Salvation is in the Father's house

Believers, remember the story of 12 year old Jesus who stayed back in the temple in Jerusalem after the Festival of the Passover in Luke 2? His parents were unaware of it. They had travelled for a day before realising that He was not in their company. Verse 44 says: 

"...Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find Him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for Him."

After three days of searching, they found Him in the temple courts, doing the will of the Father and amazing everyone who heard Him with His understanding and answers. Mary said to Him: 

"48....Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.”

How anxious Mary and Joseph must have been, looking for Jesus everywhere. Their hearts were not at rest until they found Him. But check out what our Saviour asked them in response: 

49 "“Why were you searching for Me?” He asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in My Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what He was saying to them.""

How does this account relate to us in Christ? First we need to understand who Jesus is and what He means to the world: Salvation. The name "Jesus" is the anglicised form of the Hebrew name "Yeshua" which literally means Salvation in English. Salvation is "Soteria" in Greek from which the New Testament is translated. His Name does not just begin and end with salvation from hell to heaven. It includes restoration to a state of safety, soundness, health and well being as well as preservation from danger of destruction.

Salvation (Soteria) refers to 'deliverance' or 'preservation.' It is used for a man's safe return to his own home or his own country after an absence and a journey. It can mean a 'guarantee of safety' or a 'security against danger.' It encompasses 'bodily health.' It encompasses deliverance from the molestation of enemies and redemption from all earthly ills. It is being saved from the penalty, power, presence and pleasure of sin.

Believers in Christ, Yeshua (Jesus) Himself is Salvation. Remember when He visited Zacchaeus' house in Luke 19:9- "...Today salvation (soteria) has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Because He is "the same yesterday, today and forever," He can only be found in His Father's house aka "OUR Father's house" for all who believe Him. This house is not a physical structure like a church building. Acts 17:24 says 

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands."

See 1 Cor. 3:16 for the house of God: 

"Do you not know and understand that you [the church] are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells [permanently] in you [collectively and individually]?"

The same yesterday, today and forever is still in our Abba Father's house and doing the will of God in and through all who believe.

But like Mary and Joseph, many of us are still looking for Salvation in the wrong places, among friends and acquaintances that do not have Him and cannot provide any help: specifically those who preach "stop sinning and keep the law by human effort or burn in hell" to helpless sinners and even believers who are trying so hard to stop sinning and are failing. These ones never point you to the One who saves from sin. They place the burden of keeping the law on your shoulders. Believers, this burden cannot be carried by you. It has to be lifted from your shoulders by Another. The yoke (of slavery to sin) has to be broken by Another: His Name is Jesus! If a sinner could stop sinning on his own, why would he need Jesus to save him from his sins? Matthew 1:21 says-

"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

He came to save sinners - the fearful, the unbelieving, cheaters, homosexuals, murderers, thieves, liars, adulterers - from the "not so bad" to the vilest offender. Not a single sinner is excluded from the world that "God so loved..." that Jesus died for. He did not come to condemn, punish or kill people for their sins. He came to save. See His heart for you in the verse following most popular bible verse in the world-

"For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him." John 3:17.

Jesus Christ our Salvation Himself is found only in the Father's house- in you and I who believe right by His grace. Salvation is not found in places where preaching the "do your best to keep the Ten Commandments or burn" message and the condemnation of gay people and other "core sinners" is the norm. Such are not yet a part of God's temple. Jesus loves and died to save ALL sinners so that they can be free from their sins. Christ who dwells in us has no rejection, condemnation or death to dish out to sinners who come to Him. He has only salvation; salvation from acts of sin, fear, unbelief and all those traits of those who will suffer the second death in Revelation 21:8-10.

Instead of threatening people with these verses, let's point them to the One who came to save us from sins that lead to death. He is Saviour. He does ALL the saving. Only believe.

The Holy Spirit will teach you all things.

Believe Right and you will Live Right.