The Nature of Love – Salvation

Salvation, the Revelation of God’s Love

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16

Every true believer needs to comprehend that the essence of God’s nature is the motive that moves Him toward His creation. His love seeks our best. If we yield to His dealings, they purify and cleanse us from all we are so we may bear the “image” of the Firstborn.

“Because whom He foreknew, He also foreordained, conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be firstborn among many brothers.”
Romans 8:29 (LSV)

(I fervently pray that each individual will take the time to read this exegesis to feel God’s wonder and grace concerning His salvation so richly offered us in Christ Jesus our Lord!)

Salvation – Into Christ!

The Love of God pulsates with intent and purpose. There is a determination in His work within those who have received Him. Much is lost today in the belief that forgiveness of sins and even salvation is ours by a mere confession rather than it being true because Christ Himself has been received into our lives. His salvation is much more than believing ON His Name. The Greek text in John 1:12 is clear and emphatic, stating that true salvation results from our believing INTO* (please see note below) Him. The “born again” experience is ours because we have received the gift of His person (and nature) into the construct of our lives.

“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God,
even to them that believe into (g1519) His Name…”
John 1:12 (LITV)

Please note the Greek Word exegesis εἰς (g1519) (Strong’s number)

*NOTE
“Believing INTO His Name”

“But G1161  as many as G3745  received G2983  Him, G846  to them G846  gave G1325  He power G1849  to become G1096  the sons G5043  of God, G2316  even to them that believe G4100  on G1519  His G846  name: G3686 ”
John 1:12 (Strongs) (KJV)

“εἰς (g1519)
eis; prep. governing the acc. with the primary idea of motion INTO any place or thing; also of motion or direction to, toward or upon any place, thing.”

“For with the heart, man believeth unto (INTO) righteousness;
and with the mouth, confession is made unto (INTO) salvation.”

Romans 10:10 (The moment an individual receives Him, they believe INTO His righteousness and have become partakers OF His saving grace!)

Romans 10:10 (KJV+)
10 For G1063  with the heart G2588  man believeth G4100  unto G1519  righteousness; G1343  and G1161  with the mouth G4750  confession is made G3670  unto G1519  salvation. G4991  (substitute the word unto to into for a truer understanding of our salvation in this magnificent scripture)

Please note a few examples of other places where this powerful word is translated properly:

“That was the true Light, which lighteth every man
that cometh into (g1519) the world.”

John 1:9 (KJV+)
9 That was G2258  the G3588  true G228  Light, G5457  which G3739  lighteth G5461  every G3956  man G444  that cometh G2064  into G1519  the G3588  world. G2889

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into (g1519) the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

Romans 5:12 (KJV+)
12 Wherefore, G1223 G5124  as G5618  by G1223  one G1520  man G444  sin G266  entered G1525  into G1519  the G3588  world, G2889  and G2532  death G2288  by G1223  sin; G266  and G2532  so G3779  death G2288  passed G1330  upon G1519  all G3956  men, G444  for G1909  that G3739  all G3956  have sinned: G264

This word “into” is more than semantics or some trivial truth. It is that dynamic of Him living within us that differentiates a professor of faith from a life united to Christ as the branch that believes into the vine and lives their life by the very nature of Him moving and enabling us to become more like Him!

In this understanding, we touch the vibrancy and power to comprehend His Nature within us as the great cause for us to grow into the Unity for which Jesus prayed. How few feel the life of Him within moving and pressing us INTO Him, by which we become the answer to His prayer and heart’s desire. The carnal man’s stubborn, self-willed, obstinate nature cannot and will not touch the power associated with this vibrant truth (Romans 8:7). To those who live outside of His nature, this truth will exert little influence on how they conduct themselves within the context of His people.

“That they all may be one;
as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee,
that they also may be one IN Us:
that the world may believe that thou hast sent Me.”
John 17:21

This unity will only be known by those who “live, move, and have their being” rooted in Him.

“by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature…”
2 Peter 1:4 (ESV)

Living faith results from the nature of Christ Himself imputed and implanted into the very substance of our being. We need to comprehend the true declaration of His Word…

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth IN me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith OF the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20

“IN whom we have boldness and access
with confidence by the faith OF Him.”
Ephesians 3:12

It is God’s righteousness to declare our standing before Him as accepted because we have received HIM, who bore all our transgressions. The transaction between God and His fallen creation depends entirely on all Christ accomplished upon the Cross. The seal of God’s approval upon His perfect obedience is revealed by His resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4)!

“And if Christ has not been raised,
your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins.”
1 Corinthians 15:17 (ESV)

If He did not die, our guilt remains; if He did not rise from the dead, there is no impartation of His Life that we may be saved “from our sins.” Only a false gospel makes provisions for us to remain in our sin.

“…shall we continue in sin,
that grace may abound?
God forbid…!
Romans 6:1-2

We are empowered to overcome temptation and sin by His resurrection and our receiving Him.

“and thou shalt call His name JESUS:
for He shall save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:21

The Nature of God’s Love is the great cause for which The Son was sent into this world (John 3:16). The Love of the Father moved Him to send the Son; the Love of the Son is the basis of His obedience to the Will of the Father. In receiving Him, we are inspired to grow into that same love from which obedience and sanctification spring.

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called
unto (INTO) the fellowship of His Son
Jesus Christ our Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:9

Many today know Jesus as their Saviour (thanks be to God!). Some have gone on to know Him as the Christ (the Anointed One) by receiving Him and infilling of the Holy Spirit. Fewer are coming to the place of knowing Him as Lord.

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord,
and do not the things which I say?”
Luke 6:46

In presenting the truth of Jesus Christ becoming our Lord, Paul declares that the righteousness that is ours by faith is to become an actual experience in our life. This is also reflected in John’s admonition:

“He that doeth righteousness
is righteous”.

“Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to whom you obey, whether of sin to death, or obedience to righteousness?”
Romans 6:16

We become authentic “living epistles” that reveal His righteousness through obedience. The Nature of His Love in us must inspire us to a life of becoming like Him!

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave authority (the power, the right) to become children of God, to the ones believing into* His name.”
John 1:12 (LITV)

John sums up this magnificent declaration with:

“who were born not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man,
but were born of God.”
John 1:13

May God breathe upon us afresh. May His Spirit permeate our hearts with the solemn truth that the only hope for any individual becoming is through being “born of God.” Confessions, believing in doctrines, or teachings, or following some prescribed statement of faith will not avail us of the power, authority, and privilege that can only be ours by being “born again.”

“Marvel not that I said unto thee,
Ye must be born again.”
John 3:7

The Nature of Love Series:

The Nature of Love (Link)
The Nature of Love – Righteousness (Link)

 

“For with the heart man believeth unto (into) righteousness;
and with the mouth confession is made unto (into) salvation.”
Romans 10:10

May we grasp the power of His Word! Too much emphasis is placed upon an individual’s confession, which misrepresents the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must carefully read the above scripture with the illumination of His Spirit.

The “confession” of the mouth is PRECEDED by the moving of God upon the heart INTO His righteousness. Besides the heart being moved into righteousness, mere confession is vain and deceptive. Everything in God, every truth, and every transaction is based on power and transformation. What people do reveals the nature by which they live.

“Little children, let no man deceive you:
he that doeth righteousness is righteous…”
1 John 3:7

James expresses this same truth:

“Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water”
James 3:11-12

John is warning the people of God, “Let no man deceive you”! We do not interact with each other based on a confession. Wherever the Spirit of the Lord abides, there will be a corresponding expression of His Nature.

By “their fruits ye shall know them,” not by their confession. There are many today who, because of a confession, have been deceived into thinking they are right with God but have never touched the wonder of being “born again”.

Our fellowship and communion with one another is based on “walking in the Light”. Any life that does not seek this true communion with others is alienated from the life of God. The Life of Him in me will ever seek the Life of Him in another. This seeking results from the Nature of His Love abiding in our hearts.

“My little children, let us not love in word,
neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
And hereby we know that we are of the truth,
and shall assure our hearts before Him…”
1 John 3:18-19

The salvation “born of God” brings His own to the Love revealed in deeds and truth!

Related Post: God’s Grace

“The only way it is possible to have one mind is to have the mind of God derived from the unity of the Spirit of God, a unity which comes only when believers find the will of God and give themselves unselfishly and unstintingly to its fulfillment.”
– John F. Walvoord

Brian Troxel