Salvation, How To Acquire It

We start out as careless sinners, we live as if God and His laws didn’t exist or didn’t count! We don’t care how we offend the Lord.

First, we must be convicted, and that is what the law of God does. We learn from God’s law that our way of life is wrong. God has a moral law that must be followed. Don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t commit adultery, etc. We learn that God’s law is holy and right. We don’t want to be murdered, we don’t want anyone to steal our property; yes, God’s law is right! It must be made clear to our minds that we are criminals, offending God with our every breath!

We must repent (Turn from sin in shame and disgust) and obey the Lord! We need to Instantly submit to our God. We need to be obedient to our God. God wants us to make a new heart as the prophet Ezekiel tells us in Ezekiel 18:31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Remember, praying, going to church meetings, and reading the Bible, is all sin when done while in rebellion to God. First repent! you might think that you can’t pray or repent, when all that you need to do is yield yourselves to God, to find peace! God’s precious spirit is pleading with you to do this now!

a) Turning from sin in shame and disgust, with a resolve never to do it again. b) A change of mind (heart) not remorse, regret or a feeling of being sorry.

c) Repentance is a hatred for sin, all sin.

a) It is not simply being sorry. The drunkard, after waking up the next morning in the gutter, smelly, cold and hungry is very sorry about his plight. He is sorry about being broke and hungry, but before the sun is very high in the sky, he is trying to figure out how he will gather enough money to buy wine and get drunk all over again!

b) Sorrow is a part of repentance, but the Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 7:10 that a Godly sorrow will lead us into a repentance that we will not repent of! But the sorrow of the world worketh death. The sorrow of our plight does not lead to repentance. Our sorrow should be about our treatment of a Holy God who paid a precious price for our redemption! And remember, if you, at times wish it were possible to do a certain sin, you have not repented! You need to repent!

John 3:3 - 6 Jesus answered and said to him, "Verily, verily, I say to you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus saith to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I say to you, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." After we repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ we are born again, this is regeneration. The Spirit of the Living God comes to us and renews our mind (Romans 12:1-2), and leads us like little children into the new life. We must believe for this to happen, we must trust in the Lord and His Word. Are you born of the Spirit? Or are you still living after the flesh?

Galatians 5:16 - 21 [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would. But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Why are we Not under the Law if we are led of the Spirit? Because the Spirit of God will not lead us into anything that is against the Law of God!)

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:22 - 23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

After we repent, we must believe God, have faith in His word (the Bible), learn all we can from the Lord, and believe His promises.

We must place our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and all He did for us. We must place our trust in the Lord to complete our salvation.

JOHN 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name. ACTS: 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Now many people believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but still somehow end up having a "Romans 7" experience. The "Romans 7" experience is where we have become convinced that our sin is wrong. We repent, but have not received the power over the bondage of sin! Please read carefully Romans 7. You will see that in the 24th verse (Romans 7:24) the man cries out,"O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Mark me clearly here if you are currently in a "Romans 7" experience. You need to be delivered!) The answer is JESUS CHRIST. He will deliver you!

Now, watch how the Apostle Paul defines the Romans 7 experience. Romans 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not. Romans 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Romans 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Can you see the declaration of bondage? Paul is showing us that when we are "under the law" we are brought under captivity (bondage). And this bondage will bring about wretchedness, read on; Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? This is where life "under the law" will always lead us, understanding just enough about God’s law to know that it is right and Holy, but not knowing how to obey it. Yes, when we truly agree with the law of God and want to obey it, but find that we do just the opposite (the thing that we know is wrong), we are wretched. We are in captivity.

Listen to the Apostle Paul again as he explains the difference between the law of grace and the law of the flesh. The flesh will always serve sin! Romans 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. This will always remain the same, with our flesh we will always and only serve the law of sin and death. But we are not to yield to our flesh we are to yield only to the Spirit of God! let’s allow the Apostle John to speak. 1 John 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him. What a test John gives us, are we born of Him? Then we must be practicing righteousness!

And again 1John chapter 3 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

Now let the Apostle Paul warn us, Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.   Which are you sowing to?

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for He shall save his people from their sins.

(Has Jesus saved you? Or do you still have a practice of still in sin in your life?)

  Is it all right with God, for us to Continue in sin, after being saved from it?

Hebrews 10:26 to 10:31   For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance [belongeth] to me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. [It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

1 John 3:4 - 9 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And you know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. You see that the sin problem in the believer is gone, sin is no longer our master.

Rom:6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Rom:6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Rom:6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. Rom:6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Do not hide behind the old excuse "I’m still in the flesh and can’t help but to sin." This excuse won’t wash, God won’t buy it!

Listen now as the Apostle John tells us how we can be certain of our new birth.

1 John 2:3 - 6 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

1 John 2:29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

Matthew 7:13 - 14 Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it.   1 Peter 4:17 For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God?

If you have tried to walk without sin, and that without success, you need to read Ezekiel 36:25 - 27

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do [them].

What a promise! God will cleanse us, God will cleanse us from all of our filthiness! That word filthiness means sin! But that’s not all, God will remove all of the idols in our life! There’s more, God will remove our heart of stone. The Bible uses the word heart to refer to man’s will, the place we make our decisions (the decision to obey or disobey God). Notice God refers to a stony heart, this means a stubborn, rebellious will (heart). We won’t stop being rebellious and stubborn on our own, so the God of love removes this rebellious (heart) from us and replaces it with a moldable (heart) (And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.) Are you tired of trying to do that which only God can do? Are you tired of failure? Then come to Jesus and take his yoke and receive His salvation today, now, don’t wait, believe on Him now! He can do all of this in you and more. After heart surgery, we are ready to receive the most precious gift anyone could possibly receive! God’s Spirit. (And I will put My spirit within you). But God knows that this is still not enough, look at the next part of this promise. And cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do [them]. Now God has committed Himself to cause us to obey Him! Do you believe this? Will you trust Him to do this? The peace of God is just a repentance away!

Do you see the magnitude of God’s promise in Ezekiel 36:25 - 27. The Holy Spirit is calling you now if you are not saved (living above sin, sanctified). If you are a believer and need to be set free from a particular sin or sins, believe now and be sanctified! Don’t wait for anything. The God of love has already given us all things pertaining to life and godliness. Read the following, 2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

2 Timothy 4:3 - 4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. Don’t let this be your end!

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, believing is placing our trust in Him, believing is obeying Him. Put your trust in Him now! Remember, He came to save us from SIN! BELIEVING IS OBEYING. DISOBEDIENCE IS UNBELIEF.

I struggled for 16 years in the Romans seven Experience, I had read everything that I could find on the subject of sanctification, all without avail. Then after reading a book by Charles Finney (The Promise of the Spirit) the Lord showed me my sin. I was allowed to see that I was the biggest hypocrite that had ever lived! After a few days of travail of soul I told the Lord that I belonged in hell, and that He should put me there. But instead, the God of all grace delievered me from sin, cleansed me of my sin and idols, and made me His child. Don’t struggle, yield now to the Lord.

 If you would like to have help attaining salvation, sanctification and peace with the Living God, please call or write;

Charles Wright Phone: (615)444-3959   38 Borck Lane Lebanon, Tn 37090

You may contact me on the internet byclicking here  HH01518A1.gif (838 bytes)

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