Why does
anyone need salvation? What do I need saving from? Have I been saved? These are basic questions
and deserving of clear Scriptural answers. To better understand salvation,
let’s look at the Scripture’s example of a city.
City of
In Ibriym
[Hebrews]
This city
has a foundation of Rock- Yahusha` HaMashiyach, which stands solidly.
MaththiYahu [Matthew]
Where does
salvation come into this? The walls . YeshaYahu [Isaiah] 60:18 and 26:1
tell us that dedi makes salvation the walls. Upon
the rock foundation of Yahusha`
HaMashiyach, the walls of salvation surround and protect us. The example of
salvation surrounding and protecting us is also used in YeshaYahu [Isaiah]
61:10 as a garment and a helmet in
YeshaYahu [Isaiah] 59:17, Ephesians 6:17, I Thessalonians 5:8.
Salvation
in the Hebrew is ryi (yasha and yesha, depending on the Hebrew vowel
points that were assigned in the first few centuries of the Common Era - C.E.)
- something saved, deliverance, set free, get the victory. Salvation is not a
“New Testament” idea, it originates in
the Tanak, which most Christians know as the Old Testament. Shemoth [Exodus]
15:2, " 'my strength and praise is
yah; and he is to me, for salvation; this is my el and i will adore him, elohey
of my fathers and i will lift him up.' " The Thehilliym
[Psalms] are filled with references to the salvation of dedi.
Thehillah [Psalm] 27:1, "dedi is my light and my salvation;
whom will i fear? dedi is the stronghold
of my life; of whom will i be afraid?" Thehillah
[Psalm] 25:5, "…guide me in your truth and
teach me, for you are dedi, my savior, and my hope is in you all day long." YeshaYahu[Isaiah] 12:3,
"with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation."
dedi had called Abraham out of his
native land and settled him in a new land. He made Abraham to be the father of
a new people he was creating, the people of faith. Salvation was for the
descendents of Abraham, but in several places in the Tanak [OT], dedi foretells of bringing salvation to
the Goyim [Gentiles]. Salvation was not limited to just a tribe. Salvation was
originally meant fo all who believed; it was supposed to proclaimed to the all
the Goyim. Instead, it became restricted by man, not YHWH, to those that were
in a certain tribe. YeshaYahu [Isaiah] 49:6, "it is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the
tribes of yaaqob [Jacob] and bring those of yisrael i have kept. i will also
make you a light for the goyim, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of
the earth." YeshaYahu 42:6,7, "i, dedi, have called you in righteousness; i will take hold of
your hand. i will keep you and will make you to be a beriyth [covenant] for the
people and a light for the goyim, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives
from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness." Thehillah [Psalm] 98:2, “dedi has made his salvation known and
revealed his righteousness to the goyim." Since Yisrael was
not doing what was required and teaching the true thorah, declaring YHWH to the
Goyim, YHWH had to send His son as a malak [messenger]. Yahusha` fulfilled these words,
bringing the salvation of dedi to both Ibriym [Hebrews] and Goyim [Gentiles].
Yahusha` as
the savior sent to reveal the salvation of YHWH
Yahusha` was sent to atone for our sins, to bring us the salvation
of YHWH. Thehillah [Psalm] 28:8, "YHWH is their strength, and the
stronghold of the salvations, his mashiyach
[anointed] is he."
Thehillah [Pslam] 98:1,2, "a mizmor. sing to YHWH
a new song, for he has done wondrous things; his right hand and his set apart
arm has saved for him. YHWH has revealed
his salvation; he unveiled his righteousness to the eyes of the goyim."
Thehillah 108:5,6, (6,7),
"be lifted up, elohiym, above
the heavens; and your honor above all the earth; 6 that your beloved may be
delivered; save by your right hand and answer me."
Yahuchanan
This quoted passage in YeshaYahu 53 is a chapter foretelling
the Mashiyach. Another passage of the servant sent to bring salvation to the
ends of the earth is YeshaYahu 49:1-6,
" 'hear me, coastlands, and you people from afar, and prick up
your ear, YHWH called me from the womb; he mentioned my name from my mother's
belly. and he made my mouth like a sharp
sword; he hid me in the shadow of his hand, and made me a polished arrow; he
hid me in his quiver; and said to me,
you are my servant, yisrael, you in whom i will be glorified. then i said, i have labored in vain; i have
spent my strength for nothing, and in vain; yet surely my judgment is with
YHWH, and my work with my eloah. and
now, says YHWH, my former from the womb, for a servant to him, to bring back
yaaqob to him, though yisrael is not gathered, yet i am honored in the eyes of
YHWH, and elohay is my strength. and he
said, is it too little that you should be for me, a servant to raise up the rod
[tribe] of yaaqob, and to restore the preserved
[netsiyrey] of yisrael; i will also give you for a light of the goyim, to be my
salvation to the end of the earth. ' "
There are many prophecies in the Tanak [OT] of his coming,
to be the Mashiyach [Messiah]. Some people may think that Yahusha`
intentionally tried to be a fulfillment to those words, but what about those he
fulfilled by his birth, as a young child or after His death? He was not in control
of any of those and yet he still fulfilled them. I Kefa [Peter] 1:18-21, "for you know that it was
not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from
the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of mashiyach [messiah],
a lamb without blemish or defect. he was
chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times
for your sake. through him you believe
in dedi, who raised him from the dead
and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in dedi." dedi chose Yahusha` before any of us were ever born to die
for the atonement of our sins, that salvation might be ours.
When Yahusef [Joseph] found out that Miryam [Mary], his
betrothed, was pregnant, he had in mind to divorce her. MaththiYahu [Matthew]
After the time of the exile to
Yahusha`, the son of dedi , has the
same name as Yahusha` ben Nun [Joshua son of Nun], the general under Mosheh
[Moses] and Yahusha` ben Yahutsadaq [Joshua son of Jehozedek], the kohen
[priest] in ZekarYahu [Zechariah] 6. Yet these were translated into English as
Joshua. For further information on the name Yahusha`, see The Name of the Son
of YHWH study.
When Yahusha` was born, Luke 2:8-12 sites, “ And there were
shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at
night. A malak [angel] of dedi appeared to
them, and the honor of dedi shone around them, and they were terrified. But the malak said to them, " 'do not be afraid. i
bring you basar [good news] of great joy that will be for all the people. today
in the town of dawiyd, a savior [moshiya] has been born to you; he is the
adonay [master], the mashiyach [messiah].
this will be a sign to you, you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and
lying in a manger.' "
After Yahusha` was born, His parents took Him to the Beyth dedi to
consecrate Him as the firstborn, in accordance with the Thorah [Law]. Luke
2:25-32, “ now there
was a man in yerushalayim [
Yahusha` as Son of YHWH
Let us take a look at the question of Yahusha` being the Son
of dedi - His only
Son.
Mishley [Proverbs] 30:4,
" 'who has gone up to the heavens, and come down? who has
gathered the wind in his fists? who has bound the waters in his garments? who
has made all the ends of the earth to rise? what is his name, and what is the
name of his son? surely you know.' "
MaththiYahu [Matthew]
Luke 9:35, states, "a voice came from the cloud, saying, 'this is my
son, whom i have chosen; listen to him.' "
dedi, Himself
claimed Yahusha` as His son in the hearing of others. I Yahuchanan [John]
5:9-12, " 'who
is it that overcomes the world? only he who believes that yahusha` is the son
of YHWH. this is the one who came by water and blood, yahusha` hamashiyach. he
did not come by water only, but by water and blood. and it is the ruach [breath,
spirit] who testifies, because the ruach is the truth. for there are three that testify, the ruach, the water and the blood; and the
three are in agreement. we accept man's
testimony, but the testimony of YHWH is greater because it is the testimony of YHWH,
which He has given about his son. anyone
who believes in the son of YHWH has this testimony in his heart. anyone who
does not believe YHWH has made him out to be a liar, because he has not
believed the testimony YHWH has given about his son. and this is the testimony, YHWH has given us
eternal life, and this life is in his son.
he who has the son has life; he who does not have the son of YHWH does
not have life.' "
Yahuchanan [John] 3:16-21, "for YHWH so loved the world that he gave his one
and only son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal
life. for YHWH did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to
save the world through him. whoever
believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned
already because he has not believed in the name of the one and only son of YHWH.
this is the verdict: light has come into the world, but men loved darkness
instead of light because their deeds were evil.
everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light
for fear that his deeds will be exposed. but whoever lives by the truth comes
into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been
done through YHWH."
dedi is not
unfeeling. If He weeps and cries over us when we are lost in sin, you can
imagine the sorrow it must have caused Him to see His son, His only son,
tortured and executed. Not because of what he had done, but because of what you
and I have done.
The Yahudiym [Jews] alone
didn’t execute Yahusha`, contrary to the claims of Christianity. Herod alone did not execute Yahusha`, nor did
Pilate; I also did because of my sin. We need to take responsibility for our
actions and realize that it cost an innocent man His life, a Father His only son,
just because dedi loved us so much, that He wanted to send a sacrifice
to atone for our sins. Do not take salvation lightly, dedi and
Yahusha` didn’t.
Savior
We have seen the words of Yahusha` as savior when he was a
child, let’s take a look at him as the savior, as an adult. Titus 3:3-8, " 'at one time we too
were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and
pleasures. we lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one
another. but when the kindness and love
of YHWH, our savior appeared, he saved
us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. he
saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the ruach YHWH, whom he
poured out on us generously through yahusha` ha mashiyach, our savior, so that, having been justified by his favor,
we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.' "
Ibriym [Hebrews] 2:9, " 'but we see yahusha`, who was made a little
lower than the malakiym [angels], now crowned with honor and splendor because he
suffered death, so that by the honor of YHWH he might taste death for everyone.'
" IITimothy 1:8-10, "so do not be ashamed to
testify about our adonay, or ashamed of me his prisoner. but join with me in
suffering for the basar [good news, gospel], by the power of YHWH, who has
saved us and called us to a set-apart life; not because of anything we have
done but because of his own purpose and favor. this favor was given us in
yahusha` hamashiyach before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed
through the appearing of our savior, yahusha` hamashiyach, who has destroyed
death and has brought life and immortality to light through the basar [gospel]." Remember, salvation is a free gift. We did not
do anything to deserve, earn or work for it. Just accept it and walk in it.
Titus 2:11-14, "for the favor of YHWH that brings salvation has
appeared to all men. it teaches us to
say 'no' to unrighteousness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled,
upright and set-apart lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope; the glorious
appearing of our great savior, yahusha` hamashiyach, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all
wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to
do what is good." Just as dedi called
Yisrael to be a people set apart for Himself, Yahusha` has done the same, for
Yahudiym [Jews] and Goyim [Gentile]. As Yahusha` said, he only does what he
sees his Father doing.
Ibriym [Hebrews]
9:27,28, "just
as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so mashiyach was sacrificed once to take away
the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but
to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." The sacrifice that Yahusha` made was all that was necessary.
He was the perfect sacrifice, there is no need for another.
Here is the key: "we know that we live in him and he in us,
because he has given us of his ruach [spirit].
and we have seen and testify that the father has sent his son to be the
savior of the world. if anyone acknowledges
that yahusha` is the son of, YHWH lives in him and he in YHWH." I
Yahuchanan [John] 4:13-15.
Need for a
Savior
We have established that Yahusha` fulfilled what was
foretold, as a child, that he is the only son of dedi and that he
is the savior. Now, let's look at why we need a savior. Romans 3:23, "…for all have sinned and fall short of the honor
of YHWH," Romans 3:10-12, "as it is written, 'there
is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who
seeks YHWH. all have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is
no one who does good, not even one.' " How can it be possible that not even one
person is righteous and without sin? We can all thank Adam and Chawwah [Eve],
the first man and woman. Because of their sin, that sin passes down to every
person, kind of like a spiritual trait, like blue eyes or brown hair. Don’t get
me wrong, I do not believe that had I been there, that I would have done any
differently. We all have sin in us, even the newborn child, and therefore need
a savior to set us free from sin.
Ephesians 2:1-10, "as for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed
the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit
who is now at work in those who are disobedient. all of us also lived among them at one time,
gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and
thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. but because of his great love for us, YHWH,
who is rich in mercy, made us alive with
mashiyach even when we were dead in transgressions; it is by favor you have been saved. and YHWH raised us up with mashiyach and
seated us with him in the heavenly realms in yahusha` hamashiyach, in order that in the coming ages he might
show the incomparable riches of his favor, expressed in his kindness to us in
yahusha` hamashiyach. for it is by favor
you have been saved, through faith; and
this not from yourselves, it is the gift of YHWH; not by works, so that no one can boast. for
we are the workmanship of YHWH, created in yahusha` hamashiyach to do good
works, which YHWH prepared in advance for us to do."
Colossians 2:13-15, "when you were dead in your sins and in the
uncircumcision of your sinful nature, YHWH made you alive with mashiyach. he
forgave us all our sins, having canceled the
written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood
opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the stake. and having disarmed the powers and
authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the
stake."
Since we were dead in sins, uncircumcised of heart, objects
of wrath and worthless, I’d say we definitely need a savior. Ah, but you might
say, “I don’t have any sin.” The Scriptures already have that one covered. I
Yahuchanan[John] 1:8-10, "if we
claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. if we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness. if we claim we have not sinned, we make him
out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives."
Atonement
Let’s look into the aspect of Yahusha` giving up his life
for us. Romans 5:6-8, "you
see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, mashiyach died for
the unrighteous. very rarely will anyone
die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to
die. but YHWH demonstrates his own love
for us in this, while we were still sinners, mashiyach died for us." I Kefa [Peter] 2:24,25, "he himself bore our sins
in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for
righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. for you were like sheep going astray, but now
you have returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls." I Timothy 2:3-6, "this is good, and pleases YHWH our savior, who
wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. for there is one YHWH and one mediator
between YHWH and men, the man yahusha` hamashiyach, who gave himself as a ransom for all men; the
testimony given in its proper time."
Imagine, if you will, that we are all prisoners, held
captive by sin and death. The one who took us captive is HaSatan. It was a
common practice in days of old, and occasionally it still occurs, that when
someone was taken captive a ransom would have to be paid for their freedom. dedi has paid our
ransom, not with gold or silver, but with the blood of Yahusha` HaMashiyach,
His son,. The word for redeem in the Greek is agorazw - agorazo, to purchase,
to redeem, to free from evil by paying a price. Revelations 5:9,10, this is
written of Yahusha`, the sacrifice lamb, "and they sang a new song, 'you are worthy to take
the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood
you purchased men for YHWH from every tribe and language and people and nation.
you have made them to be a malkuth [kingdom] and kohaniym [priests] to serve YHWH,
and they will reign on the earth.' "
What does it take to receive salvation? Romans 10:9-13, "that if you confess
with your mouth, 'yahusha` is adonay [master],' and believe in your
heart that dedi raised him from the dead, you will be saved. for it is with your heart that you believe
and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. as the scripture says, 'anyone who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.' for there
is no difference between yahudiym [jews] and goyim [gentile]; the same adonay is adonay of all and richly
blesses all who call on him, for, 'everyone
who calls on the name dedi will be saved.' " I Yahuchanan [John] 5:1-5, "everyone who believes
that yahusha` is the mashiyach, is born of YHWH, and everyone who loves the
father loves his son as well. this is how we know that we love the children of YHWH,
by loving YHWH and carrying out his commands.
this is love for YHWH, to obey his commands. and his commands are not
burdensome, for everyone born of YHWH overcomes the world. this is the victory
that has overcome the world, even our faith. who is it that overcomes the
world? only he who believes that yahusha` is the son of YHWH."
Yahuchanan [John] 12:44-46, "then yahusha` cried out, ' when a man believes in
me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. when he looks
at me, he sees the one who sent me. i have come into the world as a light, so
that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.' " Yahusha` spoke to his talmiydiym [students,
disciples] after He was risen from the dead, "he said to them, 'go into all the world and
preach the basar [good news] to all creation. whoever believes and is immersed
[baptized] will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.'
"
The Requirements for Salvation
·
Confess with your mouth that Yahusha` HaMashiyach is
Adonay [master].
·
Believe that Yahusha` is the only son born of dedi.
·
Believe in your heart that dedi raised
Yahusha` from the dead.
·
Love dedi, the Father of
Yahusha`, and obey His commands.
·
Turn from your sins to dedi and be
immersed – Miqweh ( for further information see the Foundation study - Miqweh).
When you have been saved,
it is also called being born again. I Kefa [Peter]
I Yahuchanan [John] 5:18-20, "we know that anyone born of YHWH does not continue
to sin; the one who was born of YHWH keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm
him. we know that we are children of YHWH,
and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. we know also that the son of YHWH has come
and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. and we are
in him who is true; even in yahusha` hamashiyach, his son, he is YHWH and
eternal life." I Yahuchanan [John]
3:7-10, "dear
children, do not let anyone lead you astray. he who does what is right is
righteous, just as he is righteous. he who does what is sinful is of the devil,
because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. the reason the son of YHWH
appeared was to destroy the work of the
devil. no one who is born of YHWH
will continue to sin, because the seed of YHWH remains in him; he cannot go on
sinning, because he has been born of YHWH.
this is how we know who the children of YHWH are and who the children of
the devil are, anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of YHWH; nor
is anyone who does not love his brother."
Born Again - salvation
Yahuchanan [John] 3:1-15, "now there was a man of the farushiym [pharisees]
named nicodemus, a member of the yahudiym [jewish] ruling council. he came to yahusha` at night and said,
'rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from YHWH. for no one could
perform the miraculous signs you are doing if YHWH were not with him.' in reply
yahusha` declared, 'i tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of YHWH
unless he is born again.' 'how can a man be born when he is old?,' nicodemus
asked. 'surely he cannot enter a second time into the womb of his mother to be
born.' yahusha` answered, 'i tell you
the truth, no one can enter the
" 'how can this be?' nicodemus asked.
'you are a teacher of yisrael,' said yahusha`, 'and do you not understand these
things? i tell you the truth, we speak
of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do
not accept our testimony. i have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not
believe; how then will you believe if i speak of heavenly things? no one has ever gone into heaven except the one
who came from heaven; the son of man. just as mosheh [moses] lifted up the
snake in the desert, so the son of man must be lifted up, that everyone who
believes in him may have eternal life.' "
This is a spiritual birth, not a physical one. A new birth
of the ruach, not one of the flesh. When we receive Yahusha` as our savior, we
become born again in dedi.
Once Saved ?
Salvation is a process, a continuing walk in the ways of dedi. Some people
believe in “once saved, always saved”. This is not scripturally accurate. See
the study by that title for further information. Our salvation is a growing up
and maturing in dedi. You cannot receive salvation and then continue to sin
or further down the line, backslide or fall away and expect to enter the
kingdom of dedi. Ibriym [Hebrews] 6:4-8, "it is impossible for those
who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have
shared in the ruach dedi [breath of YHWH], who have tasted the goodness of the word of YHWH
and the powers of the coming age, if
they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they
are crucifying the son of YHWH all over again and subjecting him to public
disgrace. land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a
crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of YHWH. but
land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being
cursed. In the end it will be burned."
I Kefa [Peter] 2:2,3, " 'like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual
milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted
that YHWH is good.' " Philippians 2:12, " 'therefore, my dear friends, as you have always
obeyed; not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence; continue to
work out your salvation with fear and trembling.' " This is an ongoing thing. It never stops until
you die. See “No longer Children”. There is no retirement in dedi.
Every time I read or study, I learn something new of dedi. Even in
writing out this study, which was done long ago ( B.C. for me, means before
computers, actually before I got one), dedi opens my
eyes to things I had not noticed or put together. So, for those of you who are
already saved, I thank dedi for your salvation and hope you also have learned
something more of dedi. For those of you who have not received the salvation
of dedi, Yahusha` HaMashiyach as your savior, I pray that you do.
Becoming a Believer was the most important and best decision of my life. I look
back and I am so thankful to dedi, andYahusha`for
all their help, love, joy, shalom and life. I now have worth, purpose and
direction. They have filled the gaping hole that was in me. I find that words
fall short in trying to describe the feeling of all that they have done for me.
I pray that you also drink deeply from the wells of salvation. Kathryn