What is Salvation?

Titus 3:5 - Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us ...

The past few weeks many have written about things for which they were thankful. I did not take time to write a daily blog of things for which I am thankful but I will say that Thanksgiving is normally my favorite Holiday. As I contemplate this, one thing stands out to me more than all others. I am thankful for salvation. I am thankful that the Son of God gave his life on a Roman cross so that I could be set free from the curse of sin.

We have been studying "soteriology" in one of my classes. This is a fancy Theological word for salvation. When studying a thing it is always best to first define the term. So I began to question,"what exactly is salvation?" From what are we saved? To what are we saved? Though the possibilities of explanation are limitless, I would like to share the words of Piers the Plowman from the 14th century poem of the same name. This is an imagined scene with Jesus speaking face to face with Satan when he went into Hades after his crucifixion:

Here is my soul as a ransom for all these sinful souls. They are mine: they came from me and so I have the better claim on them. ....You, by falsehood and injustice, took away what was mine. I, in fairness, recover them by paying the ransom. What you took by guile I recover by grace. As a tree caused Adam and all mankind to die, so my gallows-tree shall bring them back to life. 

These words sum up the heart of the gospel story. Adam and Eve ate from a tree that brought death to the human race. Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God, offered himself on that tree to buy us back from death. So from what did he save us? From eternal death. From eternal separation from His presence. From guilt, shame, debauchery, and any other description you would like to add to the list.

To what did he save us? He saved us unto Himself that we might be called the spotless bride of Christ. I am so thankful to be a part of the bride, aren't you?

Thankfully,

Sullivan Jones

For the Love of Learning

We live in a world that is driven towards education. Our young people are constantly reminded of how they need a college education to get ahead in this world and that is not all bad. Education can be a good tool when used properly. The Bible does say to "study to show yourself approved unto God" and I don't see that as being relegated to the scriptures. We should be willing to put a little effort into study. However, it seems the primary motivation for most who go to college is not so they can learn but so they can make more money. This isn't a bad idea either. I once heard a minister say these words: "Go to school. Get all the education you can. Why work for $7 an hour when you can work for $40 an hour. It's the same day." That motivated me to want to go back to school. Truthfully, it probably has been what has kept me going a time or two. So the money motivation may not be completely bad.

Yet money shouldn't be our primary motivation for anything. (Jesus did say that the love of money is the root of all evil.) When it comes to study we should study for the love of learning. When was the last time you picked up a book just for the joy of reading. When was the last time you were inquisitive enough to look up the answer to a question you might have been asked and didn't know. This is the love of learning.

Now I know everyone wasn't raised in a home like mine. If I asked my mom or grandmother how to spell a word I had to look it up in the dictionary. If I asked a science or trivia question I had to look it up in the encyclopedia or find a book in the library that answered the question. While this was annoying to a child at times, it did instill in me a love for learning. That love for learning has done me well through the years. It has helped me meet interesting people and experience other cultures. It helped me secure a job in education before I had completed my degree. I can't even begin to tell you how much it has helped me in the ministry and in teaching God's word. Yes, the love of learning has been one of the greatest friends I've had.

Proverbs 25: 2 says, "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing but the honor of kings is to search out a matter." God often hides information from us so that we will dig it out. Jesus spoke in parables, not to hide his word from people, but so that those who really wanted to know him would question him for the meaning and get to know him better.

I am always honored when someone makes a comment about how smart I am. (Believe it or not, it has happened.) A time or two, after I have taught a Sunday school lesson or given a speech, someone will call me professor Jones or Dr. Jones even though I don't have that degree behind my name. Yet, I am not especially smart. I know many men and women who are far more intellectually gifted than I am. But there is one thing I do have. I am not afraid to study just for the love of learning.

One of the highlights of my life is that I get to work with young children. I am in administration so I don't get to spend as much one on one time with the children as I'd like. But the reason I love children so much is because they are like sponges. They soak up everything we teach them and then come back for more. They are like open books always ready to be written in. Those who care for them are teachers even when they don't realize they are teaching. Yes, we must teach children to character and integrity. We must teach them self esteem and respect for others. We should teach them to love God and his word. But in all that, let's not forget to teach them to read and study just for the joy of learning. If they learn to do this, the success will not be far away.

Shalom,

Sullivan Jones 

Shalom - The Hebrew Word for Peace

 Judges 6:24 - Jehovah Shalom - The Lord is my peace!

We do not normally greet each other in English by saying peace. This is, however, a common greeting in some cultures. Both the Hebrews and the Arabs greet each other with the word for peace in their respective languages. In Hebrew the word Shalom can be added to almost any noun to wish someone a happy or peaceful day. On Friday evenings they wish each other a "Shabbat Shalom" or peaceful Sabbath. The list goes on ...The word Shalom is an all-inclusive, all-encompassing God speed.


The best way to translate this word Shalom into English is "wholeness and well-being." The most powerful part of this wish for peace is not grounded in salutation but on the truth that God himself is our Shalom, our peace (I Thessalonians 5:23). We are never more complete, more fulfilled than when we are in vibrant communion with God - engulfed in his love, empowered by his grace, and assured of his mercy.

The prophet Isaiah tells us that Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Thus Jesus is our Shalom, our wholeness and well-being.If you are lacking wholeness in your life you can start by examining your relationship with God. Do you realize how important you are to Him? Do you understand His purpose for your life? If not, ask Him to show you.

Is there anything in your life that is keeping you from having peace?Perhaps you have sin you need to repent of that is blocking your communion with God. Maybe you have unforgiveness that you need to let go of? Confess it to God and ask Him to make you whole. Come clean before him and make it right with others by asking their forgiveness is necessary and possible.

There is nothing that can take the place of God's wholeness in our lives. He wants us to have peace. It is His will for us. After all, He is the Lord of Shalom. I pray peace on you today as you seek out this God of peace. May you find everything you need in Him. His your all in all!

Shalom,

Sullivan Jones

More than just a Superman

Did you know that Superman was originally created by two American Jewish teenage boys. His real name, Kal-El, is a play on the Hebrew words that means voice of God - El being God, of course. His alter ego's name is Clark Kent. Kent was a common Americanization of Cohn, the last name of the Jewish family of high priest directly descended from Aaron, Moses' brother. There are so many Jewish undertones in the story once one realizes it. Superman is the kind of savior many Jewish people expected their Messiah to be - one who would right social wrongs. They did not envision their savior dying on a cross for humanity's sins. I am so thankful for the REAL SAVIOR of manking, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is more than a Superman; He is God incarnate.