Salvation is neither a decision or discipleship.
Incorrect.
A decision and discipleship
John 3:16 (NIV): "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Matthew 16:24 (NIV): "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.'"
Matthew 11:28-30
Verses:
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Greek Analysis:
"Come" (Δεῦτε, Deute):
A present imperative verb, commanding an immediate and ongoing response to Jesus. This invitation requires an action to be taken.
2. John 1:12
Verses:
"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."
Greek Analysis:
"Receive" (ἐδέξαντο, edexanto): Aorist active indicative, indicating a decisive action of accepting Jesus.
"Believed" (ἐπίστευσαν, episteusan): Aorist active indicative, emphasizing the moment of trust and reliance upon Jesus.
3. John 14:6
Verses:
"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
Greek Analysis:
"Comes" (ἔρχεται, erchetai): Present indicative active, denoting a continuous action of approaching Jesus as the sole way to God.
4. Luke 9:23
Verses:
"Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'"
Greek Analysis:
"Must deny" (ἀπαρνησάσθω, aparnēsasthō): Present imperative, indicating a continual requirement for discipleship.
"Follow" (ἀκολουθείτω, akoloutheitō): Present imperative, indicating an ongoing action of following Jesus.
5. Revelation 3:20
Verses:
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."
Greek Analysis:
"Hears" (ἀκούει, akoue): Present indicative active, indicating a continuous readiness to respond to Jesus’ invitation.
"Opens" (ἀνοίξει, anoixei): Future indicative, expressing the action of opening the door as a response to hearing.
6. Matthew 16:24
Verses:
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.'"
Greek Analysis:
"Wants" (θέλει, thelei): Present indicative active, denoting the continuous desire to follow Jesus.
"Take up" (ἀρατε, arate): Aorist imperative, commanding a decisive action to take up the cross.
7. Acts 2:38
Verses:
"Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"
Greek Analysis:
"Repent" (μετανοήσατε, metanoēsate): Aorist imperative, indicating a one-time but crucial act of turning away from sin.
Philippians 2:12-13
Verses:
"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,
for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." (NIV)
Greek Analysis:
"Work out" (κατεργάζεσθε, katergazesthe): This is an aorist imperative verb in the middle voice. The aorist tense often denotes a complete action, but in the imperative mood, it functions as a command. The middle voice implies that the subject is both acting and receiving the action.
Thus, "work out" commands believers to actively engage in the process of living out their salvation.
"It is God who works" (ἐνεργεῖ ὁ θεὸς, energei ho theos): The present indicative verb "works" shows ongoing action. God is continuously active in believers, enabling and empowering them to live out their salvation.
Implication: Believers are commanded to actively engage ("work out") in their salvation, relying on God’s continual work within them. This shows a daily, responsive participation in the salvation process.
2. James 2:14-26
Verses:
"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?... Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (NIV)
Greek Analysis:
"Faith without works is dead" (ἡ πίστις ἄνευ τῶν ἔργων ἐσώθη, hē pistis aneu tōn ergōn esōthē): The conjunction "without" (ἄνευ, aneu)
links faith and works, indicating that works are essential to active faith. The verb "is dead" (ἐσώθη, esōthē) is in the aorist passive indicative, suggesting a completed state where faith lacking works is rendered ineffective.
Implication: True faith necessitates corresponding actions. Believers must respond to their faith through deeds, demonstrating the living nature of genuine salvation.
3. Romans 12:1-2
Verses:
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (NIV)
Greek Analysis:
"Offer" (παρασχέεσθε, parascheesthe): Present imperative passive participle, urging believers to present themselves actively as living sacrifices. The present imperative indicates ongoing, continuous action.
"Do not conform" (μη συσχηματίζεσθε, mē suschēmatizesthe): Present imperative negative, commanding continuous non-conformity to worldly patterns.
"Be transformed" (μετασχηματίζεσθε, metaschēmatizesthe): Present imperative, encouraging an ongoing process of transformation through the renewing of the mind.
Implication: Paul exhorts believers to respond to God's mercy by living sacrificially and allowing continual transformation, highlighting a daily, responsive relationship with God.
4. 1 Peter 1:13
Verse:
"Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming." (NIV)
Greek Analysis:
"Set your hope" (ἀναχωρήσατε τὴν ἐλπίδα, anachōrēstate tēn elpida): Aorist imperative, commanding believers to actively place their hope in God’s grace. The aorist tense here emphasizes the decisive action of setting hope.
Implication: Believers are instructed to actively and decisively place their hope in God’s grace, demonstrating a proactive response to their salvation.
5. Hebrews 3:12-14
Verses:
"See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness." (NIV)
Greek Analysis:
"Encourage" (παρακαλοῦντες, parakalousantes): Present participle active, indicating continuous action. Believers are called to ongoing mutual encouragement.
"See to it" (βεβαιωθῆτε, bevaiōthēte): Present imperative, commanding vigilance and continuous attention to one another’s spiritual state.
Implication: Continuous mutual encouragement is necessary to maintain faith and prevent hardening of the heart, highlighting an ongoing responsibility to respond to and support one another in salvation.
6. Revelation 3:20
Verse:
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." (NIV)
Greek Analysis:
"Opens" (ἀνοίξει, anoixei): Future indicative active, expressing a condition for a future action. The opening of the door signifies an active response to Christ’s invitation.
"Hears" (ἀκούεις, akoueis): Present indicative active, indicating an ongoing action of listening and responding.
Implication: The passage invites an active, responsive decision to engage with Christ, emphasizing the necessity of an individual’s action in accepting salvation.
7. Romans 12:11-13
Verses:
"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality." (NIV)
Greek Analysis:
"Never be lacking" (μηδεμίαν ὑστερεῖσθε, mēdemian ysteresthe): Present imperative negative, commanding continuous enthusiasm and zeal.
"Serving" (διακονεῖτε, diakoneite): Present imperative, urging ongoing service to the Lord.
"Share" (συνιδίδωτε, suni didōte): Present imperative, instructing believers to continually share with others.
Implication: Paul exhorts believers to maintain continuous zeal, service, joy, patience, faithfulness, sharing, and hospitality, illustrating a daily, active response to their salvation.
Shalom.
J.
