Have you ever been asked , " how do you become a Christian?" Salvation is close as your own lips and heart. People must think it is a complicated process, but it is not. ( If we believe in our heart and say with our mouth that Christ is the risen Lord we will be saved.)
Romans 10:8-13 But what does it say? " The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart"-that is the word of faith which we are preaching, (that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved); for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in savation. For the scripture says, "whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed," For there is no distinction between Jew or Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him; for "Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved."
The church that will not serve can not save.
The church that will not suffer will not redeem.
The church that will not die cannot live.
God's church is not a success church it is a servants church.
We are not climbing to the top of the kingdom, we are crawling to the bottom.
For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son , that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have ever lasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world, but the world should be saved by Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the judgement, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light ; for there deeds were evil, For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds my be manifested as having been wrought in God. John 3:16-21
He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on Him. John 3:36
But as many as recieved Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. John 1:12
I wonder why Christianity is the best keep secret in the whole world? I guess because we just don't talk about Jesus to others enough, most don't even want to listen about the most important part of there lives, or others are occupied by something else, the pride of life, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes. I don't really understand it. In the State of Hawaii a Christian Church Team, all got together and mailed out the "Jesus Story" to everyone in the state for free, to every household. Now I go into all the second hand stores and I find stacks of them un-opened, also one day they were all delivered in the Post Office I found many of them just laying around on the tables. Are we all blinded? "And even our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." 2 Corth. 4:3-4
For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes--Jews first and also Gentiles. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in His sight. This is the accomplishment from start to finish by faith. As the scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life. Rom. 1:16-17 NLT
For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from etenal punishment by his life. Rom 5:10 NLT
But now God has shown us a different way of being right in his sight--not obeying the law but by the way promised in the Scriptures long ago. We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are and what we have done.
For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times. And he is entirely fair and just in this present time when he declares sinners to be right in his sight because they believe in Jesus. Rom. 3:21-26 NLT
The Church
For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.
If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.If they were all one member, where would the body be?
But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you;" or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, where as our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. 1Corinthians 12:12-27
There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. Ephesians 4:11-16
Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. Ephesians 5:22-30
This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:32
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 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 through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything..Colossians 1:13-18
We are not servants striving to become sons, we are sons chosen to become servants.
Choose for you this day whom you serve. Our service is firstly to the Lord.
First, Here is God's love in giving his Son for the world (v. 16), where we have three things:-- 1. The great gospel mystery revealed: God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son. The love of God the Father is the original of our regeneration by the Spirit and our reconciliation by the lifting up of the Son. Note, (1.) Jesus Christ is the only-begotten Son of God. This magnifies his love in giving him for us, in giving him to us; now know we that he loves us, when he has given his only-begotten Son for us, which expresses not only his dignity in himself, but his dearness to his Father; he was always his delight. (2.) In order to the redemption and salvation of man, it pleased God to give his only-begotten Son. He not only sent him into the world with full and ample power to negotiate a peace between heaven and earth, but he gave him, that is, he gave him up to suffer and die for us, as the great propitiation or expiatory sacrifice. It comes in here as a reason why he must be lifted up; for so it was determined and designed by the Father, who gave him for this purpose, and prepared him a body in order to it. His enemies could not have taken him if his Father had not given him. Though he was not yet crucified, yet in the determinate counsel of God he was given up, Acts ii. 23. Nay, further, God has given him, that is, he has made an offer of him, to all, and given him to all true believers, to all the intents and purposes of the new covenant. He has given him to be our prophet, a witness to the people, the high priest of our profession, to be our peace, to be head of the church and head over all things to the church, to be to us all we need. (3.) Herein God has commended his love to the world: God so loved the world, so really, so richly. Now his creatures shall see that he loves them, and wishes them well. He so loved the world of fallen man as he did not love that of fallen angels; see Rom. v. 8; 1 John iv. 10. Behold, and wonder, that the great God should love such a worthless world! That the holy God should love such a wicked world with a love of good will, when he could not look upon it with any complacency. This was a time of love indeed, Ezek. xvi. 6, 8. The Jews vainly conceited that the Messiah should be sent only in love to their nation, and to advance them upon the ruins of their neighbours; but Christ tells them that he came in love to the whole world, Gentiles as well as Jews, 1 John ii. 2. Though many of the world of mankind perish, yet God's giving his only-begotten Son was an instance of his love to the whole world, because through him there is a general offer of life and salvation made to all. It is love to the revolted rebellious province to issue out a proclamation of pardon and indemnity to all that will come in, plead it upon their knees, and return to their allegiance. So far God loved the apostate lapsed world that he sent his Son with this fair proposal, that whosoever believes in him, one or other, shall not perish. Salvation has been of the Jews, but now Christ is known as salvation to the ends of the earth, a common salvation. 2. Here is the great gospel duty, and that is to believe in Jesus Christ (Whom God has thus given, given for us, given to us), to accept the gift, and answer the intention of the giver. We must yield an unfeigned assent and consent to the record God hath given in his word concerning his Son. God having given him to us to be our prophet, priest, and king, we must give up ourselves to be ruled, and taught, and saved by him. 3. Here is the great gospel benefit: That whosoever believes in Christ shall not perish. This he had said before, and here repeats it. It is the unspeakable happiness of all true believers, for which they are eternally indebted to Christ, (1.) That they are saved from the miseries of hell, delivered from going down to the pit; they shall not perish. God has taken away their sin, they shall not die; a pardon is purchased, and so the attainder is reversed. (2.) They are entitled to the joys of heaven: they shall have everlasting life. The convicted traitor is not only pardoned, but preferred, and made a favourite, and treated as one whom the King of kings delights to honour. Out of prison he comes to reign, Eccl. iv. 14. If believers, then children; and, if children, then heirs.
Secondly, Here is God's design in sending his Son into the world: it was that the world through him might be saved. He came into the world with salvation in his eye, with salvation in his hand. Therefore the aforementioned offer of live and salvation is sincere, and shall be made good to all that by faith accept it (v. 17): God sent his Son into the world, this guilty, rebellious, apostate world; sent him as his agent or ambassador, not as sometimes he had sent angels into the world as visitants, but as resident. Ever since man sinned, he has dreaded the approach and appearance of any special messenger from heaven, as being conscious of guilt and looking for judgment: We shall surely die, for we have seen God. If therefore the Son of God himself come, we are concerned to enquire on what errand he comes: Is it peace? Or, as they asked Samuel trembling, Comest thou peaceably? And this scripture returns the answer, Peaceably. 1. He did not come to condemn the world. We had reason enough to expect that he should, for it is a guilty world; it is convicted, and what cause can be shown why judgment should not be given, and execution awarded, according to law? That one blood of which all nations of men are made (Acts xvii. 26) is not only tainted with an hereditary disease, like Gehazi's leprosy, but it is tainted with an hereditary guilt, like that of the Amalekites, with whom God had war from generation to generation; and justly may such a world as this be condemned; and if God would have sent to condemn it he had angels at command, to pour out the vials of his wrath, a cherub with a flaming sword ready to do execution. If the Lord had been pleased to kill us, he would not have sent his Son amongst us. He came with full powers indeed to execute judgment (ch. v. 22, 27), but did not begin with a judgment of condemnation, did not proceed upon the outlawry, nor take advantage against us for the breach of the covenant of innocency, but put us upon a new trial before a throne of grace. 2. He came that the world through him might be saved, that a door of salvation might be opened to the world, and whoever would might enter in by it. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, and so saving it. An act of indemnity is passed and published, through Christ a remedial law made, and the world of mankind dealt with, not according to the rigours of the first covenant, but according to the riches of the second; that the world through him might be saved, for it could never be saved but through him; there is not salvation in any other. This is good news to a convinced conscience, healing to broken bones and bleeding wounds, that Christ, our judge, came not to condemn, but to save.
As I was walking home from church today, I have analyzed the confusion Paul had in "Rom. 7:14-25" For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin." And then the course of the bible changes to verse 8:1 “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” We all know we live in the spirit. But also we know we have to battle in the flesh of sin. If there was a way that we could elevate the fleshy attitude of the sin, we should and would be better Christians. The thing is, we are better Christians and I believe we are just being blinded by Satan and his agents, we can all tell my watching the news or reading the newspaper it seems to me it is mostly a lie, because it is part of the world, we should always set our hearts on the bible and His word, this way we can stimulate the power of the spirit and be able to witness a lot better, for instance of Peter in Acts, there were many but - Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is " 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ “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 4:8-12. We don’t have to be scholars Jesus chose ordinary fisherman, and they were open to Jesus’ teaching and His character, this way they learned, so when we study our bibles we learn. When I make a prayer for some one it is not only a prayer with a bit of scripture, it is a prayer from the heart, because God looks at the heart. So if we truly pray from our hearts, then we are utilizing the power of the Holy Spirit which dwells within our heart. So my deep prayers are with you, and as we go down the list of friends, children, and parts of families it all boils down to a true solemn prayer, I have focused most of my time on prayer, not to just build up the church or get caught up in propaganda of the world, we all must pray for each other, it gives me strength, and it does help and heal our brothers and sisters on the other end. We are fighting a battle of unseen forces and then we pray, but we must truly believe in the prayer itself, not a group of words, but a prayer for all, from deep down in your heart which is the Spirit of truth, the Christ, the essence of God Himself, all in one body. Our body, and we are attached to the main body, the body of Christ which is the church, so each part of the body should group together, may it be with a prayer for healing or just helping a friend with God’s Word. The end times are near, and there is so much confusion going on in this cold world , but we have to keep striving toward the light the light of Christ, So my friends we must travel down that narrow road not the wide one, which most seem to be heading on, and then I ask myself how do we point to the right direction, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”Matt.7:13-14. God made this world with words and I believe our healing or any other situation and prayer request will be answered and done by the spoken word. We are a living sacrifice to God, we have to give ourselves, in order to make it up to the second level. It can be done, each gift God gave us we should utilize what we have, and then there are some that don’t, and sit back and watch TV. We are to build each other up and to help each other utilizing the Spirit of the Living God. There are so many scriptures on faith and if we are able to avoid the world and it’s passions we can concentrate on our true identity, part of the body of Christ, then as Jesus would say, ask for anything and it will be done for you. We are all just people, but prayer does make a difference and with faith and prayer, we should be able to conquer any evil, any ailment, any disease, or any suffering. So my brothers and sisters I am going to be praying as always for you, there is no need of fear, fear comes from the evil one, along with doubt. How could we ever doubt the awesome power of God? Satan hates prayer, so we must be doing something right. God bless you all, and your requests are just around the corner. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:34. God Bless, Rev. Paul
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Acts 3:1-10
Here is a little story of what the power of Jesus Christ can do for any of our lives, Jesus loves us He wants to be close to us, and he wants to heal all our afflictions, hurts, pains and all kinds of loneliness, financial difficulties, problems at work, problems within the family, problems within the church, it all ties in together, we must make that first step to welcome Him in! “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” Rev 3:20. I guess that is what I have learned through all these years, it took a while to really have a firm relationship with Jesus, but I would say that is the key to my whole life, to preach the Christ, to know Christ, For to me, to Live is Christ, there are a lot of all these false teachers and prophets out there preaching and teaching what people want to here, but the true healing and the true joy is in Jesus Christ our Lord, there are a few scriptures in Philippians that for instance “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil 1:6 that all means that once he has started working on you He will make you perfect until He returns, it is an amazing life, I have been everywhere to almost every mountain top, down every river, and sweat in most every desert, and the true value of life, is Christ! He is our power our strength and all things, and it is funny I have all these tubes and valves all rapped around my arm, and being I am just a poor preacher, with a small church, not to say I want a big one, but I keep reaching out to thousands of people for the past 9 months writing prayers for you, and you family and friends, because this is what God chose me to do, I know I must suffer, this way I come closer to the Living God, but as it seems it is better than sitting in a hospital for who knows how long, but my insurance will not pay for it, so I have to administer all these drugs and antibiotics myself, and there really isn’t anyone around, why? It is not that I am living in a strange place, I have been here for a year, and I remember my fiancé bringing flowers to all the mothers on the block last year, but when you have Christ and the Holy Spirit in your heart, life takes on a new meaning. You are never alone; you can never expect people to bring you the joy that you need the way God can. People forget and a lot of them let you down but to me it is all understandable and normal. I would be nice for a neighbor to come up like Paul can I help you with the trash, can I help you give you a ride to town, and help you get some food. My own Landlord that I rent the church office from and home, takes time every week and brings all kinds of stuff, and I do have devotions every morning with my pastor friend, but late at night I sit and tell you all, that I am praying for you, that my prayers are sincere, and all I do is want to express that our God is hearing every word that is spoken. And every prayer that is agreed with, spoken or written. I have had my share of attacks from the evil one, and as so many others have said they would have given up along time ago, but I keep on going and keep on spreading the good news about our Lord and Savior Jesus, He can do anything! He tells us in so many scriptures just ask and He will do it. But how do you teach the people to have the faith to believe that His word is true. I know it is, I even had a big mix up for the last two weeks they were giving me the wrong antibiotic, which could have destroyed my kidneys, but then the Lord stepped in and now I know I am on the right medication, it makes you wonder how a doctor can have so much disrespect for a man of God, and not even bother to check what he was giving me, in fact it was the wrong doctor prescribing the drug in the first place. You figure if Satan can kill me, than a lot of you will never hear my words of truth, of the power that all ready lies within us, to heal ourselves, Jesus gave us that promise of the Holy Spirit. And if we truly believe in our gracious Lord we shall be no different than the original apostles, as far as there faith, wisdom, and healing, and our ability to speak about the care that our Jesus really has. We are living in a broken world today, and we all must make a stand to follow our Christianity to the end, or to follow the world, so many of us are so wrapped up with the world the pride of life, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, you see it everyday, but when I finally healed up here, there is going to be a wonderful church mission that will just be as biblical as possible. This town I live in is very poor and for people to come and hear the word and get a free meal will be a great start to the true church sharing everything we have and caring for all walks of life. So my prayers are with you now, this is all I am able to do, and I praise God I am able to do it. I praise God that I am able to be able just to sit up, my healing is coming, and I know yours is too, and anyone else that is close to you, may it be family or children, or a friend, a companion at work, or just the individual down the block, the prayers I send have love, and they come from my heart, but they are really from Jesus, He taught me everything I know, and He is having me type these words to you now. May the Love of God and the purity of Jesus, and that deep fellowship of the Holy Spirit that lies in your heart, will come to the rescue on their timing, there are lessons to be learned through this long suffering, and you might only have a small problem, but you may have a life threatening one, but let me remind you, we still have Jesus, and we still have His healing touch, it never left us in the first place. The world makes us think that way. By His Stripes you are healed. May the Lord truly bless you, In Prayer, Rev. Paul
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How To Be Saved Page
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"How to Be Saved?"
6 Steps to Heaven
The Great Commission given by Jesus to his disciples describes how to make a disciple(Christian) and give the steps a Christian much follow to do that. Below are those steps:
Hear:
Romans 10:14-17, Matthew 7:24-27, 17:5, John 8:32, 20:30-31; Acts 2:37, 4:4, 8:35, 19:5;
Believe:
Mark 16:16; John 3:16-18, 36, 8:24, 11:25-26, 14:1, 17:20-21, 20:30-31, Acts 8:34-38, 10; 18:8; Romans 1:15-16, 10:9-14; Hebrews 11:6;
Confess:
Matthew 10:32-33; Luke 12:8; Romans 10:10; Philippians 2:11:
Repent:
Luke 13:3, 5; 24:47-49; Acts 2:38, 17:30-31 26:19-20; 2 Corinthians 7:10, 2 Peter 3:9
Be Baptized for the forgiveness of your sins:
Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:38, 10:47, 22:16; Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 4:5; Colossians 2:12-13; 1 Peter 3:21;
Continue Faithfully until death:
Matthew 6:33; Colossians 1:23; 2 Timothy 2:1-2, 3:14-17; Hebrews 10:23-25, 12:1-2, 13:7-9; 2 Peter 1:1-11; Revelation 2:10
Copyright 1999 by Butch Walker may be reproducted for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others. This was part of a Wednesday night Bible Study.
What does God say about today’s churches?
What must the believer do? (See Q8-10)
HAS GOD SAVED YOU?
Q1. I sometimes wonder if God has saved me. If He truly has saved me, how would I know?
A. If you are a child of God, you will come to realize this blessed fact as you read God’s word the Bible:
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. (Romans 8:16)
Both in doctrine (what you believe) and practice (what you think and do), you will fit more and more the Bible’s description of a true child of God:
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. (1 John 2:3)
If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15)
…as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence…. (2 Cor. 8:7)
You will also find that you are happiest living according to the whole Bible:
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:8)
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above…Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:1a, 2)
If God has saved you, you will find definite, fundamental changes in yourself. Further, these changes, or “fruits,” will not be temporary, but permanent, and always growing. You will humbly recognize that even though you rightfully deserved hell, Jesus Christ, in His great mercy and love, has done all the work required for your salvation. Consequently, you will live a life that praises and thanks Him for your salvation. You will grow to love God’s word more and more, and also find that you have a strong desire to share this wonderful message of salvation with any and all. This is the opposite of how you would be, if you were not saved.
…Saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. (Isaiah 66:2b)
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (1 Peter 2:1-3)
…How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Romans 6:2)
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: ( (2Corinthians 5:17)
Before salvation, we all love our sins because we are slaves to sin:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant [slave] of sin. (John 8:34)
Thus, if you are saved, you will find that you hate your sins. After all, the Bible says that every sin is against our most holy God – “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight…” (Ps. 51:4a).
If you truly are saved, this means that God, in His love for you, elected you and decided to have Jesus Christ suffer eternal damnation on your behalf - for every sin you would ever commit. He then gave you a new soul and eternal life at some point in your lifetime. This salvation that God works can never be undone and man has no say in the matter. God saves those whom He wishes to save:
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Ephesians 1:4)
I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. (Romans 9:15)
If you are not saved, these are some of the statements that apply to you:
The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. (Psalms 11:5)
The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD .... (Proverbs 15:9a)
It is good to remember that if you are not saved at this very moment, God may still be pleased to save you before the time of your death or His return. Talking to one of the thieves crucified with Him, Jesus said, “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Lk. 23:43).
Q2. But I am not wicked. How can these verses apply to me?
A. Only absolute perfection can be pleasing to God:
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)
When God saves a person He never again will see that person’s sins. The saved are “perfect” in His sight. However, an unsaved person (we ALL begin unsaved) is very much guilty before God.
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; (Isaiah 64:6a)
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (James2:10)
Q3. If I am such a wicked person in God’s sight, what will God do to me?
A. The Bible teaches that at the end of the world all the unsaved will come under eternal punishment in a place called Hell.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:15)
… the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (2Thess. 1:7-9)
…the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night…. (Rev. 14:11a)
Q4. That is terrible! Why would God create Hell?
A. Hell is terrible, and it exists because God’s perfect justice demands payment for sin. Further, God originally created man to be accountable to Him for his actions.
For the wages of sin is death…. (Romans 6:23a)
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (Matthew 12:36)
Q5. If I am saved, will I escape hell?
A. You will never face God’s judgment, if God, in the person of Jesus Christ, became your substitute and bore the punishment of eternal damnation for your sins. Amazing as it may seem, God Himself came to earth as Jesus Christ to bear the wrath of God, the Father, for all His people.
But he was wounded for our transgressions…bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him… with his stripes we are healed. (Is. 53:5)
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Q6. If I believe in Jesus Christ, am I saved?
A. Yes – if indeed God has caused you to believe (that is, have faith) in Him. Faith is the result of salvation, not something anyone can do for salvation. Thus, true faith, along with other good works, is seen as a real fruit in the lives of those whom God has already saved:
And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. (Acts 13:48)
…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith…. (Gal.5:22)
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ…to believe on him…. (Philippians 1:29)
Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee…. (Psalm65:4a)
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (Ezekiel 36:27)
Q7. Why does God appear to command us to do good works (like “ask,” ”seek,” ”knock”), if there is truly no work that we can do for our salvation?
A. Today, through the Bible, God still demands from man perfect obedience as He did with our first parents, Adam and Eve. However, one purpose of His word, or Law, is to expose unsaved man’s corruption and inability to obey the perfect Lawgiver from the heart. Thus, those whom God saves, as they face His Law’s demands, come to look to God with thanksgiving. This is because God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, called the second Adam, came to stand between His eternally chosen people and God the Lawgiver and Judge. Jesus did this to satisfy all the demands of God (ask, seek, knock, believe, etc.) perfectly, on His people’s behalf. In fact, Christ is the ONLY ONE Whose works are acceptable to God as payment for the sins of the people He saves. Man’s works, as “filthy rags” (Is. 64:6), are merely offensive to God and have no place in the miracle of salvation:
…Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet…For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
(Romans 7:7, 9)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8)
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ…for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16)
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name [except Jesus’] under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
Q8. Can we know how near we are to the end of the world?A. Yes. God’s judgment has already begun on the churches, and is leading to the Last Day judgment, which will take place upon the Lord Jesus’ return. We are in the time of the Great Tribulation right now. The Bible focuses entirely on the churches of the world as the arena of the great tribulation. It is a time of a famine of the true Gospel of the Bible alone (Amos 8:11, 12), a great increase in “signs and wonders,” and the overall “falling away” of the churches (2 Thess. 2:3). Indeed, the “Lord is at hand” (Phil. 4:5b):
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God…. (I Peter 4:17a)
For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name. (Jeremiah 25:29a)
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be…For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders…. (Matthew 24:21, 24)
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2 Timothy 3:1)
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 4:3, 4)
Q9. How does God judge the churches and why?
A. The churches are judged for their long-standing and repeated rebellion against God’s word. In His judgment, God completely gives the churches over to their lusts, using Satan (the Abomination of Desolation) and his false prophets (the “armies,” Lk. 21:20), who come with false doctrines and lying signs and wonders (dreams, visions, tongues, falling backwards – 2 Cor. 11:3, 4, 13-15; 2 Thess. 2:9-12; Rev. 20:7-9). Indeed, Satan, the “son of perdition,” is allowed of God entrance into and rule over the churches:
And it was given unto him [Satan] to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: (Revelation 13:7a)
…the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (2Thess. 2:3c, 4)
Yet another traumatic aspect of the great tribulation is the complete withdrawal of God the Holy Spirit from the churches, just as He departed from the apostate Old Testament assembly:
Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them…so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us? (Deuteronomy 31:17)
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he [the Holy Spirit] who now letteth [restrains] will let [restrain], until he [the Holy Spirit] be taken out of the way [midst]. (2Thessalonians 2:7)
It is important to understand that the beginning of the great tribulation marks the end of the church-era testimony of the “two witnesses,” who represent the sending forth of the Gospel:
And when they [the two witnesses] shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. (Revelation 11:7)
However, following a time of silence, the two witnesses stand once again “upon their feet” (v. 11). This indicates that God’s great work of saving His elect continues right up to the Last Day, but that this work is altogether outside the churches, through individual believers and ministries.
Q10. If the churches are under judgment, what then should I do?
A. As these notable prophecies come to pass, the Bible commands all believers to flee the churches:
O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem…for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction. (Jeremiah 6:1)
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place…Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: (Matthew 24:15, 16)
And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. (Lk. 21:20, 22)
…Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. (Rev. 18:4)
In these verses, “Jerusalem,” “Judea” and the “holy place” refer to the “great house” (2 Tim. 2:20), the earthly churches of the world. The “her” also points directly to the church as God now exposes her spiritually adulterous nature (Rev. 17:5, 6, 18:22-24). The invisible, eternal church - “Jerusalem which is above” (Gal. 4:26), that is, the “heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb. 12:22) - is the Church that Christ came to build (Mt. 16:18), the Bride “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing” (Eph. 5:27), and consists only of those whom God has eternally saved, those who will live with Him forever in heaven (Rev. 21). We should, if possible, fellowship with other believers (Heb. 10:25), but no longer in or as the New Testament church having structure biblically ordained for the church era – elders, deacons, the ceremonial ordinances (water baptism and the Lord’s Supper) and membership.
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)
