Posts Tagged ‘salvation’
Making Sure You Are A Christian
How Can You Tell?
So, you say you are a Christian. How do you know? You accepted Jesus as your Savior, you say. That doesn’t prove you are a Christian. There are many people who say they have done that but just because you have made some kind of a decision is not proof that you have really been born again. In 2nd Peter 1:10 we read,
“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure.”
This is a stern warning to take a look at your life, believing that you are a Christian, and make sure, very sure, that you have been called of God and that He has brought you into His family.
Once a person becomes a Christian a life change begins to take place. With some it will be slow and gradual, and with others there will be a quick and a dramatic change in the way that they live. We just need to look at the verses right before the one we quoted above to see what should be seen in your life.
2nd Peter 1:5 – 8, “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Do you see any of these signs in your life? If not, then there is every reason to question whether or not you have been born again. No one, who become a Christian, stays the same as they were before regeneration (being born again). A new person begins to appear and that new person now wants to be obedient to the Lord. You see, Jesus will not be a Savior to anyone who will not bow the knee to Him as Lord.
You will never become perfect in this life, as there will always be a battle between your old self and the new person that has been made alive in you, in your spirit. There should be a change in your language, in how you look at others and how you now see God.
You do not do this on your own. For one thing you can’t. You need the work of God in your life in order for this change to take place. In Philippians 2: 12 – 16 we read the following.
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”
Once you become born again, God does not leave you on your own. In these verses we see that God is very much active in your growth as a Christian. He is constantly working in your life to make the changes that He wants to see in you. God will cause all kinds of events in your life, both good and bad, in order to cleanse you of your sinful ways and to remove from you that which has become common place in you that is not pleasing to Him. That is why, no matter what happens, you should become obedient to what God is doing so that you will shine as lights in a perverse and sinful world.
As lights you will be different from others. You will not talk like them, you find that you no longer have the same desires and interests that you had before, especially if they were the kind that is not pleasing to God. You should see that some of the things that used to be important in your life is no longer your driving desire. You should be seeing that you want, more and more, to be obedient to the Lord and to do what He wants and not what you want.
In short, you no longer belong to yourself and to Satan. You now belong to God and He will work in you both to will and to do what He wants. If that is not evident in your life, if there is no difference in how you are, how you live after having become a Christian, maybe you haven’t been born again after all.
Just because you make a decision or “accept” Jesus as your personal Savior does not guarantee that you are a Christian. Only if you have been called and made alive in the spirit by God, which does have the evidence of Repentance of your sins towards God and of having Faith in Jesus for unselfishly paying the penalty for your sins, and in your submission to Him as Lord, will there be any work or transformation of your life with God directing the change.
People who say they are a Christian, but there is no proof of that in their life, most likely have been deceived and are not Christians at all; and they are heading for Hell.
How about you? Have you made your call and election sure? If not, maybe now would be the time to do so. Why would you wait until you die before you find out? By then it will be too late.
Salvation Through Faith
But Who’s Faith Is It?
For one to become a Christian they need to be “Born Again” by the Grace of God through Faith. The question is, by who’s faith is it that we are saved?
In Ephesians 2:8, 9 we read, “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.”
So, if the faith through which we are saved is a gift then that faith must come from somewhere else. We know that God gives us this faith because of Eph. 2:8&9 and, in addition, in Romans 12:3 we read, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”
Does God give us this faith just out of thin air or does this faith come from the action of someone else? The best translation of the Bible that answers this question comes from the 1622 Geneva Bible; the Bible that the Pilgrims first brought to America. Newer translations changes the wording to something else and in doing so nullifies part of the work of Christ in our salvation.
In the Geneva Bible in Galations 2:16 we read, “Know that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by the faith OF Jesus Christ, even we, I say, have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith OF Christ, and not by the works of the Law, because that by the works of the Law, no flesh shall be justified.” Newer, so called better, translations use the word “in” instead of “OF“.
In other words, it is not by faith in Christ that we are saved by by the faith OF Christ that we are saved. If we are saved by faith in Christ then it is our faith that is being used for our salvation, but we have no righteousness of our own, we are dead in our sins and there is no good in us from which to generate this faith. That is why faith must be given to us as a gift for our use in being saved.
In that case, that faith through which we are saved must come from the righteousness of someone else and the only one who can provide that faith is Jesus Himself. In fulfilling the Law, through His obedience to the Father, the faith by which He does all this is then imputed to us, that is it is given to us as a gift, so that we are then saved by the faith OF Christ that he made perfect for us.
For by grace have you been saved through the faith OF Jesus, not of our works, so that we cannot boast that we were able to come up with our own faith in order to be saved. We cannot contribute in any way to our salvation, no works are involved not even our own faith, everything is done by Jesus for us.
The Father defines our salvation, the Son completes the work of our salvation and the Holy Spirit applies that finished work. Salvation, from start to finish, is all done by the Soverign God who works all things according to His will.
Yes, we are saved by grace through faith, but the faith that saves is the faith OF Jesus. We are not saved by faith in Christ, we are saved by the faith OF Christ. Only He can provide that faith for us because only Jesus has completed the work of being faithful, and obedient, for us.
Salvation does come through faith, but it is through the faith OF Jesus that we are saved and not our own. This is the faith that is given to us, and it is by this faith, the faith OF Jesus, through which we receive salvation.
So then, the answer to the question, “by who’s faith is it that we are saved?” the answer is simple. It is by the faith OF Jesus that we are saved.
Who Does God Love?
For most of you the answer to that question would be “everyone”. I mean, isn’t that what everyone says? Yeah, that is what just about everybody would say, but is that what the Bible says?
Now I know that everyone basis that thought on John 3:16, and we will take a look at that verse a little later; and we will do so in the context of what was being said and in connection on what the Bible has to say elsewhere.
So, before we can give this question a good answer we should first look to see if the Bible says anything about God hating anyone. Let’s look at a few verses:
Malachi 1
1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
2 “ I have loved you,” says the LORD.
“ Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’
Wasnot Esau Jacob’s brother?”
Says the LORD.
“ Yet Jacob I have loved;
3 But Esau I have hated,
And laid waste his mountains and his heritage
For the jackals of the wilderness.”
Romans 9:12-14 (New King James Version)
12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!
Proverbs 6:15-19 (New King James Version)
15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly;
Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.
16 These six things the LORD hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.
Psalm 5:4-6 (New King James Version)
4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
6 You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
Very clearly we see, here, that God does hate individuals for various reasons or because He has decided to do so of His own choice. So, if God does hate individuals, for whatever reasons, then it cannot be said that God loves everyone. Now the Bible is very clear about whom God does love, and Jesus said the most about it.
However, before we look at these verses let’s take a look at John 3:16.
John 3:16 (New King James Version)
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Now Jesus has been talking Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, about the need for being “Born Again”; and Nicodemus could not understand what He was talking about.
You see, the Jews believed that God’s love was only for them, that His favor was upon Isreal alone and no one else. Jesus tells Nicodemus that “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” The keyword is “whoever”.
Jesus also said “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” Now we know that not everyone in the world is going to be saved so we can determine from these verses that Jesus is speaking in general and not in specific or particular terms.
He follows up these verses with this, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” So, again we see that He is talking about those who will believe are the ones who will be saved.
However, in the whole context of what Jesus is saying is that this salvation is not just for those who are Jews but for anyone of any nation, creed or color who lives anywhere in the world. He is speaking in terms of generalities and not in specifics about whom will be saved.
In other words, the salvation that He is talking about to Nicodemus, that of being “Born Again” can be had by anyone whether a Jew or a Gentile. So, John 3:16 does not speak of individuals but of peoples in general; this does not, in anyway, speak of God loving everyone.
So, if God doesn’t love everyone then – who does God love?
Let us now look at some verses that are specific in nature and that which will tell us who God does, or will, love.
John 13:1 (New King James Version)
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
John 14:21-23 (New King James Version)
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”
23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
John 17:20-23 (New King James Version)
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
As you can see by these verses that Jesus is very specific about whom He, and the Father, will love – those who believe in Him, who love Him and who obey Him.
Now I know you are being very skeptical about all of this but these verses don’t lie. You’ve been told a lie for so long that naturally you want to believe that God loves everyone, but He doesn’t; the above verses say otherwise.
The only way anyone of us will know or experience the love of God is by being “Born Again” as Jesus was telling Nicodemus, and if Nicodemus did not understand what Jesus was saying, how can you? That, my friend, is the topic for another post, but for now all you need to know is this.
You must be “Born Again”. If you are willing to confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord – by bowing the knee to Him as Lord of your life – and if you will but just believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the grave – you will be saved. Whoever will call upon Jesus as Lord will be saved.
As for the answer to the question “Who Does God Love?”, the answer is quite simple, they are those who are “Born Again”. Those who are not born again – well, they will only know and experience the judgement, the hatred and the wrath of God.
John 3:36 says, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Do you have that life or does the wrath of God abide upon you still? You can know and experience the love of God, but only if you will bow to Jesus as Lord of your life. If you won’t you will only face God’s wrath. There really is no choice.
So, does God love You? You now know what you need to do if you want to be loved by God. You must be “Born Again”.
Jesus will not be a Savior to anyone who will not first bow the knee to Him as Lord.
What I Believe About Sin & Salvation
If one is to believe the Bible then one also has to believe that we are all dead (spiritually) in our sins. Being in this state one is also unable, in anyway, to not only save themselves, but to also do anything worthy of salvation. To carry this one step further, we are also unable to even admit our sinfulness and in need of salvation. There is none good, there is none who seek after God, no not one. Read Romans 3:10 – 18.
From what is it that we are in need of being saved? From facing the wrath of God. And let there be no mistake about it, there is a God and He is angry with the wicked everyday, and the day is coming when He will bring His wrath upon all mankind.
Basically all mankind is Totally Depraved and unable to do anything towards salvation.
Being that mankind is Totally Deparaved it further shows that if man is to be saved at all then it is only by the will of God that anyone is saved. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. John 5:21
No one has the ability to come to Jesus of their own will, because of their Total Depravity, so if one is to come to Jesus they must first be drawn by Him – “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” John 6:44b
In addition to being drawn, all those who are drawn will come and be saved – “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” John 6:37
All who are drawn by the Father will come to Jesus and be saved. There will be none who will say No, I will not be saved. “It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.”
Once one is drawn and have leaned by the Father, they will be saved and will remain saved for all eternity. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.” John 6:47.
In other words, all mankind is dead in their trespasses and sins and are unable, of their own will, able to see their sinfulness, see a need for salvation, see the need to come to Jesus to be forgiven and given a new life, and be assured of living for all eternity with God in Heaven, or of seeing the need for repentance towards God and of having faith in Jesus that He did for them what they cannot do for themselves.
If man is left to his own will, when it comes to Jesus and salvation, he will never choose, of his own will, to come to Christ and so be saved. Remember, Jesus said that he can’t. John 6:44
In addition, Jesus said “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing” John 6:63, and He also said “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” John 6:65.
Now, you don’t have to believe what I’ve said, but if you do believe in the Bible you have to believe what Jesus has said. Read for yourselves John chapter six, the whole chapter. Then read Ephesians chapter one and then Romans chapter nine.
If God did not choose to save anyone as He wills there would be no one saved.
Now, having said all this, I must also warn you that you are responsible for your sins and you will pay for those sins; that penalty is being cast into the lake of fire and there you will spend eternity; from which there is no escape.
The only possible chance you have of salvation, from facing the coming wrath of God, is by submitting to the Lordship of Jesus and by faith receiving Him as you Savior.
You must admit your sinfullness, of your living in disobedience towards God, and that you are in need of forgiveness for those sins, and that you cannot do anything to save yourself. If you will but just fall before Christ and submit your will to Him, admit your guilt and ask for forgiveness, and by faith believe that He has paid the penalty for your sins you will be saved.
If you refuse the offer of salvation, you stand condemned already before God because you have called Him a liar and you have denied Jesus as the Lord and Savior of your eternal soul.
Sin is real and Salvation is real. Jesus said, “whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33
Can you do that? Can you forsake all for Christ? Will you submit your will to Jesus? Jesus will not be a Savior to anyone who will not bow in submission to Him as Lord.
You cannot save yourself. Your only hope is for Jesus to save you.
Riff's Christian Journal 