Salvation and the Transcendentals | A Teaching on Wholeness in Christ

What does it really mean to be saved?

(This is a teaching that I wanted to share here. I believe it was one of my best and so important for the discipleship conversation within the church. PDF of my Teaching Notes at the end)

Is salvation only about the soul, or does it reach into the body, mind, habits, and desires? In this teaching, we explore how biblical salvation is not just a moment of rescue but a lifelong process of becoming whole. It begins in the heart, renews the mind, reorders the soul, and transforms how we live in the world.

We’ll also explore the transcendentals — Truth, Goodness, and Beauty — as the real echoes of God’s nature. These aren’t optional extras in the Christian life. They are how the life of Christ takes root and bears fruit in us.

This teaching is an invitation to rediscover the fullness of salvation, where Jesus doesn’t just save us from something, but leads us into a life shaped by Truth, strengthened by Goodness, and stirred by Beauty.

Key themes include:

* The biblical shape of salvation: justification, sanctification, glorification

* Spiritual formation as a whole-person journey

* How the Gospel transforms the heart, mind, soul, and strength

* The role of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty in daily discipleship

* Wisdom from Scripture, the early Church, and voices like Dallas Willard, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Wesley

Primary Scriptures: Luke 10:27, Romans 12:2, Philippians 2:12, John 8:32, Psalm 27:4, Micah 6:8

If you’ve ever felt like something was missing in your understanding of salvation, or if you’ve longed for a faith that feels more alive and integrated—this is for you.

Picture Credit in the Thumbnail is art from @theeverydaysaints or @swordandpencil on Instagram or Josh Nadeau on SubStack.

This is a sermon I got to teach a couple of weeks ago on Acts 4:13.

Here are the PowerPoint Notes If You Are Interested in those.

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-in-paddy-field-12386595/

s the Bible trustworthy and relevant today?

Good luck, yes.

You're asking if the Bible is relevant and trustworthy today. I'll be honest—I’ve taken many apologetics classes and studied this topic extensively, yet it’s still difficult to fully grasp and articulate. However, I do believe the Bible is both relevant and trustworthy, even though I frequently revisit these questions to remind myself.

When it comes to the Bible’s canonization, it’s another topic I struggle to explain in detail. However, in terms of relevance, I find it extremely important. I can talk all day about that, so I'll elaborate on it.

Regarding the Bible's relevance, we often take things out of context or misinterpret its meaning. That's no surprise—we know we do this and try to avoid it. However, I believe that there are ways to read, interpret, and apply the Bible to our lives that align with its intended message, though the Holy Spirit must guide us in this.

Looking at the Bible from my perspective, the Old Testament is valuable for establishing God's character and providing historical context. It's like taking a history class—learning from our past so we don’t repeat mistakes. Some may say they avoid reading the Old Testament, but to me, that’s a strange approach. The Old Testament contains the history of our faith and the foundation of God's relationship with humanity.

We also see aspects of God's character in the Old Testament—like His wrath—that don’t appear as much in the New Testament. Disregarding this could distort our understanding of Scripture. God remains consistent throughout both Testaments, so we need to interpret the Bible based on who we know God is, not who we want Him to be.

Emotionally, the Bible offers comfort through books like Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. Stories like those of Hannah and Samuel offer lessons when we seek answers from God. The Gospels show us God in the flesh and how Jesus interacted with our world. This connects me personally to God, helping me feel His relevance in my life.

When we reach the New Testament, we understand that Jesus established a new covenant, and the writings of Paul and the apostles guide us in how to live out that covenant. Though some people criticize Paul for being too opinionated, his letters provide wise counsel, just as other apostles do.

Understanding the Bible is essential, not just memorizing key verses. I often take entire books of the Bible and listen to them repeatedly, trying to summarize what they communicate. Each time, I gain fresh insights into what God is saying to humanity.

That’s my take on the Bible’s relevance. Now, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Regarding trustworthiness, one of the main criticisms is that the Bible’s text has been manipulated or changed over time, often citing something like 300,000 textual variants among manuscripts. But people misunderstand how these texts were passed down. Unlike the "telephone game" analogy often used, oral tradition in Jewish culture was highly precise. The entire Old Testament was memorized, and errors were corrected immediately.

Additionally, the sheer number of manuscripts we have—far more than any other ancient text—explains the high number of textual variants. Many of these variations are simple differences in word order, spelling, or minor phrasing that don't change the core meaning of the text. For example, the phrase "John loves Mary" can be expressed in over 800 different ways in Greek, and none of these affect the overall message.

Less than 1% of all textual variants even have the potential to affect meaning, and these differences don't undermine core Christian beliefs. For instance, there are some differences between manuscripts regarding fasting and prayer, but these don't change the fundamental message of the gospel.

Even Bart Ehrman, a scholar critical of Christianity, acknowledges in his own work that no core tenets of Christian Orthodoxy are jeopardized by these textual variants.

The Bible was the first book in history, and its influence on literature, morality, and culture is unparalleled. The moral structure of Western civilization has deep roots in Christian teachings. Movements for human rights and equality, such as those led by William Wilberforce, drew directly from scripture, showing its profound impact on societal progress.

The Bible’s truths still shape our world today. If we follow its teachings—even without fully accepting the faith—it can lead to a more fulfilled and moral life. As G.K. Chesterton said, "Christianity hasn’t been tried and found wanting; it’s been found difficult and left untried."

If you commit to living according to Biblical principles for six months, you’ll see the difference it makes in your life. The blessings that come from living in alignment with God’s truth are undeniable.

Lastly, I always recommend reading the Bible daily, especially if you're struggling. It’s not a cure-all, but grounding yourself in the Word can provide much-needed strength and perspective.

In Matthew 8, starting at verse 23, we see Jesus get into a boat with his disciples. Suddenly, a furious storm arises on the lake. I visited this lake in Israel and learned that storms there can appear out of nowhere because of the bowl-like geography. It’s crazy to think that this is real, historically documented. The waves begin to crash over the boat, but Jesus is calmly sleeping. The disciples, panicking, wake him up, crying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

Jesus, unbothered by the chaos, replies, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” He then stands up and rebukes the wind and waves, and the storm completely calms down. The disciples are amazed and ask, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” This passage displays a remarkable act of power, but what stands out most to me is how Jesus was sleeping through it all. He wasn’t anxious or worried about the storm, which reflects how we should respond when facing our own storms.

I remember revisiting this passage and thinking about the power of God’s authority. If Jesus can sleep in the middle of a storm, shouldn’t we learn to trust Him more? It’s like seeing someone you respect stay calm when you're freaking out. If they're not worried, why should you be? Tom, my boss, is a great example of this. He loves golfing, and whenever I’d be stressing about work, I’d hear someone say, “If Tom’s golfing, you don’t need to worry.” It was a great reminder that sometimes, when things feel overwhelming, the best thing to do is trust the one who’s leading.

Jesus’ calmness in the storm doesn’t mean He's disconnected. It means He’s in complete control. When I don’t feel God’s presence or don’t hear from Him, instead of panicking, I’ve learned to view His silence as an invitation to rest in His peace. When He’s quiet, I can be still, mirroring His calmness instead of rushing for answers.

In the story, even though the disciples had little faith, Jesus still calmed the storm for them. It shows that God moves on our behalf, even when our faith is weak. He doesn’t need to; He chooses to—because He loves us. It reminds me of a quote by Dallas Willard when asked to describe Jesus in one word: “unhurried.” Jesus isn’t rushing through things; He’s a calming, peaceful presence. When He rebukes the storm, it’s not through yelling or commanding with aggression. It’s through a simple, gentle statement: “Peace, be still.”

That level of authority, where you don’t need to raise your voice or panic, is astounding. When you truly have authority, you don’t need to plead, scream, or beg. You simply act from a place of confidence, just as Jesus did.

The disciples were in awe, asking, “Who is this that even the wind and waves obey him?” It would be shocking for anyone to calmly command a storm to stop—so different from how we expect people to act in moments of chaos. Jesus wasn’t reacting out of fear but from a place of total authority. And that’s what He invites us into: trusting in His authority over everything, even the storms of life. The safest place we can be is in the center of His will, just like Jesus knew He was.

In this passage, I see a reflection of how we’re called to live—trusting that if Jesus isn’t worried, neither should we be. We don’t need to fear the storms in life when we know God is in control. Even when we don’t fully understand His ways, we can build a deep trust in His faithfulness, just like the disciples did as they journeyed with Him. And over time, with each encounter of His faithfulness, we build our own ‘stones of remembrance,’ just like in the story of the Jordan River, where each miracle strengthens our faith for the future.

It’s this trust in God’s authority that shapes how we face challenges—knowing that He’s in control, that He’s already shown us His power, and that His peace will always calm our storms.

Say your a Christian and trying to figure things out while still struggling with sin. Here are some practical first steps for you. This is how I would guide someone toward taking a step closer to Jesus:

For me, I would always start by focusing on the greatest commandment. If I were discipling someone, I'd begin with this: we need to structure our lives around it. I’d also parallel it with the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord's Prayer provides a framework for approaching prayer, even if we don’t follow it word-for-word. It helps us healthily work through things and aligns us with God's plan.

One key point is learning how to orient your life toward God correctly. The greatest commandment teaches us that: "The Lord your God is one. Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength." To tackle sin, we need to recognize which parts of us are affected and address them.

For example, if the struggle is in your mind—whether it's with gossip, anger, or any mental battles—you can turn to scripture. Google Bible verses related to your struggle (e.g., anger, gossip) and focus on the opposite truth. This practice, called “talking back,” was introduced by Evagrius Ponticus, who also identified what we now call the seven deadly sins. Essentially, you counter lies with God’s truth, just as Jesus did in the desert. When those negative thoughts come up, you quote scripture at them.

If your struggle is with bodily sin, try fasting. Fasting trains your body to deny its desires, strengthening you against temptation. Pair fasting with prayer, as is traditionally done, and it becomes even more powerful.

I gave a sermon on the theology of the whole person, so I won’t go through all the details here. If you're interested, you can find it linked in the description. The key idea is to recognize that you can't solve a problem until you identify its source. Addressing only the symptoms won’t lead to true healing.

For example, if you're struggling mentally, ask yourself where the issue originated. Maybe it traces back to a lie you believed years ago, but now that you’ve recognized the source, you can address it.

From a counseling perspective, you can only effectively treat something once you identify the root cause. Treating symptoms without understanding what’s driving them is like covering a broken bone with a band-aid. We need to check each part of the whole person— spirit, mind, body, and soul—and ask, “Where is this struggle coming from?” That’s how true healing begins.

Here is a link to that full teaching if you want to dive deeper into that: