“The primary purpose of the Bible is its message about salvation, and that is its primary sphere of authority.”

 

Fair enough, my Friend.  More than a few Biblical scholars would beg to differ with you, and yet I certainly do not … Of course, the question is not whether or not the Bible offers us Salvation – it clearly does so.  No, what is critical for any reader of the Bible (and certainly for any worshiper thereof) is to decide which Salvation therein they will choose to attain.

 

*There is the “Salvation” of the Old Testament that comes only from being a Jew who regularly adheres to all 613 of the Old Testament’s laws (laws which Jesus fully & thoroughly amended &/or discarded – as I have proven many times in this thread already) …

*There is the “Salvation” of Paul & of Revelation that comes only to those few who have verbally & emotionally professed a subservient allegiance to Jesus Christ as the only Son of God …

*And there is the “Salvation” of Jesus Christ himself, which is quite a different matter entirely … Please consider:

 

First of all, while Paul makes it clear that his “gospel” is based on atoning for our sins by bowing down to Jesus and thereby being “washed in the blood of Christ” (see Acts 13:30-38, 1 Corinthians 15:1-21 – along with previous analysis provided on pages 629-630), Jesus professed a Gospel that was very different indeed – a state of Salvation that is already present in our every Here & every Now; one that washes over us & through us every time we consciously sacrifice our own comfort &/or set aside our own desires to bring Peace or Joy to others (see Mark 1:15 + Matthew 10:7 + Matthew 24:12-14).

 

*Secondly, while Revelation speaks of Jesus as a Divine Being of wrath and judgment – one who comes in anger to save the worthy few and cast the many rest into Hell (see Revelation 1:7, Revelation 1:18, Revelation 2:16, Revelation 3:2, Revelation 3:5 et al), Jesus saw himself very differently – as a messenger of Kindness (see John 4:1-26 + Matthew 8:5-13 + Matthew 9:10) and as a messenger of Mercy (see Luke 6:35-36 + John 8:1-11) and as a messenger of Forgiveness (see Matthew 18:21-22 + Luke 6:37 + Luke 23:33-34) and as a messenger of perfect, unconditional LOVE (see Matthew 5:48 + John 14:20) – all of which given to everyone; sinner & saint alike (see Matthew 5:44-48 + John 12:47) … Indeed, it is actually impossible for Jesus to one day come in anger & judgment as Revelation claims he will, for as soon as he would do so, his teachings from the Gospel would be neutralized and he would in effect cease to be Jesus the Son of the all-Loving Father (see Matthew 5:48 + 1 John 4:18) that the Gospels proclaim him to be (see also the previous references provided on pages 490-493).

 

*Thirdly, while Paul claims that Heaven is a place somewhere else – a place to which we must go to live forever with God after we die (see 1 Corinthians 15:50, 2 Corinthians 4:14-17, Philippians 3:20 & 1 Thessalonians 1:10), Jesus spoke of his Kingdom of Heaven quite differently – namely, stating that it was already here, fully available to all of us in every moment of our lives (see Matthew 4:17, Matthew 10:7, Matthew 22:32, Luke 17:20-21, John 3:3-9, John 5:25, John 12:31 & John 14:12) and that his Divine Father was as such already fully present in our lives as well (see John 14:20-23).

*Fourthly and finally, while both Paul & the author of Revelation repeatedly exclaim that Salvation comes solely from being an open, subservient worshiper of Jesus Christ (see Romans 4:16-25, Romans 5:10, Romans 7:4, Galatians 2:16, Philippians 3:9, 2 Corinthians 1:10, Revelation 2:26-28, Revelation 7:10), Jesus himself noted repeatedly in the Gospels that Salvation comes solely from honoring GOD by purposefully, humbly, actively and courageously Caring for others (see Matthew 21:43, Mark 8:34-35, Mark 9:35, Mark 10:21, Mark 10:43-45, Luke 6:27-31, Luke 6:35-36, Luke 6:46-49, Luke 8:15, Luke 9:23-24, Luke 10:27-28, Luke 12:35, Luke 14:12-15, Luke 18:20-22, Luke 22:26, John 8:31, John 10:38 + John 14:20, John 13:34-35, John 15:8 & John 15:12-17).

 

As such, the question is not whether the Bible offers us either a path to Salvation or the path to Salvation, my Friend – but rather which Salvation we will choose from the many paths it provides, and thereby which path we will take to bring that Salvation to fruition in our lives …

 

Personally, I have chosen the Narrow Way of Christ that leads to Jesus’ Heaven right here on Earth (neither needing nor desiring any reward in the afterlife for following his will and abiding in his commendments) … It has been the most amazing eleven+ years doing so, and I recommend this Salvation – Jesus’ Salvation – to anyone & everyone without reservation!

Filed under: Burnishing Bigotry by Scaughdt