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DO YOU KNOW FOR
SURE THAT YOU ARE SAVED?
John Wesley was once asked "Why do you preach so
much on Ye must be born again"? Wesley's answer was
that "Because ye must be born again". Since men
must be born again, why are we not preaching and
teaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ from
the pulpits of our Baptist Churches. Many times
when churches claim that they preach the gospel of
the Lord Jesus Christ from their pulpits they are
preaching another gospel that is NOT the saving
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as it is contained
in our 1611 King James Bible. In
churches where they do preach a scriptural doctrine
of the saving gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, they
do not preach it often enough. There
is a dearth in the land of not only preaching the
gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, but also of hearing
the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The reason that I know that a scriptural doctrine of
salvation is not being proclaimed from our pulpits
is that our Baptist Churches are full of
unbelieving, unregenerate reprobates that are lost
and dying and on their way to
HELL.
Another
reason that I know that a scriptural doctrine of
salvation is not being preached from our pulpits is
that there is no power in most of our Baptist
churches even in so called Independent, Fundamental
Baptist Churches. They are grave yard dead. WHY?
Because they are whited sepulchres full of dead
men's bones! Still yet another reason that I know
that a scriptural doctrine of salvation is not being
preached from our pulpits is that our churches are
full of rebels that are in open rebellion against
everything that is Godly. They have thrown out the
Bible in favor of the doctrines of the psychos of
the self-esteem dream (false gospel). The early
church in the book of Acts had the power of God upon
because it was full of saved and separated church
members. There is no reason why the church of today
cannot have that same power. It is the same Lord
Jesus Christ and the same Holy Ghost that are saving
and empowering people today. Most people today do
not have a biblical understanding of salvation.
Salvation is more than a sinner's prayer. One,
two, three repeat after me are the first three steps
into
HELL.
To assure someone of salvation after having prayed
a sinner's prayer is to usurp the authority and
ministry of the Holy Ghost of God. It is the Holy
Ghost of God that gives the assurance of salvation
and not man.
The following short paragraphs give definitions of
conviction, repentance, faith, belief, salvation,
and confession followed by a scriptural presentation
of what the words mean. The information that
follows these short definitions give a Biblical
presentation of the gospel. Please understand that
the material that follows is not intended to imply
that there is a process or timeline to salvation.
Salvation is of the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone
and is instantaneous.
CONVICTION
- for the lost sinner is coming to the realization
that they are a sinner in the eyes of God.
Conviction for the saved sinner is that feeling that
somehow things just are not right between the
Christian and God.
REPENTANCE
- From the Way Of Life Encyclopedia (David Cloud)
page 386 we quote the following definition:
Repentance means more than sorrow or regret or
despair or grief; Bible repentance means a
change of mind towards God that results in a
change of life.
That is a good basic definition, but please note the
author does not mean that a change of life means a
reformation of an outward nature. It is something
that takes place in the heart of the believer that
permanently changes the relationship between God and
the believer. It is a change that results in
reconciliation of the sinner to God. It restores
fellowship. In 2
Corinthians 7:8-11 we see the nature of true
repentance and 2
Corinthians 5:14-19 we see the results, or end
state, of repentance. Repentance always comes after
conviction. Repentance is absolutely necessary for
salvation.
FAITH -
In the words of Pastor Robert Sargent faith is: "Forgetting
All
Impossibilities
Trusting
Him”.
There are probably many definitions of faith that we
could give. In the Bible, faith is always a word
that relates to action. Faith is the wellspring of
our belief. Faith is the substance of things hoped
for and evidence of things not seen. Note that
faith is evidenced by substance. Faith comes by
hearing the word of God. Faith is also related to
impossibilities. It is impossible to touch faith,
but it is possible to see faith’s results just as it
is impossible to see the Holy Spirit, but it is
possible to see the results of a Spirit filled
Christian exercising faith that is the result of
yielding to the Holy Spirit. It is also impossible
to please God without faith.
REGENERATION
- The term regeneration means to be reborn
spiritually of the Holy Spirit. It is sometimes
referred to as being “born again” or to be “born
from above”. The result of regeneration is
spiritual renewal by the Holy Spirit unto a new
life. It is this regeneration and the resulting
indwelling of the Holy Spirit that gives us the
power to live sanctified and holy lives.
Regeneration is best described in
John 3:3-8 and briefly
in Titus 3:5. Those
Scriptures and regeneration will be discussed in
conjunction with salvation.
SALVATION
- Put simply, salvation is the redemption from the
penalty of sin through the blood of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Though salvation is sometimes referred to
as a process (see below), for the believer salvation
comes the moment they turn from their sin to God.
It is a process only in the sense that God has
established the plan (or the process) through which
salvation takes place.
CONFESSION
- is an action that takes place with the mouth.
Once we are convicted of our sin, come to repentance
in our hearts, and exercise faith unto salvation, we
are to confess our sin of unbelief before God and
man.
Conviction
is the ministry of the Holy Spirit that convicts ,
or reproves, a lost sinner or the sinning
Christian. Conviction leads the lost sinner to that
knowledge that they are a sinner in the eyes of God
and that they are on the way to hell (judgement).
THERE CAN BE NO SALVATION WITHOUT THE CONVICTION OF
THE HOLY GHOST. Conviction also comes upon the
Christian because of sin. Sin in the life of the
Christian manifests itself in many ways including
obvious acts such as lying, cheating, backbiting,
gossiping, creating strife, having a combative
nature, stealing, assaulting, getting drunk,
speeding, etc. These are the doing acts. Christians
also sin by a lack of commitment, being out of the
will of God in Christian service, not tithing, not
helping a Christian brother in need, etc. These are
the not doing acts. If we can say that action
(doing) speaks louder than words, then we can also
say that not doing also speaks louder than words
Regardless of whether the sin involves the believer
or the unbeliever, conviction is the ministry of the
Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that taps you on
the shoulder every time you do something wrong or do
not do something you should have. This ministry of
the Holy Spirit is best described in John 16:7-11:
John 16:7-11
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient
for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the
Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I
will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he
will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness,
and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe
not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my
Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment,
because the prince of this world is judged.
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It is conviction that leads to repentance.
Repentance is absolutely necessary for salvation of
the lost and for the Christian to maintain or
restore fellowship with God.
Confession says, “I have sinned”.
Repentance says “I am going to turn from that
sin with the help of the Holy Spirit”. The following
quote is from the Tyndale English Bible of 1534:
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“Concerning this word REPENTANCE ... the very
sense and signification both of the Hebrew and
also of the Greek word is, “to be converted and
to turn to God with all the heart, to know his
will, and to live according to his laws; and to
be cured of our corrupt nature with the oil of
his Spirit, and wine of obedience to his
doctrine.” Which conversion or turning, if it be
unfeigned, these four do accompany it and are
included therein: CONFESSION, not in the
priest̓s ear, for that is but man’s invention,
but to God in the heart, and before all the
congregation of God; how that we be sinners and
sinful, and that our whole nature is corrupt,
and inclined to sin and all unrighteousness, and
therefore evil, wicked, and damnable; and his
Law holy and just, by which our sinful nature is
rebuked: and also to our neighbors, if we have
offended any person particularly. Then
CONTRITION, sorrowfulness that we be such
damnable sinners, and not only have sinned, but
are wholly inclined to sin still. Thirdly, FAITH
(of which our old doctors have made no mention
at all in the description of their penance),
that God for Christ̓s sake doth forgive us, and
receive us to mercy, and is at one with us, and
will heal our corrupt nature. And fourthly,
SATISFACTION, or amends-making, not to God with
holy works, but to my neighbor whom I have hurt,
and to the congregation of God, whom I have
offended, (if any open crime be found in me);
and submitting of a man̓s self unto the
congregation or church of Christ, and to the
officers of the same, to have his life corrected
and governed henceforth of them” (William
Tyndale, ‘To The Reader,” 1534). |
We have already stated that repentance is a turning
from sin and a turning to God. If we had to set an
order of events leading to salvation, we could
always list conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit as
the first event. We can also ask the question of
what comes first after conviction; repentance or
faith? The reality of the matter is that they
cannot be separated. One is like the brain. One is
like the heart. If either one is not operative, the
other cannot bring about salvation. There can be no
salvation without repentance. There can be no
salvation without faith. From page 405 of the
Landmarks Of Baptist Doctrine we have the statement:
“True repentance leads to a changed life thus being
seen synonymous with conversion”. God will not
accept those professors who will not repent. Christ
Himself said twice in Luke 13:3-5:
Luke 13:3-5
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye
shall all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen,
upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew
them, think ye that they were sinners above all
men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay:
but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish.
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We have again in 2 Peter 3:9:
2 Peter 3:9
9 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.
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Again the warning is that if we do not repent we
will perish. I warn you again that it is not every
professor of salvation that is the possessor of
salvation. Again we have the words of Christ in
Matthew 7:21-23:
Matthew 7:21-23
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he
that doeth the will of my Father which is in
heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day,
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?
and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy
name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will
I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart
from me, ye that work iniquity. |
Those that work iniquity are those that have not
repented and turned toward God. They have instead
trusted in their good works before man.
Repentance always expresses itself in an inward
godly sorrow for the sins that we have committed
against God In 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 we see the
nature of genuine repentance and in 2 Corinthians
5:14-19 we see the results, or end state, of
repentance. The end result is reconciliation with
God.
2 Corinthians 7:8-11
8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I
do not repent, though I did repent: for I
perceive that the same epistle hath made you
sorry, though it were but for a season. 9 Now I
rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that
ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made
sorry after a godly manner, that ye might
receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly
sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be
repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh
death. 11 For behold this selfsame thing, that
ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness
it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of
yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what
fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal,
yea, what revenge! In all things ye have
approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
2 Corinthians 5:14-19
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us;
because we thus judge, that if one died for all,
then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all,
that they which live should not henceforth live
unto themselves, but unto him which died for
them, and rose again. 16 Wherefore henceforth
know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we
have known Christ after the flesh, yet now
henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if
any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old
things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new. 18 And all things are of God, who
hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ,
and hath given to us the ministry of
reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in
Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not
imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath
committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
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Repentance is not having a great fear of
God’s anger. Repentance is not feeling despair or
remorse.
Repentance is Godly sorrow. Remorse is
worldly sorrow. Both Esau and Judas Iscariot
expressed a worldly sorrow for their actions, but
neither repented. Therefore neither one was
forgiven. Repentance results in God’s forgiveness.
We see in 2 Chronicles 7:14:
2 Chronicles 7:14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall
humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and
turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from
heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal
their land.
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One final point: confession is a single isolated
action where repentance is a Godly mindset that
results in continuing action that honors God. A
very short partial list of other Scriptures dealing
with repentance would include
Mark 1:4,
Matthew
21:28-32, Acts 2:38,
Acts 3:19,
Acts 17:30,
Acts 26:16-20, and
Psalm 51 (to be
discussed later in relation to joy and fellowship).
A Biblical definition of
faith is contained in Hebrews 11:1:
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen.
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I remind you of the words of Robert Sargent above,
FAITH is Forgetting All Impossibilities Trusting
Him”. Faith is believing God’s Word and acting on
it. As James said in James 2:19-20:
James 2:19-20
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou
doest well: the devils also believe, and
tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that
faith without works is dead?
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In other words, faith without action is dead. Faith
springs from a seed. The seed is the word of God.
The water that germinates the seed is the Word of
God. Faith is not belief in the existence of God
or of the Lord Jesus Christ for even the devils
believe. Faith is not foolishness. It is not a
blind leap or a jump in the dark. It has substance
(Hebrews 11:1). Faith is not feelings. It is not
having an emotional experience. Feelings and
emotions come and go depending upon what side of the
bed you get up on, who you are looking at, or how
you feel physically. You do not have to first feel
something to have God save you. God operates
according to His will and not our feelings and
praise God for it! That is not to say that there
will not be some feeling to come out of it, but our
feelings are not the foundation for faith. God’s
word is the foundation for our faith. God’s plan of
salvation proceeds from facts to faith to feelings.
We see four faces of faith in the parable of the
sower in Matthew 13:3-8:
Matthew 13:3-8
3 And he spake many things unto them in
parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to
sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the
way side, and the fowls came and devoured them
up: 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they
had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung
up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And
when the sun was up, they were scorched; and
because they had no root, they withered away. 7
And some fell among thorns; and the thorns
sprung up, and choked them: 8 But other fell
into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some
an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
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Christ goes on latter in this parable to explain its
meaning to the Apostles. In the four we have: (1)
The seed that feel by the wayside, who represents
the unbeliever; that one that has no faith. (2) The
seed that feel on stony ground portrays the false
professor that has no place for his faith to take
root. Therefore, it was not faith in reality. (3)
The seed that fell among the thorns represented the
believer who became entangled in the cares of this
world. He was the believer that put God second
place. He laid his treasures up on earth. He let
the thorns of this earthly life choke out his joy
and peace. (4) The seed that feel on good ground
represents the fruitful Christian. It was a faith
where God was the priority. This was the faith of
the worshiping Christian, the Bible reading and
studying Christian, the praying Christian, the
witnessing Christian, the church attending
Christian, the tithing Christian, the sanctified and
separated Christian, but most of all the victorious
and rejoicing Christian; the Christian that is
rejoicing in and praising the Lord of Lords And King
of Kings.
Without faith it is impossible to be saved. Hence
we have the Scripture in Ephesians 2:8-9:
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9
Not of works, lest any man should boast. |
Salvation is that ultimate gift that you pull from
the tree of eternal life. A gift is not a gift
until it is received. You must take possession of
that gift for it to be effective for you. For a
Christian (the just) to please God, they must live
by faith.
Romans 1:17
17 For therein is the righteousness of God
revealed from faith to faith: as it is written,
The just shall live by faith.
Hebrews 11:6
6 But without faith it is impossible to please
him: for he that cometh to God must believe that
he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him.
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How much faith does it take to live a victorious
Christian life? Little is much when God is in it!
We have the promise of Christ in:
Matthew 17:19-20
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and
said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And
Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief:
for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a
grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this
mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it
shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible
unto you.
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There are five basic approaches to salvation. (1) A
works based salvation where you can never be sure of
your salvation (Catholics) or it is grace plus works
salvation (Anglicans, Episcopalians, Orthodox,
Lutherans, Seventh Day Adventists). (2) A works
based salvation where you can lose it which means
you can never be sure you have it (Pentecostals,
Holiness Churches, Church Of The Nazarene, Church Of
Christ, Church Of God, Methodists) It is a salvation
that rests in the ability of a man to get resaved,
or saved again and again. It places no value on
repentance, but much faith in confession. It has no
faith in the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ
or the keeping power of the Holy Spirit. (3)
Universalism where everyone is saved which includes
such groups as the Mormons, the Unitarians, and
ultimately the one world church as mothered by the
Catholic Church (the word catholic means
universal). It says “I’m okay. You’re okay”. It
includes every religion under the sun other than
Bible believing Christians . (4) Calvinism which
excludes the whosoever wills that are bid to come by
Christ. They have given God a quota as to how many
can be saved. They sit in the high seats of
theology. They dogmatically reject the doctrine of
free will as it relates to a lost sinners ability to
come to God of their own free will. They put an
overemphasis on the sovereignty of God at the
expense of God’s love in saving all lost sinners.
The problem is that they forget that God’s
sovereignty extends not only to the things that he
demands of us, but also to those things that he
allows us to do and to have. That includes the free
will to choose whether we will accept the Lord
Jesus Christ as our Saviour. Calvinism presents a
gospel of no hope if you are not one of the elect.
In Calvinism, you can never be sure that you are one
of the elect and neither can you be sure that you
are not one of the elect. Calvinists include
Presbyterians, Sovereign Grace Baptists, Reformed
Baptist, Primitive Baptists, and generally other
churches with the reformed label. (5) A by grace
through faith and not by works salvation that is
eternally secure. This is the path to salvation
that should be preached in any Bible believing,
unaffiliated (independent) Baptist Church. It is
God’s plan of salvation that in no way interferes
with, or lessens, the sovereignty of God
What is salvation? Salvation means deliverance and
preservation. The theological definition of
salvation states that “salvation denotes the whole
process by which man is delivered from all which
would prevent his attaining the highest good that
God has prepared for him”. The term “process” is
not to state that the salvation of a believer takes
place over a period of time. Salvation is as
instantaneous as the blink of an eye. It is a
process in the sense that it involves the ministry
of Father, the Son (Lord Jesus Christ), and the Holy
Spirit. It is the Father that does the drawing of
the sinner. In John 6:44 we read:
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John 6:44
No man can come to me, except the Father which
hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up
at the last day.
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It is the Holy Spirit that makes the sinner aware of
the sin of unbelief, of God’s standard of
righteousness, and of the coming judgement. In John
16:7-11 we hear:
John 16:7-11
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is
expedient for you that I go away: for if I go
not away, the Comforter will not come unto you;
but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And
when he is come, he will reprove the world of
sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9
Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of
righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye
see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the
prince of this world is judged.
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The ministry of the Holy Ghost in the unbeliever is
that of conviction and regeneration.
REGENERATION ALWAYS
FOLLOWS FAITH. Any doctrine that reverses
that order reverses the order that is given in the
scriptures. Another way of putting it is that
regeneration without faith is impossible.
Regeneration is defined as “the gracious
‘quickening’ work of the Holy Spirit whereby He
imparts the divine nature and life to the spirit of
man” (Landmarks of Baptist Doctrine Book III, Pastor
Robert Sargent) Regeneration is what is implied when
we use the term “born again”. This phrase comes
from John 3:3-8:
John 3:3-8
3 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. 4
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? 5 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. 6 That
which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel
not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born
again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and
thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not
tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so
is every one that is born of the Spirit.
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The word “again” in John 3:3 means to be reborn of
the Spirit of God (verses 5-6). We see that the
Holy Ghost washes in Titus 3:5-6:
Titus 3:5-6
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by
the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the
Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly
through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
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The Lord Jesus Christ made possible the salvation of
the sinner through his blood atonement on the cross
of Calvary. It is through His sacrifice that
reconciliation between man and God is made
possible. It is through being washed in the blood
that we are regenerated. We read in Romans 5:6-11:
Romans 5:6-1
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due
time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For
scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet
peradventure for a good man some would even dare
to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us,
in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died
for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by
his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through
him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were
reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much
more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his
life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God
through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have
now received the atonement.
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Confession is
an action that takes place with the mouth. Once we
are convicted of our sin, come to repentance in our
hearts, and exercise faith unto salvation, we are to
confess our sin of unbelief before God and man. The
Holy Ghost puts it in the best possible terms in
Romans 10:8-13 where we see:
Romans 10:8-13
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even
in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the
word of faith, which we preach; 9 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.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith,
Whosoever believeth on him shall not be
ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between
the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over
all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved.
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Confession is a necessary part of salvation. I
quote first of all the words of Christ Himself in
Matthew followed by the words of Paul in Romans:
Matthew 10:32-33
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before
men, him will I confess also before my Father
which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny
me before men, him will I also deny before my
Father which is in heaven.
Romans 10:10
10 For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation. |
As important as repentance and confession are to
salvation of the unbeliever, we must not forget
their importance to the Christian. Repentance and
confession are absolutely necessary for the believer
to maintain fellowship with the Father. The
relationship between fellowship, sin, and confession
are seen together in 1 John 1:6-9:
1 John 1:6-9
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him,
and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the
truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is
in the light, we have fellowship one with
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we
have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth
is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness. |
We, as Baptists, do not believe that you can lose
your salvation. It is not your salvation to begin
with. Our salvation is given through God, is sealed
by the Holy Ghost, and is in the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is not your salvation to lose. Many times when
we sin we break fellowship with God and may “feel”
that we have lost “our” salvation. It is not about
feelings. Feelings come and go, but the work of the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are for
eternity. Christ meant it when he said in
John 19:30 “It is
finished”.
Thus far, in this study, we have proved from the
Bible that salvation cannot come to the lost sinner
without the conviction of the Holy Ghost. That
means that the lost sinner cannot choose their time
of salvation unless they are under the conviction of
the Holy Spirit (Ghost). We have also proved from
the Bible that salvation cannot come to the lost
sinner without repentance and without faith. The
Bible also teaches that faith cometh by hearing and
hearing by the word of God (Romans
10:17).
We have seen that we are reborn through the
regeneration of the Holy Spirit (John
3:3-8 and Titus 3:5).
Salvation does not have to be an emotional
experience, but many times it is for individuals.
Some people cry; some people laugh; some people
shout; and some people show no emotion. The key is
that regardless of the presence or absence of an
emotional experience that there will be a definite
change in the life(style) of an individual that
comes to salvation (2
Corinthians 5:17).
If there is no change, there is no salvation.
Salvation proceeds from facts to faith to feelings.
There are four evidences of salvation and five
birthmarks of a believer.
The four evidences of salvation are:
(1) a new relationship with and a new attitude
toward God
(2) a love for God’s Word
(3) a love for and a desire to be with God’s people
(4) a love for God’s ways.
The five birthmarks of a believer are:
(1) Obedience:
1 John 2:3-6
(2) Love:
1 John 3:14-19
(3) Truth:
1 John 4:1-6
(4) The Witness of the Holy Spirit:
1 John 4:13
(5) The Witness Within:
1 John 5:9-13
Examine yourself in the light of the word of God.
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His
wonderful face and the things of this earth will
grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and
grace (Helen H. Lemmel from the hymn "Turn Your Eyes
Upon Jesus").
DO YOU HAVE THESE EVIDENCES AND BIRTHMARKS OF A
BELIEVER IN YOUR LIFE?
ARE YOU SAVED?
See also
Is Salvation Eternal?
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME
TO WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW. IT COULD
MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL FOR
YOU.
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