SALVATION: OBVIOUS QUESTIONS!

Text:

“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 a 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’.” John 3: 3-5 (KJV)

Aim

1. To proffer possible answers to the young believers’ plausible questions about the Saving Faith.

Introduction

In the last lesson we Introduced Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.  We also established that Salvation is God’s righteous way of redeeming Man totally – saving our soul from eternal death and separation from the Almighty God – through Jesus Christ.

Now, we shall continue with the obvious questions that normal people ask before or during their Salvation experience:

Why must Jesus Die?

This is the debt He must pay: That a pure Man should die without committing any offence, so that we – sinners – would live by his redemptory sacrifice… It is taken that whoever dies by hanging on the tree is cursed. Whoever is sinful merits an accursed fate.  So, he chose to accept the death that we are entitled to. Without Jesus’ death on the cross, Man’s sins can never be borne by Him: The wages of sin is death… (Romans 6: 23).  So, believing in his death gives Man the eternal life (Titus 2: 14), for that amount to believing that Jesus’ death exonerates the believing man from second death!

Why Did He Resurrect?

1Cor. 15: 20, 1Thes 4: 14-18.

To prove His (and believers’) victory over death – He rose to symbolize the fact that as we believe in Him and reject our old sinful life we are dead to sins and now alive to righteousness… Without this resurrection, our faith and preaching of His gospel would have been in vain.  Jesus’ resurrection brings hope, good tidings and spiritual awakening.  This is one of the gains of being born of God.

Why is He coming again?

1Thes 4: 14-18, John 5: 25.

To take those that believed in Him (whether in the grave or physically alive at His coming) to their final resting place in Heaven.  Believers are to expect this moment everyday, by doing God’s will at all times: for no one knows the exact time of this coming, which shall be like ‘as a thief in the night’.  When we hear His words, we must obey with gladness.

What is Sin?

Some Christians describe Sin as Satan-Inspired-Nature:The set of wrongdoings Man partakes in, due to evil influence or fleshly lusts.  Anything which Man or angels do that does not glorify God cannot be done with a righteous mind, or in faith: It is sin.  In Men, see Galatians 5: 19-21, it is the natural actions of the flesh – carnality.

How did Sin enter into the World?

The first creature that sinned was Lucifer, the great angel.  He was judged and cast from Heaven to earth with his loyalist angels (who became demons).  On earth, trying to turn God’s human creatures against him, he deceived Adam and Eve into disobeying God by eating of the fruit of knowledge of bad and evil, which God had forbidden them to eat.  Deception comes in the cloak of true reality… and it led to the fall of Man! Read 1Cor.15: 21-22.

What are the consequences of Sin?

Sin separates Man from God: for His holiness makes him unable to behold Sin!  Sin destroys Man – since it is devil’s only way of maintaining dominion over Man.  It makes Man disobedient enough to be able to avoid abiding in God and fearing Him. Read 1 John 3:6.

Can ‘the world’ ever influence any ‘true believer’?

Surely. We strive to be perfect, but our best efforts in the spirit only leads to perfection only in heaven!  We are still corruptible and prone to temptations.  If Jesus was tempted, why won’t we be?

Read 1 John 2:15-17.  The Worldly System makes man to live and walk according to the dictates of the flesh (Gal.5: 19-21).  And the Bible teaches us not to love the world (carnal mindedness) or its evil possessions (lusting after ill-gotten wealth).  We should ask ourselves whether anything we think, say or do glorify God before we proceed.  We should also carefully select whom we associate with, in all spheres of life.  2Cor. 6: 14-18 asks Christians to be separated from evil associations!

What should I do to be saved?

a. Realize that everyone is a sinner, including you (Rom.3: 23, 1John 1: 8).

b. Turn to God for Salvation (John 3: 3).

c. Do not hide your sins (Prov.28: 13) so that you can prosper in all endeavours.

d. Identify your sins and genuinely confess to God (1John 1: 9). His mercy shall surely find you.

e. Agree to work the works of God (John 6: 28-29).

Is it compulsory to be saved?

All have sinned and have come short of the glory of God (Rom.3: 23) from Adam!  We need a new (divine) nature that can save our lives from eternal      damnation (Romans 5: 12).  Without this nature, a natural man will continue, in vain, to achieve divine perfection.  It would remain, at best, a mirage!

Jesus advises that we must be born again, of an incorruptible nature, having been already born of a corruptible nature (John 3: 3-8). Being saved is the only way to describe the genuinely penitent attitudinal change, and studied progress towards heavenly eternity.  It is the only way to miss hell.

How, then, can a person be saved?

Firstly, one must realize that being saved is by God’s grace only (Rom.3: 24).  Grace is made available to those who heed Jesus’ words.  These are the steps:

1. We need to receive Jesus Christ, and agree to be born again – Born of the Spirit; born of God (John 1: 12,13).

2. We need to repent and forsake our sins. (Acts 3: 19)

3. We need to faithfully confess the Lord Jesus with our mouth (Rom.10: 9)

4. We need to believe in our hearts that Jesus is God’s son, who was raised for our resurrection (Rom.10: 9,10).

Romans 10: 13 says that whoever does the aforementioned, in faith and forsaking all excuses for sins, shall be saved.

How can I know that I am saved?

1. Holy Spirit bears witness in you (Rom.8: 16).

2. People will notice a positive change in you (2Cor.5: 17).

3. You develop the love for prayer (Acts.1: 14, 4: 24).

4. You long to read the Bible (John 5: 39, 6: 63).

5. Grace is given to you to endure and overcome the worst tribulations, in good faith (John 16:33).

6. You have victory over sins and temptations.  Godliness in you convicts you of sins, that you will hate sinfulness (John 16: 8-11).

7. You develop the eagerness to await Jesus’ second coming… while joyfully doing the will of God all the time (1Cor.1: 4-10).

8. You always beam with joy.  Sad times do not last around you. (Jeremiah 29: 11).

How can I maintain the experience?

The born-again experience can be sustained with these few steps:

I. Consciously stay away from sins, retaining the attitude of pureness.  Accept the Christian consecration (see Galatians 5: 23ff.) The Christian consecration involves devotion; being set-aside for goodness and mercy; and being dedicated to God by faith.

II. Separate yourself from worldliness.  Agree to be cleansed always by the word of God.  Avoid old habits, which do not glorify God.  Study Col.3:16, I Thess. 4:3, I Peter 1:2, II Thess. 2:13, I John 2:15-17, Heb. 2:11.

III. Pray continuously (I Thess. 5:17)

IV. Be used to the Bible.  Read the word everyday (Joshua 1:8, II Tim.2:15). Let your life become consistent with the Scriptures.

V. Jere. 51:20 – Be God’s battle axe (John 6:28-29).  Work for God.  Serve God with you time, treasure and talents.  Submit to constituted authority.

VI. Fellowship with other believers (Heb.10:25).  Be careful to go to only where the true will of God is done: A living Church.

VII. Be a soul winner.  (Prov.11:30, Mark 16:15).  Somebody told you about Christ: At best you heard the goodness somewhere!  As you also tell others about Christ, you grow better in the spirit and enjoy Christ-likeness.

Questions For Discourse.

1. What is Saving Faith (John 3: 3,5)?  From what must Man be saved, and Why?

2. Why did Jesus resurrect?  What will He come to do on His second coming? 

3. What is Sin? How did Sin enter the World?  What are the consequences of Sin?   

4. How can Man be saved?

5. What should Man do to be saved??  

6. What are the results of Salvation?

7. What would you do to maintain your New Life Experience?

Conclusion

Beloved in Christ, living a holy Christ-like life brings fulfilment, Blessings, healing and all goodness.  Here are thing to remember in SALVATION.

1. No one can save himself.  (Isaiah 64:6,7)

2. Everyone needs Jesus, before he could be saved (Acts 4:12)

3. When you are born again, there is an awakening of the spirit-part of you (John 3:6)

4. Jesus completely blots out all sins from your life when you are really converted (Acts 3:19)

5. After this, the fruits of the spirit will begin to manifest in your life.  (Gal.5:22-23).

6. A new beginning is started as soon as you are born anew (II Cor.5:17- 18, Rom.8:1)

7. The spirit bears witness that you are a child of God (Rom.8:16)

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter, fear God and obey all His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man” –Eccl. 12:13

Coming Up NEXT, in two Weeks…

ASSURANCE OF SALVATION!