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God taught different ways of salvation for mankind in each age: The Old Testament mainly describes how God carried out His providence of salvation in the spirit, while the New Testament teaches how we should treat God who has come to this earth in the flesh.
Throughout the 66 books of the Bible, we meet three kinds of people: those who didn’t even know God in the spirit, those who didn’t recognize God in the flesh, and the blessed ones who received and served God whether He was in the spirit or in the flesh. The salvation of our souls depends on knowing God, who controls all the salvation history. Let’s find it out through the Bible.
The knowledge and fear of God is the beginning of wisdom
The Bible teaches that mankind’s salvation depends on the knowledge, fear and worship of God. All the teachings of the Bible emphasize that we should have a right faith in God our Savior for the salvation of our souls.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Pr 9:10
The Bible says that the knowledge of the Holy One [God] is understanding. God, who had existed in the spirit in the Old Testament times, became flesh and dwelt among people on earth in the New Testament times, taking up all our infirmities. By doing that, He understood our weakness and helped us to overcome all trials. Such knowledge of God’s providence is wisdom.
It is not easy to recognize God whether in the spirit or in the flesh. Especially, it’s hard to understand Christ the mystery of God, who came in the flesh, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 1:26; 2:2-3).
In the Bible we meet our forefathers in faith who recognized and received God who came in the flesh, so that they might be blessed abundantly, and we also meet many foolish people who didn’t recognize God but blasphemed Him, so they were cast into the eternal hell fire.
Those who rejected God
When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me … The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” Mt 26:20-24
Judas Iscariot rejected and betrayed Jesus Christ. Who could be more foolish than him among the Biblical characters? He constantly followed God who came in the flesh, calling Him teacher, but he didn’t recognize the Holy One. If he had known, how could he have dared to commit the foolish and wicked act of betraying God for thirty silver coins? Judas valued God at a mere 30 pieces of silver, and finally he met a miserable end, both physically and spiritually. Jesus said about Judas, “It would be better for him if he had never been born.”
We should have full knowledge of God who exists as spirit. And we must also know how to recognize and serve God, who has come to this earth in the flesh, through the Bible. To know God correctly―this is the best wisdom and intelligence. Whether God is in the spirit or in the flesh, He is always our God.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets … You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?” Mt 23:29-33
Jesus scolded the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocritical faith, saying, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!” With their lips they said that they believed in God. However, they tried to stone Him to death (Jn 10:30-33) and throw Him down the cliff (Lk 4:21-30). They didn’t actually know God and plotted such wicked things, so Jesus pronounced woe upon them. Both they and the people who were led by them were destroyed, just as Jesus said: “If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
… “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” … But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” When Pilate … “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. Mt 27:15-26
The Jews tried to kill God who came to His own country, even accepting guilt for His blood on themselves and their children. They thought they served God in a proper manner, but actually they worshiped Him in their own way (Jn 16:2). While thus claiming to serve God, they rejected and opposed the God who came in the flesh. As a result, salvation has come to the Gentiles.
Those who received God
As we look into all the teachings of the Bible, we must recognize the true nature of the incarnated God and have a right faith.
“He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.” Mt 10:40-41
Jesus says that anyone who receives a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. Likewise, he who receives God will receive God’s reward.
There were many lepers in Israel, yet not one of them was cleansed―only Naaman the Aramean. And there were many widows in Israel, but only the widow of Zarephath received God’s favor; she could survive the famine when it hadn’t rained for three and a half years. They were thus blessed because they recognized and received God’s prophets by understanding God’s will (Lk 4:25-27). Like them, only those who recognize and receive God when He comes in the flesh and help His work―those who fear God and ask in faith―will receive an eternal reward prepared for them in heaven.
… a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she had done will also be told, in memory of her.” Mt 26:6-13
The pouring out of the perfume itself might not be memorable and worthy to be remembered. However, Jesus saw her heart of devotion, her affection with holy respect for God who came to this earth in the flesh. That was why Jesus said, “Where this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she had done will also be told in memory of her.”
Those who rightly recognized and received God, whether He was in the spirit or in the flesh, and asked Him for salvation, were always blessed with good results. So was the robber on the right side of Jesus. While all people ridiculed and slandered Jesus, he recognized Him as God and entreated Him. Jesus immediately replied to him, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Lk 23:32-43). By these words Jesus saved him. Let’s now consider whether or not we have such an honor and respect for God who has come in the flesh. All the things that happened in the days of Jesus, 2,000 years ago, are good examples for us, upon whom the end of the ages has come. The history of salvation has been maintained by those who recognized God, and the aroma of Christ has now been spread to the ends of the earth.
Our salvation depends on God
Suppose a child has committed an act bad enough to break his parents’ hearts. The authority to punish or forgive the child belongs to his parents. And they also have the right to determine how to punish or forgive.
We are sinners; we have been cast down to the earth because we committed grave sins. The authority to forgive our sins belongs to God, our spiritual Parents. All men must follow the way to forgiveness of sins, which God has established, so that they can be saved.
One day Peter saw in a vision heaven opened and something like a large sheet let down to earth, which contained all kinds of animals. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” But he refused to eat anything impure or unclean, for he was a devout Jew who had never eaten anything unclean according to the Law of Moses. The voice spoke again, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” At that time Peter preached only to the Jews. He understood his dream to mean that the gospel should be preached to all people regardless of race. From that time on, the gospel began to spread throughout the world (Ac 10:1-48).
Peter had no right to judge concerning salvation. Salvation is determined by God and not humanity. It depends upon His own will.
2,000 years ago, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law insisted on keeping the Mosaic law with its commandments and regulations. At that time Jesus taught the regulations of the new covenant. He celebrated the Passover with bread and wine, not the Passover lamb’s blood. It was hard for them to understand. However, God says, “Do not call anything impure that I have made clean.”
We committed sins deserving death in heaven and have been cast down to the earth. For us, God has provided the way of salvation; He has inaugurated the new covenant to forgive us our sins and lead us to the everlasting kingdom. To let us know the new covenant, God has come to this earth in the flesh two times.
Salvation comes through the knowledge of God. Remember what happened in the days of the Early Church. Many didn’t know God, the source of salvation, and rejected the way of salvation God Himself taught in the flesh. We must recognize God correctly and receive Him, so we can fully follow His teachings of salvation.
God in the flesh dwells in Zion in the last days
The Bible prophesied that God would also come again to this earth in the flesh and teach us His ways of salvation in the last days, just as He did at His first coming.
In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem … Mic 4:1-5
This prophecy concerns God’s work of salvation to be fulfilled in the last days. Peoples of all nations are streaming to Mount Zion, the mountain of the LORD’s temple, in order to know who it is that gives them salvation and follow His teachings. God’s set purpose never fails to be fulfilled.
Think of the Pharisees. They had no knowledge of God, and they so foolishly rejected the words that came from the mouth of God, more precious than pure gold. The Bible tells us that rejecting God in the flesh is a wicked act deserving of eternal hell fire.
In these last days God Himself has come in the flesh and teaches us His ways of salvation. If one earnestly wants to be saved, he must correctly understand Christ. In order to attain eternal salvation, he must be neither like Judas Iscariot nor the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, whom Jesus condemned, saying, “It would be better for him if he had not been born,” and “Woe to you, hypocrites!”
We have to keep in mind that every word of God He has thought us in Zion is the way to salvation, the way to heaven. God has swallowed up death forever and saved His people who have gladly received Him, saying, “This is our God” (Isa 25:6-9).
Come to the Spirit and the Bride and take the water of life
We can attain salvation, our ultimate destination, when we recognize God who has come to bring salvation and follow His teachings. Those who do not recognize God can never understand His precious words. Though they are given many opportunities to receive blessings from God, like Mary and the robber on the right side of Jesus, they do not ask or seek Him.
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” Jn 4:10
If they had recognized Jesus as God, they would have asked Him for living water. God is always ready to give us whatever we ask of Him. So He tells us to pray continually.
Now God, who has appeared as the Spirit and the Bride, dwells among us in the flesh. In these last days, no one can be saved without receiving the teachings of the Spirit and the Bride (Rev 22:17). However, many do not know God correctly; they fail to recognize His divine nature hidden in the flesh. That’s why they do not ask the Spirit and the Bride for the water of life.
Salvation depends on God. Keeping it in mind, let’s receive and honor God who has come to us and spread His salvation to the whole world. Brothers and sisters in Zion! Let’s recognize Christ correctly and receive Him through faith, so we may come to the Spirit and the Bride to take the water of life.