SALVATION A CHOICE

* You must be born again *

How can I be “born again” if I’m already alive? Being “born again” is not about changing what is on the outside. It’s about the inside, how your spirit/soul responds to God.

This is a very long article but it concerns the most important decision you will ever make. Please read it and then decide because your eternity is in the balance. It’s important that you know as much as possible, You have to know the truth to make an informed decision. Everyone is given the freedom to choose…

In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth. See the Book of Genesis. God created man on the 6th day and put them [includes Eve] into the garden. God formed a covenant between Himself and Adam, who was given dominion over all things.

“Man was made, who was the chief of the ways of God, who was designed to be the visible image of the Creator’s glory and the mouth of the creation in his praises” Matthew Henry.

The only real condition was that he could not eat the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. When Adam took the fruit from Eve and ate it, he broke that covenant. His singular act caused sin to be brought into the creation that was given to man. Just a few of the results of that action was the perfection He created was now flawed. Not only that but Adam who became sin now passes on his sin nature to all mankind.  We now have to look at what all this means. Including: Genesis 3:17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:  “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. * Because of what Adam did not just man but the environment was also effected. 

If you need proof of the ‘sin nature’ look at the evil prevalent throughout the world. Murder, rape, theft, etc. This will continue until Jesus returns.

 Throughout life we are all searching for that inner peace, or whatever you want to call it. What am I here for?… Sooner or later a person must decide where they stand with God. Everyone will either accept or deny Him, we must decide which path we will take, and your decision effects your eternity. This is a very serious subject so I’m going to tell the truth about the way things are, with no sugar coating. 

According to His word, The one thing we can be sure of is, we will all be judged. Agree or disagree, it doesn’t make any difference! God has declared that all people will stand before Him.

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27

The afterlife has no “do-overs.” You have to get it correct now!

 Lets look at what His word says.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God”. Romans 3:23

Nobody is above God’s Law.

 “As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God; They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” Romans 3:10-12

 There fore if you say that your a good person, look at the 10 commandments. If you’ve broken even one, according to God’s word; you’ve broken them all. That is why nobody is worthy according to His standards. James 2:10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

“Every man, woman, and child wants to do what’s right on his or her terms. These are the steps to imprisoning the heart. First the desire, then the deception, and finally the decision.” Dr. Ravi Zacharias

 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:17-20

The doctrine of original sin holds that every person born into the world is corrupted by the Fall and people are powerless to restore themselves but must be rescued by God.

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is calling Him a liar. Matthew 12:31-32. It is the only unpardonable sin. The Holy Spirit is the one true witness of who Jesus is. God {Holy Spirit} is telling you Jesus is the only way, to deny Jesus is to call God a liar.

“BUT”

“For the wages of Sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

 “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in you heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness. and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10: 9-10

“For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

God’s Word says that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts or works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace Alone. Faith Alone. Grace alone means that God loves, forgives, and saves us not because of who we are or what we do, but because of the work of Christ.

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15

 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17 *  Acts 16:29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

 “The New Covenant is a gift of love. It’s all about the Cross. Jesus had to die to fulfill the covenant. Read Hebrews chapters 9-10. He is reaching down to us with this free gift of eternal life. All we must do is recognize that we fall short of God’s glory and acknowledge that we need the Lord Jesus Christ to be our Savior. Hebrews 9:22 “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness”. The shedding of Jesus’ blood fulfilled the requirements of the law.

We then walk in a personal relationship with God. I live to give God the glory. I am not seeking any glory for myself.” Bev an ex Morman

Many times either in person or on TV, I’ve heard someone say that if my good deeds out weigh my bad deeds, then I’m sure I’m going to heaven. A just God wouldn’t send anyone to Hell.

 It’s because He is a just God, that judgment is certain. Because of God’s perfect nature He can’t have sin in His presence. That is why all people will be judged, unless you accept the gift that Jesus provided for you, when He took your sins upon Himself on the cross. You must surrender to the Christ!

 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2

 “If we truly, sincerely repent and stop waging war with God by our defiance to His standards of right and wrong and humbly come before Him seeking mercy, He will cleanse our soul by the blood of Christ and give us a clean slate.” Author unknown to me

 “There are many who speak only of the forgiveness of sin, but who say little or nothing about repentance. If there is nevertheless no forgiveness of sins without repentance, so also forgiveness of sins cannot be understood without repentance. Therefore, if forgiveness of sins is preached without repentance, it follows that the people imagine they have already received the forgiveness of sins, and thereby they become cocksure and fearless, which is then greater error and sin than all the error that preceded our time.”   Melanchthon

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained.” Acts 17:30-31

 As a wise man once said: “Our sin is great by God’s standard, But His Love is greater.”

 “Take heart, Jesus did not remain in the grave, He had the power to overcome the grave and offers us a free gift of salvation so that we can choose to be with Him. Because Jesus covered the debt you and I owe in our sinning against God [Ephesians 2:8, 1 Peter 1:3-5]; all you and I need to do is honestly confess our sins and truly accept Jesus as your savior.

If you have not accepted God’s love for you, I suggest that your seriously consider doing so as His infinite wisdom and love is comforting and is always there for you. All you need to do is to honestly confess your sins and receive His Son Jesus into your life as your savior from your sins.” Victor E. Pearson

You may have heard the expression “are you saved?” Or something of this nature. The term saved means to be free from judgment. For those who are under the blood of Christ will not go to the Great White Throne judgment. Belonging to a church, or having parents, or a spouse that are saved, calling yourself a Christian, or being baptized as a baby is not being saved. If you believe any of this protects you, It’s just not true. Being saved only happens when you come to the Cross in repentance, and your under the Blood of Christ.

 9. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:9-10

 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

 If after reading this information, you’d like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you need to repent and ask Him for forgiveness. Jesus because of the blood You shed, You have made a way for me. When you come to Him, ask Him to hide His face from your sins, and blot out all iniquities {in your words}. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen

 The next step is to find a Church that uses the Bible as their only authority. A Church that allows a Minister more importance than God’s word, is not following God. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20) the church will help you with that. If you don’t have a bible get one, start with the book of Matthew and read at least one chapter a day. After reading the new testament, then go to the old testament. It will help you understand how to see Jesus in the old testament. Jesus is in every book of the Bible. I recommend the NKJV, but it’s up to you.

 Remember that Christianity is a journey, and in that walk with Christ we must be obedient to His word. Saying a prayer is only the first step. Salvation is something only the individual can work out with God, it’s between the both of you. Not between the person and others and God. Being a Christian means being a disciple of Jesus, you must to be willing to follow in His ways. It’s not repentance if you say a prayer and then continue to serve the world. You do not have Salvation without repentance.

“Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10

1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. 3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. 1 John 2:1-6

There is a path we all have to take. Things like giving up drunkenness, doing drugs or whatever separates us from God. Nobody can tell you it will be easy. But you will find you have a new strength. Like it’s been said “take one day at a time.” Salvation is a choice you have to make…

God bless, Dan Beliveau

 “Just as God gave man the sign of the rainbow showing that we wouldn’t go through a flood again. He gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit as a sign showing us we wouldn’t go through judgment when we accept Christ as our Savior.” Patrick Hammett 

Newsboys – God’s Not Dead * https://youtu.be/S_OTz-lpDjw

Mercy Me – I can only Imagine * https://youtu.be/N_lrrq_opng

Four Key Principles of Repentance

In our family devotions we have been sharpening some big beliefs, learning some big truths. We have been doing this with help from David Helm as he has led us through the Westminster Confession of Faith. This was a confession that played an important role in my younger years, but one I had neglected until recently. It has been a joy to return to it and learn from it again. Lately we have been learning about salvation and, more specifically,

“My friend you can get saved anywhere, at any place, if the Holy Spirit is tugging at your heart and mind to make that choice of eternity and if you are really ready to surrender to God with all your heart, your will, your heart and your life just the way you are completely to him. Jesus Christ died on the cross and shed His own precious blood for the forgiveness of all your sins. All you have to do is open your heart and give yourself fully to him. Jesus alone is the Savior of all souls born into this world. Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost.” John D. Butler 

Some people will tell you that it’s grace and works that are what save you. When we come under the blood of Christ. We aren’t earning our salvation by our works, but we are evidencing it. The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. The truth is the greatest glory comes from receiving Christ.