More Than Fire Insurance

 JULIA MELTON

  One of the ways a company attracts its employees is by having an attractive benefits package. In many cases, the company benefits offered are more influential than the starting salaries. If, in the natural realm, company executives have enough wisdom to make it worth your while to work for them, wouldn’t you think that our heavenly Father is just as wise when it comes to bring people into His kingdom?

Many people--especially Christianss--think of salvation as their “ticket” into heaven and their spiritual “fire insurance” against an eternity in hell. Although these things are true, there is so much more included in the salvation package. God’s benefits package includes features that enable believers to live in victory—just like Jesus did—right here on earth (Matthew 6:10).

The word salvation is from the Greek word, soteria. Your salvation, or soteria, includes deliverance from sin, preservation of life and physical health, pardon and restoration. NO matter what you may be going through right now, this soteria is your way out of any negative circumstances.  Psalm103:1-5 says:

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine   iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
 
Salvation also means “wholeness”. It is a live where nothing is missing or broken. Just as a pie is not whole if a slice is missing, neither are you whole if you are financially prosperous but sick in your body and so on. God desires for you to be whole in every area of your life—spirit, soul and body (I Thessalonians 5:23).
 
There is an adversary roaming the earth, seeking those whom he can devour (I Peter 5:8). However, he can only devour those who are ignorant of their identities in Christ and the benefits to which they are entitled. That is why it is important for Christians to learn what the Word of God has to say about salvation. More importantly, after they have learned about their benefits package they must refuse to let it slip (Hebrews 2:1).
 
How will you escape poverty, debt, sickness and disease if you neglect this “so great salvation” (Hebrews 2:3)? You won’t. Everything you need to escape the snares of the enemy is wrapped up in your soteria. Jesus said, “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). This abundant life Jesus speaks of is one that supercedes any you could have ever dreamed or imagined. It belongs to you if you refuse to neglect it. No one should just settle for “fire insurance”. Every believer should claim his or her entire benefits package. To do so, begin by confessing, or speaking aloud, the scriptures that deal with those benefits. Before you know it, your quality of life will exceed your wildest expectations!
 
Next, there is also some work that is required of you if you want to partake of your salvation benefits package. Just like an employee has to show up to work and do his or her job well in order to remain employed and reap the company benefits, your responsibility and number one objective is to become Christ-like. To be Christ-like is conforming to His image (Romans 8:29)). That is what being a true Christian is all about. When you say that you are a Christian, you are saying that you are like Christ. Everyday you must diligently strive to develop His character.
 
What is His Character? Galatians 5:22-23 plainly reveals Jesus’ character. He is the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Therefore, you must develop in the fruit of the Spirit. You cannot remain the same after the salvation experience. The Bible says, “Therefore, if any person is [engrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether): the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, AMP). To develop on the fruit of the Spirit you must begin by walking in the love of God. When you do, the other fruit such as joy, peace, longsuffering, etc. will also be developed in your life.
 
Every believer should walk on this planet the same way Jesus walked when He was here. Everything He did was motivated by love. His obedience to the Father, His sacrifice at Calvary and His resurrection was a direct result of His love for the Father and you.  The Bible says, “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (I John 4:8). Further, Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that they are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). Simply put, walking in love is the distinguishing mark of a believer.
 
True Christianity is not a title. It is a lifestyle and the proof is definitely in the pudding. Ask yourself these questions: Do you walk in obedience to God’s Word? When people see you do they see Jesus?  Do you love your neighbors as yourself?  If you cannot answer yes to these questions, then you still have work to do.

Knowledge of your salvation benefits package and then allowing that knowledge to motivate you to conform to the image of Christ is what true Christianity is all about.