This Bible-based analysis of the Apostle Paul’s Gospel of Salvation tends to indicate that most Christians today have failed to meet the CONDITIONS associated with eternal salvation with Jesus Christ.
It also reveals that the FAITH LEVEL of MOST Christians today is at the very base level of faith necessary to enter the “RACE that God has set before every Christian” (Hebrews 12:1-2). This indicates they have failed to prepare themselves for the “endurance race” that God has set before every Christian to “RUN” (1 Corinthians 9:26):
"...and LET US RUN WITH PATIENCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:1-2)“And ye shall be HATED OF ALL MEN for my name's sake: but HE [or her] THAT ENDURETH TO THE END [to the FINISH LINE of his or her lifetime on Earth as one of My disciples] SHALL BE SAVED.” (Matthew 10:22)
“I have FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT [with Satan’s people], I have FINISHED MY COURSE [of trials and temptations], I have KEPT THE FAITH [that was originally given the saints – Jude 1:3];” (2 Timothy 4:7)
I have discovered that most Christians continue to remain at the Start Line in their faith journey after being many years in church. This means they have NO Salvation. This is because they have NOT moved on from the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Apostle Paul’s Gospel.
“Therefore LEAVING THE PRINCIPLES OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST [behind and then moving forward], LET US GO ON UNTO PERFECTION; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God [that is a fundamental requirement at Salvation—Romans 10:9-10],” (Hebrews 6:1)
Paul’s Gospel—The Eight Stages of Biblical Salvation
There are EIGHT Stages identified in the Bible that Christians must achieve so as to reach the FINISH Line of their faith journey (Philippians 3:14; 2 Timothy 4:7). These stages all lead to the Christian becoming the “New Creature in Christ” mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 6:15:
These spiritual stages include the “New Birth“.
Once this “babe in Christ” (1 Peter 2:2) further matures to become a “Little Child in Christ” (Matthew 19:14), he or she then needs to mature to become a “strong young man in Christ” (1 John 2:13).
Full maturity becomes when he or she becomes a “father in Christ” (1 John 2:13). This is where this “father” spiritually procures children into God’s kingdom by preaching the Apostle Paul’s Gospel to other Christians. For those Christians who fully embrace Paul’s Gospel, they then have both a heavenly and an earthly “father” with whom they can relate – – in unity (John 17:11, 22).
A good online Bible study to watch titled the Eight Stages of Biblical Salvation teaches more about this in greater detail.
The Final Maturity Stage
The final stage is that of becoming a “Good Soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim 2:3). This means that Christians who have reached this stage of maturity are able to use their spiritual gifts for God’s glory.
In practical terms, it means that Christians who are spiritually “joined together” in word, deeds and love (Ephesians 4:3; James 2:26; John 13:34) are able to impact Satan’s kingdom effectively.
Paul’s Gospel—True Christians MUST become Disciples of Jesus Christ
Jesus made this very compelling statement several times in different ways. This was to emphasise that completely surrendering one’s life to Christ is essential for Salvation to be achieved.
"If any man [or woman] come to me [seeking Salvation], and hate not [meaning love less than Christ] his FATHER, and MOTHER, and WIFE, and CHILDREN, and BRETHREN [brothers], and sisters, yea, AND HIS OWN LIFE ALSO, HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE." (Luke 14:26)Verses similar to this are Luke 14:27 and Luke 14:33. These represent very strict requirements for Salvation to be achieved.
Paul’s Gospel—Unity in the ‘Body of Christ‘
All Christians who embrace the Apostle Paul’s Gospel then have to become joined together IN LOVE with other spiritual members of the Body of Christ on Earth. This is a necessary requirement for being able to do the will of God (Mark 3:35).
Each of these ‘members’ have to determine what their role (or ministry) is within the Body of Christ as being either a “hand“; a “foot; a “nose“; an “eye” or an “ear” as stated in 1 Corinthians 12:12-20.
Paul’s Gospel—The ‘Gifts of the Spirit’ enable “Good Works”
Each member of Christ’s (spiritual) body then needs to acquire from the Holy Spirit the relevant “Gifts of the Spirit” associated with their ministry (1 Cor 12:8-11).
The collective members of the “Body of Christ” then need to “…DO THE SAME WORKS THAT CHRIST DID” such as:
- cleansing the lepers
- making the blind to see,
- enabling the lame to walk,
- allowing the deaf hear again,
- raising those back to life who have died, and
- preaching the gospel to the poor. (Luke 7:22).
- Greater works than these are also to be performed (John 14:12).
Paul’s Gospel—Preaching of the Gospel is a requirement for all Christians
All members of the Body of Christ must undertake the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a “fisher of men” (Matthew 4:19)
Meeting this requirement fulfils the requirements of:
“…one sows, another waters the seed sown – to allow God to bring on the increase”
(1 Corinthians 3:6-7).
All of the above are based upon the words of Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul contained in the King James Bible. No theologian has contributed toward this teaching.
Paul’s Gospel—The Commandments of Jesus Christ
The foregoing requirements represent CONDITIONAL SALVATION according to the Commandments of Jesus Christ mentioned in John 14-15.
The Commandments represent a CONTRACT between God and EACH CHRISTIAN
The ‘Commandments of Jesus Christ are treated by God as a CONTRACT. These have been written by the Apostle Paul on behalf of Jesus Christ to all Christians.
This ‘contract’ establishes the requirements for entry into Heaven between God and each individual Christian.
This ‘contract’ is symbolically signed at the Water Baptism ceremony.
It is binding upon God , requiring Him to allow the Christian entry into Heaven at their death. Entry cannot be denied if the CONDITIONS in scripture have been fulfilled by the Christian.
"Wherefore, my beloved, AS YE HAVE ALWAYS OBEYED, not as in my presence only, but now MUCH MORE IN MY ABSENCE, WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION IN FEAR AND TREMBLING [that Satan may rob you of it as he did so successfully with Adam and Eve]." (Philippians 2:12)
It is Satan’s role to prevent the CONDITIONS associated with this contract from being fulfilled. Therefore, every Christian needs to:
“Be SOBER, be VIGILANT; because YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8)
A good example of ONE CONDITION Satan trips Christian on is related to personal holiness:
"Because it is written, BE YE HOLY; for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:16) "FOLLOW peace with all men, AND HOLINESS, without which no [Christian] man shall see the Lord [meaning, NO Salvation if holiness is not achieved]:" (Hebrews 12:14) Conclusion
If Christians fail to meet ALL of the CONDITIONS associated with the Apostle Paul’s Gospel, this means they have NO Salvation:
“In the day when God [the Father] shall judge the secrets of [Christian] men [and women] by Jesus Christ ACCORDING TO MY GOSPEL.” (Romans 2:16)
“But they [meaning, today’s Christian community] HAVE NOT ALL OBEYED THE [Apostle Paul’s] GOSPEL. For Esaias [Isaiah 53:1; Jesus – John 12:38 and now Paul] saith, Lord, who hath believed our report [that the words of the LORD MUST BE OBEYED]?” (Romans 10:16)
Related information
Video: The Apostle Paul’s Gospel—Fully Explained (30 minutes)
Posts:
— The Eight Stages of Biblical Salvation—Fully Explained
— Final Salvation: Christians must Run the Race
— The Gospel of Initial and Final Salvation
