If you dont receive Jesus Christ and become a born again Christian, then you will sadly burn in hellfire for all eternity (John 3:18,36; Revelation 20:15; 21:8). Perhaps you say with the man I mentioned earlier, “That born again stuff makes no sense to me.” Well, most people cant explain how a black cow can eat green grass, give white milk, and then its turned into yellow butter—but they still eat it! My friend, you dont have to figure everything out to be saved, you just need to trust upon Jesus, the Christ, the only begotten Son of God. Again, being born-again means having He Who is the Beginning (Jesus Christ) born in you.” Revelation 1:8, “I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Isnt that beautiful. When a person is born-again, the Spirit of Christ comes to live in that persons body. “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (Romans 8:9b). This birth comes about only through faith in the Son of God. The GOOD NEWS (the Gospel) is that it is very EASY to have the second birth, i.e., a spiritual birth. God came down to this earth 2,000 years ago and took upon Himself the form of a man. That man was the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:1,14; 1st Timothy 3:16). Literally, the GODHEAD became incarnate (Colossians 2:9—King James Bible). Jesus was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). Jesus never sinned even once (2nd Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15). Jesus died, was buried and rose again after three days (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). Jesus shed His precious blood to pay for all our sins (Colossians 1:14; 1st Peter 1:18,19), and applied that blood to the Mercyseat in Heaven (Hebrews 9:12, 24-26). My friend, if you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son of God Who died, was buried and rose again for your sins, and youve made that your hope for Heaven by believing on His name, then you are a born-again child of God. Jesus is the Savior Who paid for our sins. If you realize that youre a guilty sinner, then you simply need to believe on the Gospel of Jesus Christ to have your sins forgiven. Believe that Christ died and was resurrected, shedding His precious blood to wash away your sins. All God the Father asks is that we come for salvation by way of the cross upon which His Son Jesus Christ died. Repent And Believe The Gospel Anyone who teaches salvation or bettering humanity without including the cross of Jesus Christ is teaching religious humanism. No one can be saved apart from the cross. Having faith in Jesus in not Gods plan of salvation. Many people believe on Jesus, but they have left out the cross. To be born anew by the Spirit of God you must include the death, burial and resurrection of Christ Jesus. That is the Gospel according to 1st Corinthians 15:1-4. Acts 20:21 states: “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Repentance and faith are inseparable. Repentance is simply a change of mind that involves turning to Jesus Christ to be forgiven of ones sins. We repent of our unbelief, and from dead works of self-righteousness which cannot save (Hebrews 6:1). The words “believe” and “believeth” appear 85-times in the Gospel of John; but the word “repent” isnt mentioned even once. Obviously, the person who believes has repented. Repentance unto salvation does NOT mean a change of life; but rather, a change of mind. Mark 1:15, “repent ye, and believe the gospel.” The object of repentance is to believe the Gospel, not to clean up ones life. When a man repents he believes. There is a popular false teaching in MOST churches today that says a person must try to stop sinning to be saved. That is self-righteousness. Why Did God Kill A Man For Picking Up Sticks On The Sabbath Day? (dont add to the Gospel). Salvation happens when a person acknowledges their guilt of sin, and comes to God on the basis of being a hell-deserving sinner; believing on Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, for forgiveness. Acts 10:43 states: “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” Jesus Came to Save Sinners! You may pray a sinners prayer if youd like, but you dont have to. Salvation is of the heart (Romans 10:10). If youd like to pray, simply admit that you are a guilty sinner for breaking Gods commandments. Tell Jesus that you believe He died, was buried and rose again. Ask Jesus to forgive your sins and tell Him that youre receiving His sacrifice as payment for your sins. It matters not exactly what you pray, just as long as you realize these two main truths: You are a guilty sinner under the condemnation of Gods Law! Jesus is the Savior who died, was buried and resurrected three days later. Jesus shed His blood to take away your sins! You might pray something like this... Dear Jesus, I know that I am a Hell-deserving sinner. I believe that you are the Son of God, the Savior Who died, was buried and resurrected three days later. I know You shed your blood to pay for my sins. I now believe upon You as my personal Savior and ask you to please forgive me of all my sins. Please save me and take me to Heaven when I die. Amen. Just take God at His word and claim His salvation by faith. Believe, and you will be saved. No church, no lodge, nor any amount of good works can save you. Remember, God does the saving. All of it! Mans part is to believe. God does the saving. Being born-again is a supernatural miracle of God in response to a mans faith in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Gods simple plan of salvation is: You are a sinner. Therefore, unless you believe on Jesus Who died in your place, you will spend eternity in Hell. If you believe on Him as your crucified, buried, and risen Savior, you receive forgiveness for all of your sins and His gift of eternal salvation by faith. You say, Surely, it cannot be that simple! Yes, that simple. It is scriptural; it is Gods plan. My friend, believe on Jesus and receive Him as Savior today. “Im so tired of churches being satisfied. Somebody needs to fire up for God and realize we dont have much time left. Jesus is coming again. We better charge Hell and we better do something about the fact that people need to be born again.” —Pastor Jeff Owens, from the timeless sermon titled, “Our New Year Plan Glorifying Him.” Salvation is NOT a prayer, although you may prayer a sinners prayer to express your hearts faith in Jesus. We are saved by HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, i.e., the righteousness of Jesus Christ which is charged to our account at the time of salvation. This is the IMPUTED righteousness of Jesus Christ... “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” We are saved by Gods grace through faith in Christ Jesus, because of the blood that He sacrificed for our sins. Our part is only to believe. Salvation is not a matter of praying some special words. The publican merely cried out, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” The thief on the cross simply asked Jesus to remember him, and Jesus most certainly did. It was their faith in Christ and not their words, that brought salvation. Both men acknowledged their guilt of sin and turned to Jesus Christ for forgiveness. There is nothing “magic” about the words you pray, it is your faith (trust) upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ that brings salvation. It is your faith that causes you to call upon Jesus to forgive your sins and take you to Heaven. God wants to save you more than you could ever want to be saved (2nd Peter 3:9). Salvation is very simple—we are sinners and Jesus is the Savior. Christ died, was buried and rose from the dead. Anyone who believes on the name of Jesus for salvation becomes a part of Gods family (Romans 10:13; Galatians 3:26). Eternal life is a free gift—freely given and freely received. Salvation is receiving; not giving. Our part is to acknowledge our guilt of sin and believe the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to be forgiven. You see friend, there is no religion involved here, ONLY Jesus. The big issue is that we are all sinners, and that sin MUST be dealt with. The Word of God indicts all of us as guilty sinners. Only through faith in Christ can we be justified, JUST-IF-ID never sinned. Those who DIE IN THEIR SINS without Christ (John 8:24) will stand trial at The Great White Throne of Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). They will die the Second Death and be cast into the Lake of Fire forver. Those who DIE IN THE LORD (Revelation 14:13) already have eternal life. If youre saved, youre already a citizen of Heaven. Amen! The Second Death Verses Spiritual Death Please understand that spiritual death is not the same as the second death. Every man is born spiritually dead. We are already spiritually dead by birth. In contrast, the second death is being cast into the Lake of Fire forever. The first death is separation of our soul and spirit from our earthly body. The second death is separation of our body, soul and spirit from God for all eternity. Matthew 10:28, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Revelation 21:8, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” My friend, please dont go to Hell. You dont have to die a second death. Because of sin we must all die a physical death (Romans 6:23), but Jesus shed His blood and paid the price for our sins so we wouldnt have to die a second death. Revelation 21:8 defines the second death as spending eternity being tormented in a lake of brimstone and fire. Is that what you want? The choice is yours. Jesus said in John 3:5 to Nicodemus (a Jewish leader), “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Being born again is not optional. Whether Jew or Gentile, everyone must be born again. Being born again is not giving your heart to Jesus. Thats discipleship. Judas gave his heart to Jesus, but the Lord said Judas had a devil (John 6:70). Forsaking sinful bad habits is not salvation. Thats consecration. Salvation is not turning over a new leaf. Thats reformation. Salvation is not cleaning up ones life. Thats rehabilitation. Salvation is not embracing the Christian philosophy. Thats education. Salvation is REGENERATION!!! Ye must be born again!!! 1st Peter 1:23, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” We are born again by the seed of the Word of God. Weve all been born of water (physically); but now we all must be born anew—a second, spiritual, birth by the Spirit of God in response to our faith in the seed of the Word of God. Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every person that believes. Thats the way to be born-again. Believe the Gospel and the work is done! John 6:29, “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” If youve never been born-again, you are missing out on a whole new world of spiritual understanding. 1st Corinthians 2:9-10, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” Once you get saved youll begin to understand ALL THINGS and the DEEP THINGS OF GOD. Within context, the Bible says that the things the eyes have not seen, and the things the ears have nor heard, are the precious truths of Gods Word. False cults are formed when people try to interpret the Scriptures without the presence of the Author, Who is God. Once you become born-again, the eyes and ears of your spiritual understanding will be opened. If you want to be saved, then receive Jesus Christ, by believing that He died, was buried and rose again three days later from the dead for your sins. Acknowledge your sinful condition as Romans 3:19 teaches, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” We are all guilty sinners. I am the biggest sinner I know (and so are you if you understand the Bible, James 2:10). Salvation is about dealing with our sins. Religion can clean you up, but only the blood of Jesus can wash your sins away (1st John 1:7). Religion wants to fit us with glasses, but the Lord wants to open our eyes. God promises to save the worst sinner, no matter what evil things you may have done, if youll simply believe upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:30-31). Salvation is based upon the love and promises of God; not upon “The new so-called fundamentalism is known for building bridges to the liberals instead of burning the bridges.” —Pastor Jeff Owens, from the sermon titled, “The So Called New Fundamentalism.” Just Shut Up and Get On the Ark! “The Gospel is not a call to repentance, or to amendment of our ways, to make restitution for past sins, or to promise to do better in the future. These things are proper in their place, but they do not constitute the Gospel; for the Gospel is not good advice to be obeyed, it is good news to be believed. Do not make the mistake then of thinking that the Gospel is a call to duty or a call to reformation, a call to better your condition, to behave yourself in a more perfect way than you have been doing in the past … Nor is the Gospel a demand that you give up the world, that you give up your sins, that you break off bad habits, and try to cultivate good ones. You may do all these things, and yet never believe the Gospel and consequently never be saved at all.” SOURCE: Pastor Harry A. Ironside, from the sermon: What Is The Gospel? Salvation is NOT found in a religion, but in a Person—The Lord Jesus Christ. The Cross-less Gospel How to Know Christ (The Inside Story) P.S. —I have written a 39 chapter book concerning Salvation if youd like to learn more. It covers everything from information about Hell to the precious literal blood sacrifice of Christ. Beware of Catholicisms FALSE Gospel (which is the same as the Lordship Salvation heresy) Also, The Simplicity of Salvation | You Need HIS Righteousness | Salvation Crystal Clear Dr. John R. Rice speaks on worldly Christians — Are they not saved? Dr. Curtis Hutson speaks on Biblical repentance — Must a person stop sinning to be saved?
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 12:21:23 +0000
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