I. SALVATION
OF THE SPIRIT OF MAN (Justification)
UNSAVED; PREPARATION FOR SALVATION
If you have already been born
again, this section will give you a clearer understanding of what you have been
delivered from.
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds
of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who
is the image of God, should shine unto them. II Corinthians 4:4.
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated
from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the
blindness of their heart.
Ephesians 4:18.
Who is “the god of this
world”? Scriptures are clear
on this point: Satan is the god of this world. He stole Adam’s authority over the earth and has been
stealing, killing, and destroying ever since. The word “world” in scriptures nearly always
means “world systems” such as political systems, economic systems,
and human philosophies. Satan
rebelled against God the Creator, so God created Hell for Satan and his ungodly
angels. Hell was never created for
man, but man will go there if he allows himself to be deceived by Satan’s
political, economic and philosophical systems so that he doesn’t receive
Jesus as his Savior. Satan hates
you and he will “blind” your mind and your heart any chance he gets
to keep you from God the Father.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world,
and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have
sinned: Romans 5:12.
That one man was Adam. God the Father created Adam to rule
over the earth. Through
disobedience Adam relinquished his authority to Satan. The result was a fall from the original
glorified state in which Adam was created. The fall was sin.
Therefore, we can understand that all disobedience to God is sin. Adam’s sin plunged us into a
state of sinfulness from which we could not be released. We are separated spiritually from God
– spiritual death – without Jesus. There is not one thing WE can do to get us back into that
original state of sinlessness. God
must do everything for us to restore us through his infinite mercy and grace.
As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one:
There is none that understandeth, there is none that
seeketh after God.
They are all gone out of the way, they are together
become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues
they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Their feet are swift to shed blood:
Destruction and misery are in their ways:
And the way of peace have they not known:
There is no fear of God before their eyes. Romans 3:10-18.
You may not feel that you are
as bad as the above description states.
Ask yourself some questions.
Have you kept ALL of the Ten Commandments of God? Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever been sneaky about
anything? Have you ever taken
something that was not yours but justified it to yourself? Are you always peaceful? Do you always react or respond with
love to everyone? You might
say, “But these are small things.
I have never committed adultery or murdered anyone.” Are you willing to admit that you are
not perfect, even if you have not committed gross sins, but only “little
ones”? Also ask yourself, “Is God perfect?” We know that the answer to that one is
“yes.” So, how can an
imperfect human fellowship with a perfect God?
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23.
We all have fallen so far
short of God’s perfection.
Sin, is sin, and violates God’s law. Sin really means “to miss the mark.” Perfection is the mark we miss.
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend
in one point, he is guilty of all.
James 2:10.
People put degrees on sin and
feel that murder is worse than lying.
But in God’s law, sin is sin, no matter what category it falls in.
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants
to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of
obedience unto righteousness?
Romans 6:16.
The sad thing about sin is
that it is bondage and produces spiritual death which is separation from
God. Sometimes it will lead to
immediate or eminent physical death.
A person will be subject to (captured by) “forces” that are
out of his control. Modern society
has labeled these “forces” as psychological or pathological -
pertaining to the mind and brain.
However, the truth is that these forces are spiritual attacks from our
enemy Satan. He is called the
Adversary in scripture, because he opposes everything God wants. These evil influences will destroy a
person if left unchecked.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh,
and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is
of the world. I John 2:16.
The word “lust”
can be applied to anything. It
means to desire something or someone so much that it aims a person’s life
like an arrow toward that thing or person. Lust can ruin a person’s life if left unchecked. God created us to fellowship with
him. We are to look to Him for all
our needs and desires. He knows
better than we do what is good for us and what will really fulfill our desires.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a
man soweth, that shall he also reap.
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. Galatians 6:7.
God’s principle of
sowing and reaping is throughout the scriptures. In the natural world, if you plant weeds, you will reap
weeds. You will not reap
roses. It is the same in
God’s kingdom. If you plant
sin in your life, you will reap death.
For example, suppose you lie about something. Your heart will condemn you, and you will not be sure that
others are telling you the truth.
That will produce insecurity in your life.
Be prepared to answer the
following questions:
1. Who is the “God of this World”?
2. What does the word “world” nearly always mean in
Scripture?
3. What was Adam’s sin?
4. What is spiritual death?
5. Write the definition of lust?
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that
which was lost. Luke 19:10.
This is the Good News (The
Gospel). God has taken matters
into His own hands and has provided a way for us to come out of sin and back
into fellowship with Him. There is
nothing that we can do to change
things because we cannot measure up.
No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath
sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:44.
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all
men unto me. John 12:32.
God the Father is continually
drawing all men (all persons) to Himself.
All you need to do is respond to Him with “Yes, Lord.” God has only good for us.
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not
believed? and how shall they
believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14.
It is important to respect
and to listen to preaching of the Word of God. You may have criticized preachers in the past, but this is
one of the ways in which God calls us into his fellowship. Everyone should listen to preaching
with a “discerning ear” and a desire for truth. You can read God’s Word for
yourself, but if you have not yet been born again, it will be difficult to
understand, and you may interpret incorrectly.
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and
forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth
thee to repentance? Romans 2:4.
God is good. God is love. God is light.
There is no darkness nor anything bad in Him. Therefore, he has only our best in His Mind. He is not waiting to strike you with
lightning for the things you’ve done or said. He wants to give you life more abundantly.
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not
to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. II Corinthians 7:10.
There is a difference between
being sorry and having deep sorrow that leads to repentance. Being sorry is a start and is usually a
result of being caught and wanting out of punishment, or wanting a lighter
punishment. Deep sorrow that leads
to repentance is the realization that sin is lodged in the heart and that we
cannot correct it.
The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked; who can
know it?
I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to
give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doing. Jeremiah 17: 9-10.
Deep sorrow that leads to
repentance is the realization that we have sinned against the Lord, not
just against others or ourselves.
We sometimes can see the effects our sin has upon ourselves, and upon
others, but it is an eye-opener to realize that we have sinned against the Lord
and grieved the Holy Spirit.
Deep sorrow that leads to
repentance is the first step toward being forgiven. We realize that we have fallen so far short of God’s
perfection. We come to the Lord to
receive His forgiveness. This is
the beginning of permanent change in our lives. Repentance really means turning away from sin.
If we ask for forgiveness
without repentance, there will be no permanent change, because we have not
turned away from the sin. We will
be trying to change in our own power.
Anyone who is still practicing sin after asking for forgiveness
has not let godly sorrow produce true repentance on the heart and mind.
Repentance is not just for
the new believer. Because God does
not correct everything in our lives the moment we believe, we must practice
true repentance often and every time we are convicted of sin. Repentance will include things we have
done or said wrong as well as things we have not done that we should have.
Do
you want to know Him?
If you are ready to change
and conduct your life pleasing to God with His help, then you must be willing
to admit that you have sinned and are ready to repent of that sin.
For when we were yet without strength, in due time
Christ died for the ungodly.
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet
peradventure for a good man some would dare to die.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6-8.
God made a way for us to come
back to Him. Jesus is the Way, the
Truth, and the Life. Jesus lived
His life without sin so that He would be the perfect sacrifice and take our
place in death. We are the ones
who deserve death and separation from God because of our sin. But Jesus took our place and settled
the account in Heaven. What a
marvelous plan of God! From the
foundation of the world God made provision for fallen man to come back into
fellowship with Him.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some
men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance. II Peter 3:9.
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto
the knowledge of the truth. I
Timothy 2:4.
God does not want you to
perish (in hell). He wants to give
you eternal life in His presence forever.
But you can perish if you want to.
God does not force any person to come to Him. We have a free will to choose where we will spend
eternity.
That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the
hand of all who hate us.
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to
remember his holy covenant. Luke
11:71-72.
This scripture gives a clue
about what we are to be saved from.
Who are our enemies? More
specifically WHO is our enemy?
Satan is the epitome of all evil.
He is definitely our ultimate enemy. He is the one who causes all confusion, distress, hatred,
lies, murders, jealousies, and every other evil thing. People who are not submitted to God are
under the influence or control of Satan, whether or not they know it. They are tools in Satan’s hands
to cause trouble in the world. But
God promised (“His holy covenant”) that He would send a Savior who
would purchase us from Satan back to Him.
Jesus is our substitute in death.
This covenant for our salvation was between the Father and the Son and
is FULFILLED. It is a done deal. We had nothing to do with its
fulfillment – we only need to believe and receive it.
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted,
and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted
time: behold, now is the day of salvation.) II Corinthians 6:2.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is
none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12
Are you ready
to do something about your eternal
future? Scripture says “now is the day of salvation.” You
are an eternal being and will exist somewhere for eternity - either in
heaven or in hell. There is no
third choice. In heaven is the
presence of God (eternal life) and in hell is the presence of Satan (eternal
spiritual death and torment) - forever, and forever, and forever... There is no possibility of changing
your eternal future after you die.
God does not send people to hell.
You send yourself to hell if you do not make Jesus your Savior and
Lord. Do not delay in making this
decision, because no one is promised another breath. While you are alive on earth you must make a decision
about your eternal future. You must invite
God into your life - He gave you a free will and respects your right to make
your own decisions. He will not
force you to be with Him. Jesus is your substitute on the cross through His death,
burial, and resurrection. God our
Father, through His Son Jesus Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, has
made the way possible for imperfect human beings to live with the holy and
perfect Creator. He is waiting to
bless you in this life also. But
He must be given permission to direct your life by inviting him to be your
Savior and Lord.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. James 4:8a.
God will draw nigh to
you. In fact, He does most of the
“work.” All you have
to do is believe with
your whole heart that Jesus
died for you, repent of
your sins, ask Him
to come in to your life to be your Savior and Lord, and then confess Him as Savior and Lord of your life. When you do this you will terminate
your alliance with Satan, and you will experience a “new birth.” Your spirit will become alive to God
and you will be starting a salvation walk with God that will lead you in a life
of victory and blessing.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I
say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus saith unto 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 unto thee,
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.
John 3:3-6.
If you want to take this step
toward God, pray the following:
Father in Heaven, I
realize that I am a sinner and that I have sinned against You. I am sorry for my sins, and I repent
and make the decision to turn away from sin. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and rose again for my
salvation. I make Jesus Savior and
Lord of my life. I ask you to
direct my life so that I may be pleasing to You. Thank you for saving me.
Be prepared to answer the
following questions:
1. What does the word “gospel” mean?
2. Why are preachers of God’s Word necessary?
3. Name at least three things that God is.
4. What attribute of God causes us to repent?
5. Describe the difference between being sorry for sin and
godly sorrow that leads to repentance.
6. Does God want anyone to perish in Hell?
7. Who is our real enemy?
8. You are an ___________being and will exist somewhere for
___________, either in heaven or hell.
9. God gave us a ________
_________ and respects our right to make our own decisions.
10. You must give the Lord ___________ to direct your life by
inviting Him to be your Savior and Lord.