1 Tim 2:4-5 (God) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Page 1 Today is the day of salvation. Salvation is only through Jesus Christ. The Lord is always waiting... for repentance and belief of the truth. My topic is The Day of Salvation. 2 Cor 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured (helped) thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) Paul quoted that verse from the prophecy of the old testament... and applied it to US Gentiles: Isa 49:8 Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; The acceptable time is NOW... THIS is the acceptable YEAR to believe: Luke 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. We inherit salvation and eternal life... together with Israel. Eph 4:4-5 says, There is... 1 body -- not 2 bodies 1 Lord... 1 faith -- not 2 different faiths... 1 baptism. Not like the doctrine we used to believe - - that said there was 2 of everything.
Israel was promised eternal life in their land: Page 2 Psa 135:12 And gave their land for an heritage, (that is an inheritance ) an heritage unto Israel his people. In God s patience... and in His mercy... those who believe have the promise of eternal inheritance : Psa 136:21-22 And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever: 22 Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever. We can now see that the eternal inheritance is in the eternal city... the heavenly city... new Jerusalem... which is in a heavenly country: Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. Israel did not realize Who Jesus was... when He visited them: Luke 19:42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, (their day of salvation) the things which belong unto thy peace! Israel did NOT believe... they lost their peace and rest: but now they are hid from thine eyes. Israel did not recognize their Messiah... their Christ... when He came. Luke 19:44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
After the gospel went to all the world... Page 3 Peter taught the saints to live godly... so the Gentiles would believe... in the day of salvation: 1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, (do evil) they may by your good works, which they shall behold, So Gentiles can see you saints do good... and they want to be saved: glorify God in the day of visitation. Israel dis-obeyed God for 40 years... with hard hearts: Heb 3:7-11 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, (when they provoked) in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. God was NOT pleased... that Israel continued to do WRONG: 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err (to make an error - sin - mistake) in their heart; and they have not known my ways. They kept SINNING against God... so He would not let them REST: 11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) God told them to believe TODAY... while their hearts are tender... not wait until TOMORROW... when their hearts would be hard. Heb 3:12-13 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Those who have eternal inheritance MUST... and WILL... Page 4 CONTINUE in the faith: Heb 3:14-15 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. God was grieved with those who did not believe: Heb 3:18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? What happened to Israel... are examples to us... to live godly: 1 Cor 10:6-7 Now these things were our examples, to the intent (or so that) we should not lust (desire) after evil things, as they also lusted. We should not worship idols... like they did: 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. We should not commit fornication... and 23,000 died in one day. We should not tempt Christ... as they did... and were bitten by serpents. We should not murmer and complain... like them... who got destroyed. God wants others to learn a lesson from Israel... so others will NOT be like them... especially at the time of the end of the world: 1 Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, (our WARNing) upon whom the ends of the world are come.
True REST comes only from God. It will be GLORIOUS. Page 5 Matt 11:28-29 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; God has a tender heart... He is of tender mercy: for I am meek and lowly in heart: Our rest will be SPIRITUAL... NOT physical: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. God will give a crown of LIFE to those who are faithful unto death (Rev 2:10). They should not fear what man can do to them (Heb 13:6, Psa 118:6, Matt 10:28): Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. The promised land that God said He would give to Israel... was a picture of eternal life in the kingdom of God which WE will also inherit: 1 Peter 1:4-5 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Our salvation will be revealed... when Jesus comes back to claim us: 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Believers will have ETERNAL REST... when Jesus comes: Page 7 2 Thess 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, The day of salvation is NOW... believe the gospel TODAY. You might not have tomorrow. by Agustin Ornelas Great Smoky Mountains GRACE Bible Conference March 2011