James 2:14-26
James asks the question "what good is it for a person to claim to have faith when their actions do nothing to show it"; "Can such faith save?" James goes on to answer the question, arguing that a faith without works is not authentic, it is dead.
The passage
v14-17. James contends that a faith which claims to look to the mercy of God, but does not show itself in acts of mercy, is a fraud. Such religious faith cannot save since it has no substance; it is nothing more than an expression of religious piety. Such faith is dead and means nothing; it is false, futile and barren. The fruit of this "dead" faith is a cold, hard, callous disregard for the needs of others. In simple terms, "faith without deeds is a dead thing."
1. He points out that a "faith" which is little more that a verbal profession is next to useless. The demons believe that God exists and shudder at the thought of their coming judgment. So, just saying "I have faith" means nothing in itself.
2. James now shows that deeds do indeed evidence genuine faith, so proving his point that "faith without deeds is a dead thing." He illustrates this fact in the life of Abraham and Rahab:
v21-24. First, from the life of Abraham. James makes the point that both Abraham's deeds and faith are integrally linked to his justification. In the life of a justified person, a person set-right with God, their faith is evidenced in their deeds. a genuine faith in the mercy of God will show itself in deeds of mercy.
v25-26. Second, from the life of Rahab. Again, James shows from scripture that Rahab's deeds and faith are integrally linked to her justification. As a justified person, the quality of her faith is evidenced in her deeds - she did all that she could to protect God's servants in Jericho.
The Fruits of Faith
At first sight, it seems to be an exhortation to obedience. It is certainly surrounded by passages encouraging us to obey - don't show favoritism, tame the tongue. If we took it that way it would be saying something like.... "demonstrate your faith through obedience". In this letter, James is not so much encouraging his readers toward deeds of love, as to genuine faith. He makes the point that if we are unwilling to walk before the Lord in deeds of love, then we really have no claim on him. If we have faith we will automatically tend to act in a loving way. We need to be reminded to allow the motivating love of Christ to shape our lives.
There is no value in trying to find security in religious faith while our lives are lived out in rebellion, for a genuine faith will show itself in good deeds. So the passage removes the false security of an intellectual faith, and forces the reader to see their rebellion for what it is. If we are unwilling to listen to exhortations to do good, then such unwillingness only shows we have not come to a saving faith in Christ. James is driving us back to the cross to seek forgiveness. Just as there is no security in law-obedience, so there is no security in an intellectualized religious faith. Our only security lies in the mercy of a loving God whose mercy makes us more merciful.
Jesus, when referring to those who would believe on Him said, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand." (John 10:27-29).
"You were marked in Him with a seal."When we first believed something happened that we could not see or feel--we were marked as a Child of God. ". . .you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of His glory." (Ephesians 1:13-14). Christians are marked with the Holy Spirit, who is the "down payment". A deposit is the "earnest money" that guarantees that the purchase will be completed at a time yet future. God guarantees us that we are His possession, and the indwelling Spirit is His proof.
"He who began a good work. . ."God had planned from eternity past to save us and our salvation was a partial fulfillment of His overall plan. The Apostle Paul assures us that what God begins--God finishes, ". . .He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6). Note it is God who "carries on the good work." He is the one sanctifying us and we merely try to co-operate with Him. We continually will fall short of the glory of God, but will keep confessing our sins and receiving His precious grace.
The Fruit of True Christianity:
• Love for God: Psalm 42:1ff; 73:25; Luke 10:27; Romans 8:7
• Repentance from Sin: Psalm 32:5; Proverbs 28:13; Romans 7:14ff; 2 Corinthians 7:10; 1 John 1:8-10
• Genuine Humility: Psalm 51:17; Matthew 5:1-12; James 4:6, 9ff.
• Devotion to God's Glory: Psalm 105:3; 115:1; Isaiah 43:7, 48:10ff.; Jeremiah 9:23, 24; 1 Corinthians 10:31
• Continual Prayer: Luke 18:1; Ephesians 6:18ff.; Philippians 4:6ff.; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; James 5:16-18
• Selfless Love: 1 John 2:9ff, 3:14; 4:7ff.
• Separation from World: 1 Corinthians 2:12; James 4:4ff.; 1 John 2:15-17, 5:5
• Spiritual Growth: Luke 8:15; John 15:1-6; Ephesians 4:12-16
• Obedient Living: Matthew 7:21; John 15:14ff.; Romans 16:26; 1 Peter 1:2, 22; 1 John 2:3-5; A Desire And A Willingness To Be Obedient We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, " I know Him," what does not do what he commands is a liar first John 2:3-4.
• An Appetite For The Word Of God. " As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby; so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious" 1 Peter 2:2, 3.
• A Friendship With Other Believers. God's plan for Christianity involves the church. A growing Christian will naturally desire to be around others who have a similar love for God.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Commitment to a Holy Life
The words “obedience” and “submission” are a constant reminder of our indwelling sin. But whether we like them or not, they get to the heart of our problem of living a holy life.
Jesus said, “If you love Me you will obey Me.” It is our responsibility to obey Him. We cannot obey Him unless we submit to His sovereignty. There can be no holiness in our lives if we do not obey Him. “He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him,” said Jesus in John 14:21.
Obedience is the road to holiness. Over the years we have developed habitual patterns of disobedience. We have patterns of sin in our lives. Every time we sin we make it easier to keep on sinning. We reinforce these patterns, or habits, until we make a commitment to make a new habit not to sin. Have you made it your aim, goal, passion, not to sin? Have you made it a commitment to live a holy life?
The only way to break old habits is to make a commitment to start forming new ones. God cannot do that for us. It is our responsibility. In Romans 8:13 the apostle Paul brought out the contrast between a habitually dominated pattern of living according to the flesh, and an obligation to habitually, under the power of the Holy Spirit, be “putting to death the deeds of the body.”
The responsibility of the Christian is to yield to and cooperate with the Holy Spirit in putting to death or destroying the strength and vitality of sin as it tries to reign in our bodies. The only way we can put to death sin in our lives is by submission to the presence of the Holy Spirit inside us. It is our responsibility to obey Him. The Spirit alone is sufficient and He is the One who gives life and strength to our efforts.
How do we break these old habits of sin? How do we destroy the powerful grip of sin?
Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). It is in the heart that the changes must take place.
That is where the commitment to an obedient life must begin.
If I love the Lord God I will obey Him.
Commit every day to the Lord. Begin your day with a renewed commitment to live God’s kind of life. “Lord, I want to please You today in everything I do. I give You this day, come and live Your life in and through me.”
Keep your heart sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Spend some time in God’s Word so you will know what God’s will is for the Christian.
Living the Christian life will not come automatically. It is your responsibility to love and obey your Master.
Jesus said, “If you love Me you will obey Me.” It is our responsibility to obey Him. We cannot obey Him unless we submit to His sovereignty. There can be no holiness in our lives if we do not obey Him. “He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him,” said Jesus in John 14:21.
Obedience is the road to holiness. Over the years we have developed habitual patterns of disobedience. We have patterns of sin in our lives. Every time we sin we make it easier to keep on sinning. We reinforce these patterns, or habits, until we make a commitment to make a new habit not to sin. Have you made it your aim, goal, passion, not to sin? Have you made it a commitment to live a holy life?
The only way to break old habits is to make a commitment to start forming new ones. God cannot do that for us. It is our responsibility. In Romans 8:13 the apostle Paul brought out the contrast between a habitually dominated pattern of living according to the flesh, and an obligation to habitually, under the power of the Holy Spirit, be “putting to death the deeds of the body.”
The responsibility of the Christian is to yield to and cooperate with the Holy Spirit in putting to death or destroying the strength and vitality of sin as it tries to reign in our bodies. The only way we can put to death sin in our lives is by submission to the presence of the Holy Spirit inside us. It is our responsibility to obey Him. The Spirit alone is sufficient and He is the One who gives life and strength to our efforts.
How do we break these old habits of sin? How do we destroy the powerful grip of sin?
Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). It is in the heart that the changes must take place.
That is where the commitment to an obedient life must begin.
If I love the Lord God I will obey Him.
Commit every day to the Lord. Begin your day with a renewed commitment to live God’s kind of life. “Lord, I want to please You today in everything I do. I give You this day, come and live Your life in and through me.”
Keep your heart sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Spend some time in God’s Word so you will know what God’s will is for the Christian.
Living the Christian life will not come automatically. It is your responsibility to love and obey your Master.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
First Understandings
Jesus said, "I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3 NET).
There is absolutely nothing that man can do to contribute to his spiritual birth. This is made very clear in John 1:13, “who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” No amount of human activity, religious cultivation, or moral teaching can change the essential nature of man. You do not become a child of God by anything you say or do. You do not become a child of God by being a member of a church. You do not become a child of God by being sincere. Therefore, you must be born again.
The Bible teaches we are saved by grace through faith in Christ and not of works. It is the free gift of God. “What must I do to be saved?” The Bible says “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved” (Acts 16:31).
You must believe in Jesus alone; You must trust Him alone.
John 3:16 & 17 are clear. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
There is a simple and free way to be reconciled with God made possible by God's only son Jesus. A blood sacrifice was needed to pay for your sins and Jesus was sent to become that sacrifice. He was nailed to a Roman cross to shed His blood in payment for your sin. Then three days after His death, He rose from the dead, validating once and for all His qualification to be our only Savior. Placing your complete trust in Jesus' death, burial and resurrection is God's one and only means of reaching Heaven.
The Bible clearly tells us how to be saved: Romans 10:9-10 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." This is a free gift from God because He loves you.
Romans 6:23b "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
The Bible teaches us that we become a child of God only through the new birth.
Those who believe on Jesus Christ become God’s children. “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).
It is not a physical birth, but a spiritual birth, and it is something that is received by the person who believes in Him (1 Pet. 1:23). The initiative in the new birth is with God.
It is the teaching throughout the New Testament (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 10:9-10).
Without Christ we are spiritually dead in trespasses and sin (Eph. 2:1-3).
We need divine life, and that is what God provides through the new birth.
“He who believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36, 16).
He has it right now (1 John 5:13).
There is absolutely nothing that man can do to contribute to his spiritual birth. This is made very clear in John 1:13, “who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” No amount of human activity, religious cultivation, or moral teaching can change the essential nature of man. You do not become a child of God by anything you say or do. You do not become a child of God by being a member of a church. You do not become a child of God by being sincere. Therefore, you must be born again.
The Bible teaches we are saved by grace through faith in Christ and not of works. It is the free gift of God. “What must I do to be saved?” The Bible says “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved” (Acts 16:31).
You must believe in Jesus alone; You must trust Him alone.
John 3:16 & 17 are clear. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
There is a simple and free way to be reconciled with God made possible by God's only son Jesus. A blood sacrifice was needed to pay for your sins and Jesus was sent to become that sacrifice. He was nailed to a Roman cross to shed His blood in payment for your sin. Then three days after His death, He rose from the dead, validating once and for all His qualification to be our only Savior. Placing your complete trust in Jesus' death, burial and resurrection is God's one and only means of reaching Heaven.
The Bible clearly tells us how to be saved: Romans 10:9-10 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." This is a free gift from God because He loves you.
Romans 6:23b "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
The Bible teaches us that we become a child of God only through the new birth.
Those who believe on Jesus Christ become God’s children. “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).
It is not a physical birth, but a spiritual birth, and it is something that is received by the person who believes in Him (1 Pet. 1:23). The initiative in the new birth is with God.
It is the teaching throughout the New Testament (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 10:9-10).
Without Christ we are spiritually dead in trespasses and sin (Eph. 2:1-3).
We need divine life, and that is what God provides through the new birth.
“He who believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36, 16).
He has it right now (1 John 5:13).
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The First “Yes We Did” Inauguration
An inauguration is a formal induction into office. It is a formal beginning or introduction.
It is a consecration— the act of setting apart, or dedicating, something or someone for God’s use. In the Old Testament, the Temple and its trappings were the most important objects consecrated to God (2 Chr. 7:5–9; Ezra 6:16–17); and Aaron and his sons were consecrated to the priesthood (Exodus 29; Leviticus 8). In the New Testament, the supreme example of consecration is Christ himself (John 17:19; Heb. 7:28; 10:10).
But believers are also consecrated by Christ (John 17:17; 1 Pet. 2:9), and are urged to consecrate themselves as well (Rom. 12:1; 2 Tim. 2:21). One of the results of our consecration by Christ is that we are now a priesthood of believers (1 Pet. 2:9) with direct access to our heavenly Father (Eph. 3:11–12).
Today the United States of America has inaugurated its 44th President. Regardless of who or what Barak Obama is to you, he is, nevertheless, the President of the United States of America, with the blessings of our God to rule over this country with compassion, decisively and justly.
For many, including myself, this inauguration is the most important one of my lifetime thus far, because it is The First Inauguration of an African American President of the United States of America. What does this mean for us? It is a:
• Call to consecration, 1 Chronicles 29:5. Judges 5:2.
• A Dual responsibility between a nation and its people, Acts 6:1–4.
• To God, each other, 2 Corinthians 8:5.
• National commitment, 2 Kings 23:3; 2 Chronicles 15:15.
• Volunteer service, 2 Chronicles 17:16.
• Give heart to God, Psalm 40:7–8.
• Take cross, follow, Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23.
• Dying daily, 1 Corinthians 15:31.
• Abandoning all for Christ, Philippians 3:8.
There is hope for liberty. There is hope for equality and opportunity. Hope is what saves us. Keep on hoping; keep on praying. God does hear and answer prayer.
God can always be trusted to deliver us. Our faithlessness cannot nullify His faithfulness. Or as Paul said, “If we are faithless, he will remain faithful for he cannot disown himself.”
Isaiah knows and believes God's promises: “I will give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak” and “even though youths grow tired and weary, and young people stumble and fall I will renew their strength and they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 29-31
God is able to help.
God is good. God is reliable.
God is in it for the long haul.
What is it that He requires of us? Hope.
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, today I praise your Holy name, for you have brought to pass an event which many thought we would never see. I pray, God, you allow our hearts and minds to be calmed and ready us for the days to come. Help us, Lord, to honor you in all we do. We seek your protection and guidance over our new leader, his family, his staff, and this nation. God Bless America, In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!
It is a consecration— the act of setting apart, or dedicating, something or someone for God’s use. In the Old Testament, the Temple and its trappings were the most important objects consecrated to God (2 Chr. 7:5–9; Ezra 6:16–17); and Aaron and his sons were consecrated to the priesthood (Exodus 29; Leviticus 8). In the New Testament, the supreme example of consecration is Christ himself (John 17:19; Heb. 7:28; 10:10).
But believers are also consecrated by Christ (John 17:17; 1 Pet. 2:9), and are urged to consecrate themselves as well (Rom. 12:1; 2 Tim. 2:21). One of the results of our consecration by Christ is that we are now a priesthood of believers (1 Pet. 2:9) with direct access to our heavenly Father (Eph. 3:11–12).
Today the United States of America has inaugurated its 44th President. Regardless of who or what Barak Obama is to you, he is, nevertheless, the President of the United States of America, with the blessings of our God to rule over this country with compassion, decisively and justly.
For many, including myself, this inauguration is the most important one of my lifetime thus far, because it is The First Inauguration of an African American President of the United States of America. What does this mean for us? It is a:
• Call to consecration, 1 Chronicles 29:5. Judges 5:2.
• A Dual responsibility between a nation and its people, Acts 6:1–4.
• To God, each other, 2 Corinthians 8:5.
• National commitment, 2 Kings 23:3; 2 Chronicles 15:15.
• Volunteer service, 2 Chronicles 17:16.
• Give heart to God, Psalm 40:7–8.
• Take cross, follow, Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23.
• Dying daily, 1 Corinthians 15:31.
• Abandoning all for Christ, Philippians 3:8.
There is hope for liberty. There is hope for equality and opportunity. Hope is what saves us. Keep on hoping; keep on praying. God does hear and answer prayer.
God can always be trusted to deliver us. Our faithlessness cannot nullify His faithfulness. Or as Paul said, “If we are faithless, he will remain faithful for he cannot disown himself.”
Isaiah knows and believes God's promises: “I will give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak” and “even though youths grow tired and weary, and young people stumble and fall I will renew their strength and they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 29-31
God is able to help.
God is good. God is reliable.
God is in it for the long haul.
What is it that He requires of us? Hope.
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, today I praise your Holy name, for you have brought to pass an event which many thought we would never see. I pray, God, you allow our hearts and minds to be calmed and ready us for the days to come. Help us, Lord, to honor you in all we do. We seek your protection and guidance over our new leader, his family, his staff, and this nation. God Bless America, In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
My Purpose
The principal focus of my ministry is helping people to discover God's purpose for their lives and to find meaning for living an abundant Christ centered lifestyle. To Serve, to minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ utilizing strong leadership and management abilities whose mission and philosophy are consistent with dedication, commitment, and service.
I am committed to maintaining a strong biblical-based faith in God, while experiencing Spiritual Growth and Development. It is God’s desire that every believer study His Word, grow spiritually and “make disciples”. A disciple of Christ is a “learner”—one who not only learns but one who also “follows” Christ. To follow Christ, one must know and understand the principles by which one must live
.
The call to minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an individual. It is a divine encounter with God, when at some point in your life he has intervenes in the affairs and sovereignty calls you to some realm of service, in which we must realize and accept. God will confirm your calling in the church.
God has called me into his great service in many ways from serving as, a loving husband and father to preaching and teaching the gospel, and serving the community through business endeavors, teaching God’s word in bible study, and to administer all the provisions of the disciplines to the spiritual, emotional, evangelistic, financial, episcopal needs of the people in my pastoral charge.
May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, may the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory, and the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power in Christ.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Jenkins
I am committed to maintaining a strong biblical-based faith in God, while experiencing Spiritual Growth and Development. It is God’s desire that every believer study His Word, grow spiritually and “make disciples”. A disciple of Christ is a “learner”—one who not only learns but one who also “follows” Christ. To follow Christ, one must know and understand the principles by which one must live
.
The call to minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an individual. It is a divine encounter with God, when at some point in your life he has intervenes in the affairs and sovereignty calls you to some realm of service, in which we must realize and accept. God will confirm your calling in the church.
God has called me into his great service in many ways from serving as, a loving husband and father to preaching and teaching the gospel, and serving the community through business endeavors, teaching God’s word in bible study, and to administer all the provisions of the disciplines to the spiritual, emotional, evangelistic, financial, episcopal needs of the people in my pastoral charge.
May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, may the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory, and the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power in Christ.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Jenkins
Saturday, January 10, 2009
What is Our Salvation?
Now I make known to you brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures..." 1 Cor. 15:1-4,
Salvation is the forgiveness of sins. Salvation is being saved from the righteous judgment of God. It is only accomplished through faith in Jesus as Savior. Salvation is found in Jesus, and only in Jesus, who is God in flesh (John 1: 1,14), and who died for our sins and rose from the dead.
The Bible says that we are all sinners (Rom. 3:23). This means that we have all broken His law. Therefore, we are guilty of having sinned. Because of this, we are separated from God (Isaiah 59:2), are dead in our sins (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:3), cannot please God (Rom. 3:10-11), and will suffer damnation (2 Thess. 1:9).
Since we are sinners, we are incapable of removing the guilt of our sinfulness through our own efforts. Gal. 2:21 says, "...if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly." In other words, we can’t become righteous by what we do. Why? Because we are dead in our sins (Eph. 2:3). This means that since we cannot remove our own sins, God must do it. "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" (Eph. 2:8-9, NIV). The only way to escape this judgment is by receiving and trusting in what Jesus did on the cross (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Pet. 2:24).
"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin" (Rom. 3:20).
"Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law" (Gal. 3:21).
Jesus, who is God in flesh (John 1:1,14; 8:58; Col. 2:9), bore our sins in His body on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24). He died in our place.
He paid the penalty of breaking the Law of God which should that should have fallen upon us. "However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness" (Rom. 4:5).
He satisfied the law of God the Father by dying on the cross.
"You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace" (Gal. 5:4).
This verse and its context teach that if you believe that you are saved by faith and works then you are not saved at all. (Read Rom. 3-5 and Gal. 3-5). You cannot add to the work of God. Gal. 2:21 says, "I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" (NIV)
It is only through Jesus that we can escape the penalty that God will execute upon all who have broken his holy and perfect law. To become a Christian and follow God, then you must realize that you have sinned against God, and are under his judgment. You must look to Jesus who died on the cross and trust what he did in order to be forgiven of your sentence and be saved from the judgment of God. This is accomplished by faith alone in what Jesus has done. You cannot add your sincerity nor can you add any human works to add to what Jesus is done.
What does it mean to be a Christian?
Being a Christian means that you are changed on the inside, not controlled from the outside. It means that your heart has been changed by the presence of God. It does not mean that you are required to go to church, required to pay tithes, required to be good, required to do anything in order to stay a Christian. It means you desire to do those things because you've been changed.
To be a Christian means to follow Christ, to desire Him, to fellowship with Him, to be indwelt by Him, and to bring glory to Him in your life.
"Salvation is from the LORD" (Jonah 2:9)
Paul declares that God has already blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).
Some of the principal blessings of salvation include:
Regeneration, which is an instantaneous work of the Holy Spirit with a new nature, so as to transform the believer from a state of spiritual death to spiritual life (cf. John 3:5, 10:10,28; 1 John 5:11-12)
Justification, God declares the believer righteous and gives the righteousness of Christ (Romans 3:21-26)
Freed from the domain and dominion of sin (Romans 6:2-14)
Given as a gift from the Father to the Son (John 17:2-24)
Placed as a member in the spiritual body of Christ, the church (1 Corinthians 12:13)
A Christians Belief (Basic)
• Believes that there is a moral, loving, personal all powerful Being who has created the whole universe and cares for humanity.
• Recognizes that they have ignored God, either intentionally or unintentionally, and so has turned away from him. They are a rebel.
• Believes that Jesus, God's Son, by his death on the cross, has bridged the separation between God and man. He has taken the punishment our rebellion deserves. Also, Jesus, by his resurrection, has guaranteed our new life now and in the age to come.
• Has responded to God's call to repent and so has turned from rebelling and submitted to his Son.
• Has asked Jesus to be accepted as God's friend forever.
• Has put their complete trust in Jesus for forgiveness, direction in life and fulfillment of all God promises. Rests wholly in Jesus.
• Has found in Jesus friendship with God, a purposeful life, freedom, a new community of friends (a Church fellowship) and a place in God's future new world.
• Sees their life being changed by the indwelling presence of Jesus. They grow in love.
How does a person become a Christian? Believe
God has given us a clear word and promised a certain hope. From the Bible, read the words of 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.”
The whole process of becoming a Child of God is completely a work of God. Being born again (becoming a new person, “in Christ Jesus” and no longer self) is a miraculous creation of God, something we cannot do by ourselves. Salvation is a free gift of God (Rom. 6:23). You must acknowledge that there is nothing you can do to earn forgiveness. You need to trust in Jesus. "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" (Eph. 2:8-9, NIV).
Repentance: You must turn away from your sin
"...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. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:9,10
If we repent of our sin, then confess and trust Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we will be saved from our sins! "For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13
The Bible tells us that the first step in deciding to follow Jesus is repentance. The word simply means a change in mind, attitude, outlook and direction - a turning around. Repentance is a turning from sin and self to God in Jesus 1Thes.1:9, 1Peter 2:25. For sin to be forgiven, and therefore for a person to gain eternal life, it is necessary first and foremost to turn away from the old life and turn toward a new life in Jesus Christ. Lk.24:47, Act.2:38, 3:19, 5:31, 11:2, 2Cor.7:10.
You must ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins because Jesus has the authority to forgive you of your sins: "Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me'" (Matt. 28:18, NIV)
"You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it" (John 14:14, NIV)
"In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30, NIV)
"But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins....'He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home"'" (Mark 2:10-11, NIV).
John 1:12 says, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (NIV).
Faith
The Bible tells us that the second step in deciding to follow Jesus is faith. Faith means abandoning all trust in one's own resources and casting oneself unconditionally on God - particularly on his promised mercy for all who seek it. Faith is an act of trust at conversion and an attitude of trust throughout life. It is, in simple terms, a trust or resting on the promises of God and His Word.
Definition: FAITH - a belief in or confident attitude toward God, involving commitment to His will for one’s life. Faith is holding firm to the promises of God, such that our actions and convictions align with our acceptance of God's revealed truth. Faith is “what we believe with legs on it”, “a belief that moves to action”. Faith is personal confidence in God. Faith comprises three things: knowledge, belief and trust. It means that we believe what He says, and trust Him to save us and to keep us.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Mark 11:22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.
1 John 3:23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son
Saving faith involves personally depending on the finished work of Christ’s sacrifice as the only basis for forgiveness of sin and entrance into heaven. But saving faith is also a personal commitment of one’s life to following Christ in obedience to His commands: "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day" (2 Tim. 1:12).
Faith is part of the Christian life from beginning to end. As the instrument by which the gift of salvation is received (Eph. 2:8-9), The apostle Paul declared that salvation is through faith, not through keeping the law (Gal. 2:16). Faith is a continuing attitude. From the moment we give our life to Jesus, we are to "live by faith".
You must believe that Jesus is the only way to God: "I am the way, the truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father but by Me" (John 14:6).
You must believe that God Loves You!
"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." John 3:16
You must believe that God has a wonderful plan for your life!
"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10b
You must believe that Because of our sin, we are separated from God.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
You must believe that The Penalty for our sin is death.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23
You must believe that The penalty for our sin was paid by Jesus Christ!
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
You must Pray and ask Him to forgive you. Seek Him; He will save you.
How can you be sure of your salvation?
First, God keeps his promises. He can be trusted. Jesus says, "Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find." Have you asked? Then that settles it. Check out these verses in the Bible. John.3:16, 1John.5:12-13, John.10:27-29, Ephesians.1:7, John.5:24, Romans.8:38,39. You can be sure because God says it.
Second, There is first of all an objective test, which asks, "Do I believe?" Ask yourself if you affirm the Scripture's record of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Do you believe that He is God manifest in the flesh? Do you believe that God saves sinners solely through the merits of Jesus Christ's obedient life and substitutionary death on the cross?
Third, from the moment you give your life to Jesus you start to change. You slowly become more like Jesus. You begin to hate evil and love good. You reach out to God, you just want to live for him. You may fail, in fact, you will fail, but he forgives you and you know it. As the years go by, you will see the evidence of a changed life. "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matt. 3:8, NIV)
Fourth, By the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, we have received eternal life (Titus 3:5).
When we trusted Christ, the Holy Spirit began an eternal indwelling ministry in us (John 14:17).
Also He was the seal placed on us by the Father to guarantee our future inheritance (Ephesians 4:30). And He baptized us into union with Christ and into the body of believers (1 Corinthians 12:13).
Fifth, is the experiential test of assurance in which you ask yourself, "Is my faith real?" The Apostle John's epistle of 1 John was to give true believers assurance of their salvation (1 John 5:13).
• Believers walk in the light (1 John 1:6-7). The light here means both intellectual and moral truth. Ask, "Do I affirm the truths of Scripture, and desire to obey them?"
• Believers confess their sin (1:8-2:1) Confess means to agree with God about our sin. That means that true believers hate their sins; They acknowledge they are sinful, and yet they know they are forgiven.
• Believers keep His commandments (2:3-4; 5:2-3). The term here refers to a watchful, observant obedience. Here the believer desires to obey truths he deems precious. It is a proactive approach to obedience-the Christian studies Scripture in order to understand and obey it.
• Believers love the brethren (2:9-11; 3:10, 14-15; 5:2). Ask yourself the question, "Do I love God's people and desire to be around them?"
• Believers affirm sound doctrine (2:20-23; 4:2, 6). John here teaches that no true believer will fall into any serious, Christ-denying error or heresy.
• Believers follow after holiness (2:29; 3:3-4, 6-9). These verses certainly aren't talking about sinless perfection, or even the frequency or duration of sin. The term sin in these verses describes one who lives an immoral, ungodly, unrighteous life as a matter of continual practice, and carries the attitude of hardened hate for God's righteousness.
• Believers have the Holy Spirit (4:13; 5:10-11). This is an over-arching test summing up all the others. Is there evidence that the fruit of the Spirit is present in your life (Galatians 5:22-23)? "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matt. 3:8, NIV)
Our assurance of salvation does not need to be based on a past decision or an experience. It should rest first of all on one's faith in the objective truth of God's Word, Jesus Christ, and the gospel. Secondly, it should rest on the reality of a changed life marked by obedience, a love for Christ and His righteousness, and a hatred for sin. Take heart if these things are true in your life, and trust God to continue to work out His salvation in your life.
Now that you are a "new creation" in Jesus Christ; Grow in knowledge and understanding of the Bible and your Christian walk with God is essential for your spiritual growth. Here are some ways that you can grow as a Christian
Be baptized. Baptism identifies you with Christ. Acts 8:35-40
Make prayer a part of your daily life. Luke 11:2-4
Study the Bible. The Bible will guide you through life and answer life's questions.
"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105
"Be diligent to present yourself to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15.
Share your faith. "Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord." 2 Timothy 1:8
"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven." Matthew 10:32
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witness to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8
Tell others about your commitment to Jesus.
The Bible says, "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; 10for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation"
(Rom. 10:9-10).
Be part of a local church. Fellowship with other Christians.
"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24,25
More
Isaiah 59:2, "Your sins have caused a separation between you and your God...."
John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14, "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."
John 8:58, "Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am."
John 14:6, "Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me."
Acts 4:12, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved."
Romans 3:10-11, "as it is written,’ There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God...’"
Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 10:9-10, "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; 10 for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."
Ephesians 2:3, "Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest."
Colossians 2:9, "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,"
2 Thess. 1:9, "And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,"
1 Pet. 2:24, "and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed."
Salvation is the forgiveness of sins. Salvation is being saved from the righteous judgment of God. It is only accomplished through faith in Jesus as Savior. Salvation is found in Jesus, and only in Jesus, who is God in flesh (John 1: 1,14), and who died for our sins and rose from the dead.
The Bible says that we are all sinners (Rom. 3:23). This means that we have all broken His law. Therefore, we are guilty of having sinned. Because of this, we are separated from God (Isaiah 59:2), are dead in our sins (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:3), cannot please God (Rom. 3:10-11), and will suffer damnation (2 Thess. 1:9).
Since we are sinners, we are incapable of removing the guilt of our sinfulness through our own efforts. Gal. 2:21 says, "...if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly." In other words, we can’t become righteous by what we do. Why? Because we are dead in our sins (Eph. 2:3). This means that since we cannot remove our own sins, God must do it. "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" (Eph. 2:8-9, NIV). The only way to escape this judgment is by receiving and trusting in what Jesus did on the cross (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Pet. 2:24).
"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin" (Rom. 3:20).
"Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law" (Gal. 3:21).
Jesus, who is God in flesh (John 1:1,14; 8:58; Col. 2:9), bore our sins in His body on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24). He died in our place.
He paid the penalty of breaking the Law of God which should that should have fallen upon us. "However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness" (Rom. 4:5).
He satisfied the law of God the Father by dying on the cross.
"You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace" (Gal. 5:4).
This verse and its context teach that if you believe that you are saved by faith and works then you are not saved at all. (Read Rom. 3-5 and Gal. 3-5). You cannot add to the work of God. Gal. 2:21 says, "I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" (NIV)
It is only through Jesus that we can escape the penalty that God will execute upon all who have broken his holy and perfect law. To become a Christian and follow God, then you must realize that you have sinned against God, and are under his judgment. You must look to Jesus who died on the cross and trust what he did in order to be forgiven of your sentence and be saved from the judgment of God. This is accomplished by faith alone in what Jesus has done. You cannot add your sincerity nor can you add any human works to add to what Jesus is done.
What does it mean to be a Christian?
Being a Christian means that you are changed on the inside, not controlled from the outside. It means that your heart has been changed by the presence of God. It does not mean that you are required to go to church, required to pay tithes, required to be good, required to do anything in order to stay a Christian. It means you desire to do those things because you've been changed.
To be a Christian means to follow Christ, to desire Him, to fellowship with Him, to be indwelt by Him, and to bring glory to Him in your life.
"Salvation is from the LORD" (Jonah 2:9)
Paul declares that God has already blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).
Some of the principal blessings of salvation include:
Regeneration, which is an instantaneous work of the Holy Spirit with a new nature, so as to transform the believer from a state of spiritual death to spiritual life (cf. John 3:5, 10:10,28; 1 John 5:11-12)
Justification, God declares the believer righteous and gives the righteousness of Christ (Romans 3:21-26)
Freed from the domain and dominion of sin (Romans 6:2-14)
Given as a gift from the Father to the Son (John 17:2-24)
Placed as a member in the spiritual body of Christ, the church (1 Corinthians 12:13)
A Christians Belief (Basic)
• Believes that there is a moral, loving, personal all powerful Being who has created the whole universe and cares for humanity.
• Recognizes that they have ignored God, either intentionally or unintentionally, and so has turned away from him. They are a rebel.
• Believes that Jesus, God's Son, by his death on the cross, has bridged the separation between God and man. He has taken the punishment our rebellion deserves. Also, Jesus, by his resurrection, has guaranteed our new life now and in the age to come.
• Has responded to God's call to repent and so has turned from rebelling and submitted to his Son.
• Has asked Jesus to be accepted as God's friend forever.
• Has put their complete trust in Jesus for forgiveness, direction in life and fulfillment of all God promises. Rests wholly in Jesus.
• Has found in Jesus friendship with God, a purposeful life, freedom, a new community of friends (a Church fellowship) and a place in God's future new world.
• Sees their life being changed by the indwelling presence of Jesus. They grow in love.
How does a person become a Christian? Believe
God has given us a clear word and promised a certain hope. From the Bible, read the words of 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.”
The whole process of becoming a Child of God is completely a work of God. Being born again (becoming a new person, “in Christ Jesus” and no longer self) is a miraculous creation of God, something we cannot do by ourselves. Salvation is a free gift of God (Rom. 6:23). You must acknowledge that there is nothing you can do to earn forgiveness. You need to trust in Jesus. "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" (Eph. 2:8-9, NIV).
Repentance: You must turn away from your sin
"...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. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:9,10
If we repent of our sin, then confess and trust Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we will be saved from our sins! "For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13
The Bible tells us that the first step in deciding to follow Jesus is repentance. The word simply means a change in mind, attitude, outlook and direction - a turning around. Repentance is a turning from sin and self to God in Jesus 1Thes.1:9, 1Peter 2:25. For sin to be forgiven, and therefore for a person to gain eternal life, it is necessary first and foremost to turn away from the old life and turn toward a new life in Jesus Christ. Lk.24:47, Act.2:38, 3:19, 5:31, 11:2, 2Cor.7:10.
You must ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins because Jesus has the authority to forgive you of your sins: "Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me'" (Matt. 28:18, NIV)
"You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it" (John 14:14, NIV)
"In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30, NIV)
"But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins....'He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home"'" (Mark 2:10-11, NIV).
John 1:12 says, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (NIV).
Faith
The Bible tells us that the second step in deciding to follow Jesus is faith. Faith means abandoning all trust in one's own resources and casting oneself unconditionally on God - particularly on his promised mercy for all who seek it. Faith is an act of trust at conversion and an attitude of trust throughout life. It is, in simple terms, a trust or resting on the promises of God and His Word.
Definition: FAITH - a belief in or confident attitude toward God, involving commitment to His will for one’s life. Faith is holding firm to the promises of God, such that our actions and convictions align with our acceptance of God's revealed truth. Faith is “what we believe with legs on it”, “a belief that moves to action”. Faith is personal confidence in God. Faith comprises three things: knowledge, belief and trust. It means that we believe what He says, and trust Him to save us and to keep us.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Mark 11:22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.
1 John 3:23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son
Saving faith involves personally depending on the finished work of Christ’s sacrifice as the only basis for forgiveness of sin and entrance into heaven. But saving faith is also a personal commitment of one’s life to following Christ in obedience to His commands: "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day" (2 Tim. 1:12).
Faith is part of the Christian life from beginning to end. As the instrument by which the gift of salvation is received (Eph. 2:8-9), The apostle Paul declared that salvation is through faith, not through keeping the law (Gal. 2:16). Faith is a continuing attitude. From the moment we give our life to Jesus, we are to "live by faith".
You must believe that Jesus is the only way to God: "I am the way, the truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father but by Me" (John 14:6).
You must believe that God Loves You!
"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." John 3:16
You must believe that God has a wonderful plan for your life!
"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10b
You must believe that Because of our sin, we are separated from God.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
You must believe that The Penalty for our sin is death.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23
You must believe that The penalty for our sin was paid by Jesus Christ!
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
You must Pray and ask Him to forgive you. Seek Him; He will save you.
How can you be sure of your salvation?
First, God keeps his promises. He can be trusted. Jesus says, "Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find." Have you asked? Then that settles it. Check out these verses in the Bible. John.3:16, 1John.5:12-13, John.10:27-29, Ephesians.1:7, John.5:24, Romans.8:38,39. You can be sure because God says it.
Second, There is first of all an objective test, which asks, "Do I believe?" Ask yourself if you affirm the Scripture's record of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Do you believe that He is God manifest in the flesh? Do you believe that God saves sinners solely through the merits of Jesus Christ's obedient life and substitutionary death on the cross?
Third, from the moment you give your life to Jesus you start to change. You slowly become more like Jesus. You begin to hate evil and love good. You reach out to God, you just want to live for him. You may fail, in fact, you will fail, but he forgives you and you know it. As the years go by, you will see the evidence of a changed life. "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matt. 3:8, NIV)
Fourth, By the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, we have received eternal life (Titus 3:5).
When we trusted Christ, the Holy Spirit began an eternal indwelling ministry in us (John 14:17).
Also He was the seal placed on us by the Father to guarantee our future inheritance (Ephesians 4:30). And He baptized us into union with Christ and into the body of believers (1 Corinthians 12:13).
Fifth, is the experiential test of assurance in which you ask yourself, "Is my faith real?" The Apostle John's epistle of 1 John was to give true believers assurance of their salvation (1 John 5:13).
• Believers walk in the light (1 John 1:6-7). The light here means both intellectual and moral truth. Ask, "Do I affirm the truths of Scripture, and desire to obey them?"
• Believers confess their sin (1:8-2:1) Confess means to agree with God about our sin. That means that true believers hate their sins; They acknowledge they are sinful, and yet they know they are forgiven.
• Believers keep His commandments (2:3-4; 5:2-3). The term here refers to a watchful, observant obedience. Here the believer desires to obey truths he deems precious. It is a proactive approach to obedience-the Christian studies Scripture in order to understand and obey it.
• Believers love the brethren (2:9-11; 3:10, 14-15; 5:2). Ask yourself the question, "Do I love God's people and desire to be around them?"
• Believers affirm sound doctrine (2:20-23; 4:2, 6). John here teaches that no true believer will fall into any serious, Christ-denying error or heresy.
• Believers follow after holiness (2:29; 3:3-4, 6-9). These verses certainly aren't talking about sinless perfection, or even the frequency or duration of sin. The term sin in these verses describes one who lives an immoral, ungodly, unrighteous life as a matter of continual practice, and carries the attitude of hardened hate for God's righteousness.
• Believers have the Holy Spirit (4:13; 5:10-11). This is an over-arching test summing up all the others. Is there evidence that the fruit of the Spirit is present in your life (Galatians 5:22-23)? "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matt. 3:8, NIV)
Our assurance of salvation does not need to be based on a past decision or an experience. It should rest first of all on one's faith in the objective truth of God's Word, Jesus Christ, and the gospel. Secondly, it should rest on the reality of a changed life marked by obedience, a love for Christ and His righteousness, and a hatred for sin. Take heart if these things are true in your life, and trust God to continue to work out His salvation in your life.
Now that you are a "new creation" in Jesus Christ; Grow in knowledge and understanding of the Bible and your Christian walk with God is essential for your spiritual growth. Here are some ways that you can grow as a Christian
Be baptized. Baptism identifies you with Christ. Acts 8:35-40
Make prayer a part of your daily life. Luke 11:2-4
Study the Bible. The Bible will guide you through life and answer life's questions.
"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105
"Be diligent to present yourself to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15.
Share your faith. "Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord." 2 Timothy 1:8
"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven." Matthew 10:32
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witness to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8
Tell others about your commitment to Jesus.
The Bible says, "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; 10for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation"
(Rom. 10:9-10).
Be part of a local church. Fellowship with other Christians.
"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24,25
More
Isaiah 59:2, "Your sins have caused a separation between you and your God...."
John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14, "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."
John 8:58, "Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am."
John 14:6, "Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me."
Acts 4:12, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved."
Romans 3:10-11, "as it is written,’ There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God...’"
Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 10:9-10, "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; 10 for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."
Ephesians 2:3, "Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest."
Colossians 2:9, "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,"
2 Thess. 1:9, "And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,"
1 Pet. 2:24, "and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed."
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