We all entered this world as babes.  Relative blank sheets mentally, apart from that given by our creator.  During our years we have formed characters, beliefs etc from environments, contacts and other things to which we were exposed. For some of us there has been twist and turns, jumping over hurdles to bring us to where we are; but for all we still have the rest of our earthly journey before reaching our final eternal destination. Today my presentation is titled “What is needed for salvation”; but could otherwise be titled “What is needed for a long peaceful life”.  As we should see, biblically or worldly, they have much in common.       Ok, Salvation, what does it mean?  I know all or most of you would be thinking of life after death.  A belief written on our blank sheets, formed from the contacts, teachings etc to which we were exposed; but let us start with what it really means. 

From bible commentaries it is commonly said Joshua’s name, the leader of Israel who took over after Moses, means “Jehovah saves or Jehovah is salvation” Christians say Greek transliteration of his name is Jesus i.e. Yehovah saves.  Here we get the first insight to the meaning; salvation is to save.  

A man went to pack some food items into the company’s industrial freezer.  Unfortunately, another employee saw freezer door open and closed it.  Next morning they found the locked in man dead from symptoms of freezing.  Why?  Actually the freezer could have been opened from the inside for such an event.  Nor was the power actually on. He died from what he thought.  People belief what they want to and suffer the effects.  We may have heard of the placebo effect of drugs which are just water; yet are said to heal patients’ symptoms.  Hypnotherapy and so called church miracle healings. 

If a good parent gave the following advice to their child would such advice be a salvation issue?

1. If you see a group of hells angels or troublesome gang do not mess with them?
2. Do not spill a bully’s drink in a night club and if you do offer to buy them another one.
3. Do not park on a double yellow or red line or speed past a traffic camera above the speed limit. 

I guess most of you would say no; but it depends on your understanding of a salvation issue.  Man’s traditional one or the bible's.  In a moment using scriptural examples and a bible concordance let us line upon line and precept upon precept see what salvation means.  In a worldly environment we should appreciate the dangers or harm of messing with the wrong gangs, spilling some ones drink or parking on red road lines.  I remember a story Ray told me of once when he and his brother went to a night club and one of them accidentally split another’s drink.  A fight almost broke out.  On another occasion I heard of a former neighbour who got into a fight in a pub over a similar issue and whilst his friends held him back from fighting, the other person stabbed and killed him. 

As regards, the parking on red line.  One’s car could be towed away, huge sums demanded for its return or it is crushed.  The consequence, you are left short of much needed money, or inconvenience using public transport to get to work.  Disobeying  the advice not to park on red lines may not have cost a life; but there is a cost from which you could have been saved.  Of course not everyone suffers the loss.  Many may escape the net; while others do not.  It is the same with our  heavenly father’s instructions to his created.  They are there to save us from something.  Not all would suffer the consequences of each instruction; but many will.  Except for the ones relating to life after death.  All suffer breach of those instructions and we shall identify those ones later. 

Yahweh’s instructions, termed laws by Christians, TORAH by Jews, are divided into two.  Firstly those relating to him and secondly those relating to others.  Mar 12:28-31  And one of the scribes came, and … asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? Mar 12:29  And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:    Mar 12:30  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.  (being a quotation of Deu 6:4-5) Mar 12:31  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself (a quotation of Lev 19:18). 

If you went through all the instructions of Yahweh you should see there is a possibility of being saved from something or someone in each of them.  Here are a few example:

1. Exo 21:2-5 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.  Exo 21:3  If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.  Exo 21:4  If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.  Exo 21:5  And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: Exo 21:6  Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever. 

A servant who had nothing, is given a wife for companionship during his servant years.  He is happy and works contently.  At the end he should have no grudges.  Because of your good treatment he may even stay on and work  loyally like an adopted family member.  Saving you a lot of money, time and more. 

2. Exo 21:33-6 And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein; Exo 21:34  The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his. Exo 21:35  And if one man's ox hurt another's, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it; and the dead ox also they shall divide. Exo 21:36  Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push in time past, and his owner hath not kept him in; he shall surely pay ox for ox; and the dead shall be his own.

You leave a pit open and not cover it so that as a result another gets injured, it is only fair you pay compensation.  That is the same as today’s civil law.  Only 2 weeks ago a cyclist successfully sued the council for not repairing roads.  Building cranes or rubbish skips on the road have to display a night light to prevent helicopters or other cars driving into them.  If they do not take adequate safety action they could suffer loss.  It is a salvation instruction as it saves them from loss. 

Constraint of time reduces the number of examples  I can give: but the summary is Lev 6:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Lev 6:2  If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; Lev 6:3  Or have found that which was lost, and lies concerning it, and swears falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:

Lev 6:4  Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found, Lev 6:5  Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it belongs, in the day of his trespass offering. 

Exo 22:9  For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.

An exact summary of our civil legislation.  Not only does the transgressor repay what was lost; but also damages compensation.  It is only fair they pay additional sums out of their own funds either as a deterrent to fraud or incentive to do the right thing rather than merely return what was taken; if caught. 

In addition to judgement  instructions, God also gave health and other ones.  

Exo 23:1  Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.  Exo 23:2  Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:   Today’s version, one is guilty and punished for the crime by association. 

Exo 23:4  If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.  Exo 23:5  If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and would not help him, thou shalt surely help with him.   Scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours, you help me and I’ll help you.  You fail to help me, don’t ask for my help as my memory long. 

I remember hearing a sermon by a young man years ago.  He is in England because of a good deed his mother did for another woman long ago.  He escaped to a better life than those of his country. 

Exo 23:7  Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.  Exo 23:8  And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blinds the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous.   One’s corruption may sooner or later get found out.  We read hear of it regularly in the media, even the Italian ex Prime minister  Silvio Berlusconi suffered loss and now Mac Clifford is paying thousands in legal fees for his court trial. 

 Lev 19:13  Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.  Instead we have companies setting up employee pension schemes and when the pot gets full, use it for their own purposes or abscond with it.  Maybe giving part as a gift to those in positions to prosecute them.

Lev 19:15  Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.  So appearance, quality of speech or academic education would not be the criteria for judgment, treatment etc.

 Lev 19:35  Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. Lev 19:36  Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt. 

Exo 23:12  Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.   

Unless you want stress, tired ill body and other consequences of loss either to yourself, work force or livestock even doctors recommend rest and quality time.  Disobedience regularly leads to early death.  Once we worked to retire at a reasonable age, now and in the future that age is beyond most life time. 

Exo 23:14  Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.  The same times scriptures as Isa 66:23 and Zec 14:17 states will be kept in the new earth.  Is it logical God would have them for one group take them away for the next and bring them back for the again? None of them are Christmas, Easter, Mother’s day nor any of the world’s bank holidays.  Neither ones birthday or anniversaries.  The world has got use to celebrating and memorialising many and various  days; but none as chosen by God.  We may not understand why God has chosen these specific days; but he says.

Exo 23:22  But if thou shalt indeed obey … and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. Exo 23:25  And ye shall serve Yahweh your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.

Exo 23:27  I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. 

Breaking  any of the above could either lead to consequential loss through the legal system of retribution by friends or family of the grieved party.  Keep your nose clean as the old saying goes.  As to the ones pertaining to God, we shall examine their consequences. 

God prescribed what were sins against Him mainly in the first five books of the Bible.  He also prescribed the punishment which was inflicted either by Him directly as the killing of Uzzah for touching the Ark (2 Sam 6:7) or by the congregation stoning the transgressor (1Sam 28:18).  On a national scale he used nations against others as Babylon against Israel and then the Medes against Babylon.  So my point is, if God tells us to kill another for breaking His law, i.e. the man in Numbers 15:35 for breaking the Sabbath is it logical that He would then forgive them and grant them salvation?  I do not think so.  “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.  Punishment was for breaking non 10 commandment laws which some call moral laws i.e.  Aaron’s son for offering wrong incense, Korath for challenging Moses. 

A rhetorical question, what is a lock?  Some may say it is a piece of apparatus which prevents access to something.  Others may say it is a computer program preventing access to something.  If one has the wrong, part or stereotype definition of what is a lock this could affect their understanding of what is needed to open the lock.  It is the same with the word “salvation”.  What is it? This is an essential question for believers in Yahweh God and many have either the wrong, limited of stereotype belief of what it is.  Consequently of the key to access it.  I have heard many preachers claim keeping all or some of the Commandments of Yahweh are not needed for salvation.  Indeed it is a common teaching.  Of those who say some or all the commandments are to be kept, some add the reason is because of our love for God and not for salvation.  Really!  I do not recall God ever saying what is not needed for salvation so I do not know where such people get the division.  Scripture always says what is needed. 

First we ought to distinguish between Yahweh’s commandments, Laws, statutes and judgements.  Next we ought to seriously ponder on why He would ask us to do these things if they were not for salvation.  To save us.  If for example we only had to have a mental belief in His son.  I say mental in the sense of a knowledge of his son but that does not transfer into our actions in obedience to keeping His commandments.  1Jo 2:3  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.  1Jo 2:4  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  1Jo 2:5  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

To me most people, if they could get something without paying its price or doing the required deed, unless that deed was itself pleasurable to do or brought some additional benefit , they would not do it.  The required price or deed therefore gets bypassed and becomes obsolete, of no effect etc.  Is Yahweh such a God to give us unnecessary commandments?  Of no effect? Speaking in Isa 55:11 Yahweh says  “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it”.   Were His commandments etc not to keep us in His way.  The way that leads to our prosperity, fair treatment of others and a peaceful life?  Ex 20:23 God sent His angel to keep his people in the way.  Later His instructions to them was to accomplish the same.  Rom 3:31  Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Scripture similarly speaks of grace and belief in Jesus Rom 3:31, 6:15, Gal 2:17; 3:21.  Neither were these regulations only for the Jews.  By what other better regulations should the rest of the human race live?  Deu 4:6  Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

God sent Moses to teach a group how to live righteous lives and be an example to the rest of the world.  When they strayed, He sent prophets to call them back to this way.  Lastly, He sent His son Yeshua.  If not to bring them back to that way of life, then what way, morals, regulations or laws?  Are there any better ones?  Where are they mentioned in the TORAH or bible?  Where is the list of new holy days to replace Lev 23?  Nowhere.  Yeshua came to show that through THIS way we get savings.  Salvation.  He is the way and scripture speaks of it and him similarly; but again due to time  constraints I will summarise.  Isa 42:21   “The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable”.  Jesus was the living Law.  Scripture speaks of their attributes in the same way. Truth (Joh 14:6, Psalm 119:142), holy (Acts 4:27, Rom 7:12), perfect (Heb 5:9, Psalm 19:7) righteous (1 Cor 1:30, Psa119:172), light (Joh 8:12, Pro 6:23), just (Acts 22:14, Rom 7:12), abide in forever (Joh 8:35, Psa 111:7-8), should be in the heart (Eph 3:17, Psa 40:8), gives freedom, no condemnation and liberty (Rom 8:1, James 2:12).  Rejecting the Law is rejecting Yeshua (and visa versa). 

Using the KJV which takes readers back to the actual Hebrew or Greek words that were translated “salvation” it appears 164 times in the bible of which 119 are in the O.T. and 45 in the new.  First observation to note, it appears ratio of 2  1/2 times more in the O.T. which should therefore be the place to start to get its proper understanding.  Not the N.T. as is common.  I decided or was led to do this study because I was fed up of hearing responses that the commandments did not have to be kept for salvation.  I intended to study every sentence of its appearance.  Sometimes a few different Hebrew or Greek words are all translated into one English word, such as “love”, so I was prepared for a laborious task.  

I found   There are 5 Hebrew words that are were translated Salvation:

1.  H3444  surprisingly pronounced Yeshua, the name of Yahweh’s son, our saviour.  Used 78 times,  65 times for salvation,  other minor uses includes health, help, deliverance, welfare, save [3 for health, 3 help, 2 deliverance, 2 saving, 1 deliverances 1,  save, 1 welfare.   It refers to something saved or delivered.  If one finds themselves in this condition they are in good health and enjoys prosperity. At first Yeshua was used in ordinary senses (1 Sam 14:45).  Later both in the O.T. and N.T. the term acquired a strong spiritual meaning.   Yahovah is the God of our salvation Psm 68:19; salvation is associated with the forgiveness of sin Luk 1:77; satan must be defeated and we must be delivered from his power. 

2. H3467 Yasha. Root word of our personal savior Yeshua. Used 207 times.  3 for salvation, 105 save, 35 saved, 13 saviour.  Other minor uses being help, delivered, avenge and similar, [10 help, 8 delivered,          7 saveth and 1-4 times for preserved, delivered, savest, avenging, brought, deliver, helped,            saviours, avenged, defend, helping, preservest, rescue, safe, victory. 

The crying out of  “Hosanna” by the crowd in Mat 21:9 is directly traceable to this verb.  At first Yasha pointed to a physical deliverance from very real enemies or catastrophes.  ONLY LATER did “saved” develop a theological meaning.  

H3468 used 36 times, 32 salvation, 3 safety, 1 saving.

H4190 used once and meant salvation.  

H8668 used 34 times, 17 salvation, 5 deliverance, 5 help, 4 safety, 3 victory. 

There were two Greek words.  G4991 sōtēria  used 44 times, 40 for salvation, 2 saved, 1 health, 1 saving.   G4992  sōtērion  used 5 times all for salvation.  

Summary, it is really only one Hebrew and one Greek word which came from the Hebrew “Yeshua.  As the second common usage referred back to the first.  A bigger surprise came seeing the Hebrew word was H3444    ישׁוּעה y^eshû‛âh    yesh-oo'-aw.  The name of an attribute of Yahweh.  His son (for those who know they are one).  According to Strong’s concordance it means Feminine passive participle of H3467; something saved, that is, (abstractly) deliverance; hence aid, victory, prosperity: - deliverance, health, help (-ing), salvation, save, saving (health), welfare.        Act 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.  This name is NOT pronounced “Jesus”; but as Paul says, everything has a distinct sound for a distinct purpose or meaning. See Judges 12:6 how wrong sound was identification that distinguished them. 

H3467 A primitive root; properly to be open, wide or free, that is, (by implication) to be safe; causatively to free or succor: -  X at all, avenging, defend, deliver (-er), help, preserve, rescue, be safe, bring (having) salvation, save (-iour), get victory.   H3468 ישׁע    ישׁע  yesha‛  yêsha‛

From H3467; liberty, deliverance, prosperity: - safety, salvation, saving. 

There is a few times when other Hebrew words are also translated salvation they are H8668, H4190; but they all refer back to H3467 which leads to H3444 i.e. From H7768 in the sense of H3467; rescue (literally or figuratively, personal, national or spiritual): - deliverance, help, safety, salvation, victory. 

Coming to the Greek word G4991 σωτηρία sōtēria   so-tay-ree'-ah. Meaning Feminine of a derivative of G4990 as (properly abstract) noun; rescue or safety (physically or morally): - deliver, health, salvation, save, saving.  G4990  σωτήρ sōtēr   so-tare'  From G4982; a deliverer, that is, God or Christ: - saviour.  G4982  σώζω  sōzō  sode'-zo  From a primary word σῶς sōs̄ (contraction for the obsolete σάος saos, “safe”); to save, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively): - heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole. 

Sometimes G4192 is used; but ends back at G4191. 

Simply, both the Hebrew and Greek refers to being or the process of being saved.  Also within the meaning is liberty, prosperity, health and welfare. However, within the definition, there is no real indication whether the saving is in this life or the next. Nor whether it is only something done by God or His angels.  I suppose we shall have to examine each sentence in which the word appears to see from what, or who is one being saved and by whom. 

Just to clarify, the difference between the words salvation and saved is, I think, salvation is used for something spectacular, having a divine intervention like 300 hundred men beating 3000.  I have above gone through a sample of the commandments, laws, statutes of god and pointed out their benefits for liberty, prosperity, health and wealth. 

Some scriptures of H3444 (Yeshua) use are:  Ex 14:13 Moses tells the people to stand still and see the salvation of God  (how Yahweh will save you).. the Egyptians who you see you will see no more.  See similar in 2Chron 20:17,

1Sa 2:1  And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.  This later resulted in 1Sa 2:21  And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD. 1Sa 14:45  And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: Psa 13:5  But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. Psa 62:1  Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.

Psa 62:2  He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

Psa 119:155  Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.

Psa 119:166  LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.

Psa 119:174  I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.

Isa 12:2  Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Jon 2:9  But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD. 

Some examples of usage of H3467 (Yasha) are:                                                                                                                                                                      1Sa 22:3  The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. Isa 63:5  And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. Zec 9:9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

1Ch 16:35  And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise.

Isa 62:11  Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

Isa 62:12  And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.

Some of H8668 are:

1Sa 11:13  And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for today the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel. 1Sa 19:5  For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?

Psa 37:39  But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

Psa 37:40  And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

Psa 38:22  Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

Isa 45:17  But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

And from the 2 N.T. Greek words.

G4991.  Luk 1:68-77 is John the Baptist’ father Zacharias,  prophesying say how God had raised up a horn of salvation (Yahoshua / Jesus) as promised through the mouths of the prophets since the world began.  To save Israel from their enemies and perform the mercy promises to their fathers in a holy covenant.  So they could serve him without fear all the days of their lives.  That horn would go before them similar to the angel of God to keep them in His ways, to give them knowledge of salvation by the remission of their sins (v76-77). 

Luke 19:9 After Zacchaeus sincerely promised to repay fourfold anything he falsely acquired (as the instruction read out above),  Yahoshua said to him salvation had come to his house.  He was a lost sinner living away from God’s instructions, heard the gospel of repentance and returned to living by them.  Was lost, then found.

John 4:22 saying to the woman at the well, salvation, the knowledge of it was given to the Jews.  Ask yourself what was given to the Jews, if not the law.  See Acts 13:26, 47.  All who fear god are called to this knowledge and obedience.

2Ti 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Yeshua the messiah.  These scriptures speak of obedience to the TORAH and faith in the annual sin offering of the Day of Atonement.  Only the latter of which Yahoshua replaced.  Again time constraints limits the number of examples I can read. 

Laws, commandments, statutes all save us from something or someone as we clearly saw in the words spoken by God himself.  They keep us in good standing with Him and others so that He nor others take vengeance on us for mistreating them, their friends or family.  In Lev 10:2 Aaron’s sons were killed by God for breaking a law.   It could be said they were zealous but ignorant.  God instructed offerings of holy incense, they used their own reasoning and brought different incense. God tells us keep a certain days holy many use their own reasoning and offer God different times.  In Lev 7:21 we see God is specific, nothing is trivial.  By Lev 7:27 the conclusion of breaking laws is one is “cut off”.  LEV 5:17 states “if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of Yahweh; though he knew it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity. “  as today’s law states “ignorance is no excuse”.  One may ignorantly break a law; i.e. driving a second owned car without separately insuring it; but when it is discovered, the  fine comes in the post. 

Of the 49 times “Salvation” is used in the New Testament, none give or allude to a list of what is salvational and what is not. Creating one may be a presumptuous sin. In the O.T. the definition and usage is clear.  In the New there are only 5 verses that give assistance.

2Th 2:13  But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Act 16:17  The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

2Ti 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Jud 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.   BEFORE THIS VERSE COMES SATAN’S DEMISE.

AND CHAPTER 12 ENDS WITH

Rev 12:17  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

The Greek word used commandments here is “entole’ “ .   Different to the word used for the actual instructions some call 10 commandments, or the Law. Entole’ refers to everything the commander, God, says.  Compared to the thing, commandments, themselves.  This is because everything God says has relevance to saving.  And one may need to have acquired that characteristic and renewing of their mind to live in the new heaven and earth where no occasion is given to thought of one sinning, mistreatment of  others or selfishly digging a hole and leaving it uncovered.  So no occasion of revenge, hostility etc.  Just like the good old days when I am told one could leave their front door, window, car open and return to find everything as left. Go on holiday and give the key to the house to another.  Have the children play out or go visit their friends without fear.  Is that not a dream worth having and a desirable society?  

Well that was also God’s aim when he created this earth and inhabitants.  Was it not for Adam and Eve’s disobedience that would have been our society.  However, through his love for you he set in motion a plan to bring us back to such a society.  The instructions, TORAH, laws, given are to keep you in the His way and prove if you are obedient or not (Ex 20:20).  Will fit into the new earth or cause another fall.  Exo 23:20  Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  Luk 17:21   the kingdom of God is within you.   

That devil may try and tell you it cannot be achieved; but Joh 8:44  He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.  Lies of evolution, your inferiority, weakness, inability to suffer, endure and triumphantly overcome.  LIES LIES LIES.  We have sayings as no pain no gain.  Practice makes perfect.   Likewise no preparation no achieving.  No studying no passing. 

Would you give someone something to do that cannot be done?  Does one set an exam for all to fail?  Well neither does God.  So using today as an example, you have so far achieved living such a life.  Hopefully none of you have committed any murders today, stolen, lied mistreated another.   If you have, as we all do sometimes.  It’s really simple, say sorry to the person regardless of how they will take it.  Say sorry to God as it against him you have sinned.  1Jo 2:1  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:  Belief me He is always waiting to forgive sincerity, time after time after time.  As for the celebrations of His holy days, well that is soon to come with His provision of our meal. 

Do we see there is spiritual saving and OR physical??   Unfortunately I had not the time to give examples of each; but hope you see all of God’s commandments, laws, statutes and judgements are for salvation.  Being saved from something or someone.  Illness in the food and hygiene instructions, welfare and protection from poverty for orphans, widows and the poor; slavery and misconduct in the seven year jubilee etc instructions, and of course from God’s wrath in his atoning sacrificial system past and present. 

Now let us tackle the concept that we keep God’s instructions through love and not for salvation.  A belief not supported by the bible.  Remember 1Jo 2:3  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. Keeping the commandments is the tell tale sign of knowing Him.  They come first not after.  1Jo 2:4  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  1Jo 2:5  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 

Joh 15:10  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall (future tense) abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 1Jo 5:2  By this we know (something that exist and is first seen as a tell tale sign) that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. “by this” refers to the keeping of His commandments.  So in plain English, one is a  creation of God; but not a child of Him unless they keep His commandments.  1Jo 2:4  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  1Jo 3:22  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 

Another belief is salvation is totally free without any action from us.  In one sense that is true.  The advice that could save you is freely given.  Do not park in the wrong place.  Stand behind the line as the train approaches.  But for those who fail to heed to the warnings, they may not be “saved” from the consequences.  God freely gave us instructions how to be safe, saved as well as repairing errors through His son.  However, if we neither follow them nor call on His son to repair our errors we suffer eternal loss. 

Back to the lock example with which I opened this presentation.  Have you ever got a spare key made.  The locksmith copied it from the original yet it did not open the door.  It had to be filed down in certain places to fit the levers to open the lock.  Or even a computer password that was case sensitive between capital and common letters?  Those of you who have studied god’s instructions between Genesis and Deuteronomy  should have seen how specific He is and His instructions.  Instructions relating of what to do and what not to do as well as how to get His forgiveness for breaking them.  It is the same with opening the door to God’s kingdom.  We not only need to open the levers of loving ones neighbour, feeding them in prison etc Mat 25:36; believing in Yeshua; but also the ones of keeping the rest commandments. It is a multi-grooved key.  All scripture is profitable etc 2 Tim 3:16. 

Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Mat 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Mat 6:12  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Mat 6:14  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: Mat 6:15  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses”.  Here we are told God’s desire is to have the same on earth as it is in heaven.  Yahoshua added that if we forgive others their trespasses, God will similarly forgive ours and if we do not, neither will He forgive us.

Numerous places scripture says sins, transgression of God’s law, are against God not others. Some examples are Lev 4:2. Num 32:23, Deu 20:18; 1Sam 14:34.  Joseph speaking to Potiphar’s wife said in Gen 39:9 “how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? 1Sa 2:25  If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? 

Now finally to the place where most probably thought I would have began.  What is required for life after this earthly death and to avoid the second death. 

Rev 2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

1Ti 1:9  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

1Ti 1:10  For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

Luk 10:25  And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Luk 10:26  He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

Luk 10:27  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

Luk 10:28  And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 

Some fellowships base their everlasting life criteria mostly on Mat 25, feeding the poor and visiting prisoners.  Some are the very same who say one is not saved by their works and works cannot help in getting to heaven.  Either way, there are more criteria and scriptures than Mat 25 otherwise the rest of the Bible would not be needed. 

Joh 3:16  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.  Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  Joh 3:19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  Joh 3:20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  Joh 3:21  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Joh 5:39  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.   The scriptures of the O.T. spoke of Yahoshua.  That is why he used them to teach about himself to the two disciples walking on the road after his resurrection,  Philip used the same with the Eunuch and Paul with his teachings.  Always the law and prophets, 

Joh 6:68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.   Yahoshua’s teachings were to keep the His father’s commandments.  Joh 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:   

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.   Rom 5:21  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Friends, we are all mature people now.  Some made mistakes along our way to this part of our lives; but I think all of us live a reasonable moral life whether we are believers in the bible or not.  By such reasonable moral lives we are actually partially living in accordance with God’s instructions.   Some of us have gone the next stage and added devotion of some of our time to Him either traditional ones as Sunday and Easter, or biblical ones as Sabbath, Passover and Pentecost.  I would urge that group to learn keep God’s holy days rather than man’s holi days.  It is as simple as that.

Third and lastly, recognise there is a God of our created universe.  The sun, moon and stars obey cosmos laws.  Scientist can observe patterns in the universe to come up with formulae’s for physics, biology, maths etc to show an intelligence created all in existence.  Accept that intelligence as God his instructions to humans in His TORAH / Bible which includes an intercessor for our transgressions via His son.  Very very easy with an eternal reward for those who can make the slight adjustments needed in their present lives.

If anyone wants to know more on how to discover the way of which I spoke, please do not hesitate to contact me.  Laws cannot be changed  (see Herod’s promise of John’s head to dancer, book Esther killing of Jews  decree, Daniel in lions’ den etc).  If could be Yeshua would not have need come, just change law.