Going forward, we’ll be looking at a simple yet powerful word: salvation. You might ask, “What’s so amazing about salvation? We’re all born again, aren’t we?” That’s exactly the crux of the problem. Everyone claims to be born again, yet their actions paint a different picture. Titus 1:16 tells us that while they say they know God, their actions deny Him. They call Him “Father,” but when it comes to displaying Christ, their lives exhibit something entirely different.
Social media is flooded with reports of misconduct among pastors and Christians. This behavior doesn’t align with Scripture. Look around the world, at different organizations and societies, both religious and secular. We see a dire need for people to truly embody the teachings of Christ. To understand what is happening, we must turn to Scripture.
The clock of God is ticking towards midnight, the hour of rapture when the heavenly trumpet will call out, “Where are my children? Where is my wife?” We are gradually approaching the time of Gog and Magog’s war, and with it, the world’s final seven years. The Antichrist will play a key role in this time. He won’t initially appear as the ultimate adversary, but rather as a seemingly peaceful figure ushering in an era of false Middle Eastern and global stability. Daniel 9:25-27 tells us of his rise: “Seventy times seven weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city to put an end to transgression, to finish sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.”
This marks the end of this world’s age and the beginning of God’s reign in the millennium. The ministry of the Messiah will be cut short for a period of time when the Gentile church is grafted to God. If we calculate from the moment Nehemiah declared the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls to the time of Jesus’s crucifixion, the timeline aligns perfectly with Daniel’s prophecy, leaving only seven years unfulfilled. When the Antichrist brings peace to the Middle East, that starts the remaining 7 years. Therefore, we must talk about true salvation to ensure one’s place in the rapture.
This review aims to help you assess your own spiritual state: Are you truly born again, or just going through the motions? Will you qualify for the rapture? The qualifications are clearly stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” Notice how “alive and remain” is repeated in both verses. Being alive isn’t enough; you must “remain” faithful and overcome temptations and Satanic attacks.
Salvation is the foundation of our faith – Christianity, that’s why the devil attacks it relentlessly, aiming to render it meaningless. And now many carry the name “Christian” while their lives contradict its essence. With such, the Devil has won – they won’t make the Rapture train.
If I mention “true salvation”, it implies the existence of a “fake”. And yes, a counterfeit exists, which we will explore in detail later. But first, let’s delve into 2 Timothy 3:5. Picking from verse 1, regardless of your knowledge, your PhDs, your theological titles, Paul said, know this information as well, to stress the importance of the following verses.
“Perilous times shall come.” Men will be lovers of themselves, boastful, arrogant, unholy, unthankful, and only having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such people. The word “perilous” here goes beyond danger; it speaks of raging insanity, a time of escalating madness. The Greek word is “Chalepos,”. This is what Paul warns of in the end times. Look around, analyze governments and individuals. The rampant drug issues among youth today were unheard of in our past. Today, open drug use on the streets is commonplace. People succumb to madness, stripping and running wild. It’s bizarre that someone seeing their friend’s drug-induced insanity would follow suit, perpetuating the cycle. Even government decisions seem bizarre. This is the raging madness in all aspects of life that Paul predicted.
Remember, he wasn’t addressing unbelievers or idol worshippers; he was talking to Christians. In Verse 5 he said they have a form of godliness – their own version of Christian ethics and values. My point is, if these are the end times, Christians must beware. A truly born-again believer will inevitably manifest the attributes of the Holy Spirit. The power within you shouldn’t remain dormant. 2 Corinthians 5:17 paints a picture of the “new you” after being born again. This newness implies that your actions will reflect your spiritual transformation. Paul says, “The old has gone, the new is here!” You move forward as a reconciler of men to Jesus, reflecting your own reconciliation.
Your past is forgiven, you’re born again, and you’re embraced by grace to grow further. He says tell others about Jesus, and let them also enjoy the grace that you have enjoyed. I don’t know how many Christians are witnessing Christians. That’s the first thing that you need to ask yourself. If you say you are born again, and you are shy, and you can’t tell others about your God, I don’t think you are born again. I don’t think you received salvation. Because when Jesus was going, that was the commission he gave them in Acts chapter 1, verse 8, where Jesus entrusts His disciples with this crucial mission? After receiving the Holy Spirit, they weren’t just to become followers; they were to become witnesses, sharing their experiences and spreading the message of faith. This calling extends to every true believer. Being a Christian isn’t just about saying prayers. It’s about embodying Christ’s values in our daily lives. Paul, in Philippians 3:20, describes Christians as ambassadors of heaven. Imagine a Nigerian embassy abroad showcasing Nigerian culture. As ambassadors of heaven, we reflect God’s goodness, generosity, and love through our conduct and choices. Salvation isn’t a one-time event; it’s a continuous journey called sanctification. We progressively grow more Christ-like by shedding bad habits and embracing godly virtues. It’s like sculpting a statue – each chip removes imperfections, revealing the beauty within. This growth requires daily effort. Just as Jesus lived a life of perfect purity, we must constantly purify ourselves, refining our character and hearts (1 John 3:3). Imagine polishing a diamond – removing the blemishes to reveal its radiant potential. That’s what true salvation brings out in you!