Hi Mike,

Enjoyed the last study, in fact, I just reviewed it again. A couple of thoughts came to mind. Have you noticed in Rev 7:10 that the multitude “cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God”? There is no other reference that I could find where anyone said “salvation to our God”. There are tons of scriptures that speak of my salvation or their salvation, always referring to some human’s salvation given to them by God. This seems like an odd statement regardless of who said it, considering salvation is of the Lord. Wouldn’t you agree?
Also, in your conclusion you commented on how the multitude are not granted the ability to accept and follow the example Christ has left us to follow in his footsteps, obviously implying that the elect are. Perhaps you have spelled it out before, but how closely do you anticipate we will be following in his footsteps?

J____

Hi J____,

Thanks for sharing this observation with me. “Salvation to our God,” is true in any way you want to apply it.
Christ is called “the mighty God, and as the seed of Abraham, receives salvation by being tempted in every way as we are and by dying daily to His flesh and being crucified daily as we all are.

Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

So Christ actually is a God, and therefore salvation can also be attributed to God as Christ’s work in us; ‘Salvation (belongs) to our God.’

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
All any of us have is what we will and what we do, and come to find out, we don’t even have that. Not even in our will to sin.

Rom 7:17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [ how] to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

So any way you view it, we can safely say “salvation to our God.”
You ask,

How closely do you anticipate we will be following in his footsteps?

It will be “according to the measure of faith” given each of us individually, and if indeed we really are “dying daily and being crucified and buried with Him in baptism… daily,” then it will be closer today than it was yesterday and closer tomorrow than today. But if Christ were not perfected until the third day, then one thing that is certain is that we also will be dying daily with Him until we too, dispense of this clay vessel and are resurrected in a body of spirit; not only in earnest but also “in the inheritance of the purchased possession.”

Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

So be very patient with babes in Christ, because we are all babes at our appointed time.

Mat 7:2  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

I hope I have answered your question to your satisfaction. If not, let me know.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike