HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN
Disciple of Jesus Christ - Chapter 3
GOD'S LOVE and TRUTH DRAWS US
To fully learn How to become a Christian... Read and follow this entire
chapter
It is God's love and truth which causes us to be drawn to God. Absolutely,
no one can come to know God unless God chooses to draw a person to Himself.
God wants every person in the world to change and to come to know Him and
live a life of true righteousness through Jesus Christ.
However God also has infinite insight and knows the intents of every
person's heart and only draws and gives understanding to those who sincerely
desire to learn and follow His truth. Jesus Christ reveals and teaches all truth,
because He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. If any person chooses to
continue to follow their own opinions and other false doctrines of man, and
reject Jesus, they then will not be drawn by God.
God spiritually works around each person and gives us every opportunity
to come to know Him in a personal way. Yet if God spiritually discerns that any
particular person has no initial genuine intention wanting to understand and
follow the will of God, then God will not yet draw that person to Himself as long
as they still have self pride or a hardened heart.
God also blesses those who have a hardened heart with the hope that
they can change, but He will not force Himself and His truth on anyone; God will
continue to offer each man the opportunity to come to Him willingly. He will not
always strive with any man, so if any man is set just to follow his own evil and
shallow beliefs, then God will allow him to do so, and God will not draw that
person to Himself.
If and when a person humbles themselves and begins to admit their past
wrongs and truly seeks to know God, then God will begin to reveal Himself and
His ways to that individual.
Everywhere that I turned before I was a Christian, God's love was drawing
me to Himself. I didn't even realize just how much He was working on my behalf.
Now as I reflect back I can see just how much He has loved Me. Has someone in
the past invited you to a truly Biblical Christian church ? Well that was God's love
reaching out to you to draw you to Himself. Has a Christian given you a Christian
tract or shared some scriptures with you or demonstrate God's love towards you
in word or deed in some way ? Well, that was God's love drawing you to
Himself.
KEY SCRIPTURE
JOHN 6:44 No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him,
and I will raise him up on the last day. JOHN 6:45 .... Therefore everyone who
has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me ( Jesus ). JOHN 6:46
Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been
granted to him by my Father.
JESUS OUR ONLY SAVIOR
Jesus Christ is the only Savior of mankind, who is able to save us from our
sinful nature and from the penalty of our sins.
Jesus Christ was the only one who was truly sent by God the Father to
save mankind from evil. There are many people who falsely claim to be Christ or
the Messiah, who are deceptive impersonators and have no spiritual ability to
truly cleanse any other person's spirit from evil.
Jesus, was the only one without sin, because He was conceived by the
Holy Spirit by the power of God within a woman who was a virgin; Thereby Jesus
was the only one born into the world without the sinful nature which was passed
on from Adam to all other men and women at birth.
Jesus was God manifested in the flesh, and was pure in heart and full of
the power of God's Holy Spirit.
Buddha, sinned; Mohammed, sinned; Joseph Smith, sinned; All the gurus
of Hinduism and the new age, have sinned; None of these men have any power,
nor truth, nor authority from God, to save or deliver any man from sin and evil.
The sinless life of Jesus Christ was witnessed by thousands of people and they
testify to that effect in the Bible;
Jesus Christ, who being without sin, became the perfect recompense or
sacrifice for our sins in the sight of God the Father, by what He alone
accomplished at the cross. When Jesus Christ laid down His life in Love for
mankind, He thereby had victory over the power of sin and spiritual death. Jesus
Christ was the only one who truly rose again from the dead and ascended into
Heaven.
We can now be made free and saved from the bondage and penalty of sin
and overcome evil through a sincere personal relationship with Jesus Christ
alone. Jesus Christ Himself claimed and the Bible declares that there is no other
way we can be saved, nor is there any other person who can save us.
Jesus Christ is the only mediator or spiritual bridge for man to cross over
back to God. If we believe in Jesus by faith and through His provision of Grace,
and by the washing of God's Word, then our minds and hearts are made pure by
God. Moreover, if we keep His commandments, Jesus and God the Father will
dwell in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
JESUS OUR ONLY SAVIOR
KEY SCRIPTURES
JOHN 14:6 Jesus said, " I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes
to the Father except through Me."
JOHN 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me ( Jesus ) he will be saved,
and will go in and out and find pasture.
ACTS 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is no other name
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
HEBREWS 5:9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal
salvation to all who obey Him.
1 TIMOTHY 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and
men, the man Christ Jesus.
1 JOHN 3:5 And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; And in
Him (Jesus) there is no sin.
2 CORIN 6:21 He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our
behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (Jesus)
ROMANS 5:8,9 But God demonstrates His own Love toward us, in that while
we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been
justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
LUKE 2:10-14 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good
news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of
David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This
will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a
manger.”13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the
angel, praising God and saying,14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on
earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
JOHN 3:16-21 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only
Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the
world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever
does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in
the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into
the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were
evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light
for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth
comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has
been done in the sight of God.
Question: "Is Jesus the only way to Heaven?"
Answer: "I'm basically a good person, so I'll go to heaven." "OK, so I do some
bad things, but I do more good things, so I'll go to heaven." "God won't send me
to hell just because I don't live by the Bible. Times have changed!" "Only really
bad people like child molesters and murderers go to hell."
These are all common rationalizations, but the truth is that they are all lies.
Satan, the ruler of the world, plants these thoughts in our heads. He, and
anyone who follows his ways, is an enemy of God (1Peter 5:8). Satan is a
deceiver and often disguises himself as someone good (2 Corinthians 11:14), but
he has control over all the minds that do not belong to God. "The god of this age
has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the
gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4).
It is a lie to believe that God doesn't care about small sins or that hell is reserved
for "bad people." All sin separates us from God, even a “little white lie.” Everyone
has sinned, and no one is good enough to get to heaven on their own (Romans
3:23). Getting into heaven is not based on whether our good outweighs our bad;
we will all lose out if that is the case. "And if by grace, then it is no longer by
works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace" (Romans 11:6). We can do
nothing good to earn our way to heaven (Titus 3:5).
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that
leads to destruction, and many enter through it" (Matthew 7:13). Even if
everyone else is living a life of sin in a culture where trusting in God is not
popular, God will not excuse it. "As for you, you were dead in your
transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of
this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at
work in those who are disobedient" (Ephesians 2:1-2).
When God created the world, it was perfect and good. Then he made Adam and
Eve and gave them their own free will, so they would have a choice whether to
follow and obey God. But they were tempted by Satan to disobey God, and they
sinned. This separated them (and everyone that came after them, including us)
from being able to have a close relationship with God. He is perfect and holy and
must judge sin. As sinners, we couldn't reconcile ourselves to God on our own.
So God made a way that we could be united with Him in heaven. "For God so
loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). "For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Jesus
was born to die for our sins so that we would not have to. Three days after His
death, He rose from the grave (Romans 4:25), proving Himself victorious over
death. He bridged the gap between God and man so that we may have a
personal relationship with Him if we only believe.
"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus
Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3). Most people believe in God, even
Satan does. But to receive salvation, we must turn to God, form a personal
relationship, turn away from our sins, and follow Him. We must trust in Jesus
with everything we have and everything we do. "This righteousness from God
comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference"
(Romans 3:22). The Bible teaches that there is no other way to salvation than
through Christ. Jesus says in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me."
Jesus is the only way of salvation because He is the only One who can pay our
sin penalty (Romans 6:23). No other religion teaches the depth or seriousness of
sin and its consequences. No other religion offers the infinite payment of sin that
only Jesus Christ could provide. No other “religious founder” was God become
man (John 1:1,14) – the only way an infinite debt could be paid. Jesus had to be
God so that He could pay our debt. Jesus had to be man so He could die.
Salvation is available only through faith in Jesus Christ! “Salvation is found in no
one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we
must be saved” (Acts 4:12). GotQuestions.org
THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST
It is very important that we recognize Jesus Christ as truly Divine, in order
that we can be assured that He has the spiritual power to completely cleanse
and forgive us of all sin and to reconcile us back to God.
" With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible; "
Therefore any problem that we face that seems impossible, Jesus Christ can
supernaturally bring a perfect solution because He has the authority from God
the Father and only Jesus has the power as God the Son.
Jesus is not God the Father, however He is the Son of God, and shares
the Godhead with the Father and the Holy Spirit, sits at the right side of God the
Father and rules and reigns with Him.
God the Father has given all authority unto His Son, therefore Jesus is to
be worshipped and obeyed as God.
KEY SCRIPTURES
EPHES 1:19-23 And what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us
who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His
might, 1:20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the
dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
1:21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name
that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. 1:22 And He put
all things in subjection under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to
the church,
1:23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
JOHN 1:1 In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. 1:2 He was in the beginning with God. 1:3 All things
came into being by Him and apart from Him nothing came into being that has
come into being.
1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
MATTHEW 1:23 Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and
they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, " God with us."
THE DEITY OF JESUS
KEY SCRIPTURES
COLOSSIANS 2:9,10 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
and in Him you have been made complete and He is the head over all rule and
authority.
COL 1:15 And He is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation.
1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth,
visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all
things have been created by Him and for Him. 1:17 And He is before all things,
and in Him all things hold together. 1:18 He is also head of the body, the church
and He is the beginning, the first- born from the dead; so that He Himself might
come to have first place in everything. 1:19 For it is the Father's good pleasure
for all the fullness to dwell in Him.
THE DEITY OF JESUS
God, manifested in the flesh - 1 TIM 3:16
Emmanuel " God with us - MAT 1:23, ISA 7:14
Jesus above the angels - HEBREWS 1:4,5
He is the image of the invisible God - COL 1:15
I and My Father are one - JOHN 10:30
Form of God - Equal with God - PHIL 2:6
God our Savior - TITUS 3:4
Jesus Christ our Savior - TITUS 3:6
Only Jesus was without sin - 2 CORIN 5:21
All power is given unto Jesus - MATTHEW 28:18
My Lord and My God - JOHN 20:28
For unto us a Child is born...Mighty God ISAIAH 9:6; 40:3,9,10; MAT 3:3
Lord of the Sabbath - MAT 12:8, GEN 2:3
Jesus was omnipresent JOHN 3:13;14:20; MAT 18:20; 28:20
For unto us a Child is born...Mighty God - ISA 9:6, ISA 40:3,9,10, MAT 3:3
Jesus was called God by Paul - TITUS 2:13; COL 1:15-19; COL 2:9,10
" For there are Three Who bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the
Holy Spirit and these Three are One. " 1 JOHN 5:7
(Jesus ) Not of this world - JOHN 8:23
WORSHIPPING JESUS
Every knee to bow - PHIL 2:9-11
Let all the angels of God worship Him - HEBREWS 1:6
The four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down and worshipped Him (Jesus)
- REV 5:8-14
Hosanna - JOHN 12:13-16; ZECH 9:9, MAT 21:1-9
Worshipped by the shepherds - LUKE 2:15
Worshipped by the wise men - MAT 2:11
Jesus' disciples worshipped Him - MAT 14:33
A canaanite woman worshipped Jesus - MAT 15:25
The sons of Zebedee worshipped Jesus - MAT 20:20
Those in Jerusalem worshipped Jesus - MAT 21:9,16
MATTHEW 2:1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time
of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the
one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have
come to worship him.”
MATTHEW 28:9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to
him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. MATTTHEW 28:16,17 Then the
eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to
go.17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
MARK 5:6,7 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees
in front of him.7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with
me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!”
MARK 3:11, MARK 11:9, LUKE 4:41, LUKE 5:8, LUKE 23:42, LUKE 24:52,
JOHN 5:23, JOHN 9:38, 2 PETER 3:18, REV 1:6, JOHN 17:1-5
Question: "Is the deity of Christ biblical?"
Answer: In addition to Jesus’ specific claims about Himself, His disciples also
acknowledged the deity of Christ. They claimed that Jesus had the right to
forgive sins—something only God can do—as it is God who is offended by sin
(Acts 5:31;Colossians 3:13; Psalm 130:4; Jeremiah 31:34). In close connection
with this last claim, Jesus is also said to be the one who will “judge the living and
the dead” (2 Timothy 4:1). Thomas cried out to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”
(John 20:28). Paul calls Jesus “great God and Savior” (Titus 2:13) and points out
that prior to His incarnation Jesus existed in the “form of God” (Philippians 2:58). God the Father says regarding Jesus: “Your throne, O God, will last forever
and ever” (Hebrews 1:8). John states that “in the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word [Jesus] was God” (John 1:1). Examples of
Scriptures that teach the deity of Christ are many (see Revelation
1:17, 2:8, 22:13; 1 Corinthians 10:4; 1 Peter 2:6-8; Psalm 18:2, 95:1; 1 Peter
5:4; Hebrews 13:20), but even one of these is enough to show that Christ was
considered to be God by His followers.
Jesus is also given titles that are unique to YHWH (the formal name of God) in
the Old Testament. The Old Testament title “redeemer” (Psalm 130:7; Hosea
13:14) is used of Jesus in the New Testament (Titus 2:13; Revelation 5:9). Jesus
is called Immanuel—“God with us”—in Matthew 1. In Zechariah 12:10, it is
YHWH who says, “They will look on me, the one they have pierced.” But the New
Testament applies this to Jesus’ crucifixion (John 19:37; Revelation 1:7). If it is
YHWH who is pierced and looked upon, and Jesus was the one pierced and
looked upon, then Jesus is YHWH. Paul interprets Isaiah 45:22-23 as applying to
Jesus in Philippians 2:10-11. Further, Jesus’ name is used alongside God’s in
prayer “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”
(Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2). This would be blasphemy if Christ were not deity.
The name of Jesus appears with God's in Jesus' commanded to baptize “in the
name [singular] of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew
28:19; see also 2 Corinthians 13:14).
Actions that can be accomplished only by God are credited to Jesus. Jesus not
only raised the dead (John 5:21, 11:38-44) and forgave sins (Acts 5:31, 13:38),
He created and sustains the universe (John 1:2; Colossians 1:16-17). This
becomes even clearer when one considers YHWH said He was alone during
creation (Isaiah 44:24). Further, Christ possesses attributes that only deity can
have: eternality (John 8:58), omnipresence (Matthew 18:20, 28:20), omniscience
(Matthew 16:21), and omnipotence (John 11:38-44).
Now, it is one thing to claim to be God or to fool someone into believing it is
true, and something else entirely to prove it to be so. Christ offered many
miracles as proof of His claim to deity. Just a few of Jesus' miracles include
turning water to wine (John 2:7), walking on water (Matthew 14:25), multiplying
physical objects (John 6:11), healing the blind (John 9:7), the lame (Mark 2:3),
and the sick (Matthew 9:35; Mark 1:40-42), and even raising people from the
dead (John 11:43-44; Luke 7:11-15; Mark 5:35). Moreover, Christ Himself rose
from the dead. Far from the so-called dying and rising gods of pagan mythology,
nothing like the resurrection is seriously claimed by other religions, and no other
claim has as much extra-scriptural confirmation.
There are at least twelve historical facts about Jesus that even non-Christian
critical scholars will admit:
1. Jesus died by crucifixion.
2. He was buried.
3. His death caused the disciples to despair and lose hope.
4. Jesus' tomb was discovered (or was claimed to be discovered) to be empty a
few days later.
5. The disciples believed they experienced appearances of the risen Jesus.
6. After this, the disciples were transformed from doubters into bold believers.
7. This message was the center of preaching in the early Church.
8. This message was preached in Jerusalem.
9. As a result of this preaching, the Church was born and it grew.
10. Resurrection day, Sunday, replaced the Sabbath (Saturday) as the primary
day of worship.
11. James, a skeptic, was converted when he also believed that he saw the
resurrected Jesus.
12. Paul, an enemy of Christianity, was converted by an experience which he
believed to be an appearance of the risen Jesus.
Even if someone were to object to this specific list, only a few are needed to
prove the resurrection and establish the gospel: Jesus' death, burial,
resurrection, and appearances (1 Corinthians 15:1-5). While there may be some
theories to explain one or two of the above facts, only the resurrection explains
and accounts for them all. Critics admit that the disciples claimed they saw the
risen Jesus. Neither lies nor hallucinations can transform people the way the
resurrection did. First, what would they have had to gain? Christianity was not
popular and it certainly did not make them any money. Second, liars do not
make good martyrs. There is no better explanation than the resurrection for the
disciples’ willingness to die horrible deaths for their faith. Yes, many people die
for lies that they think are true, but people do not die for what they know is
untrue.
In conclusion, Christ claimed He was YHWH, that He was deity (not just “a god”
but the one true God); His followers (Jews who would have been terrified of
idolatry) believed Him and referred to Him as God. Christ proved His claims to
deity through miracles, including the world-altering resurrection. No other
hypothesis can explain these facts. Yes, the deity of Christ is biblical.
Question: "Is Jesus God? Did Jesus ever claim to be God?"
Answer: Jesus is never recorded in the Bible as saying the precise words, “I am
God.” That does not mean, however, that He did not proclaim that He is God.
Take for example Jesus’ words in John 10:30, “I and the Father are one.” We
need only to look at the Jews’ reaction to His statement to know He was claiming
to be God. They tried to stone Him for this very reason. “… you, a mere man,
claim to be God” (John 10:33). The Jews understood exactly what Jesus was
claiming—deity. Notice that Jesus does not deny His claim to be God. When
Jesus declared, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30), He was saying that He
and the Father are of one nature and essence. John 8:58 is another example.
Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am!” The
response of the Jews who heard this statement was to take up stones to kill Him
for blasphemy, as the Mosaic Law commanded them to do (Leviticus 24:15).
John reiterates the concept of Jesus’ deity: “the Word was God” and “the Word
became flesh” (John 1:1, 14). These verses clearly indicate that Jesus is God in
the flesh. Acts 20:28 tells us, “Be shepherds of the church of God, which he
bought with his own blood.” Who bought the church—the church of God—with
His own blood? Jesus Christ. Acts 20:28 declares that God purchased His church
with His own blood. Therefore, Jesus is God!
Thomas the disciple declared concerning Jesus, “My Lord and my God” (John
20:28). Jesus does not correct him. Titus 2:13 encourages us to wait for the
coming of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ (see also 2 Peter 1:1). In Hebrews
1:8, the Father declares of Jesus, “But about the Son He says, ’Your throne, O
God, will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your
kingdom.’” The Father refers to Jesus as “O God” indicating that Jesus is indeed
God.
In Revelation, an angel instructed the apostle John to only worship God
(Revelation 19:10). Several times in Scripture Jesus receives worship (Matthew
2:11, 14:33, 28:9, 17; Luke 24:52; John 9:38). He never rebukes people for
worshiping Him. If Jesus were not God, He would have told people to not
worship Him, just as the angel in Revelation did. There are many other verses
and passages of Scripture that argue for Jesus’ deity.
The most important reason that Jesus has to be God is that if He is not God, His
death would not have been sufficient to pay the penalty for the sins of the world
(1 John 2:2). A created being, which Jesus would be if He were not God, could
not pay the infinite penalty required for sin against an infinite God. Only God
could pay such an infinite penalty. Only God could take on the sins of the world
(2 Corinthians 5:21), die, and be resurrected, proving His victory over sin and
death.
GotQuestions.org
Only One True God
Where does God's Word Instruct that Idols and gods are
useless, without life, and are not truly gods ?
And moreover where does God's Word instruct that there is
ONLY ONE TRUE GOD and ONLY ONE GOD that we should
serve ?
JOHN 17:3 - Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and
Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
DEUT 32:39 " Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no god besides Me. "
ISA 46:9 Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no
other; I am God, there is none like Me.
ISA 45:5,6 I am the Lord, and there is no there; THERE IS NO GOD
BESIDES ME. I will strengthen you though you have not known Me.
ISA 45:14 They will make supplication to you saying, " Surely God is in you,
and there is no other. There is no other god.
ISA 44:8 You are My witnesses. Is there a god besides Me ? Indeed there is
NO OTHER ROCK, I know not one.
ISA 44:6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and His Redeemer, the Lord of
Hosts; I am the First and I am the Last; BESIDES ME THERE IS NO GOD.
ISA 43:10,11 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my
servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and
understand that I am he.Before Me NO GOD FORMED, nor will there be
one after Me.
ISA 45:18-21 For this is what the Lord says—he who created the heavens, he
is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it
to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited—he says: “I am the Lord, and
there is no other.
19 I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have
not said to Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in vain. I, the Lord, speak the truth; I
declare what is right. 20 “Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives
from the nations.
Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods
that cannot save.
21 Declare what is to be, present it—let them take counsel together. Who
foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I,
the Lord?
And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there
is none but me.
ZEC 14:9 And the Lord shall be King over all the earth, In that day it shall be; "
The Lord is ONE, and His Name is ONE.
1 TIM 2:5 For there is ONE God, and ONE Mediator between God and
men, the Man, Jesus Christ.
MAT 4:10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, satan! For it is written: ‘Worship
the Lord your God, and ONLY serve Him.’ACTS 19:26 ...This Paul has
persuaded and turned away many people saying that, THEY ARE NOT GODS
which are made by hands.
1 CORIN 8:4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An
idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but ONE.”
GAL 4:8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which
by nature are NOT GODS.
1 TIM 6:15,16 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the
blessed and ONLY Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who
ALONE is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has
seen or can see. To Him be honor and might forever. Amen.
ACTS 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under
heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
JER 16:19,20 ...Surely our fathers have inherited lies, worthlessness, and
unprofitable things. Will a man make for himself, which are not gods ?
PSLAM 96:5 ALL the gods of the peoples are idols...
JER 10:2-5 2 This is what the Lord says:
“Do not learn the ways of the nations
or be terrified by signs in the heavens,
though the nations are terrified by them.
3 For the practices of the peoples are worthless;
they cut a tree out of the forest,
and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.
4 They adorn it with silver and gold;
they fasten it with hammer and nails
so it will not totter.
5 Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field,
their idols cannot speak;
they must be carried
because they cannot walk.
Do not fear them;
they can do no harm
nor can they do any good.”
2 KINGS 5:15 Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of
God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all
the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”
RIGHTEOUSNESS ONLY THROUGH JESUS
No one can be made righteous by just following the Old law because the
law is completely inadequate to establish righteousness within a person, even
though it was useful by showing man the difference between right and wrong.
Nor one has the spiritual strength to fulfill all of the law apart from Jesus
Christ; Therefore if any person even breaks one law or commandment of God
they are unrighteous and unholy. Neither can anyone become righteous by only
their own good works.
True spiritual righteousness can only be obtained through a living
relationship with Jesus Christ, who was the only perfect righteous one sent from
God.
Having a sincere faith in Jesus Christ, we are made righteous, by the
sacrificial act which He alone made at the cross, through His cleansing grace and
words of truth which comes to us who believe, by the Holy Spirit.
KEY SCRIPTURES
ROMANS 5:17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the
one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of
righteousness will reign in the life through the One, Jesus Christ.
ROMANS 4:3-5 For what does the Scripture say? And Abraham believed God
and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." Now to the one who works, his
wage is not reckoned as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does
not work, but believes in Him (Jesus) who justifies the ungodly, his faith is
reckoned as righteousness.
PHILIPPIANS 3:9 And may I be found in Him, ( Jesus ) not having a
righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in
Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.
TITUS 3:5 He (Jesus) 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.
Question: "Why does Christ's righteousness need to be imputed to us?"
Answer: In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus uttered these words: “You
therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).
This comes at the end of the section of the sermon where Jesus corrects His
listeners’ misunderstanding of the law. In Matthew 5:20, Jesus says that if His
hearers want to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, their righteousness
must exceed that of the Pharisees who were the experts in the law.
Then in Matthew 5:21-48, He proceeds to radically redefine the law from mere
outward conformity which characterized the ‘righteousness’ of the Pharisees, to
an obedience of both outward and inward conformity. He uses the phrase, “You
have heard it said, but I say unto you…” to differentiate between the way people
heard the law taught from how Jesus is reinterpreting it. Obeying the law is more
than simply abstaining from killing, committing adultery and breaking oaths. It’s
also not getting angry with your brother, not lusting in your heart, and not
making insincere oaths. At the end of all this, we learn that we must exceed the
righteousness of the Pharisees, and that comes from being perfect.
At this point, the natural response is: “But I can’t be perfect” which is absolutely
true. In another place in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus summarizes the law of God
down to two commandments: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul,
mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40). This
is certainly an admirable goal, but has anyone ever loved the Lord with all their
heart, soul, mind and strength and their neighbor as themselves? Everything we
do, say and think has to be done, said and thought from love for God and love
for neighbor. If we are completely honest with ourselves, we have to admit that
we have never achieved this level of spirituality.
The truth of the matter is that on our own and by our own efforts, we can’t
possibly be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. We don’t love God with all
our heart, soul, mind and strength. We don’t love our neighbors as ourselves.
We have a problem, and it’s called sin. We are born with it and we cannot
overcome the effects of it on our own. Sin radically affects us to our core. Sin
affects what we do, say and think. In other words, it taints everything about us.
Therefore, no matter how good we try to be, we will never meet God’s standard
of perfection. The Bible says that all of our righteous deeds are like a “polluted
garment” (Isaiah 64:6). Our own righteousness is simply not good enough and
never will be, no matter how hard we try.
That’s why Jesus lived a perfect life in full obedience to the law of God in
thought, word and deed. Jesus’ mission wasn’t simply to die on the cross for our
sins, but also to live a life of perfect righteousness. Theologians refer to this as
the “active and passive obedience of Christ.” Active obedience refers to Christ’s
life of sinless perfection. Everything He did was perfect. Passive obedience refers
to Christ’s submission to the crucifixion. He went willingly to the cross and
allowed Himself to be crucified without resisting (Isaiah 53:7). His passive
obedience pays our sin debt before God, but it is the active obedience that really
saves us and gives us the perfection God requires.
The Apostle Paul writes in Romans, “But now the righteousness of God has been
manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness
to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe”
(Romans 3:21-22). Through our faith in Christ, the righteousness of God is given
to us. This is called “imputed” righteousness. To impute something is to ascribe
or attribute something to someone. When we place our faith in Christ, God
ascribes the perfect righteousness of Christ to our account so that we become
perfect in His sight. “For our sake he made him [Jesus] to be sin who knew no
sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians
5:21).
Not only is Christ’s righteousness imputed to us through faith, but our sin is
imputed to Christ. That is how Christ paid our sin debt to God. He had no sin in
Himself, but our sin is imputed to him, so as He suffers on the cross, He is
suffering the just penalty that our sin deserves. That is why Paul can say, “I have
been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.
And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me
and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
By having the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, we can be perfect, as God
is perfect. It is not, therefore, our perfection, but His. When God looks at the
Christian, He sees the holiness, perfection, and righteousness of Christ.
Therefore, we can say with confidence “I am perfect, as God is perfect.”
GotQuestions.org
PRAYER OF SALVATION
If you are not sure that you are saved and have eternal life....?
ROMANS 10:13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved."
By sincerely praying the following prayer or similar prayer, Jesus Christ
will spiritually come into your life and become your Lord and Savior and will give
you a totally new life now and the gift of eternal life in His Kingdom of Heaven.
He is not waiting for you to become perfect first, before you would accept
Him and become a Disciple of Christ. He wants to come into your life when you
need Him the most. As His word says, " While we were yet sinners Christ died for
us "
Today is the day of salvation; if you want all your sins to be forgiven and
have peace with God, then pray this prayer and mean it in your heart....
Pray the following prayer in your own words;
" Father God, forgive me for all of my sins, I'm sorry for what I have
done against your will, Thank you for sending Jesus to pay the price for
my sin, by laying down His life at the cross in Love for me. I forgive all
who have done me wrong. Thank you for forgiving me. I desire to turn
away from all evil. Jesus, come into my heart and be my Lord and
Savior. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me to follow Your way.
Thank You Father God. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen "
Your past is now behind you; You may or may not feel anything different,
but rest assure you are a new spiritual creation;
If you sincerely prayed a prayer like this to God, and you were to die
shortly after, you would be saved by the the Grace of Jesus Christ.
However, merely praying a prayer of salvation, in itself does not
guarantee one's salvation nor eternal life, if they continue after to deliberately to
lead a life contrary to the commandments of Jesus Christ, and abuse the
provision of God's Grace.
Just praying a " Prayer of Salvation " was never taught by Jesus Christ,
nor the early church, as a sole requirement of Salvation. However those whom
truly follow and obey Jesus Christ, continue in prayer, continue to repent for sin,
abide in his Grace, and will be saved and receive eternal life.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, May He make His Face to shine
upon you, and be gracious to you and give you peace...
ASSURANCE OF SALVATION
Anyone can have the assurance of their salvation, if they believe God's
Word and His promise to us. Moreover, if they trust God's faithfulness and ask
for God's Holy Spirit to come into their life.
Many Born Again Christians live in doubt, and cannot find satisfying peace
about their personal salvation. Often they look back at their ' salvation
experience ' for signs of assurance. They look for feelings and emotions that may
have taken place at the time of receiving the Lord Jesus into their lives, and this
is always a mistake.
Living by " experiences " whether past or present - does not only cause
frustration, but is completely out of line with what the Bible teaches. Christians
are to live by faith in what God has said and done in our lives, regardless if we
feel anything.
The full assurance of salvation is essential for every Christian to
understand and know without any doubt whatsoever; Then we may be used
effectively as disciples of Jesus Christ. A Christ centered person who is assured
of their salvation gives their fill attention to Jesus Christ, never wavering from
fulfilling God's will, and never in doubt of the Lord's unfailing Love.
WHO SAVES US AND GIVES US ETERNAL LIFE ?
Only God the Father and Jesus Christ can save us ;
KEY SCRIPTURES
1 JOHN 5:11 And this is the testimony; that God has given us eternal life, and
this life is in His Son.
JOHN 11:25,26 Jesus said to her, " I am the resurrection and the Life. He who
believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes
in Me shall never die.
JOHN 14:6 I ( Jesus ) am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through Me.
JOHN 10:28 I ( Jesus ) give them eternal Life, and they shall never perish.
HEB 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all
things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the author of their salvation
perfect through sufferings.
HEB 5:9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation
to all who obey Him.
WHO SAVES US AND GIVES US ETERNAL LIFE ?
Only God the Father and Jesus Christ can save us ;
KEY SCRIPTURES
1 THES 5:9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through
our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 TIM 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
2 TIM 1:9 ( God ) Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to His purpose and grace which was given
to us in Christ Jesus before time began;....
JAMES 4:12 There is one Lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy. Who are
you to judge another ?
2 CORIN 5:18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself
through Jesus Christ.
COL 1:12 The Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of
the saints in the light.
PSALM 62:2 He only is my rock, my salvation and my stronghold...
ISAIAH 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid, For
YAH, the Lord, is my strength and my song; He also has become my salvation.
JOHN 10:9 I ( Jesus ) am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved,
and will go in and out and find pasture.
JOHN 10:10 ....I have come that they may have life and that they may have it
more abundantly.
Can we save ourselves without God the Father and
Jesus Christ or Can anyone else save us ?
No one can save their own self apart from God nor can
anyone else save us, except for Jesus Christ ...
JOHN 14:6 I ( Jesus ) am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through Me.
ACTS 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under
heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
How are we saved by God, and enter the Kingdom of God ?
• By God's Grace through Jesus Christ...
TITUS 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all
men,...
2 TIM 1:9 ( God ) Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to His purpose and grace which was given
to us in Christ Jesus before time began;... 2 TIM 1:10 but has now been revealed
by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and
brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
• We are saved, sanctified and redeemed by what Jesus Christ did at
the cross, by His Grace, and thereby He made it possible for us to
receive eternal life;
ROMANS 5:8 But God demonstrates His Love toward us, in that while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us. ROM 5:9 Much more then, having now been
justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
ROM 5:10 For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the
death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His
Life. ROM 5:11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
• We are saved, sanctified and redeemed by what Jesus Christ did at
the cross, by His Grace, and thereby He made it possible for us to
receive eternal life;
HEB 9:14,15 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal
spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead
works to serve the Living God ? And for this reason He is the mediator of the
new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions
under the first covenant that those who are called may receive the promise of
the eternal inheritance.
HEB 9:28 So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who
eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
HEB 10:10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the
body of Jesus Christ once for all.
EPHES 1:6,7 To the praise of the glory of His Grace, by which He has made us
accepted in the beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His Grace.
COL 1:14 ( Jesus ) in whom we have redemption through His blood, the
forgiveness of sins.
1 THES 5:9,10 To obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for
us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
TITUS 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that He might redeem us from every
lawless deed, and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good
works.
• Saved by God's Love and Grace
EPHES 2:4 But God who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which
He loved us,...
EPHES 2:5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with
Christ ( By grace you have been saved ), EPHES 2:6 and raised us up together
and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
EPHES 2:7 That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His
grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. EPHES 2:8 For by Grace you
have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God.
• Saved by God's Mercy and His Holy Spirit
TITUS 3:5 But according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of
regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, TITUS 3:6 whom He poured out on
us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour. TITUS 3:7 that having been
justified by His Grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal
life.
2 THES 2:13 Because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through
sanctification by the Spirit.
• Saved by the Power of God through faith
1 PET 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready
to be revealed in the last time.
• Saved by the washing of God's Word and Holy Spirit
EPHES 5:25-27 ...Just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it
that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of the water by the Word,
that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle
or any such thing, but that it should be Holy and without blemish.
• Saved by the Words and Grace of Jesus filling our lives
JOHN 6:57 He who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
• Saved through God's promises
2 PET 1:4 By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious
promises that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having
escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
• We must be born again of the Spirit
JOHN 3:3 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see
the kingdom of God.
JOHN 3:5,6 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the
spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God; that which is born of flesh is flesh
and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.
1 PET 3:2 There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism ( not
the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward
God ) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• We are drawn to God and Jesus will raise us up on the last day.
JOHN 6:44-46 No one can come to Me, unless the Father, who sent Me draws
him, and I will raise him up at the last day. JOHN 6:45 .... Therefore everyone
who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me ( Jesus ).
JOHN 6:46 Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it
has been granted to him by my Father.
WHO CAN BE SAVED ?
All men and women have the opportunity to be saved but
many will reject the truth and many will fall away and not be
saved.
ROM 5:18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation
to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification
of life to all men.
ROM 11:11 ....But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has
come to the gentiles.
ROM 11:25,26 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this
mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that hardening in part has
happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
And so all Israel will be saved.....
What must we do to be saved by God's grace and to receive
eternal life ?
• We need to Believe that Jesus is the Christ
1 JOHN 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and
everyone who loves Him who begot, also loves him who is begotten of Him.
1 JOHN 5:10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; 1
JOHN 5:11 ....And this is the testimony; that God has given us eternal life, and
this life is in His Son. 1 JOHN 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not
have the Son of God does not have life. 1 JOHN 5:13 These things I have written
to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you
have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of
God.
• We need to pray to God, confess our sins, receive His forgiveness and
ask God to deliver us from doing evil.
ROM 10:13 For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
1 JOHN 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
• We need to boldly come to Jesus Christ to obtain His Grace and
Mercy, and not doubt that God desires to forgive us.
HEB 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
• We need to have faith for salvation from God.
EPHESIAN 2:8 For by Grace you have been saved through faith; and that not
of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not as a result of works, that no one can boast.
( We are saved by the Grace of Jesus Christ, and that grace is not by our works,
however, we must have faith in God's Grace in order to be saved. )
1 PET 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready
to be revealed in the last time.
What must we do to be saved by God's grace and to
receive eternal life ?
• We need to purpose to obey God
HEB 5:9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation
to all who obey Him.
• We need to fear God in respect for who He is, and for all that He has
given us in Love and hate all evil ways.
PHIL 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your our salvation
with fear and trembling.
HEBREWS 4:1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us
fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.
• We need to hear the word of truth, trust in Christ, believe and receive
God's Holy Spirit.
EPHES 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the
gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with
the Holy Spirit of promise, EPHES 1:14 Who is the guarantee of our inheritance
until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
• We need to confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe that
God raised Him from the dead.
ROMANS 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe
in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ROM 10:10
For with the heart one believes to righteousness and with the mouth confession
is made to salvation.
MAT 10:32 Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess
before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I
will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
• We need to believe in the truth and be sanctified by God's Holy
Spirit.
2 THES 2:13 ... Because God from the beginning chose you for salvation
through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
What do we need to do to enter the Kingdom of God and to receive
eternal life ?
• We need to come to Jesus by faith so that we can be born again of
water and of the spirit;
JOHN 3:3 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see
the kingdom of God.
JOHN 3:5,6 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the
spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God; that which is born of flesh is flesh
and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.
• We need to obey God's commandments and sincerely repent when
we fail;
MATTHEW 19:16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, " Good Teacher,
what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life ? " MAT 19:17 So He said
to him, " Why do you call Me good ? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if
you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.
MAT 19:18 He said to Him, " Which ones ? " Jesus said, You shall not murder,
You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false
witness, Honor your father and mother, and you shall love your neighbor as
yourself.
• We Need to deny ourselves, and take up cross and follow Jesus and
lose our old self life...
MAT 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, " If anyone desires to come after
Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, follow Me, MAT 16:25 For
whoever desires to save his life, will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My
sake will find it.
MAT 10:38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not
worthy of Me. MAT 10:39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his
life for My sake will find it.
• We need to be converted and humble ourselves;
MAT 18:3 Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as
little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. MAT 18:4
Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the
kingdom of heaven.
What do we need to do to enter the Kingdom of God
and to receive eternal life ?
• We need to put to death the deeds of the body, ( Our old evil ways )
By God's Spirit.
ROM 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit,
you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
• We need to do the will of God...
MAT 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the
kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
No Salvation for Non-Christians and Idolaters
Where in God's Word does it mention that there is No
Salvation for persons who choose to follow after idolatry and
believe in false doctrines, without repenting, even though
they may even attend christian churches ?
EPHES 5:5,6 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy
person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of
Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of
such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
JOHN 3:16-2116 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only
Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the
world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but
whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have
not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict:
Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light
because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light,
and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But
whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly
that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
MARK 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does
not believe will be condemned.
ROMANS 2:12 For as many as have sinned without the Law will also
perish without the Law.
MAT 7:21 NOT EVERYONE who says to Me, " Lord, Lord " shall enter the
kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven...
ISA 45:20 They have no knowledge, who carry the word of their carved
image, and pray to a god that cannot save.
1 CORIN 6:9,10 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit
the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, Neither fornicators, NOR
IDOLATERS, nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor
thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will
inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you
were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. NOTE: If anyone chooses to
repent, turn away from Idolatry etc., and accept the Grace of Jesus
Christ, they will be saved.
REV 21:8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the
sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--they
will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second
death.”
GAL 5:19-21 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and
debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage,
selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the
like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not
inherit the kingdom of God.
1 JOHN 3:14,15 He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever
hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has
eternal life abiding in him.
ROMANS 1:24-32 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of
their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one
another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and
served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever
praised. Amen.26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful
lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural
ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women
and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with
other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge
of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what
ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness,
evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.
They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful;
they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no
understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s
righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not
only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice
them.
MAT 12:30-32 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not
gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can
be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone
who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who
speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age
to come.
1 JOHN 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son
of God, does NOT have life.
NOTE: God is very just and forgiving and merciful if we choose to no
longer follow our own desires.
Do Non-Christians have an excuse not to believe in God ?
ROMANS 1:18-20 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all
the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their
wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because
God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s
invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen,
being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
IS EVERYONE SAVED BY WHAT JESUS CHRIST
ACCOMPLISHED AT THE CROSS ?
By Let us Reason Ministries
*Universalism- Doesn’t the Bible teach all will be saved because of Jesus’ death
on the cross?
The salvation offered by Jesus Christ is NOT Inclusive. In John 10:9-14 Jesus
said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and
out and find pasture.” Jesus himself said “if you enter ANY OTHER WAY you are
a thief and a robber”
The danger of universalism is that it gives someone a false sense of security
about their afterlife.
The Bible consistently teaches that we are saved by grace THROUGH faith, not
just grace, not everyone is an automatic recipient of salvation by Jesus Christ’s
work on the cross (Eph.2:8-10). We must do something, and that something is
to believe, after God draws an individual and they have a revelation of the truth,
their sinful condition they must by and act of their will place faith in Christs work.
One must believe to be saved.
John the apostle writes in his gospel 1:11-12 “but as many as receive him, to
them he gave the right (power) to become children of God, to those who believe
on his name.” If one does not receive him they are not children of God. “For ye
are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” Galatians 3:26-28)
2 Cor. 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things
have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” The only way in to
Christ is by Spirit baptism, it was Jesus who said, “except a man be born again,
he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
Jesus said Mt. 7:13-15: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and
broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.”
Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there
are few who find it.” Jesus is not saying all will make it, not even many but few
find it.
We know not everyone will be saved because In Matthew 13:49 Jesus said, “This
is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the
wicked from the righteous.” Again, two classes are mentioned - unbelievers and
believers spoken of as the wicked and the righteous, the godly and ungodly.
IS CHRIST IN EVERYONE ?
NO - Only the individuals, who believe in Jesus Christ, who continues to repent
from sin, accepts His Grace, continues in God's Word, who obeys the
commandments of Jesus Christ, and walks by faith, receives the Holy Spirit of
God, obtains Mercy when they sin, Loves and forgives one another in the way
Jesus Christ taught, and bears good spiritual fruit; Only these True disciples of
Jesus Christ has both God the Father and Jesus Christ in them.
1 JOHN 2:23 Whoever denies the Son, does not have the Father ( God )
either.
ROMANS 8:9,10 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by
the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the
Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of
sin, the Spirit gives life[a] because of righteousness.
JOHN 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the
kingdom of God unless he is born again."
1 JOHN 4:12-16 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another,
God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know
that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His
Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the
Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God,
God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the
love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides
in God, and God in him.
1 JOHN 3:10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are
manifest; Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is
he who does not love his brother.
JOHN 14:23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my
teachings. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make
our home with him.
1 JOHN 5:12 He who has the Son has life; He who does not have the Son
of God does not have life.
JOHN 11:10 But if one walks in the night he stumbles, because the Light is
not in him.
1 JOHN 2:15 Do not love the world, or the things in the world, if anyone
loves the world, the Love of the Father is not in him.
2 JOHN 1:9 Whoever transgresses...Whoever does not abide in the
doctrine of Christ does not have God.
1 JOHN 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar and His
Word is not in us.
1 JOHN 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the Truth
is not in us.
SHOULD WE ALLOW INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT
CHRISTIANS YET OR FROM OTHER RELIGIONS TO COME
AND FELLOWSHIP WITH US ?
YES - If they are sincere and are truly seeking the Truth of Jesus Christ.
We all have sinned and fall short of God. The difference remains in who chooses
to believe in Jesus Christ, Repent, and follow in obedience to His teachings.
Don't be quick to judge; Allow them to grow in God's Word, if that’s their desire.
And further if they would be will to lay-aside any and all false beliefs, that they
might have, as God would show them, through hearing of the Word of Truth of
Jesus Christ.
However, if eventually, it becomes obvious that an individual has no intention
of repenting away from their perverted false beliefs, then that individual must
not be allowed to remain in the fellowship, because they may have ulterior
motives, or choose to believe in myths, and false doctrines, rather than the Truth
of Jesus Christ. " A little leaven will leavens the whole bunch " A little sin will ruin
the rest of the body of believers.
1 CORIN 5:13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from
among you
Should we allow individuals from other religions to share or teach
other doctrines contrary to what Jesus taught, within our Christian
Churches or Bible Studies ?
ABSOLUTELY NOT, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES
However if a person manages to share a false doctrine, without approval of
the elders, within the church, it is essential for the pastor or teacher or any
mature believer to bring correction to the church, to those who might of heard
the false doctrine, as the Holy Spirit would lead.
CONFESSION
Confession is used in two primary ways in scripture. Both are essential to learn
and to continually apply in our every day lives.
1. Confession of our sins - To God
2. Confession of our faith in Jesus Christ to others
CONFESSION OF OUR SINS - To God 1 JOHN 1:9 If we confess our sins to
God, He will be faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.
PSALM 32:5 I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden,
I said, " I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and You forgave the
iniquity of my sin.
Confession of our known sins to God in prayer throughout our lives as
Christians is imperative for us to be forgiven. However if we forget to confess
certain sins we still are forgiven.
Confession is an open sincere admittance to God of our wrong doings.
God already knows what we have done wrong. However, God still desires us to
openly confess our sins to Him. When we attempt to hide our sins or harbor our
sins in our heart, this just reveals to God that we are trying to be deceitful, and
that we really don't want to change, or that we really don't believe or trust Him
for forgiveness.
Confession is the first step which shows to God a our sincerity to repent,
or to change. Confession also helps a person to consciencily understand and
remember that which he was doing was evil and wrong. This is so that he won't
try to justify himself and keep repeating that sin again.
If we bring our dark deeds into the light of God by confession, then the spiritual
darkness can no longer remain.
CONFESSION OF OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST TO OTHERS
LUKE 12:8,9 Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me ( Jesus ) before men,
him the Son of Man ( Jesus ) also will confess before the angels of God. But he
who denies Me before men, will be denied before the angels of God.
ROMANS 10:9 If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in
your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;10:10 For with
the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he
confesses, resulting in salvation.
GODLY SORROW and REMORSE
Are you truly sorrowful for any sin that you've committed ?; sincerely
sorry that you offended God and hurt another person ?
Then true Godly sorrow will produce a genuine repentance within your
heart or have a life changing result in your life, concerning a particular sin;
Worldly sorrow is just sorrow which comes from the repercussions and
sufferings that we might experience caused by our own sin; Worldly sorrow does
not produce lasting repentance.
We should not allow ourselves to feel condemnation for our sins, because
Jesus did not come to condemn the world , but rather to save the world,
therefore, we should allow the conviction of the Holy Spirit to produce Godly
sorrow in our lives so that we can effectually turn from evil.
God will come and comfort us, when we are confronted by various
tribulations and suffer various trials, and when we have sorrow and sadness.
We are then able and equipped to comfort others who are in any trouble,
with the same comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corin
1:3-5
Godly sorrow = Produces repentance
Worldly sorrow = Death
2 Corin 7:10 For godly sorrow produces a repentance that leads to salvation
and brings no regret, but worldly sorrow produces death
SORROW
Jer 31:10-14 Isaiah 60:19-22 Isaiah 51:11 Ps 30:5
John 16:19-24 WARNING Sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another
god
Ps 16:4 Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; their libations of
blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.
KEY SCRIPTURES
2 CORN 7:9-10 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your
sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you
might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance
leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but the sorrow of the world produces
death.
PSALM 51:1-4 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your lovingkindness;
according to the multitude of your tender mercies, take away my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I
acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. Against You, and
You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight.
PSALM 51:9-11 Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew within me a right spirit.
PSALM 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite
heart, O God, You will not despise.
Question: "What is godly sorrow?"
Answer: The phrase “godly sorrow” appears only once in Scripture, in 2
Corinthians 7:10-11: “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and
leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow
has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves,
what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to
see justice done . . .”. Godly sorrow, also translated “godly grief” is an acute
sense of sadness we experience as a result of the sins we have committed.
Paul’s reference to godly sorrow in 2 Corinthians 7 was brought about by the
reaction of the Corinthian believers to a previous letter in which Paul rebuked
them for the dissentions that were present in the church. Although he was sorry
to have to hurt them, he rejoiced that his letter brought them to godly sorrow
“as God intended.” Godly sorrow is that which brings the repentance that leads
to salvation (1 Corinthians 7:8-9).
Godly sorrow is a kind of wretchedness that can bring the repentant
sinner to tears of grief. A good example of this is Peter at the time of Jesus’
arrest and trials. When accused as being one of Jesus’ followers, Peter disowned
Jesus by cursing and swearing to his accusers that he did not know the Man.
Upon hearing the rooster crow three times, he remembered the words of Jesus,
who had prophesied Peter’s very actions, and went out and wept bitterly
(Matthew 26:74-75).
James wrote: “Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you
double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and
your joy to gloom” (James 4:8-9). James is referencing this kind of deep sorrow
with his command to “grieve, mourn and wail.” Such words are reminiscent of
the Old Testament prophets who called the people to repentance, having them
grieve over their sins, and to sit in sackcloth and ashes.
Another illustration of godly sorrow was shown by David, “a man after God’s own
heart” (Acts 13:22). He revealed his own godly sorrow for his sins in many of his
psalms. In one, he pleads for God's mercy and cries out: “I am worn out from
groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with
tears” ( Psalm 6:6). The apostle Paul described his own battles with sin: “What a
wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” Then he gives
the answer: “Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:2425).
Godly sorrow results from a heart-felt conviction that we have offended God by
our sin. Such a burning conviction produces in our hearts a godly sorrow. As we
look upon Him who was pierced for our sins, we are deeply grieved in spirit. As
such, we resolve within our hearts that we will, with the help of God, “cease to
do evil, and learn to do good” (Isaiah 1:16).
GotQuestions.org
REPENTANCE , REPENT –
( Metanoeo ) Greek Metanoia
The Word " REPENT " means " To change one's mind, " To regret and change
direction, to turn away from evil towards good.
MATTHEW 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, " Repent,
for the Kingdom of God is at hand. '
LUKE 13:3 ...Unless you repent, you too will all perish.
A man or woman after God's own heart, is a person who admits their
wrong deeds, and chooses to repent by turning away from all evil and
seeks to do God's will.
Indeed, God's love is merciful towards all those who have sinned and who also
sincerely constantly repent and desire to deny themselves and take up their
cross daily to overcome their sinful ways, through Jesus. Yet true Godly love
does not condone any evil to remain within ourselves; The provision of grace is
given not so we can sin, but rather so we can progressively overcome our sinful
nature through a true communion with Jesus Christ and thereby as we confess
our sin, and turn away, He is faithful and just to forgive us.
God's Grace, Spirit, Truth and Love are never given to encourage evil nor to
permit us the carnal freedom to sin; Grace is not a license to commit sin; But
instead God's Spirit and truth are given to convict our hearts of sin and of the
judgment to come, in order to set us free from sin so that we will truly be at
liberty in His spirit and have new life.
Any individual is in error who assumes that they can remain in any particular
sin and still be forgiven without turning away from doing that evil; For unless
they eventually repent, they will not be forgiven, neither are they walking in
Love.
If we desire to demonstrate God's Love, we must not purpose to deliberately
sin nor to continue in any evil way.
Let us first always examine ourselves within and not harden our heart
against the voice of God, who will reveal our sin, so that we can lay it aside, and
walk in the light of love. Love also does not perpetually accept evil to continue
within the lives of the body of Christ.
REPENTANCE
Love calls for a repentance that fully transforms a person's inner nature,
from their carnal ways of death into the new nature of Christ. Love instructs,
corrects, reproofs, rebukes and warns others according to the truth, but only by
the Spirit in a Christlike manner with the hope and sincere efforts of
reconciliation, through patience, encouragement, and lovingkindness.
The truth of God's love and the wisdom to hate evil, should be
proclaimed, not with the intent of judgment or condemnation, but should be
preached in hope of edification and salvation to the hearers. For Christ came not
to judge, but to save, so we must do also, now, doing everything to maintain the
unity within the Body of Christ. The judgment of Christ will come in it's proper
time.
Sincere repentance brings the righteousness of Jesus Christ by faith into
our lives. Our obligation to God is not to eliminate evil from the whole world now
nor to destroy evil persons; Christ at His coming will do this; Rather our
obligation to God and our commission in Christ, is for each one of us to
personally repent first and always, then to declare the Gospel of love, truth,
repentance, and salvation through grace, so that those who would choose to
believe, would then be able to turn from sin and destruction and obtain eternal
life.
All those who choose not to believe because they love their evil ways,
consequently, have the vengeance and wrath of God upon them. Again if we
want to earnestly love others and most of all to love God with all of our heart,
mind and strength as He commanded, then we will not allow sin like leaven to
grow within us or our brethren;
Rather we must persevere to lay aside all evil as God enables us. And
then after we have taken the log of pride and sin from our own eye, then we can
see more clearly to encourage and to instruct others in the church and beyond to
do the same.
Love is intended to be pure and holy without hypocrisy. Any deed that we
hope to do in love must at that time be without evil and sinless or else it cannot
be true love. As we die to our selfish life and turn away from sin, then the
fullness of Christ and the Father's love can coincidentally grow up, unhindered
within us, as we partake of His Word and of His Grace.
Love is what signifies a true follower of Christ. God's love will be
established within us , if we humble ourselves and receive the truth and Spirit of
Jesus Christ in our life.
Further as we constantly repent from evil and deny our self and abide in grace,
then through us, true Godly love and spiritual fruit will come forth, by God.
REPENTANCE
Anyone can repent and turn away from any sin with the power of God working
on their behalf, and if you sincerely want to change, God will certainly be with
you now and forevermore.
KEY SCRIPTURES
LUKE 15:4-7 " What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep, and has lost
one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture, and go after
the one which is lost, until he finds it? 15:5 And when he has found it, he lays it
on his shoulders, rejoicing. 15:6 And when he comes home, he calls together his
friends and his neighbors, saying to them, " Rejoice with me, for I have found
my sheep which was lost." 15:7 I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven,
over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need
no repentance.
PSALM 34:14 Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
MATTHEW 9:13 But go and learn what this means; ' I desire mercy, not
sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners to
repentance.
THE LOST COIN
LUKE 15:8-10 Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does
she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it ?
And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, '
Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin. ' In the same way, I tell you, there is
a rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
REPENTANCE THE PRODIGAL SON
LUKE 15:11-32 And he said, "There was a man who had two sons; 12 and the
younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that
falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. 13 Not many days later, the
younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and
there he squandered his property in loose living. 14 And when he had spent
everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. 15
So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent
him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have fed on the pods
that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to
himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and
to spare, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I
will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am
no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants."'
20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his
father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before
you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 But the father said to his
servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his
hand, and shoes on his feet; 23 and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat
and make merry; 24 for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost,
and is found.' And they began to make merry. 25 "Now his elder son was in the
field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. 27 And he said
to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf,
because he has received him safe and sound.' 28 But he was angry and refused
to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father,
'Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command;
yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But
when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you
killed for him the fatted calf!' 31 And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with
me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for
this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"
REPENTANCE
LUKE 24:46-49 And He said to them, " Thus it is written, that the Christ should
suffer and rise again from the dead on the third day; and that repentance for
the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the
nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And
behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to
stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.'
ISAIAH 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts. And let him return to the Lord.
2 PETER 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness,
but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to
repentance.
GRACE
GRACE - Undeserving or Unmerited favor from God
GRACE - ( Charis )
Grace is God's unmerited favor and clemency for the evil deeds which we
each have done.
Grace is God's divine lovingkindness and compassion for the offenses of
mankind. The perfect grace is made available to us by what Jesus Christ
accomplished at
the cross, by giving His sinless life to be sacrificed for the penalty of our sins. "
While we were yet sinners Christ died for us " Romans 5:8
God's amazing grace releases us from His wrathful judgment. Grace from
God is made available to anyone who accepts, and believes in Jesus Christ. The
provision of God's Grace, while intended for anyone in the world, still needs to be
appropriated on a individual basis.
This precious grace from God allows the believer of Jesus Christ not to be held
accountable for his past, present, or future sins, if he continually sincerely
confesses and turns away from every sin.
Anyone who does not accept Jesus Christ's payment of their sins, will be
held accountable for their own sins and will be judged by God.
As Christians, God wants us to come boldly to His throne of grace any
time we sin so we can be forgiven, but God also does not want us to abuse His
grace either.
We abuse God's Grace when we keep on sinning and do not desire to
overcome a sin through Jesus Christ. If we continue deliberately committing a
particular sin or sins without repenting, then this is abusing God's grace or favor.
God's Grace is a free gift from God to the humble in heart and is
completely undeserved by any one of us.
When any Christian experiences the grace of God, we are overwhelmed by God's
lovingkindness, and set free; then we are able to serve God acceptably with
reverence and Godly fear.
GRACE KEY SCRIPTURES
EPHESIANS 2:8,9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one
should boast.
ISAIAH 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts, and let him return to the Lord, And our God will have compassion on
him; For He will abundantly pardon.
HEBREWS 4:16 Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain
mercy, and find grace to help in a time of need.
WHO CAN RECEIVE GRACE FROM GOD ?
For all, who believe in Jesus Christ;
Rom 3:22-24 ...even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for
all those who believe.; for there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God,
Ephes 6:24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.
Amen. Rom 1:6,7 Among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ to all
who are in
Rome be loved of God called to be saints, Grace to you... Rom 4:16 To all
descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of
the faith of Abraham Ephes 2:5 Even when we were dead in trespasses,
... James 4:6 God gives Grace to the humble Prov 3:34 1 Peter 5:5
Rom 3:24 Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus.
Rom 3:25 Whom God set forth to be a propitiation (mercy seat) by His
blood, through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in
the forbearance of God, He passed over the sins previously committed,
Gal 1:3,4 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present
evil age.
How do we receive God’s Grace ?
Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is through faith in Jesus
Christ to all and on all who believe.
Ephes 3:7 According to the gift of the Grace of God given to me, by
the effective working of His power.
Ephes 4:7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure
of Christ's gift.
Rom 5:1,2 ...(Our Lord Jesus Christ) through whom also we have access by
faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of
God.
Rom 5:15 The gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded to
many.
1 Corin 1:4 ...for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus
Col 1:5,6 Because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you
heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, ...since the day you heard
and knew the grace of God in truth
1 Tim 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant with faith and
love which are in Christ Jesus.
Acts 14:3 Who was bearing, witness to the word of His grace...
Rom 1:4,5 And declared to be the son of God with power, according to the
Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead through whom we have
received grace...
Rom 1:7 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
Rom 4:16 Therefore, it is of faith that it might be according to grace...
Rom 15:5 Because of the grace given to me by God.
2 Corin 9:8 God is able to make all grace abound toward you...
Ephes 2:8,9 For by grace you have been saved through faith and not of
yourselves, it is the gift of God not of works, lest anyone boast.
How is grace not received ?
Rom 4:4 (Through works of the old law) now to him who works, the wages
are not counted as grace but as debt.
What good happens when we receive God's Grace ?
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by His Grace through the redemption that is
in Christ Jesus.
Rom 5:1,2 Justified...in which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Rom 5:16 Justification
Rom 5:17 Gift of righteousness
Rom 5:18 Justification of life
Rom 5:21 Grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life, through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law
but under grace.
Rom 12:6-8 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to
us...
Do we receive God's Grace by the works we do or is
God's Grace a free gift ?
Rom 5:15-18 Free gift
Rom 11:5,6 No longer of works
Ephes 2:8,9 For by Grace you have been saved through faith and that not
of yourselves, it is the gift of God not of works lest anyone should boast.
Ephes 4:7 Christ's gift
1 Corin 15:10 By the Grace of God I am what I am and His Grace toward me
was not in vain but I labored more abundantly that they all, yet not I, but the
Grace of God which was with me.
Why do we need God’s Grace ?
•
SALVATION
Acts 15:11 But we believe that through the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we
shall be saved...
Heb 12:28 Therefore since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be
shaken let us have Grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with
reverence and Godly fear.
Heb 13:9 For it is good that the heart be established by Grace.
Acts 20:32 ...to the word of His Grace, which is able to build you up and give
you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
•
FORGIVENESS
God's Forgiveness Towards Man's Sin Condition: If you confess your sin
( 1 John 1:9 )
God's forgiveness is His divine pardon for the sins that we have committed;
God's word says, if we confess our sins to God in prayer with sincere Godly
sorrow, He will be faithful and just to forgive us.
God desires for us to believe and to have the faith for His forgiveness,
regardless what evil we've done.
We can have the full assurance that most definitely, God has forgiven us if we
simply ask for forgiveness, and turn away from the sin that we've committed. He
doesn't want us to doubt His kindness or the greatest of His Love nor does He
want us to carry the guilt of condemnation.
KEY SCRIPTURES
MAT 6:12, 14,15 ...And forgive us our depts., as we also have forgiven our
debtors,...
For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your
transgressions.
PSALM 32:5 I acknowledge my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I
said, ' I will confess my transgressions to the Lord;' And You did forgive the guilt
of my sin.'
FORGIVENESS
MICAH 7:18 Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity, and passes over
the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession ?
ACTS 26:18 To open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light
and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive
forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by
faith in Me.
COL 1:13 For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us
to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 1:14 In whom we have redemption, the
forgiveness of sins.
God's forgiveness is the dismissal or divine release of the bondage and penalties
of sin. We should express our thankfulness to God for the forgiveness of all our
sins.
Man Needs To Have Forgiveness Towards All Men
It is God's will and essential for every Christian to have forgiveness in their
minds and hearts towards everyone, regardless the wrong or injustice that
someone has done to you. As God has forgiven you, so you must also forgive
others or neither are you forgiven by God.
You must not choose to have anger or hate towards anyone.
Now this does not mean that we condone the evil done to us or others.
However God does not want us to hold on to any resentment, bitterness, or
revenge towards anyone. In fact God asks that we pray a blessing upon our
enemies so that they might overcome the evil of their lives and be established in
God's Righteousness.
Man Needs To Have Forgiveness Towards All Men
KEY SCRIPTURES
MAT 6:12 And forgive us our debts., as we also have forgiven our debtors. 6:14
For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you. 6:15 But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive
your transgressions.
LUKE 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in
return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for
He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 6:36 Be merciful, just as your
Father is merciful.
6:37 And do not judge and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you
will not be condemned; Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
MAT 5:43-48 You have heard that it was said, " You shall love your neighbor,
and hate your enemy." 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for
those who persecute you. 5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward
have you ? Do not even the tax- gatherers do the same ?
MARK 11:25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything
against anyone; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your
transgressions. 11:26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in
heaven, forgive your transgressions.
MAT 18:21,22 Then Peter came and said to Him, " Lord, how often shall my
brother sin against me and I forgive him ? Up to seven times ? 18:22 Jesus said
to him, " I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."
ROMANS 12:14,17-21 Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not;
12:17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of
all men. 12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
12:19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of
God, for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 12:21 Do
not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
LUKE 17:3 Be on your guard ! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he
repents, forgive him. 17:4 And if he sins against you seven times a day, and
returns to you seven times, saying, " I repent, " forgive him.
FORGIVING OTHERS
Do you hold a grudge against someone, or have bitterness and unforgiveness
towards someone ? If you do, you must forgive them in your heart, according to
what God has told us to do; This does not mean that you condone the wrong
that they have done, but rather you just forgive their actions so that God can
change their life. Jesus has commanded us to forgive everyone.
Unless we forgive all of those who have said or done something wrong against
us then neither are we forgiven by God; We should continue to forgive a person
for their wrong actions, even countless times, just as God continues to forgive us
countless times even for the same sins that we may commit, to this very day.
KEY SCRIPTURES
MATTHEW 6:14,15 For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your
heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your
Father will not forgive your transgressions.
MATTHEW 18:21 Then Peter came and said to Him, " Lord, how often shall my
brother sin against me and I forgive him ? Up to seven times ?
18:22 Jesus said to him, " I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to
seventy times seven."
MERCY
How and by Whom do we receive mercy ?
Ephes 2:4 But God, who is rich in Mercy
Titus 3:5-7 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man
appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to
His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of
the Holy Spirit, who He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ
our Savior, ...
Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest who has passed through
the heavens Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our
weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without
sin.
Heb 4:16 ... Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of Grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need
James 5:11 The Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who
according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible
and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are
kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the
last time.
Who will not obtain mercy ?
James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no
mercy...
What good comes from mercy ?
• Salvation
Titus 3:5 According to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of
regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.
2 Corin 4:1 Therefore since we have this ministry, as we have received
mercy, we do not lose heart.
James 2:13 Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Question: "What is the difference between mercy and
grace?"
Answer: Mercy and grace are often confused. While the terms have similar
meanings, grace and mercy are not the same. To summarize the difference:
mercy is God not punishing us as our sins deserve, and grace is God blessing us
despite the fact that we do not deserve it. Mercy is deliverance from judgment.
Grace is extending kindness to the unworthy.
According to the Bible, we have all sinned (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23; 1
John 1:8). As a result of that sin, we all deserve death (Romans 6:23) and
eternal judgment in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:12-15). With that in mind,
every day we live is an act of God's mercy. If God gave us all what we deserve,
we would all be, right now, condemned for eternity. In Psalm 51:1-2, David cries
out, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to
your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin." A plea to God for mercy is asking Him to withhold
the judgment we deserve and instead grant to us the forgiveness we in no way
have earned.
We deserve nothing from God. God does not owe us anything. Anything good
that we experience is a result of the grace of God (Ephesians 2:5). Grace is
simply defined as unmerited favor. God favors, or gives us good things that we
do not deserve and could never earn. Rescued from judgment by God's mercy,
grace is anything and everything we receive beyond that mercy (Romans
3:24). Common grace refers to the sovereign grace which God bestows on all of
mankind regardless of their spiritual standing before Him, while saving grace is
that special dispensation of grace whereby God sovereignly bestows unmerited
divine assistance upon His elect for their regeneration and sanctification.
Mercy and grace are best illustrated in the salvation that is available through
Jesus Christ. We deserve judgment, but if we receive Jesus Christ as Savior, we
receive mercy from God and we are delivered from judgment. Instead of
judgment, we receive by grace salvation, forgiveness of sins, abundant life (John
10:10), and an eternity in Heaven, the most wonderful place imaginable
(Revelation 21-22). Because of the mercy and grace of God, our response should
be to fall on our knees in worship and thanksgiving. Hebrews 4:16 declares, "Let
us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive
mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
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REDEMPTION
REDEEM, REDEMPTION- EXAGORAZO ( VERB )
It is used metaphorically, as the purchasing of a slave to give freedom;
LUTROO ( VERB ) To release a person by paying a ransom price
We were held spiritually captive under the bondage of our own sin till
Jesus Christ figuratively purchased us with His own blood; His Love for us was so
great, He paid the highest price for us by laying down His own life for the
penalty that each of us deserved for our own sins.
Jesus becomes our ' Redeemer ' when we individually ask God in prayer to
forgive us and further ask Jesus Christ to come into our heart by the Holy Spirit,
and become our Savior.
We get the use of the word " Redeemer " as a name for Christ in the Bible, from
the ancient Jewish custom by which kinsman redeemed the property of one of
his family who happened to be in destitute circumstances.
As we were likewise once destitute of spiritual things, then If we accept Jesus as
our Lord , we are then redeemed and are adopted back into God's family.
KEY SCRIPTURES
1 PETER 1:18 Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like
silver and gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 1:19
But with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of
Christ.
GAL 4:4, But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born
of a woman, born under the Law, 4:5 in order that He might redeem those who
were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
EPHES 1:5-7 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to
Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of
His grace, which He ( God the Father ) freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. (
Jesus ) In Him (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood , the forgiveness
of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.
TITUS 2:13,14 Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of
our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; who gave Himself for us, that He might
redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own
possession, zealous for good works.
ISAIAH 35:8-10 And a highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called
the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for him
who walks that way, and fools will not wander on it.
35:9 No lion will be there, Nor will any vicious beast go up on it; These will not
be found there. But the redeemed will walk there,
35:10 And the ransomed of the Lord will return, And come with joyful shouting
to Zion, with everlasting joy upon their heads, They will find gladness and joy,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Question: "What is the meaning of Christian redemption?"
Answer: Everyone is in need of redemption. Our natural condition was
characterized by guilt: “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
(Romans 3:23). Christ’s redemption has freed us from guilt, being “justified
freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans
3:24).
The benefits of redemption include eternal life (Revelation 5:9-10), forgiveness
of sins (Ephesians 1:7), righteousness (Romans 5:17), freedom from the law’s
curse (Galatians 3:13), adoption into God’s family (Galatians 4:5), deliverance
from sin’s bondage (Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:14-18), peace with God (Colossians
1:18-20), and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
To be redeemed, then, is to be forgiven, holy, justified, free, adopted, and
reconciled. See also Psalm 130:7-8; Luke 2:38; and Acts 20:28.
The word redeem means “to buy out.” The term was used specifically in
reference to the purchase of a slave’s freedom. The application of this term to
Christ’s death on the cross is quite telling. If we are “redeemed,” then our prior
condition was one of slavery. God has purchased our freedom, and we are no
longer in bondage to sin or to the Old Testament law. This metaphorical use of
“redemption” is the teaching of Galatians 3:13 and 4:5.
Related to the Christian concept of redemption is the word ransom. Jesus paid
the price for our release from sin and its consequences (Matthew 20:28; 1
Timothy 2:6). His death was in exchange for our life. In fact, Scripture is quite
clear that redemption is only possible “through His blood,” that is, by His death
(Colossians 1:14).
The streets of heaven will be filled with former captives who, through no merit of
their own, find themselves redeemed, forgiven, and free. Slaves to sin have
become saints. No wonder we will sing a new song—a song of praise to the
Redeemer who was slain (Revelation 5:9). We were slaves to sin, condemned to
eternal separation from God. Jesus paid the price to redeem us, resulting in our
freedom from slavery to sin and our rescue from the eternal consequences of
that sin.
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RECONCILIATION TO GOD
RECONCILIATION - To settle any difference or restore fellowship between...
Our sinful nature brought division between God and man, yet the precious
grace of Jesus Christ divinely resolves the spiritual differences so that God can
dwell in a person's heart by the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the only way anyone
can be reconciled back to God.
Jesus Christ restored the friendship and harmony between God and man.
His steadfast Love and reconciliation is available to anyone who chooses to
accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Reconciliation allows us to spiritually enter
the presence of God, and entitles us to receive many eternal spiritual blessings.
We are brought into God's family through the reconciliation work of Jesus
Christ and the Holy Spirit. We are accepted before God the Father, through the
spiritual reconciliation power of Christ's grace, and thereby spiritually obtain His
righteousness and further be granted full and eternal reconciliation to God.
KEY SCRIPTURES
ROMANS 5:10,11 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God
through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be
saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
RECONCILIATION TO GOD
KEY SCRIPTURES
COLOSSIANS 1:20 And through Him (Jesus) reconciled all things to Himself,
having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether
things on earth or things in heaven. 1:21 And although you were formerly
alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,
1:22 Yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order
to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.
2 CORIN 5:18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself
through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 5:19 namely, that God
was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses
against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating
through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
BORN AGAIN
Everyone is born into this world with a corrupted spiritual nature caused
by the original sin of Adam and Eve. It is for this reason, every person needs to
be spiritually " born again " in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Any person
can be spiritually born again, if they humble themselves, and ask God in prayer
to forgive them of their sins and sincerely ask for Jesus Christ to come into their
life.
The very moment you pray for Jesus Christ to come into your life, this is
the moment that you are truly " born again ", even if you didn't feel anything still
you are spiritually born again. When you are Born Again, God fully cleanses and
forgives you of all your past sins and evil ways; you receive a fresh new
beginning, a totally new life. You are no longer the same person.
When you pray a prayer for salvation, God is faithful, you become a new
creation; old things have passed away and behold He makes all things new in
your life. You are re-born into the family of God. You become as a babe in Christ
Jesus learning How to walk in the spirit and live according to the will of God.
As a babe in Christ, you will have difficulty understanding and conveying
the spiritual truths of God; but as you continue growing in Jesus Christ, God will
give you wisdom and perception to understand His ways.
After being Born Again God desires for a person to grow up into the
fullness
of Jesus Christ. As we daily let go of each of our old selfish and sinful ways, then
the living attributes of God or spiritual fruit will be produced in our minds and
hearts.
As we grow up into the very nature of Jesus Christ, we may fail many
times, however only be strong and of good courage because you are now under
God's grace to help you to overcome all your weaknesses and spiritual
immaturity.
When you are Born Again you become a Christian and a child of God;
Therefore God will care for you and love you as His very own. When you become
spiritually born again you can only feed on the milk of the word of God, which
are the basic righteous principles of God.
BORN AGAIN - KEY SCRIPTURES
JOHN 3:3-6 Jesus answered and said to him, " Truly, truly, I say to you, unless
one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to Him, "
How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his
mothers womb and be born, can he?"
Jesus answered, " Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and of
Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God; That which is born of the flesh is
flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.
1 PETER 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living
hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an
inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved
in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a
salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
JOHN 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
1 JOHN 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and
whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.
1 PETER 1:23 For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable,
but rather, through the living and abiding word of God.
1 PETER 2:2 Like newborn babes long for the pure milk of the word, that by it
you may grow in respect to salvation.
Question: "What does it mean to be a born again Christian?"
Answer: What does it mean to be a born again Christian? The classic passage
from the Bible that answers this question is John 3:1-21. The Lord Jesus Christ is
talking to Nicodemus, a prominent Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin (a
ruler of the Jews). Nicodemus had come to Jesus at night. Nicodemus had
questions to ask Jesus.
As Jesus talked with Nicodemus, He said, “’I tell you the truth, no one can see
the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’ ‘How can a man be born when he is
old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s
womb to be born!’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the
kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to
flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my
saying, ‘You must be born again’” (John 3:3-7).
The phrase "born again" literally means "born from above." Nicodemus had a
real need. He needed a change of his heart—a spiritual transformation. New
birth, being born again, is an act of God whereby eternal life is imparted to the
person who believes (2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 John
2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1-4, 18). John 1:12,13 indicates that "born again" also carries
the idea "to become children of God" through trust in the name of Jesus Christ.
The question logically comes, "Why does a person need to be born again?" The
Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:1 says, "And you He made alive, who were dead in
trespasses and sins..." (NKJV). To the Romans in Romans 3:23, the Apostle
wrote, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." So, a person
needs to be born again in order to have their sins forgiven and have a
relationship with God.
How does that come to be? Ephesians 2:8-9 states, "For it is by grace you have
been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
not by works, so that no one can boast." When one is "saved," he/she has been
born again, spiritually renewed, and is now a child of God by right of new birth.
Trusting in Jesus Christ, the One who paid the penalty of sin when He died on
the cross, is what it means to be "born again" spiritually. "Therefore, if anyone is
in Christ, he is a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come!" (2
Corinthians 5:17).
If you have never trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, will you
consider the prompting of the Holy Spirit as He speaks to your heart? You need
to be born again. Will you pray the prayer of repentance and become a new
creation in Christ today? "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in
his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of
natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God"
(John 1:12-13).
If you want to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and be born again, here is a
sample prayer. Remember, saying this prayer or any other prayer will not save
you. It is only trusting in Christ that can save you from sin. This prayer is simply
a way to express to God your faith in Him and thank Him for providing for your
salvation. "God, I know that I have sinned against you and am deserving of
punishment. But Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through
faith in Him I could be forgiven. I place my trust in You for salvation. Thank You
for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness—the gift of eternal life! Amen!"
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CHRIST IN YOU
As a Christian, you have become the temple of God's Holy Spirit and you
have the honor to also have God the Father and Jesus Christ dwell spiritually in
your heart.
It is Jesus Christ in you that is your hope to receive a glorified eternal body. Only
individuals who have sincerely confessed their sins and asked for Jesus Christ to
come into their life, actually do have Christ within. This is contrary to false New
Age beliefs, that imply everyone has Christ within them.
God wants us to know Jesus Christ more than just intellectually. We all
need Jesus Christ to rule and reign in our heart spiritually in order to overcome
sin and to be filled with His Love.
What a privileged and a blessing that God who created the universe and
Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, would want to dwell in your heart. When Jesus,
Who is God, enters your heart this is the greatest miracle of all and then His light
can shine through you to others. As we decrease, Jesus can increase His very
nature within our lives.
KEY SCRIPTURES
COL 1:27 To whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of
this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
GAL 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live,
but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in
the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.
JOHN 15:4 Abide in Me ( Jesus ), and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit
of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
ROMANS 8:9,10 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed
the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,
he does not belong to Him.
And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is
alive because of righteousness.
CHRIST IN YOU
KEY SCRIPTURES
JOHN 17:20 I do not ask in behalf of those alone, but for those also who
believe in Me through their word;
17:21 that they all may be one; even as You, Father are in Me, and I in
You, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that You did
send Me.
17:22 And the glory which You have given Me I have given to them; that they
may be one, just as We are one;
17:23 I in them, and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that
the world may know that You did send Me, and did love them, even as You did
love Me.
17:24 " Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me
where I am, in order that they may behold My glory, which You have given Me;
for You did love Me before the foundation of the world.
17:25 O righteous Father, although the world has not You; Yet I have known
You; and these have known that You did send Me.
17:26 and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known; that
the love wherewith You did love Me may be in them, and I in them. "
WATER BAPTISM
Water Baptism is an outward proclamation of the inner working of God in
a Christian's life, by a person who has already accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord
and Savior.
When a Christian is baptized in water that individual is declaring that he
wants his old sinful life to be buried and as he rises from the water, that he
would likewise want to rise spiritually to the newness of life in Jesus Christ,
totally washed clean of his past sinful nature and refreshed.
Even though a person may have been baptized as a baby, still that person
as a adult should be baptized again, by their own choice or decision.
Whether Water Baptism is biblical part for one's salvation is a
controversial among Christian Churches. It is essential for each believer to rightly
divide God's Word in Spirit and Truth, and interpret God's Word for themselves
concerning the importance of being Water Baptized, and Baptized in the Holy
Spirit. God instructs us to do so, as a spiritual reminder, a declaration of dying
to one's old sinful nature, a turning point, and rising again in the newness of
Jesus Christ. Water Baptism is a divine ordinance presented by Jesus in the great
Commission.
KEY SCRIPTURES
MATTHEW 28:18-20 And Jesus came up and spoke to them saying, " All
authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the
Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;
and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'
ACTS 2:38 And Peter said to them, ' Repent, and let each of you be baptized in
the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and you shall receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit.' For the promise is for you and your children and for all who
are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself.'
And with many other words He solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them
saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation!' So the, those who had received
his word were baptized and there were added that day about three thousand.
ROMANS 6:4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into
death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the
Father, so we too might walk in the newness of life.
For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we
shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection.
WATER BAPTISM
COLOSSIANS 2:12 Having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were
also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him
from the dead.
1 PETER 3:21 And corresponding to that baptism now saves you- not the
removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good consciencethrough the resurrection of Jesus Christ.