cling to this fiercely because to release our own sin means we must also release it in others, and this is something the ego has a hard time doing because to do so, we have no one else to hold accountable for our suffering but ourselves.

       A Course in Miracles says, "The laws of sin demand a victim." Is anything gained for the sinner or the victims of sin by repeating the sins in their minds and hearts in order to atone oneself from the past? There is no atonement in punishment. The very idea of punishment is the mirror image of sin being directed back to the sinner in an endless cycle of sinner/victim. And as long as we consider ourselves a victim then we cannot let go of the concept of sin. The soul master will redeem himself with forgiveness, for in forgiveness there is only love and atonement.

        Interestingly the word sin, in Greek (which is the original language of the New Testament), means to "miss the mark" or "miss the target". This definition already gives New Testament texts that use the word sin an entirely different perspective. Certainly when we equate sin with a mistake instead of intent, the venom is already reduced from the lesson. It is true that the cycle of sin/victim will continue until the "mistake" is corrected and instead of seeing the situation within the lens of sin/victimization we view it with love and forgiveness. This process of letting go is redemption.

        What of those that have truly no mind towards redemption and commit atrocities towards others? Let the law of society take care of societal abuses and lawbreakers. As long as some refuse to find their own salvation by releasing their past transgressions, there will always be a time to keep these souls from further harm to themselves and others. Our best defense against lawlessness in others is acute and focused direction on our OWN redemption and salvation. Salvation can only be sought from our own actions to our own soul, and it is never your duty or your responsibility to work on someone else's.

         The process of salvation, through redemption and atonement, is the realization that we have never, nor could we ever, possibly be separate from the originating Source. Salvation is awakening to our true divine spirit and understanding that the soul has known this all along. No one needs to "save" us. And really, no one could, because ultimately there is nothing to save. The truth of our true divine nature has been there from the beginning.
 
        The idea of needing a savior to save us to redeem us from our sins is an ideology I flatly reject for many reasons. We are whole NOW - not after something happens or because of someone else's sacrifice. We, as God's image, need only turn away from the fascination of pain, suffering, sin, evil, and victimization and look in the divine mirror. There, you will see only atonement. We do not start from a position of separateness, which equates to less than, missing something, sinful, and so on - we start from a position of wholeness. The only sacrifice that is needed is the sacrifice of the separate identity we cling onto.

        In summary, as individual expressions of the Creator, our salvation comes to us when we accept ourselves as Love's creation. The dark shadows of sin, doubt, judgment and hate can only be redeemed through the path of love and forgiveness. No one is excluded from this promise of life, but it is our own responsibility to choose our own salvation. Do we choose the joyous reunion of the soul to the Master Creator, or do we choose to wait until someone else comes along to save us from our suffering? I choose life now. If you do not agree with me, what harm can come to you to investigate your own truth? The soul master will know what is true for them. How? When all you experience is love, you have obtained your salvation.

         I wanted to write this article today, during a time of tough times in our social and cultural evolution, to allow readers to begin to work with the idea that salvation is always at hand. There is no divine punishment or spiritual price to pay for anything. These notions are mans (egos) ideas to try to make sense of the separateness we feel when we allow conditions to define who we are. I invite everyone to seek salvation (oneness with God) today, and do this with love, forgiveness, and faith in both ourselves and Divine Purpose. Begin within, and conditions will align to your salvation. You and God are never inseparable except by the choices that you make towards your own salvation.

Psalm 91 (KJV)
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

The Chicken or the Egg, Salvation or Redemption

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son. So whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16. Every true believer in Christ will tell you that this is the foundation for their salvation. If we received salvation, where does redemption come into this discussion? The Webster's Dictionary defines salvation as:

 1: deliverance from the power and effects of sin.
 2: The agent or means that effects salvation.
 3: Christian Science: the realization of the supremacy of the infinite Mind over all bringing with it the     destruction of the illusion of sin, sickness and death.

      This is how most of us would describe salvation. Most of us believe that you received salvation when you get "saved." Salvation is the heart and soul of a Christians beliefs. It is everything that we have been taught since Bible School. We were told through John 3:16, that we could be "saved" by accepting Jesus Christ as the one and only son of God, and that Jesus died for us to receive the salvation that his dying provided. This is how a majority of Christians would sum up how we are able to be washed in the blood of the Lamb and receive eternal life.

      If salvation, is the centerpiece of our faith and beliefs, how does redemption play a part in that salvation? Or is it something totally separate from salvation. Let us take a look at the meaning of salvation as defined in the Oxford Dictionary. Redemption is defined as: 1: the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil: God's plan for the redemption of his world [in singular] a thing that saves someone from error or evil: his marginalization from the Hollywood jungle proved to be his redemption. 2: the action of regaining possession in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt.

        So you can see that redemption is also the "act" of being saved. We can therefore assume, that based upon the two definitions that salvation and redemption as closely related. One (redemption) is the actual act of being saved. Compared to salvation, is one's deliverance from "sin."

       With the Oxford's definition of redemption, we can plainly see that you can seek redemption from just about anything. You can be redeemed from being addicted to a drug, alcohol, or any number of things. However, the actual experience of salvation will only come once. This is not to say that cannot seek redemption more than once.

        Each of us is afforded the ability to seek out redemption at any time we may need it. As Christians, we are fortunate enough to realize the distinct difference between salvation and redemption. You simply cannot have one without the other. Our belief in God has given us the chance to be cleansed of all our sins. We can wipe the slate clean, and start anew. Therefore, if you believe in God one knows that you need both salvation and redemption. We have taken a clear look into both salvation, and redemption. From that observation, we can conclude that redemption must come before salvation.

       As we continue our walk with God, strive to live up to the supreme sacrifice that Jesus made for us. All of us will "break rank" or falter during our Christian journey. We will all seek redemption from our sins, our flaws in character, or our lack of faith. Jesus has made that possible by his death on the cross. Go out today, and find someone and tell them that you love them. Sit down and explain how one can seek redemption and salvation through the acceptance of Jesus Christ as their savior. For that is our duty as Christians. May God bless you all.

       Through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, we are given the opportunity to be forgiven of all our sins. However, when we seek that forgiveness, it is salvation or redemption that we receive first?

Understanding The 3 Levels of Salvation - Spirit, Soul & Body

"How could she act like that and still call herself a Christian?"
"Is he still saved, I heard he left his wife for another woman?"
You've probably heard these questions asked and maybe asked similar questions yourself at some time. It's true that people often act in ways that make you question their salvation.

        And what about you?
Have you ever committed some really serious sin that has caused you to wonder if you're going to make it into heaven? Have you backslidden from the Lord and can't seem to find your way back?
Or are you searching for the truth and don't know if Jesus Christ and Christianity is the way to go.
Well, I've got some good news for you, and it has nothing to do with your car insurance. (Maybe a little to do with your fire insurance)

       Once you are born again your eternal destination is sealed! You're bound for Heaven and you're sure to get there!
Salvation comes in threes.
There are three levels to salvation, each affecting a different part of your being at a different time in a different way.

        The three levels of salvation are:
(1) The regeneration of the spirit

(2) The restoration of the soul

(3) The transfiguration of the body.

In strictly biblical terms we call them:
(1) Justification

(2) Sanctification

(3) Glorification.

         1st Corinthians 6:11 says, "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
Romans 8:30 says, "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." (Bold Type and Italics Mine)

         The Three-Phased Process of Salvation goes like this:
When you believe the Gospel, repent, confess and receive Jesus as your savior your spirit is regenerated and you become justified or just as if you had never sinned!
Here, your personal salvation experience begins!
 
         As you submit to the Lordship of Christ and obey His commands in your thoughts, words and actions, your mind becomes renewed and restored to the principles of God's kingdom and you become more and more separated from the influences of Sin.

        This is called sanctification, and your salvation experience continues!
As you learn to allow the nature of Christ within you to have dominion over your flesh, the holiness of His presence within you begins to manifest externally through a Godly radiance that is perceived rather than actually seen.

          In other words, His Spirit within you glows with the glory of God and this spiritual light attracts others and exposes them to the character of Christ in you! "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven," Mt 5:16.

       Here, the process of glorification begins!
It will escalate during The Rapture when God eliminates your tainted physical body and instantly recreates a brand new, totally sinless body, so that the inner glory of God, which was limited in it's outward expression by your tainted body can now be fully manifested through your new, perfect body that's sinless and literally made in heaven! This prepares you to enter Heaven with your new glorified body.

         After entering heaven, you will experience the Judgment Seat of Christ and assigned your permanent status in the kingdom of God! (2 Co 5:10) You will have a specific level of Divine radiance emanating from your spirit through your transfigured body, which is consistent with your level of submission and obedience to God while on earth! (Dan. 12:3)

        Here the process of glorification is complete.
And so is the experience of salvation as it pertains to this age!
At the close of the Great Tribulation period and just before the New Millennium begins, you will return to earth with Christ, justified, sanctified and glorified! (Jude 1:14; Re 19:14) At that time, a completely new phase of your salvation experience will begin!

        Here is a summary of The 3 Levels of Salvation:
(1) The Salvation of the Spirit - This is known as Justification (separation from the penalty of sin, which is eternity in the Lake of Fire).

          This is instantaneous and qualifies you for heaven by changing your nature from human to divine, from Adamic to Christlike. It is a permanent, miraculous work that God accomplishes through the regeneration of the human spirit or becoming Born Again!
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you" Eze 36:26

(2) The Salvation of the Soul - This is known as Sanctification (separation from the seduction of sin).
This is progressive and qualifies you to govern the earth with Jesus during His thousand-year reign by changing your character to resemble His. Since the soul and the mind are synonymous you accomplish this by renewing your mind in the word of God daily and by being consistently obedient to the Holy Spirit.
This is what is meant by, "work out your salvation with fear and trembling." It's all about building Christian character day-by-day.
"Receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." Jam 1:21

(3) The Salvation of the Body - This is known as Glorification (physical dominion over the effects of sin).
This is progressive and qualifies you to reign with Christ in paradise on the New Earth for all eternity. The process of Glorification begins the moment you're born again and continues every day you live in submission and obedience to God.

         This gradual physical transformation is manifested in the ability to live above sickness and poverty in this present world. It will escalate during the translation of the body in the Rapture and will culminate after the Judgment Seat of Christ, ending in total victory over sin, sickness and death!
"Waiting for the time when we will take our place as sons, that is, the salvation of our bodies." Rom 8:23 (Bible in Basic English)

         Here's a point to note: When a Christian falls into sin, no matter how grievous it is, it does not mean that he has lost his salvation.
You cannot lose your salvation!
All it means is that he still needs work done on his character (his soul). The salvation of his soul or mind is progressive; he's in the process of becoming sanctified, just as his body is in the process of becoming glorified.

         His new nature (born again spirit) means that he is saved (permanently bound for Heaven), but his character (soul/mind) needs more work done concerning the separation from the seduction of sin.
Praise God for His matchless grace!

Explaining Salvation

According to Matthew 7:13-14, there are two gates (roads), narrow and wide. We must walk through the narrow gate to reach salvation (heaven). The wide gate leads to destruction (hell and then into the lake of fire). Most people want to get to heaven but are not willing to do what it takes to get there.

 To reach salvation and keep it, we must have discipline. Discipline comes through conviction. Conviction comes from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes through receiving Jesus. Jesus comes when you truly accept Him. If we truly have received Jesus, the Holy Spirit will dwell in us. We will begin to change through the conviction of the Spirit. Are we willing to accept discipline to be saved?

           Many people believe that salvation is making a vow to God and you have a finished product. Making a vow means that we have made a pledge or promise. Multitudes of people have made the vow that leads to salvation. Because they made a vow, they believe that they have made it through the narrow (sheep) gate.

          When the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt by Nehemiah, the first gate rebuilt was the sheep gate. The sheep gate led them straight to the temple where God d welled. One thing that all Christians can agree on is that it takes Jesus Christ to receive salvation. Jesus is the sheep gate that every sheep must enter in order to reach the promise land (heaven). In many people's minds, salvation is kept forever no matter what they do after they receive Christ. I beg to differ. It is a life long process and is up to us to keep it. We all must work out and fully complete our own salvation. Now whether we keep it, lose it or walk away from it is up to us. I will explain what salvation is and how we can receive it. Afterwards, I will make my case on how salvation can no longer be apart of us if we do not do what we need to do to keep it.

          What is salvation? Salvation is the deliverance from the penalty of sin (eternal death). Before the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, there was no redemption for our sins. We would have to suffer the consequences. But God is such a loving God that He sent His only begotten son to die for us (John 3:16). Thank God for Jesus. Jesus took our death so that we may have life. Too many people have looked at salvation as something they receive in a church building. Salvation can take place anywhere. The key is that we must have faith in Jesus in order to be free from the penalty of death.

             Faith is an action word. Believe in Him and let your actions (lifestyle) follow your belief. We believe that Jesus made us righteous. So we must walk (live) like we are righteous. Our lifestyles should exemplify that of Jesus. You have many believers that believe that their lifestyles do not have to change after accepting Jesus. That is one half of salvation. Let us let the scriptures speak for themselves. When God (the Father) looks at us when we receive His son, He sees the purity of His son and not the filth of man. Jesus is salvation. Without Him, there is no salvation. We must walk in the image of God to fulfill our salvation.
There are three steps to salvation:

          A. Admit that you sin. You will be surprised at how many people believe that they do not sin or there is no such thing as sin. Sin is anything that contradicts the word of God. It is more likely that you will not believe in sin if you do not believe in the Word. If we truly believe there is sin and God is not pleased with our sin, we would do what we need to do to be delivered from sin. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of his glory. Many people try to get their lives right before they submit their lives to God. That is the biggest joke ever. If your life is not together by now, it will not be without Jesus. It takes the power of Jesus to get you to the state that is pleasing to God, the Father. We all need help. With the help of Jesus, all things are possible. We can therefore begin to live holy lives. Other people feel that they can not be amongst the church folk because of their sin. Church folk sin. The only difference between Christians and people in the world is that their sins are covered and they do not suffer condemnation from God because we accepted His son and began to live Christ-like. We have to quit waiting and do what we need to do before it is too late.

          B. Believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Without the death and resurrection of Jesus, there is no redemption of sin. I don't know how many times I can say that. In Romans 10:9-10, we must believe that Jesus is Lord and Savior. We must believe that Jesus was raised from the dead and we shall be saved. Our faith in Jesus that dwells in our hearts (spirits) brings salvation onto us. Many people have a hard time believing that He actually was resurrected because they listen to other unbelievers. People believe that it is a fable or story made up by people a long time ago. We must allow Jesus to open up our eyes to a whole new realm of knowledge and wisdom. Many of us are Christians but are still lost because of what people are saying around us. Let people believe what they want to believe and you believe what is right and true.

            C. Confess your sins (Repentance). Once we admit our sins and believe in Jesus, this should be the easy part. Well, this is not always the case. People think they have repented when they apologize for their sins to God. That is not repentance. 1 John 1:9 tells us to confess the sins so that God can forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Pride is putting many people in eternal fire. They are too proud to confess their sins. Therefore the sins stick with them and they are under condemnation as that of a worldly person. Part of confessing your sins is telling God that you are ready to change. We tell God through confession that we are ready to do a new thing in our lives. We want to get away from the things that are not of God. We want freedom from things that have us in chains. We must begin to admit, believe, confess and start to live godly lives.

            Repentance is repentance. No matter if we look at it in Hebrew, Greek or in other languages, it should have the same meaning. Repentance is having sorrow or regret for one's sin. If we truly know God and the Holy Spirit dwells inside of us, we will be convicted. If we are not convicted, we may want to question ourselves to see if we have really received Jesus. The Hebrew word for repentance is teshuvah. It means to return to God. If we have to return to God, that means we turned from God previously. The Greek word for repentance is metanoia. It means to think differently after the fact. There is a change of mind. In other words, we sinned against God, we felt remorseful, and we changed our thought process so that we do not commit the same sin again. So, are we truly repenting or just making apologies to God?

            Once we are saved, what do we do to keep it? Those who accept Christ were previously in the world. At that point, we still have the mindset of the world. It is our responsibility to change our mindset by getting into God's word. God's word will renew our minds so that we may stay on track and stay on that narrow road to heaven. When we renew our minds, our thought process should go from worldly to godly. We renew our minds to do the will of the Father. If we continue to do the will of the Father, we are pleasing in His eyes and therefore our place in heaven is waiting for us to occupy it.

              In Romans 12:2, it states that we are not to be confirmed to this world (mindset), but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Why do you think God wants this? In the second half of the scripture, it tells us. We renew our minds so that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and the perfect will of God. I do not know if you got it yet but it is about allowing God's will to be done in your life. For this to happen, we must develop a relationship with God. In order to develop a relationship with God, we must renew our minds so that distractions and hindrances will not deter us from doing His will. Meditation on the word will renew our minds.

             I can remember when I was upset about something. I began to meditate on Romans 12:2. I quoted that scripture over and over again believing in the words that I was quoting. My mind was renewed so that I could focus on what God wanted me to do. Too many people are quoting scriptures and do not believe the words that they are quoting. Why are you quoting them? Renew your minds. Now that our minds are renewed, we can begin to fully complete our own salvation. In Philippians 2:12, Paul writes to the Christians in Philippi. Paul said that I am leaving. I have set an example for you to follow. You obeyed me when I was there. Continue to obey my words in my absence. Do not let any temptations distract you from fully completing your salvation. Work it out until it is complete. Again, it is a life long process. Stay within the will of God and you will stay within the arms of salvation. Don't let the world turn you from God and from fully completing your salvation.

             When we are saved, we live life in the Spirit. What does this mean? When we accept Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides, leads and directs us. In Romans 8:1, the text says that there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus and we are free from the law of sin and death. Thank God. But wait. There is another part to verse 1. The second part of the scripture says that there is no condemnation for those who do not walk after the flesh but walk after the Spirit.

            Someone would call that fine print. It is bold print to me. Church leaders often forget to tell people that we cannot just talk the talk but walk the walk. What is walking after the flesh versus walking in the Spirit? Walking after the flesh means that your mind was never renewed. You are doing the same things that you did before you received Christ. Walking after the Spirit means that you allow the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and direct you to complete your salvation. Those who walk in the flesh have carnal minds and carnal minds bring death according to verse 6. Spiritually minded people inherit life (salvation). Is your mind spiritual or is it carnal? Only you know. Receive salvation and allow the Holy Spirit to keep you there.

             People are looking for a way out. The way out is through Jesus. Jesus the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Him. If you are ready to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, please repeat the salvation prayer below. Thanks.

             Heavenly Father. I confess my sins to You. I am a sinner. I am tired of being in the same predicament day after day. I am looking for a change in my life and a new beginning. I come to You for this change because I know that only You can change me. I feel all alone in this world and I need your protection and your guidance. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and were raised on the third day. And because of this, my sins are forgiven and washed away. Forgive me for my sins knowing and unknowing. Jesus, I recognize You as my Lord and Savior. Take over my life. Come into my heart. Allow your Holy Spirit to dwell within me. Holy Spirit, fill me with your spirit. Lead me, direct me, comfort me, and be by my side the whole way through. Get out of my life devil. For I am a new creation in Christ. Old things have passed away and all things have become new. In Jesus name,Amen

Christian Salvation - Is it Permanent Or Can it Be Lost?

Can a born again Christian lose his/her salvation and go to hell?
How secure is salvation through Jesus Christ? We tell people they need to be saved in order to miss out on hell and go to heaven but how sure is this promise of safety?
How permanent is Christian salvation?
The Bible says, "And being made perfect, he (Jesus Christ) became the author of eternal salvation," Heb 5:9. (Bold Print & Italics Mine)
The Bible says salvation is eternal!
Do you know what eternal means? It means without beginning or ending!
Your salvation has no beginning and it has no ending!
Christian Salvation CANNOT end!

          Time began with the creation of the world and the bible says, "...He hath chosen us in him before the foundation (creation) of the world," Eph 1:4.
The average Christian thinks they "got saved" when they said the Sinner's Prayer and received Jesus into their heart, but your salvation actually began long before that. When you received Jesus, all you did was activate the experience of Christian Salvation in your life and began to enjoy the benefits, but in reality you were saved the moment God said that you were saved, which was in eternity before time began!

         Let me illustrate this point to you:
Imagine a Spa, the most expensive, exclusive Spa in the whole world. It's got all the amenities you can think of; Sauna, Tanning Salon, Personal Masseuse, Health Food Bar, al the most modern exercise machines you name it, this Spa has it all, however, the lifetime membership fee is $1,000,000.

       Fortunately I'm rich, so I buy my wife a lifelong membership to this Spa and give her the key to her own private entrance but she never goes to the Spa and uses it.
Is she a bona fide member of the Spa? Yes, her membership fee is fully paid for!
Has she ever experienced the Spa? No!
Has she ever enjoyed the benefits of the Spa? No!
Why not?
She never used her key to activate her membership! She never walked through the door and used the facilities.

       God has purposed many people unto salvation - They're saved - Their membership fee has already been fully paid for - But they will never experience salvation until they use the key to activate their membership!
Faith is the key that unlocks the door to their salvation.
"The just shall live by faith," Rom. 1:17
What's the door? Jesus said, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved...," John 10:9
Confessing your faith in Jesus Christ is using your key to unlock the door to your salvation.
Faith is the Key - Jesus is the Door!
 
       When someone receives salvation today they is simply using their faith/key to activate their salvation/membership but they actually became a member when their membership fee was paid.
When was this fee paid? When exactly did Jesus die to pay for your sin?
The bible says Jesus is, "...The Lamb who was killed BEFORE the world was made," Rev. 13:8. (NLT)
The things that happen in time are merely reflections of what has already taken place in the spirit realm!
The spirit realm is more real than this physical one we live in.
Your salvation/membership began before the world was made, before time existed, in the realm of the spirit, but you activated your salvation/membership when you heard the good news about the benefits of membership!

       However, the DECISION to start your salvation/membership WAS NOT YOURS; this was decided by SOMEONE ELSE who had the power to start it.
The ONLY PERSON who can start or stop your salvation/membership is The One who paid the membership fee! Only He can start it, therefore only He can stop it!
He paid the membership fee so you're IN, if He withdraws the membership fee you're OUT!
And He can't do that, "For God's gifts and his call can never be withdrawn," Rom. 11:29 (NLT)
Salvation is a gift; therefore, the word of God prohibits God from ever taking it back!
God decided to save you BEFORE He created you!

       The decision to start your salvation was not yours. God paid for that with the precious life of His own Son, He NEVER gave you the authority to start or stop your membership; He retains full control over it! The only control you have is how soon you start experiencing the benefits of salvation and what sort of member you're going to become.
Are you going to become a nominal member, just having your name on the roster or one who participates fully and becomes an exemplary member, reading and studying the "Club's Instruction Manual," attending all the "Membership Meetings," maybe even excelling to the point of becoming an "Instructor" yourself, mentoring younger members as they join "The Club!"

         Salvation is eternal, it has no beginning in reference to time as we know it therefore it also has no ending.
Christian salvation is eternal and cannot end - Therefore it is permanent and cannot be lost!
Jesus said, "My sheep know my voice, and I know them. They follow me, and I give them eternal life, so that they will never be lost. No one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father gave them to me, and he is greater than all others. No one can snatch them from his hands." John 10:27-29 (Bold Type & Italics Mine)

What is Salvation?

The Bible has a lot to say about salvation, in fact that is what the whole document certifies to. Church folk often speak of salvation and many there are who consider themselves saved. Some whole denominations are organized around the doctrine of salvation and a commitment to getting people saved. With all this emphasis on the salvation experience and camaraderie amongst the saved, does anyone really understand what this means? No doubt, there are those who can explain what it means using the appropriate words to express this fact in the light of truth, but it seems no one can go beyond this superficial designation. So let us try our hand at slinging those labels around and see what we can come up with.

         For the most part salvation is considered a onetime experience usually associated with some kind of sinner's prayer. Others consider it a balancing act between maintaining and trying not to lose something. Some even come close to the Truth by saying: Salvation means wholeness in every area of life. But before we can see into just what salvation entails we must first know what it means. So what are we being saved from and what are we being saved into. Before there can even be a need for salvation there must first be a peril that has endangered us, which by its very nature will determine the form of our deliverance. You don't save a drowning man by throwing him a chain. So it is, that if we can determine the nature of our predicament, we can learn to appreciate how we were rescued from it.

      Separation from God is the mortal predicament and the Gospel of Christ Jesus is how this dilemma was resolved. This one sentence is the sum total conclusion to the question of what is salvation! Notice first and foremost that it says: Was Resolved!!! Separation from God was an issue over 2,000 years ago but with the advent of Jesus that no longer holds true. Jesus healed the separation of our species from God and it is only your confidence in sin that keeps you in ignorance. Of course it seems at this point we must deal with the whole sin issue and show you, that it is NOT what you think it is. Only on the basis of separation from God being the mortal predicament and the Gospel of Christ Jesus being how that dilemma WAS Resolved, can we examine the subject of sin in the light of Truth.
 
       Unbelief is the only sin in an AD World, under the old school indoctrination sin was an activity but such is no longer the case. There is a very good reason why mortal time is divided into the BC and AD eras. This watershed moment in the history of our species is unique and this is why. Unbelief is the only sin in an AD World. The Book of Hebrews in the Bible explains best how this whole transaction was accomplished, but we will need a condensed version for our purposes. Let's call this split the old covenant and the New Covenant.

        Until Jesus came our whole species was under the old covenant because the new had not yet manifested (Although it was in place). With the establishment of the New Covenant our entire species was delivered from old covenant restrictions. This was accomplished through the priesthood. Under the old covenant mortals were entrusted with the priesthood, which is why it was defective. Jesus became the High Priest of the New Covenant Priesthood once His physiology obtained glorification on behalf of our whole race. This changing of the guard for God's Holy Word is what split mortal time in twain and rectified every deficiency we can imagine. So that was the beginning of Salvation.

      Well now, are we still dealing with the subject of sin or are we back on salvation or are maybe both of those things the same??? Unbelief is the only sin in an AD World, that is all you really need to know in order to deal with the whole sin issue. We have explained how this fact came to be so it must be time to step back up to salvation and see how this new definition of sin works. Once again under the old covenant separation from God was a problem and under New Covenant Law there is no separation from God. Now as simple as this distinction seems it can nevertheless be difficult to actualize depending on how stubborn your preconceptions prove to be. For the sake of efficiency let's say that you preconceptions are most likely synonymous with Unbelief and therefore represent the sin you must repent of eventually. That should speed things along!!! This is a most excellent generalization because you can only prove yourself an exception by examining your unbelief and hopefully flushing the turds while retaining the useful. So like it or not: In an AD World Unbelief is the only sin.

         So what is Salvation anyhow, have figured that out yet??? Maybe now we are ready to get to the heart of the matter. So obviously we have been Saved from separation from God whether we accept it or not. But we have not been save from our ignorance of God if we are still busy ignoring Spirit. To save us from our ignorance requires we hear the Truth and Believe, which necessitates a witness to the Gospel in proclamation of the Truth. Once we hear and believe our eyes should be opened to provide our own Witness to the Gospel, thus only by seeing into the Truth can salvation flourish. So does that explain what salvation is, not quite good enough yet.

         Salvation is an established fact regardless of our acceptance of it, so it seems that it all comes back to our acceptance of salvation. It can be assumed that if we misinterpret what acceptance of salvation entails, we are most likely to miss the benefit of what it really is. This is the problem we detect with mortal church, they dream of home runs but they never get off the bench because they cannot. Our acceptance of salvation is the only part of salvation that is subject to change, because it is the only part that can change. Being an established fact, salvation is a static condition of immutability. If anything can change the unchangeable it is our acceptance of it alone that qualifies. Perhaps you are finally seeing why these things are so hard to talk about and why you never heard anything like this before. The mystery has been solved, the puzzle has been resolved, checkmate has been declared, the war is over and Victory has been achieved welcome to Salvation. Can you accept all that???

        It would seem we have answered the question of what is salvation and perhaps a few questions we never thought to ask. What more can we say about the unspeakable to help you think the unthinkable??? We better not go there because you are not ready and I'm sure we have said it already just not here. You have no idea of the Labels we can sling, but without some reference others find relevant the words are meaningless regardless of their accuracy. One good point to make here is that the word Infinite Self is no more Infinite than the word water can quench your thirst. Words are just words not the thing spoken of, so even if we say "IT" nevertheless it is not it, it is just a word. That should alleviate some of the fear of Infinite self because Infinite Self is just a word. Peace, Love and Joy are words too and they relate to that that word well in the actual experience that the word represents. It is the experience that the word represents, when we refer to Salvation regardless of what we call it, that we are talking about. So there you go, our opinion of what Salvation means to Us. Do with it as you will as we are sure you will as you do what you do.

Am I Selfish?

Whether we want to admit it or not; "most of us are self-centered more or less to some degree." We see ourselves as the center of our own universe. However the problem is; "we are not the sun and we surely are not God." Those of us who have received this revelation have realized that only Jesus is the answer to life. Our focus then was on Jesus instead of ourselves, and thus we accepted Him as our Lord and Savior.

            The thing is when we became Christians we ignorantly brought our self-centered mind-set with us, and thus we continued to live self-centered lives instead of Christ-centered lives. We saw sufficiency within ourselves, and we (for the most part) were our own focus instead of Jesus. We were like little children who need to grow up. In fact the bible calls the new believer carnal Christians. These new believers are controlled by their own selfish desires because they are babes in Christ.

             Babies see everything from their point of view, and everything must revolve around them for them to be happy. When it doesn't, they throw a tantrum to show their displeasure. There is nothing wrong with a baby being a baby, nonetheless babies should grow. As new Christians (babes in Christ) should allow God to work in their lives so that they can grow, and thus resulting in more of Jesus' life being revealed in them and through them.
 
             However there are Christians who have not allowed the Holy Spirit to work in them (although it may be in ignorance) as God desires, and consequently they have not grown spiritually as they should. They too are controlled by their selfish desires, and although they should have grown into mature believers they remain as babes. This in essence gives place for Satan to work in their lives. So they continue to live self-centered lives instead of Christ-centered lives just as new believers (babes in Christ), and they too are carnal Christians.

               As long as we are the focal point of our lives instead of Jesus, either we will be the heroes or the victims in life. "We will want all the glory and push all the blame." So to either extreme, we are focal point of life.
While looking to ourselves we often judge circumstances and others according to our estimation. However if we have logs in our own eyes, it is very difficult to see anything much less the splinters that are in our brothers and sisters eyes. This condition of near-sightedness only allows us to see distorted images of things, which includes ourselves. Until the Holy Spirit reveals to us that Jesus alone is the center of our being, we will continue to live self-centered lives.

                 This is the reason for many of the problems in Christian homes as well as our churches. For instance, we are often offended as well as offend others when our focus is on ourselves rather than Jesus, and so we fall prey to Satan. How is it that Satan can cause born-again believers in Christ to be distracted from Jesus?

             There is no way that Satan can force our attention away from Jesus. Jesus is Lord, and He keeps us. However James said concerning temptation; "And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father.." (James 1:13-17A NLT).
Notice that temptations come to us from Satan to draw us out. However the effectiveness of the enticement does not depend upon the adversary, but rather on us yielding to our desire of the lure. So we need to be aware that all temptations may not appear to be sinful or evil.

             Let us look at an example in the life of Jesus. After He had fasted for forty days and nights Jesus was very hungry, "And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread" (Luke 4:3). Jesus was famished and needed food. However to receive advice from the devil on how to get it is not God's way. God is our infinite supply and not the devil, and thus; "Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God" (Luke 4:4).
So it does not matter how good something may appear to be, or how dire the need remember the words of James, "...don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father..." Nothing good comes from the devil! Hence we always look to God who supplies all of our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (see Philippians 4:19).

             When we are distracted we ignorantly perceive that something else can harm (even though Jesus is there) or help us (independently of Jesus). So we abandon our faith in Christ as being all we need in that moment because we have more faith or fear in something other than Jesus. During this time we see ourselves separate from Him, and thus we have no confidence in Jesus to be what life's moment requires.
The apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:10; "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,.." The meaning of "know" that Paul spoke about here is not a casual knowing, or taking in facts. To know here means to know by or in experience. We have been united with Jesus by the Holy Spirit, and therefore Christ is in us, and we are in Him. Through this union the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to us, and thus we know Him.

              Hence we realize that Jesus is all we need in every moment in life. Thus our lives are a continual look to Him for life and all things that make up our lives.
"Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection" (Hebrews12:2A AMP).