Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him. Hebrews 5:8-9.
Note: living without Christ in this present world is to be living without hope in terms of eternal future. If you are living in Christ but not living for him is a hopeless and a vain life of a regrettable and disappointing outcome in respect to your eternal future. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15.
Are we not called to be saints? Romans 1:7. A sinner saved, redeemed, washed, justified and required to be transformed by the renewing his mind through the engrafted word of life which is able to save the soul. Romans 12:2. James 1:21. He is called (through the spirit and lifestyle of regeneration) to showing forth the praises of him who has called him out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2: 9-10. He is to labor, striving according to his power that lives in him to live in holiness in all manner of conversation, even as he who has called him is holy. Colossians 1:29. 1 Peter 1:15. He is to put off the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and to put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24.
Christ, at his coming for the dead saints (for the dead in Christ shall rise first) and for those who are presently living for him as becomes saints, – those who are presently walking worthy of him unto all pleasing, shall exceptionally be glorified together with him, but to be admired in all them that believes. 2 Thessalonians 1:10.
The latter shall only see, but shall not be partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. Except we live for him that died for us and rose again, he is not Christ in us, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27-28. Note: the glorification of saints is their immortality in Christ when the mortal shall put on immortality, and death shall be swallowed up in glory, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Romans 8:17.
Salvation is a call and deliverance out of this present evil world, – an obtainable free gift with the promise of eternal life, – a promise which God that cannot lie has promised before the foundation of the world (Titus 1:2), but not without the condition of an unwavering allegiance of uncompromising, steadfast and increasing obedience to Christ who is the author of eternal salvation unto those that obey him. Hebrews 5:8-9.
The Lord Jesus made it clear that doing the will of the Father, – conscious practical obedience to the written word of God (Psalms 119:9), and to be led by the spirit of God (Romans 8:14) is the key to unlock the gate of heaven for anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord and has departed from iniquity. 2 Timothy 2:19.
Ministering the gifts of the spirit to help others will not be sufficient enough to get someone to heaven. You can preach, counsel and evangelize others and be cast away at the end. Preaching the gospel to others to be saved will not be enough to get anyone a free passage to heaven, if themselves are not obedient to the faith they preached – Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: by whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ. Romans 1: 1-6.
The word ‘eternal salvation’ means to possess or inherit immortality with God – the possession of incorruptible spiritual body, the culmination of eternal life which was promised in John 3:16 – that whosoever belives in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
This is what it means when the bible says that we shall see him as he is, for we shall be like the King immortal, invisible, the only wise God, but with the condition to be pure, even as he is pure. 1 Timothy 1:17. 1 John 3:1-3.
Laying hold of eternal life, meaning, that is going for or pursuing after eternal life. 1 Timothy 6:12.
Life is more than food and the body is more than clothing. Prioritize eternal life by denying ungodliness and wordly lusts, you should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:12-13.
Immortality was lost by the first Adam by his disobedient, not given the chance to eat from the tree of life to obtain immortality. But the second Adam, – Christ came to announce immortality to the mortal, by offering immortality to those that are presently saved and called to seek after the kingdom of God and his righteousness – blessed are they that keep his commandments, that they might have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14.
Immortality is the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus – and thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life. Romans 2:3-7.
Now, Christ is offering salvation to all and sundry, – he’s also pouring out the Holy Spirit as a sealed and guarantee of his word and promise of eternal life (Ephesians 1:13-14) to whosoever believes in him, but the right of individual to obtain eternal salvation to partake from the fruit of the tree of life to obtain immortality depends on one thing – lifestyle of obedient to the gospel of Christ among all nation, by living the gospel life. Philippians 1:27.
Remember that Adam disobedient in the Garden of Eden made God to send him out of it, and an angel was assigned to protect the tree of life in order to prevent Adam from eating from the fruit from the tree life, lest he should gain access into immortality and live forever in his fallen state of sinfulness, rebellion and disobedient against the word of God.
If you will be obedient, as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance (1 Peter 1:14-16) by casting down vain imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (which Adam refused and failed to do); and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled, you shall have right to the tree of life – immortality. 2 Corinthians 10:5-6.
Christ is the author of eternal salvation, but it was written of him that he became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:8) before he became the author of eternal salvation unto those that obey him. Note: you have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Christ will not tolerate in any of his brethren whatever he has not compromises himself with while on earth against the Father’s will, having leave us examples, that we should follow in his steps. Hebrews 12:4.
Should we not go to him to have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear? Should we not fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest promise, any of us should seems to come short of it? Hebrews 4:1.
Adam did not take careful heed to the word of God while living in the Garden of Eden until he was expelled out of it. Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? Hebrews 2:1-4.
Salvation in Christ Jesus is free, but to access the eternal blessing which is immortality, you have to work out your salvation with fear and trembling through careful and consistent obedient life – wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:12.
Adam died just as God warned him that he shall die on the day he will venture to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This is spiritual death – he became dead in sin – his soul was alienated from the life of God, – he lost the divine nature, the facilitator of fellowship with the Father – the breath from God’s nostril – the spirit of God which quickened him and made him a living soul, alive unto God, but afterward – sinned and he became a lost and dead soul, but the soul that sinned, it shall die – eternal or second death for those whose names are not found written in the Lamb’s book of life or those whose names were once written, but was blotted out for their ungodliness, worldliness and unrighteousness in the Lord. Revelation 3:5. Revelation 20:15.
The state of spiritual death was the manner by which each and everyone of us came into this world, passed unto us as the result of the sin of Adam.
The immortality lost by Adam by his disobedient is brought back and restored to us through Christ suffering and complete obedient life to God.
This spiritual death was the cause or reason for Christ incarnation to share in our frailty human body on earth. First, to serve as our faithful high priest in things pertaining to God. Second, as the propitiation for our sin caused by Adam’s fall to bring and reconcile us back to God, having abolished or canceled the sentence of spiritual and second death on us, having brought unto us immortality and life to light through the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:10.
The purpose of our calling and salvation by God in Christ Jesus is to inherit immortality. The understanding of immortality will energise believer to lay hold hold on Christ in whom is everlasting life – Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live – immortality. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life (immortality) in himself. John 5:25-26. Note: Christ was the eternal word – presented before the throne as the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, – came into the world as the word that was made flesh to dwell among us, – died, the just for the unjust, but was raised from the dead, received up into glory, and is alive forever – The Immortal Christ. Revelation 1:18.
Those who have not received the gospel of Christ must receive it with a clear mind of understanding that they are called to inherit life which is immortality at stake but attainable through the life of Christ or living for Christ– for to live is Christ, and to die is gain – which is immortality. Philippians 1:21.
There is no greater gain – no greater reward for the present labour of love and works of faith which the righteous God will never forget if they are done as unto Christ for any of his brethren than the reward of inheritance which is immortality. Colossains 3:23-24.
How can you receive the crown of life from the Lord if you have not first gained the reward of immortality? How will you feel when you heard the voice of Christ denying you as a worker of iniquity? What joy and satisfaction shall fill your heart when you heard the voice of Christ saying, well done good and faithful servant, for you have been faithful in that which is least, come, and eneter into the inheritance of your Father!
Immortality is the inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. 1 Peter 1:4. Note: there is no immortality without Christ, no immortality outside the gospel faith, and no immortality outside the gospel life. All Christ true brethren are those who hears his word and obeys them – they live for it and by it. Matthew 12:46-50.
Those who will gain heaven must live for it now, living like by seeking for what was lost, but trully, the first Adam lost immortality: (a) they must be crucified with Christ that he might live in them through their life of faith in him. Galatians 2:20: (b) they must be crucified to the world, and the world should be crucified to them. Galatians 6:14), – for here, we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come. Hebrews 13:14.
Remember that all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. 1 Peter 1:24-25.
Prophet Isaiah put it this way, the voice said, cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: the grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. Isaiah 40:6-8.
When Adam became corrupted, apart from the instant effect of spiritual death dawn on him by discovering his spiritual nakedness, hidding from God, he was additional sentenced to physical death, to rerurn back to the dust, surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
In Christ Jesus, we cannot obtain immortality or be rewarded with the fruit from the tree of life to access immortality if we continue living in a corruptible lifestyle. Though we are now a partaker of his divine nature through divine power which Adam once partook before the fall, but if by our ways of life and doings, have not escaped the corruption that is in the world through lusts ( 2 Peter 1:3-4), how can we inherit immortality? Corruption cannot inherit incorruption, – but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God. Romans 2:8-11.
The nature of our new birth unto the lively hope of immortality by the ressurrection of Jesus from the dead (1 Peter 1:3) is through the incorruptible seed of God’s word. We cannot be born again through the incorruptible seed of the word of God to be living corruptible lifestyle in hope to gain immotality – God forbid, he cannnot be mocked. 1 Peter 1:23-24. Galatians 6:7.
The glory of which the saints are called to inherit is the eternal glory of immortality. While we are present in the body, we are absent from the Lord: henceforth, blessed are the dead in Christ Jesus, they shall enter into their rest (immortality) and their works shall follow them. Revelation 14:13.
Christ is the author of eternal salvation of his brethren; he is also the author and the finisher of their faith. Hebrews 12:2-3.
There is a foundational and examplary life of faith which was once delivered unto the saints we are called to live and to contend for, and not another, otherwise, we might found ourselves on the broad road and the wide gate which leads to death, and many are following it to miss or lose immortality. Jude 1:3.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9), but there are works and steps of faith to accompany your salvation in Christ Jesus before you are rewarded to gain immortality. Hebrews 6:9-12.
The salvation in Christ Jesus is without anyone’s good works, but there are works in Christ Jesus which should accompany our salvation in him, for we are as God’s workmanship created unto good works which he has ordained us to walk therein -Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21.
Believers are called upon showing themselves as a pattern of good works in all things – pacemaker: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Titus 2:7-8.
Immortality is the final work of Christ in his saints, (a) having abolished death – spiritual, eternal and physical death, for we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed 1 Corinthians 15: 51-52): (b) having destroyed him that has the power of death, that is the devil (Hebrews 2:14-15): (c) having conquered death and grave (1Corinthians 15:55-58), (d) Christ being the firstfruit of them that slept (1 Corinthians 15:20), the Lord shall change our vile or mortal body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious – immortal body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Philippians 3: 21.