The second phase of salvation is REPARATION.
This is the NEW BIRTH ! ! ! The time when our SINS ARE FORGIVEN. Paul notes: ". . . in Christ Jesus I became your father (much better translation - I gave you birth) through the Gospel" (1Cor.4:15). He described it to the Romans as being ESTABLISHED: "Now to Him who is able to establish you by my Gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the REVELATION of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now REVEALED and MADE KNOWN through the prophetic writings BY THE COMMAND OF THE ETERNAL GOD so that ALL NATIONS might believe and OBEY Him"
(Rom.16:25-26). He indicates to the Corinthians that this OBEDIENCE "accompanies their confession of faith" (2Cor.9:13). PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CAUTION: Many will try to lead the new believer to a WRONG OBEDIENCE by putting them in subjection to THE LAW. Paul makes it abundantly clear in all his writings that THIS IS NOT WHAT IS MEANT BY OBEDIENCE. In fact this type of teaching belies their confession of faith. Rom. 6:1-23; Rom. 7:1-25 and Rom. 8:1-39 and Gal. 3:1-29 provide ample proof. Paul's great indignation ( and it should be ours ) is expressed in the POWERFUL CONDEMNATORY STATEMENT: ". . . if righteousness could be gained through the law, CHRIST DIED FOR NOTHING" (Gal.2:21). To assist readers in dealing with this negative process, may I propose the following TEST. When assessing the things you are SUPPOSED TO DO, think about this: Do you feel MOTIVATED or OBLIGATED. If you feel obligated, you are being put under law but, if you feel motivated, you have just completed STEP 1 of understanding the WILL OF GOD for your life.
If we look at the four groups above, Group A, having been exposed to Preparation, would split. Group A1 would receive the preparation and JOYOUSLY move on to Reparation. Group A2 would not receive preparation and would REMAIN IN DARKNESS. Group B assumes (incorrectly) that reparation HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE and, generally, fail to progress. Their adherents live a life of perpetual uncertainty. What is practised is not what they see in Scripture or reason out for themselves. They can be considered very fearful (mostly of "going to hell"). Groups C and D both respond favorably. Group C continues to "contain" any move of God within denominational barriers. Group D is trusted by God to "BREAK DOWN BARRIERS", most times by EXPOSING THE DARKNESS. This is an extremely taxing ministry in the flesh but one which brings Spiritual joy. They are becoming more Christ-like! As the writer of Hebrews encourages: "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the JOY set before HIM, ENDURED THE CROSS . . ." (Heb. 12:2). The word, perfecter, is the Greek, "teleiotes" which, here, means something more like "MATURER". Group D moves on to this phase. Group A1, if they affiliate with either Groups B or C, fail to move on. If they come under the influence of Group D they, too, move on.
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Translator
True Prayer
True Gospel
