The Trilogy of Salvation

By Bishop Alonzo Johnson

Have you ever noticed that the bible uses three primary phrases or words when referring to the believer’s redemption? Saved (Salvation), Born Again, and Filled with the Holy Ghost (Spirit). Obviously all three are directly related to our submitted lives to Jesus Christ. In many respects they are one in the same. But, are they one in the same or simply just a play on words without spiritual significance. Well, I think not. Nothing in the Holy word of God is without significance; absolutely nothing. I invite you to ask yourself these questions. Am I saved? Am I born-again? Am I filled with the Holy Ghost (Spirit)? These are a few logical questions. How do I know which or if all three apply to me? Are they all the same? Is there a biblical or scriptural difference? If there is a biblical difference, where am I? This literary piece will help you discover where you are in the process and push you to the fullness of your Salvation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Feb 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312057661

Book preview

The Trilogy of Salvation

The TRILOGY of SALVATION

Saved, Born Again and Filled with the Holy Ghost Where are in the process?

Bishop Alonzo Johnson

BSI Publishing House

P.O. Box 461

Grand Blanc, MI 48480

Phone: [phone]

Copyright Page

The Trilogy of Salvation

Saved, Born Again and Filled With the Holy Ghost

Where are you in the process?

Published by BSI Publishing House

P.O. Box 461

Grand Blanc, MI 48480

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means-electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise-without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the King James Version Bible. Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Produce

Cover Design by: BSI Design Studio

Copyright© 2014, by

Bishop Alonzo Johnson

All rights reserved

ISBN: 978 1 312 04002 1

Printed in the United States of America

DEDICATIONS

To the Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior: Thank you for the grace to be saved, born again and Holy Ghost filled.

To my dear wife Ericka: Without you this book would not have been possible. Your love, encouragement and support gave me the focus to complete this work. I love you more and more each day.

To our children, Ebonee, Alonzo, Jr., Alaunee, Amaree, Ezree, and Azarree: Each of you have blessed our lives with your special gifts and unique individuality, what a joy and privilege to be your father.

To Tribe of Judah Christian Church: I want to thank each of you for your prayers and support.

To my spiritual father, Apostle John, W. Sykes: Your wisdom and guidance has changed my life. Thank you so much.

Bishop Alonzo Johnson

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever noticed that the bible uses three primary phrases or words when referring to the believer’s redemption? Saved (Salvation), Born Again, and Filled with the Holy Ghost (Spirit). Obviously all three are directly related to our submitted lives to Jesus Christ. In many respects they are one in the same. But, are they one in the same or simply just a play on words without spiritual significance. Well, I think not. Nothing in the Holy word of God is without significance; absolutely nothing.

Before continuing to read this book, I invite you to ask yourself these questions.  Am I saved? Am I born-again? Am I filled with the Holy Ghost (Spirit)?  These are a few logical questions. How do I know which or if all three apply to me? Are they all the same? Is there a biblical or scriptural difference? If there is a biblical difference, where am I? 

Most Christians would agree salvation is a completed work through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this book I am not attempting to provide proof of the completed work of salvation.  My aim is to hopefully help the believer(s) who has questioned the processes of their salvation. My aim is to help the believer, who has unfortunately believed the lies of the wicked one, understand that we should not compare ourselves with other Christians because salvation is a process and we are all at different stages of the process. So no one is more saved than anyone else. We are simply at different parts of the journey. I am also attempting to help the believer who can no longer ignore the still small voice of the Father, inviting him/herself to move to the next level/process in salvation. To help the believer who is ready for the next dimension in God.

This book is also to provide biblical and relevant truth to a very controversial subject within some segments of the body of Christ. Not only is this a controversial subject, it has caused much division in many local assemblies of Jesus Christ. I certainly don’t intend to add to that division by no means, but only to bring some additional clarity to the countless number of (saints), believers who struggle in their walk with the Lord as a result of not having full knowledge and understanding of the word of God in terms of their personal salvation and its process.

What controversial subject you might ask? I believe in many of today's churches the doctrine of salvation has been brushed aside for the itching ears of prosperity (wealth) teaching. Prosperity (wealth) certainly has its place in the kingdom of God, but it should not take the place of solid fundamental soterology (doctrine of salvation). When was the last time you heard a sermon series on salvation in contrast to the last time you heard a sermon on prosperity (wealth) teaching? Once again, I'm not against teachings on prosperity (wealth).

A blessing and somewhat of a curse is the volume of seemingly financially successful  television preachers who come across as delivering messages that suggest Christianity means automatic prosperity. Conveying that Christians have a right to success and riches may not convey the whole counsel of God. As a result of these excerpts that come from a much larger sermon, I believe many Christians have been unconsciously conditioned to believe their salvation is measured by the accumulation of wealth and material things.

Many of today's tele-evangelists are liken unto Hollywood celebrities, who flaunt their success before the eyes of people, of which many are faced with the problem of paying their rent/mortgage next month, or how they’ll fight the temptation of drugs and alcohol. These types of contrasting images seen in some tele-evangelist pose a true detriment to the core doctrine of salvation. The controversy I speak of is further seen in the hundreds and thousands of Christians, who from a sound decision give their hearts to Jesus Christ, join a local church body and within a few weeks begin witnessing compromised lifestyles in Christians they may have admired. I believe new believers posses high levels of discernment that enable them to discern who in that local church is genuinely sold out for Christ and who is not. But something that works against that discernment is they have seen the inconsistency from mature Christians, when this occurs the new believer begins to think that it's ok to be a luke warm Christian as it were.

I personally remember many years ago witnessing an Associate Pastor standing outside the church building smoking a cigarette. I’ve even witnessed sexual misconduct around the house of God. (My aim is not to judge those persons, for we are saved by the grace of God). My point is, these types of compromised behaviors have damaged the minds and decisions of those Christians we would have otherwise developed normally through the trilogy of salvation. There's an unspoken