Much of the division in the church world, for centuries, has been fruitless and foolish. Why? For the most part we are arguing over a concept of salvation, not salvation. Some like this concept, others favor another and we draw lines of division. One group says "saved forever" and worries no more. Another group says "saved momentarily" and then has to continuously get re-saved. Another group says "may be I am saved but not sure" and spends forever trying to make sure. And, of course, all are sure the other is dead wrong. One group says "I am saved because I was born again" and puts all his faith in an act of God beneficial to his eternity. Another group says "I am saved, all my sins are forgiven". He too is trusting in something he can only verify by his feelings or the words of man. Another says "I am saved for I am a good man and do good deeds". This man is trusting in his own deeds to save him. And, of course, all are sure the other is dead wrong. In truth, each man is putting his faith in a concept of salvation he happens to favor. And, he can pull proof verses out of the Bible to prove his concept. And, there is truth in each of these and other concepts, of which there are many, presented to us in the Bible. These concepts are like facets on a beautiful diamond. All good, all beautiful but they are not the whole diamond. Sadly, people will worship a concept, a facet and miss the diamond. They will pledge allegiance to and be willing to die for a concept, and miss the diamond.
The truth is, we are unwise to ground our faith in a "concept", not when we can have God as close as our breath. Jesus came, lived a perfect life, went to the cross, shed precious blood, and ascended with His blood which was judged sinless. As a result of all this he was crowned Lord of Lord, the absolute basis of our hope (Phil. 2). To prove it the veracity of all, He poured out the Holy Ghost on all who would believe and thirst (Jo. 7:37-39). He did all that He did in order to pour out the Holy Ghost in baptismal measure on each of us. It happened first in Acts two and has been happening ever since. The power to be a "witness" comes "after" this experience. You are not a witness that He is Savior, but that He is Lord. And, the Spirit of God walks in relationship with you as deep as you want to walk. He, the Holy Ghost, is the "earnest", the security deposit, the beginning of what Jesus died to give us. A one-one-one relationship with God just as Abraham had (Gal. 3). As the psalmist said "God has become my salvation". Our faith is to "stand' of the demonstrations of the Spirit and the power of God (1st Cor. 2:4-5). It is the presence of our Salvation we are resting our faith upon.
In order for us to have this salvation, this one-on-one with God, the new birth had to happen, sins had to be removed, surrender on our part had to be made, but none of these are our salvation. These are things that made it possible to have Salvation, the Holy Ghost, and to be able to say, "Behold God is my salvation". This is why Jesus made it plain that those who worship God would have to worship Him as Spirit (Jo. 4:24).
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