<\/p>\n\n\n\n
INTRODUCTION<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Post 12 is the second part of my analysis of Titus 3:4\u20137, which clearly teaches that any deed or work (ergon<\/em>) \u201cdone in righteousness\u201d is not<\/u><\/strong> a requirement for salvation. Water baptism easily falls within the scope of deeds done in righteousness. Titus 3:4-7 supports the position that water baptism is not a requirement for salvation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The text (NASB95) reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4<\/sup> But when the kindness of God our Savior and His<\/em> love for mankind appeared, 5<\/sup> He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6<\/sup> whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7<\/sup> so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the<\/em> hope of eternal life.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n A verse-by-verse discussion is below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n VERSE-BY-VERSE<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Verse 4 (and 3)<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Verse 4 contains the Greek proposition de<\/em>, which the NASB95 translates as \u201cbut,\u201d and de<\/em> functions as a logical contrastive. Heiser et al. define it to mean:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cContrast\u201d refers to opposition. A contrastive conjunction is a conjunction that suggests an oppositional thought or relationship to the word, phrase, or clause to which it is connected.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Verse 4 contrasts God\u2019s nature towards mankind with mankind\u2019s sin nature as described in Titus 3:3 (NASB95):<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3<\/sup> For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Selected quotes from Larson at p. 382 about verse 3 shows the hopeless sinful condition of every unbeliever:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without Christ all people follow this type of lifestyle and thinking. Like all people everywhere, we belonged to the fallen system and lived according to our fallen nature. \u2026 Paul painted a picture of bondage. Having succumbed to the illusions of this world, unbelievers participate in unrestrained passions and pleasures. This leads to a loss of will. People eventually become prisoner to their urges and cannot break away. These may even be socially acceptable pursuits like materialism, or they may involve the lowest sorts of degradation. Either way, the heart is captivated and cannot free itself. Our relationships with others proved no better in the past as we lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. It is common practice to destroy others in order to preserve one\u2019s self.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Verse 4 establishes that out of God\u2019s kindness to and His love for mankind, He sent Jesus Christ to earth to become the one and only solution to mankind\u2019s sinful condition. John 3:16\u201317 (NASB95) says it perfectly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 16<\/sup> \u201cFor God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17<\/sup> \u201cFor God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n By writing verses 3 and 4, Paul intended to convey to his audiencethe ultimate contrast between God\u2019s infinite love for mankind and mankind\u2019s hopeless sinful condition. Such a contrast left no room for a human being to accomplish their salvation somehow (even in the smallest part imaginable).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Verses 5-6<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Referring to verse 5, the NASB95 translates the Greek preposition ek<\/em> as \u201con the basis of,\u201d and it functions as a preposition of causation that expresses the cause of the related verbal action. See Lukaszewski. The NASB95 translates the Greek verb poie\u014d<\/em> as \u201chave done,\u201d and Louw et al. define it to mean, \u201c90.45 \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03ad\u03c9a: a marker of an agent relation with a numerable event\u2014\u2018to do, to perform, to practice, to make.\u201d See Louw et al. at Vol. 1, p. 803. The grammar shows that it was done in the past. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The NASB95 translates the Greek preposition en<\/em> as \u201cin,\u201d and it functions as a preposition used to express circumstance. See Lukaszewski. The NASB95 translates the Greek noun ergon<\/em> as \u201cdeeds,\u201d and as discussed in Post 11 it means physical activity. The NASB95 translates the Greek noun dikaiosyn\u0113 <\/em>as \u201crighteousness,\u201d and it means, \u201c88.13 \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u03cd\u03bd\u03b7a, \u03b7\u03c2 f: the act of doing what God requires\u2014\u2018righteousness, doing what God requires, doing what is right.\u201d Louw et al. Vol. 1, p. 743. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Knight confirms Paul\u2019s negation of human contribution to salvation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3:5<\/strong> The main clause of this verse, \u1f14\u03c3\u03c9\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd \u1f21\u03bc\u1fb6\u03c2, \u201che saved us,\u201d is preceded by two prepositional phrases that deal with the basis for God\u2019s saving us. The first is a strong negation of any contribution on our part and the second is an equally strong affirmation that salvation is solely based on God\u2019s mercy.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n With the negation Paul clearly rejects works as a basis for God\u2019s salvation, as he does elsewhere (Rom. 3:27, 28; 4:2\u20136; 9:11; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:9; 2 Tim. 1:9; cf. Marshall, \u201cFaith and Works\u201d). Paul makes more explicit what he is rejecting by adding to \u03bf\u1f50\u03ba \u1f10\u03be \u1f14\u03c1\u03b3\u03c9\u03bd, \u201cnot on the basis of works,\u201d the prepositional phrase \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f10\u03bd \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u03cd\u03bd\u1fc3 and a relative pronoun clause with the verb \u1f10\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03ae\u03c3\u03b1\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd and the personal pronoun \u1f21\u03bc\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c2, which both fall under the negation of the initial \u03bf\u1f50\u03ba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Referring to verse 5b, the NASB95 translates the Greek preposition dia<\/em> as \u201cby,\u201d and it functions as a preposition of means to express the means of an action. See Lukaszewski. The NASB95 translates the Greek noun loutron<\/em> as \u201cthe washing.\u201d According to Mounce (p. 776), it means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This word for washing refers to the cleansing that Jesus performs on the church through His sacrifice on Calvary, whereby we are washed clean and pure ( Eph. 5:26). In Tit. 3:5, Paul refers to this as \u201cwashing of rebirth.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Little Kittel reads at p. 539, \u201cIn Tit. 3:5 the washing of regeneration is on the basis, not of our own works<\/u><\/strong>, but of God\u2019s mercy.\u201d Emphasis added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The NASB95 translates the Greek noun palingensia<\/em> as \u201cof regeneration,\u201d and it means (Louw et al. at Vol. 1, p. 509):<\/p>\n\n\n\n 41.53 \u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03bd\u03ac\u03c9 \u1f04\u03bd\u03c9\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd (an idiom, literally \u2018to be born again\u2019); \u03c0\u03b1\u03bb\u03b9\u03b3\u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03b5\u03c3\u03af\u03b1a, \u03b1\u03c2 f: to experience a complete change in one\u2019s way of life to what it should be, with the implication of return to a former state or relation\u2014\u2018to be born again, to experience new birth, rebirth.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Little Kittel comments at p. 119 on palingensia<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. In Tit. 3:5 the term embraces both moral renewal and new life, but with a stress on the latter (cf. v. 7). The grace of God works here by instruction and personal fellowship, not by magical incantation; hence the origin of the use is to be found in the Jewish adaptation of Stoicism, not in the mysteries.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The Greek conjunction kai <\/em>joins the Greek expression loutron<\/em> palingensia<\/em> and the Greek expression anakain\u014dse\u014ds pneumatos<\/em>, which the NASB5 translates as \u201crenewing by the __ Spirit.\u201d Anakain\u014dse\u014ds<\/em> is a Greek noun and it means, \u201c58.72 \u1f00\u03bd\u03b1\u03ba\u03b1\u03af\u03bd\u03c9\u03c3\u03b9\u03c2, \u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 f; \u1f00\u03bd\u03b1\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bd\u03cc\u03c9a; \u1f00\u03bd\u03b1\u03bd\u03b5\u03cc\u03c9: to cause something to become new and different, with the implication of becoming superior\u2014\u2018to make new, renewal.\u2019\u201d See Louw, et al., at Vol. 1, p. 593. In commenting upon the transformation through the renewing of one\u2019s mind (Romans 12:2), Mounce comments at p. 578:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Such a renewal is impossible without the direct aid of the Holy Spirit (Tit. 3:5).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Referring to verse 6, the NASB95 translates the Greek verb ekche\u014d<\/em> as \u201cHe poured out,\u201d and it means, \u201c90.89 \u1f10\u03ba\u03c7\u03ad\u03c9d: (a figurative extension of meaning of \u1f10\u03ba\u03c7\u03ad\u03c9a \u2018to pour out,\u2019 47.4) to cause someone to experience something in an abundant or full manner\u2014\u2018to cause to fully experience.\u2019\u201d See Louw et al, at Vol. 1, p. 809. The NASB95 translates the Greek adverb plousi\u014ds<\/em> as \u201crichly, and it means, \u201c78.15 \u03c0\u03bb\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2b, \u03bf\u03c5 m and n; \u03c0\u03bb\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03af\u03c9\u03c2b: a high point on any scale and having the implication of value as well as abundance\u2014\u2018great, abundant, abundantly, greatly, extremely.\u2019\u201d See Louw et al. at Vol. 1, p. 685. The super-abundant pouring out of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ was a one-time snap shot event in the past. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By writing verses 5-6, Paul intended to convey to his audience that physical activity (deeds or work) carried out in the past in an effort to please God do not save a person. In light of Paul\u2019s reference to the Jews in Titus 1:10, it makes sense that the non-salvific ergon <\/em>include circumcision and other Jewish practices. Further, Paul intended to convey that regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit occur only through God\u2019s action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In reference to verse 7, the NASB95 translates the Greek verb dikalo\u014d<\/em> as \u201cbeing justified.\u201d In reference to the expression \u201cbeing justified,\u201d Knight (p. 346) [emphasis added] writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The aorist passive participle \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03c9\u03b8\u03ad\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 indicates here a past action that \u201cwe\u201d have been recipients of, that of being \u201cjustified,\u201d i.e., declared righteous in God\u2019s sight and forgiven of sins. It thus refers to a judgment made by God in which already, here and now, God has acquitted sinners and pronounced them righteous.<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The NASB95 translates the Greek verb ginomai <\/em>as \u201cwe would be made,\u201d and it means, \u201c13.48 \u03b3\u03af\u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9c: to come to acquire or experience a state\u2014\u2018to become.\u2019 See Louw et al.at Vol. 1, p. 153. The grammar shows that the action was an intentional one-time snap shot event that was done by God. What they would be made was \u201cheirs according to the<\/em> hope of eternal life\u201d (NASB95). The gotquestions.org website (link: What does it mean to be co-heirs\/joint-heirs with Christ? | GotQuestions.org<\/a>) briefly explains being a co-heir with Christ:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Romans 8:17 Paul says, \u201cNow if we are children, then we are heirs\u2014heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.\u201d According to this verse, we share in the sufferings of Christ now and will share in the glory of Christ later as His \u201cco-heirs\u201d or \u201cjoint-heirs.\u201d \u2026 Ephesians 2:13 says, \u201cIn Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.\u201d God took us, poor orphans in this world, and made us a part of His family through faith in Jesus Christ. He has showered us with blessings and promised us an eternal inheritance, based on the worthiness of Christ Himself.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n By writing verse 7, Paul intended to convey to his audience that justification and being made heirs with Christ were works by God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n CONCLUSION<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In conclusion, we see a great contrast between God\u2019s infinite kindness and love for mankind with mankind\u2019s hopeless sinful condition. These are polar opposites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We see another contrast between deeds done in righteousness, which cannot save, and God\u2019s mercy and grace by which God saves a person. Through God\u2019s exclusive work<\/u><\/strong> a lost person experiences the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, and thereby is justified by God\u2019s grace. God makes such a saved person heirs accruing to the expectation of eternal life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n God does everything when it comes to affecting the salvation of mankind. Mankind has nothing to do with their saving, their justification, or their being made heirs with Christ for eternity. Titus 3:5 excludes anything a human does (e.g., ergon<\/em>) from contributing to their salvation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For the purpose of our analysis, earlier posts prove that water baptism is a ergon<\/em>. Therefore, even if a person carries out their water baptism in their effort to please God, water baptism still makes no contribution to a person\u2019s salvation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n ABBREVIATIONS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Heiser, M. S., & Setterholm, V. M. (2013; 2013). Glossary of Morpho-Syntactic Database Terminology<\/em><\/a>. Lexham Press<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985). In Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume. W.B. Eerdmans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Knight, G. W. (1992). The Pastoral Epistles: a commentary on the Greek text<\/em>. W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Larson, K. (2000). I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon. Broadman & Holman Publishers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.,United Bible Societies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lukaszewski, A. L. (2007). The Lexham Syntactic Greek New Testament Glossary. Lexham Press. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mounce, William D., Mounce\u2019s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words, (2006), Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are unsure about your salvation, you need to check out my book The Salvation Meter: Biblical Self-Diagnostic Tests to Examine Your Salvation and Spiritual Growth<\/strong><\/em> (book link at Xulon Press: https:\/\/www.xulonpress.com\/bookstore\/bookdetail.php?PB_ISBN=9781662828638<\/a> ). At Amazon the book link is https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Salavation-Meter-Biblical-Self-Diagnostic-Spiritual\/dp\/1662828632<\/a> . I also have a website in which I am updating the content in the book. The link to my website for the book is https:\/\/thesalvationmeter.com<\/a> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026 please (1) read through \u201cGod\u2019s Plan of Salvation\u201d so you can understand what God did for you through His only unique Son, Jesus Christ, and (2), from the bottom of your heart, pray the \u201cSinner\u2019s Prayer\u201d meaning every word. If you do, you will be reconciled to God \u2013 saved – through Jesus Christ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n God\u2019s Plan of Salvation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In the beginning, God, who is holy, created the entire universe. As a part of His creative actions, He made humans in His image to know Him. For a while, everything was right between God and our ancestors, Adam and Eve. But Adam sinned, and his sin was passed down to all of humankind whereby we became separated from God. Nothing we could do on our own could bridge that separation so that without God\u2019s intervention, hell would be our eternal destination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fortunately for us, in His great love and mercy God provided humankind with the only means of salvation, which is through Jesus Christ who is God\u2019s only unique Son. While retaining His deity, God the Son became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross, thus fulfilling the law Himself and taking on Himself the punishment for the sins of all those who would ever repent and trust in Him for their salvation. Jesus rose from the dead, showing that God the Father accepted Christ\u2019s sacrifice and that God\u2019s wrath against us has been exhausted. He now calls us to repent of our sins and trust alone in what Christ did to save us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If we repent of our sins and completely trust in Christ alone that He died for our sins and rose to life from the dead, we are born again into a new life, an eternal life with God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Scripture References: Genesis 1:1, 27, 31; Habakkuk 1:13; Genesis 2:7, 18, 21-25; Genesis 3:1-7, 23-24; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:19-20, 23; 5:17-19; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 John 4:10; John 3:16-18; Mark 1:15; Romans 1:4; 4:25; John 3:5-8; 1 Peter 1:3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSinner\u2019s Prayer\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lord, Jesus Christ, the only unique Son of God, thank You for Your free gift of eternal life. I know I\u2019m a sinner who cannot save myself no matter what I do, and I deserve to spend eternity in hell. But, I know that because You loved me so much, You voluntarily died on the cross for me taking my sins upon Yourself, and You physically bodily rose from the grave showing that Your sacrificial death was sufficient payment to give me eternal life in Heaven. I now repent of my sins and trust alone in what You did for my eternal salvation. Please take control of my life as I now receive You as my Lord and Savior. Thank You so much for saving me. I am now Yours forever!<\/em> (Scripture references: John 1:1-4, 11-14; John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:21-26; Isaiah 53:4-6; Mark 1:15; Acts 16:31; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10, 13; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; John 10:27-29).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Upon your salvation, you must find a spiritually solid Bible-believing church that (1) teaches that the sixty-six books of the Bible are the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God, (2) believes in the doctrine of the Trinity, which means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons \u2014 the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit \u2013 and each Person is fully God, and (3) teaches that salvation is by grace through faith and not by works (e.g., water baptism by immersion).<\/p>\n\n\n\n ONE CAUTIONARY POINT. Please do not make the mistake of thinking that once you become a Christian, your life will become easy. Most likely, it will become more difficult. God\u2019s blessing of salvation and life’s difficulties are not mutually exclusive. Jesus told His disciples, \u201cIf the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.\u201d John 15:18 (NLT). Always keep in mind that you have an eternal home in heaven waiting for you per John 14:2\u20134 (NLT):<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2<\/sup> There is more than enough room in my Father\u2019s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3<\/sup> When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4<\/sup> And you know the way to where I am going.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n .<\/p>\n\n\n\n NOTICE OF PERMISSIONS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I am mindful of and respect the rights other authors and\/or publishers possess in their works. I thus try my best to not violate any copyright rights other authors and\/or publishers possess in their works. The below copyright permission statement is the result of my best efforts to understand that limited usage or “fair use” is available and\/or to secure direct permission for specific works. The quotations from commentaries are considered to be “fair use.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scripture quotations marked “ESV” are from the ESV\u00ae Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scripture marked \u201cNASB95\u201d are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE\u00ae, Copyright \u00a9 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scripture marked “NCV” is taken from the New Century Version. Copyright \u00a9 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Scriptures marked “NET” are quoted are from the NET Bible\u00ae http:\/\/netbible.com copyright \u00a91996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright \u00a9 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scripture marked “GW” is taken from the God’s Word Bible that is a copyrighted work of God’s Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" INTRODUCTION Post 12 is the second part of my analysis of Titus 3:4\u20137, which clearly teaches that any deed or work (ergon) \u201cdone in righteousness\u201d is not a requirement for salvation. Water baptism easily falls within the scope of deeds done in righteousness. Titus 3:4-7 supports the position that water baptism is not a requirement […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[320],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-baptism"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1346","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1346"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1346\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2087,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1346\/revisions\/2087"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1346"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT YOUR SALVATION<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
IF YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n