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Decision and Direction of Salvation

January 15, 2024

John Wesley and all other historic, orthodox Christians understand Salvation in 2 aspects.

Salvation is surely a decision to believe the truth of The Gospel. One does not just "fall into" salvation. The decision to believe has to do with an understanding of a need to be forgiven of specific, personal rebellion against God. This is a personal decision to be sure.

But Salvation is also a Direction. This Direction is that one has decided (decision) to follow Jesus. This feature of Salvation as Direction seems to have less importance in some traditions. For instance, if one is asked if they are saved a usual response will be about a decision one made in the past and not about the direction of one's life to follow Jesus.

The Decision and Direction view of Salvation is a critical truth that appears to warrant some personal attention for us all.

Reflection

1-How much of your/my understanding of Salvation is limited to a Decision?

2--What evidence is there of you/me following Jesus now?

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Path To Pentecost (13)--May 11

May 14, 2025

A Condition for being filled on a continual basis The blog yesterday showed that Ephesians 5:18 exhorts us to be filled with the Holy Spirit on a continual basis. The present verb "filled" makes this clear. I also stated that a way to experience this continual work of The Holy Spirit (being under the influence of The Spirit) is based on humility. Humility is the experience of realizing that I do not have the internal power to be the person that I see in God's Word. Humility is the acknowledgement that I need God's Spirit to live the life of following Jesus. It is the humble person who can experience this continual influence of the Holy Spirit. That is because the truly humble person has a right assessment of their own need and a right assessment of God' provision. The proud person cannot receive much from God because the proud person does not assess that they need anything or at least not much from God. This is not a failure of God's power it is a failure of one not recognizing one's need. In this notion of being humble enough to experience God's continual presence of The Holy Spirit I remember a verse from Jesus' brother, James. James 4:5-6 reveals God's contrast in response to the proud and to the humble. Note in vs 5 about God's yearning "over the Spirit that he has made to dwell in us." Then James gives a contrast between the humble and the proud we see that God gives "more grace" (vs. 6). How can God give more grace.....well I want to suggest that God can give more grace to the humble because the humble have more capacity for grace. Think of it, a humble person is open to receive from God because they do not assume that they are capable in their own strength. Note also that the continual influence of The Holy Spirit would be impossible for the proud. God opposes the proud (vs. 6) because they do not recognize their need of God's Holy Spirit. REFLECT: So, instead of denying your inability and need for more grace, embrace it. God has "more grace" for you. This is life in the the continual influence of The Holy Spirit

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