Welcome to my blog. I am so glad you have taken the time to read it.

Teleios and other authors have shown Christian belief actually can improve personal wellbeing! Therefore, we are examining the Christian life to uncover potential underlying reasons of this improved wellbeing.

As a biblical basis for the Christian life we are using 1 Thessalonians 1:5-7. We are discussing currently our blessed eternal security. Here is Verse 5:

1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

The fifth point regarding the security of our great salvation is God’s unhappy attitude to those who do not believe in eternal security (please see prior blogs for the others)!

So yes, God not only endorses eternal security with wonderful promises, as we’ve discussed in the last four blogs, but also expresses His displeasure to those who do not believe it. This statement is supported by two main passages in Hebrews Chapters 6 and 10. Let’s examine briefly the main passage in Hebrews 6, which although it can be controversial, is an exciting statement to our eternal security.

Here are the main points:

• The author tells the young Hebrew believers that they should be mature by now; being teachers and able to judge quickly between right and wrong (Hebrews 5:12-14).
• He urges them to leave the rudimentary principles of the faith dealing with issues related to their salvation (Hebrews 6:1-3).
• He inquired how could those who were saved (have known God’s gift and enlightenment and receive the spirit [all words or events consistent with salvation]) and have believed their sins were forgiven, could have another means to salvation apart from Christ. Indeed, their insistence that some sin was not forgiven indicated they would want Jesus to return to the cross and submit to public humiliation again. This is not viewed favorably by God (Hebrews 6:4-7).
• The Hebrew Christians should recognize their salvation as evidenced by the acts that they have already done (Hebrews 6:9-10)
• Certainly, the wonderful security we have based in Abraham; God’s promises to him and His confirmation by an oath are two things that provide a sure anchor for our souls (Hebrews 6:13-20).

Hebrews 10 also indicates that for those who are unsure of forgiveness there is no other means for salvation except by Christ. The author urges those who doubt their forgiveness to progress in their faith (Hebrews 10:19; Hebrews 10:26-39).

Certainly, we have a wonderful salvation by which Christ is sufficient to cover each and every one of our sins, past, present future. For us to say that somehow His painful, long, suffering, humiliating and unjust death is not enough to cover even one of our sins is an offense to God.

To review, to date we have covered now five spectacular scriptural proofs of our internal security:

• Direct statements (e.g., 1 Peter 1:4-5)
• Unchangeable positions in Christ (noted in our recent blogs, especially our: spiritual baptism, justification, sealing by the Spirit and adoption)
• Perseverance (2 Peter 1:12)
• God chose us to salvation (Romans 8:28-30)
• God’s critique of those not believing in the sufficiency of Christs sacrifice once for all to salvation (Hebrews 6:1-10)

Well, that is my blog for today. Thank you for visiting. Join me next week when we begin to discuss the Christian walk!

Welcome again to my blog. I am delighted you have taken the time to visit.

Teleios and other authors have shown Christian belief actually can improve personal wellbeing! Therefore, we are examining the Christian life in more detail to see if we can uncover some of the potential underlying causes of the improved wellbeing. As a biblical basis for the Christian life we are using 1 Thessalonians 1:5-7.

Here is verse 5:

1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

Based on the list of biblical reasons noted in our prior blog about our eternal security, this week we are examining biblical statements to those who do not believe in eternal security.

The fourth point of our wonderful salvation is that God chose us for himself. Again, this was all God’s doing and not from our own efforts and work. Although some think this doctrine is controversial, let’s look at the scriptures and you can decide for yourself.

• God chose us – God elected us for salvation before all time to come to faith (Ephesians 1:4-5; Ephesians 1:11; Romans 8:28-30).
• The choice was individual – God did not choose a group, such as the church, but each of us distinctively (John 6:37,44,65; John 10:28-29; 2 John 1:1).
• God’s character – Choosing is consistent with God’s character and past actions. To accomplish His magnificent work on earth He has always had to choose those that would serve Him (e.g., Noah, Abraham, Moses and Israel).
• God dragging and convicting – After choosing God had to convict and drag us to Himself or we would not have come (John 6:44; John 16:8). The Bible uses the imagery here of having to ‘drag’ fish into a boat by use of a net. The fish, like us, do not come willingly!

By our very nature we never would have chosen God, understood Him or desired Him because of our fallen nature into sin (Romans 3:10-18; Ephesians 2:1-3). As you know from last week he causes us to persevere. He alone keeps us in His hand and brings us to our eternal glory (John 10:28-30; Romans 8:28-30).

Although some think that God’s choosing is unfair there was no other way and scripture says it was done out of love and knowledge (Ephesians 1:4-7). If God had not intervened all would have perished!

God’s glorious salvation accomplished by first free gift on the cross that we can be saved by faith alone not our own work. Every aspect of salvation is God’s, and all to His glory.

To review, to date we have covered now four spectacular Scriptural proofs of our eternal security:

• Direct statements (e.g., 1 Peter 1:4-5)
• Unchangeable positions in Christ noted in our recent blogs especially our: spiritual baptism, justification, sealing by the Spirit and adoption (Romans 6:2-9; Romans 3:21-26’ Ephesians 1:5; Ephesians 1:13-14)
• Perseverance (2 Peter 1:12)
• God chose us to salvation (noted above)

Well, that is my blog for today. Thank you for visiting. Join me next week when we discuss our Christian walk.

Welcome again to my blog. I am delighted you have taken the time to read it.

Teleios and other authors have shown Christian belief actually can improve personal wellbeing! Therefore, we are examining the Christian life in more detail to see if we can uncover some of the potential underlying causes of the improved wellbeing. As a biblical basis for the Christian life we are using 1 Thessalonians 1:5-7.

Here is Verse 5:

1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

Based on the list of biblical reasons noted in our prior blog about our eternal security, this week we are examining biblical statements regarding our ‘perseverance’ to our everlasting home with God.

Perseverance is vital because it indicates that God alone, and not us, causes us to endure to our salvation. Even if we wanted to change our position in Christ, or if we make mistakes, He causes us to persist to eternal life. Thanks be to God – it’s all based on Him not us! Here are some key verses:

2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Further, Hebrews 10:13-18 reminds us there is no other sacrifice for those who have been saved in Christ Jesus. That is it! We are forgiven! Deal with it! Certainly, what great promises we have in scripture.

To review, we have covered 3 important scriptural proofs of our eternal security:

• Direct statements (e.g., 1 Peter 1:4-5).
• Unchangeable positions in Christ as noted in our recent blogs especially: our spiritual baptism, justification, sealing by the Spirit and adoption.
• Perseverance – as noted above.

Well that’s it for today. Thank you for visiting. Join me next week when we consider God’s statements to those who do not believe in eternal security.

Teleios and other authors have shown Christian belief actually can improve personal wellbeing! Therefore, we are examining the Christian life in more detail to see if we can uncover some of the potential underlying causes of the improved wellbeing. As a biblical basis for the Christian life we are using 1 Thessalonians 1:5-7. Here again is the passage!

1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
1 Thessalonians 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
1 Thessalonians 1:7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

Let’s look at verse 5 and our precious security of salvation. Based on the list of Biblical reasons noted last week regarding our eternal security, this week we are examining direct Biblical statements describing our everlasting home with God.

Direct statements to our eternal security

Verses in the Bible that directly indicate a believer, who has trusted in Jesus Christ by faith for his salvation, is eternally secure, are the following:

1 Peter 1:4-5
In these verses Peter comforts his readers that despite their troubles on earth they have an eternal home.

1 Peter 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Romans 8:29-35
This marvelous passage indicates that nothing can separate us from God’s love and no one can lay a charge against us. In contrast, it is God alone who brings us to salvation and He will complete His work in us.

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Romans 8:30 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.
Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

John 10:27-30
Although Christ had not yet died for our sins, these verses indicate that those who are given to God are also given to Christ, and no one can take them out of either of their hands.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
John 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
John 10:30 I and my Father are one.

1 John 5:10-13
This passage, at the end of this marvelous epistle, indicates that those who believe in Christ for their salvation have eternal life. They can have confidence in this because of the changes shown in their life noted in chapters 2-4.

1 John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Indeed, we possess wonderful direct promises in scripture as believers that we are eternally secure by our faith in Christ. We will continue with this series detailing this great promise next week by discussing perseverance.

Welcome again to my blog. I am delighted you have taken the time to read it.

Last week we started a series on the Christian life and the wonderful promises of Scripture and their benefits to us. Teleios and other authors have shown Christian belief actually can improve personal wellbeing! Therefore, we are examining the Christian life in more detail to see if we can uncover some of the potential underlying causes of the improved wellbeing. As a biblical basis for the Christian life we are using 1 Thessalonians 1:5-7.

Here again is the passage (KJV)!

1 Th 1:5 – For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

1 Th 1:6 – And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.

1 Th 1:7 – So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

The verses are neatly outlined by the following:

• Becoming a Christian – Verse 5
• Security of salvation – Verse 5
• Accepting God’s Word in daily life – Verse 6
• Becoming imitators of Paul – Verse 6
• Becoming examples to others – Verse 7

Last week we discussed our glorious salvation.

This week let us discuss the certainty of our salvation. This is one of the great comforting promises of Scripture. It is our hope. Yet the topic remains controversial even among Christians.

What are the evidences of our security? I believe they are on five levels.

• Direct statements of our security (1 Peter 1:4-5; Romans 8:28-39)
• New unchangeable positions as a believer which we discussed recently (throughout a series of 6 blogs) and include our: justification, adoption, sealing by the Spirit, and spiritual baptism.
• God causing us to persevere (2 Timothy 1:12; Philippians 1:6)
• God’s negative reaction to those who don’t believe in eternal security (Hebrews 6:1-8; Hebrews 10:26-39)
• We are individually chosen to belief before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-5,11; Romans 8:29-30; John 6:44,65)

Why is eternal security so important for our wellbeing?

It is the helmet of our salvation (Ephesians 6:15) and our great hope! Life is full of joy yet sometimes disappoints with missed goals, crushed expectations, death of loved ones and ultimately even ourselves. The knowledge of our salvation and a better future life beyond helps us through every step of our lives to maintain joy despite difficult times. Knowledge of our salvation provides good wellbeing as shown by our foundation, Teleios.¹ It’s difficult to have hope in the future and good wellbeing if you don’t even know you are truly saved.

Eternal security also allows us to better serve God as it becomes difficult to be a joyful servant when we lack confidence that we will ever really be with God. Such doubt can sap our energy and turn our thoughts from serving God to our own selves. We can only serve fully when we have a confident secure foundation (Colossians 1:9-14).

Obviously, our salvation, but also our security, are necessary for moving on to maturity in the Christian life as noted in 1 Thessalonians 1. We may not feel we deserve salvation (actually we do not – it is God’s gift through Christ) and it may fight against our nature and upbringing, yet as Christians we must live by the facts of Scripture and not our emotions. We are saved eternally, get over it, and move on to maturity (Hebrews 5:11; Hebrews 6:1-19).

Over the next few weeks let us discuss the points of our security as noted above. The information is just too exciting! We then will move along to discuss the Christian lifestyle. We thank God for such wisdom in Scripture in His promises to us.

Welcome again to my blog. I am grateful you have taken the time to visit.

These last few weeks we have discussed our secure position before God as believers in Jesus Christ. These are powerful promises! Please review them if you have not read those blogs.

Our research has shown that Christians generally have better wellbeing and less depression than non-Christians. Why then are Christians known for feeling guilty? This week let us discuss the problem and next week we will discuss the solutions.

Teleios conducted 2 surveys: one at a major secular college campus and another in a well instructed evangelical church. Approximately 70% of participants in both surveys felt guilty! Fortunately, the level of guilt was mild.

All the causes of this affliction are not known. Indeed, in the church-based survey of adults the overwhelming reason for guilt was due to a believer thinking their current sin(s) had somehow separated them from God and hurt their relationship with Christ; they felt badly about it! In my experience, it is very common for almost every person I teach to have felt some level of guilt.

Why is this the case? Well we do not know all the causes but below are some potentials:

• We inflict it on our selves
• We induce it in each other

Some churches induce it through legalistic regulations. Indeed, one pastor once sheepishly told me it can be good for motivating people!

Why do Christians feel guilty? Our sins are forgiven! Can you name a verse in the Bible that says we should feel guilty? I certainly cannot.

An example I often tell my students is that I have studied Greek, the original language of the Bible, for 25 years. Until recently I did not even know the Greek word for ‘guilt’ despite all my studies! The Bible does just not discuss it!

Of course, because I told the story several times I learned of some examples. However, the few times it’s used is in the New Testament and it is not related to believers’ guilt. We are not to feel guilty!

The problem of guilt can be a big one because it:

• Teaches a lie about God
• Robs us of our joy of salvation
• Captures our emotions in incorrect thinking and takes us away from positive role of the Christian life
• Minimizes the actions of the church

So, what is the cure? Let’s discuss this next week. Thank you for joining me as always.

Welcome again to my blog. I am grateful you have taken the time to visit.

We’ve been discussing the results of personal salvation in Christ and why it might be associated with enhanced wellbeing. We have covered what happens at the time of salvation, as taught in the Bible, resulting in a steadfast new and wonderful position of a believer. This week let us discuss the great promise of our eternal possession by God.

The wonderful story of our being the possession of God starts in Exodus 19:5-6 when God told the Israelites that He intended them to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation and His peculiar possession. They failed in their commitment to God and sinned against Him. Therefore, they did not become a kingdom of priests or a holy nation. However, God will keep His promise to Israel that the nation would be His eternal possession (Psalm 89; Psalm 132:11-17; Romans 11:26-29).

As we know, the sin of Israel under the law was to show us our need for Christ (Galatians 3:24). He has come and died for our sins, that through Him, those who believe on his death on the cross by faith will have eternal life. As believers, God has enabled us to become a kingdom of priests, a holy nation and His peculiar possession (1 Peter 2:9).

How can Christians do this when the Israelis could not? It is because we have the Holy Spirit given to us as a seal to our redemption and to mark us as His eternal possession (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Christ noted that as His chosen, we are in His hands and cannot be removed. We are also in God’s hands and cannot be removed (John 10:28-30). Several other scriptures also note that we are God’s possession (1 Thessalonians 5:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; Hebrews 10:39).

We have in general, God’s promise that He will secure us in His power unto salvation (2 Timothy 1:12; Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:23).

We have covered many marvelous promises of our position as a believer that cannot be overturned, either because of legal, morphological reasons or through the direct power of God. These promises include: spiritual baptism, membership in the universal church, sealing by the Holy Spirit, adoption, justification, and now being made God’s possession.

Thank you for joining me this week and please come again next week as we continue to discuss the amazing power of God’s word in our lives.

Welcome again to my blog. I am grateful you have taken the time to visit.

We recently began a series regarding the results of personal salvation in Christ and why it might be associated with enhanced wellbeing as found through our research. We have been describing what happens at the time of salvation, as taught in the Bible, resulting in a new and wonderful position for a believer.

This week let us discuss justification! There is no other more important result of Christ’s work on the cross than our justification by faith. Let’s examine in some detail the meaning of this great promise.

• Meaning of the New Testament word – This word is vital because the complete meaning in Greek of the word, “justification” (δικαιος, dikaios) is not fully conveyed by the English. As you know, Greek is the original language of the New Testament. The word dikaios carried a legal meaning that still exists today in modern Greek. The word reflected then someone who was found innocent in a court of law of all charges against them. Just like now, in ancient times in the Greek and Roman world there was no double jeopardy. This important legal concept means once you have been found innocent you cannot be charged again for the same crime.
• Christ’s work in justification – The Bible indicates that each of us has sinned and “fallen short” of what God requires of us (Romans 3:23). Because God is just, He demands punishment for our misdeeds. However, because He is loving, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take the punishment in our place (Romans 3:24-26).

It’s as though Christ acted as a courtroom judge and found us guilty of our sins and gave us the death sentence but afterwards, stood up, removed His judicial robe, came around in front of the judge’s bench and took the punishment for us. This satisfied God’s demand for righteousness but also showed His great and gracious love for us.

Importantly, Christ is a sufficient sacrifice for our sins as He is perfect, holy and without sin (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 7:26; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Therefore, Christ was a sufficient sacrifice to satisfy God’s judgment. Accordingly, He died once for all sin, for all time, and He does not need to do this again as did the Old Testament priests (Hebrews 6:1-14; Hebrews 10:10-18).

Our legal position before God was pronounced “innocent” when we trusted Christ for forgiveness of our sins. We do this only once and our sins are forgiven for all time. Since Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient for all our sins for all time, nobody can charge us again. There is no double jeopardy!

WOW! We are secure in our position before God. We can come to him boldly because there are no limits on our access after we believe and become a Christian (Hebrews 10:20-23). What a great promise we have in our justification!

Indeed, God has given us, as Christian believers, a marvelous salvation and a wonderful secure eternity with Him (Romans 10:9-10; 2 Peter 1:4-5). Come back again next week and we’ll complete this exciting overview of the results of our salvation.

Welcome again to my blog. Thank you for visiting.

We have been discussing the results of personal salvation in Christ and why it might be associated with enhanced wellbeing. The current blog series is describing what happens, as taught in the Bible, at the time of salvation which results in wonderful changes for a believer. We have already discussed several fantastic promises associated with salvation. This week let us consider adoption, another marvelous biblical promise.

Adoption is important in our society because when a family legally adopts a child the new family member gains all the rights and privileges of a natural child. In other words, their new status in the family is permanent and cannot be overturned. What a great promise of security to the child!

Likewise, in the ancient Greek and Roman world, as in our own society (with some differences), adoption provided permanent legal status for a child that could not be overturned. The Apostle Paul states our status as adopted children into God’s family in four separate places in his epistles, indicating the importance of our new position as a believer following accepting Christ as Savior through faith (Romans 8:15 and 23; Ephesians 1:5; Galatians 4:5). Consequently, we are children of God, adopted into His family with legal protection and a permanent status. What a great promise!

How interesting that Paul describes adoption as one of our positions before God as New Testament Christians. It was not an image used of Old Testament believers. Adoption apparently was not common in the Hebrew world and is noted only in the Old Testament three times, all occurring outside of Israel. God appeared to handle the issue of orphaned children in Israel by the use of a kinsman redeemer as provided in the Hebrew law.

Israel also is not noted to be adopted until Paul mentions it retroactively to the mixed audience of Greeks and the Jews in Rome (the Jews were probably Hellenized and so would relate to the image) to explain God’s relationship to Israel in the Old Testament (Romans 9:4).

Adoption is the fourth of the great promises of our position as a believer because of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross, resulting in either legal or morphological irreversible changes. These changes indicate our eternal security including: spiritual baptism, membership in the universal church, sealing by the Spirit and now adoption as children of God.

Indeed, God has given us a marvelous salvation and the promise of a wonderful secure eternity with Him (Romans 10:9-10). Come back again next week and we’ll talk about justification, a supposition from Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. As always, thank you for visiting.

Welcome again to my blog. Thank you for visiting.

We recently began discussing the results of personal salvation in Christ and why it might be associated with enhanced wellbeing as found through Teleios research. This blog series is describing what happens, as taught in the Bible, at the time of salvation resulting in a steadfast new and wonderful position of a believer. We have covered already several wonderful promises accompanying salvation. This week let us discuss the Spirit sealing, another fantastic biblical promise!

The Holy Spirit is often misunderstood, but He is a key component in our salvation, resulting position before God and subsequent Christian walk. At Salvation the Holy Spirit is given to us. This is a great promise and is a part of the results of our belief to salvation by faith alone in Christ’s substitutionary work on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9). These are the main points to review about the Spirit at salvation. Read and enjoy!

• Spiritual baptism – We discussed this great promise two weeks ago; that the Holy Spirit regenerates us to a new life in Christ, identifying us with His death and resurrection upon the cross. We are a new creature in Christ (Romans 6:2-9; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10).
• Entry into the church – The Spirit places us in the church universal through which serve Christ.
• The Spirit sealing – This week we learn that the Holy Spirit at salvation is given to us as a seal unto the day of our redemption, the second coming of Christ, when we will live with him eternally (Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Corinthians 5:5).

Fortunately, this seal is not talking about a cute aquatic mammal, but it is speaking of a secure seal to bind us to Christ. Seals were used in the ancient world as a legal means to close a document. If a king had created a new law or order, molten wax might be poured on the document to seal it and the king’s signet ring pressed into the wax. The king’s symbol in the wax would tell the carrier or the recipient that the contents of the document were the king’s will and breaking the seal inappropriately or ignoring the order was done at a person’s own peril.

We are sealed by our King and it reflects the same legal and unbreakable character as ancient law. Further, the Spirit seals us throughout our whole life on earth until we go home to heaven. Importantly, all those who believed by grace in Christ’s forgiveness on the cross are Christians and have the Spirit and the seal (Ephesians 2:8-9).

What great promises we possess as believers in Christ with a position so eternally secure with a great hope for the future and a steadfast anchor our souls while we are on Earth (Hebrews 6:19; 1 Peter 1:4-5).

Thank you for joining me on this fascinating Journey of who we are as a Christian before God. Please join us again next week to learn more.