Time and again, we are constantly hit with the word “Salvation”.“Are you saved?” or “Are you Born Again?” are rather common questions in our churches these days. More so, for today’s teens between the age of 13 to 19, since parents believe this is the right age for kids to recognize the love of Christ and be saved, and baptized.
Well, I have been part of this system as well. I did, in all my enthusiasm and sincerity “make up my mind” that I would not sin from the next day, and that “I” would control all thoughts, actions and deeds by reading the bible, and praying. That was however, not true!
Need for salvation-
Based on Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and fallen shortof the glory of God” I wouldn’t want to extrapolate on the “Fall of Man”.
We lived in the flesh, as in Romans 7:5 “For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death.” We did what pleased us. In other words, I was my own god! Nothing satisfied us, Nothing gave us hope and happiness. That’s when God, The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins.
What is Salvation-
God sent his only son, who bore the sins of the entire world, both past, present and future, died for us on the Cross and Rose up victorious, Crushing sin, Satan and Death under His feet.
Believing upon Jesus is a necessity to being saved: John 3:18, "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
We must turn from our wicked ways: Luke 5:32, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." and also Luke 13:3,"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
We must be born again: John 3:3, "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." If you continue reading in John chapter 3 verses 14 through 21 tells you how you can become born again.
Having said that, I would like to address another issue. Many of the present day churches have so conveniently distorted the entire salvation message. “ Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? And that he died for your sins and you are now set free”. There is a very important aspect we have missed out! The second part of the salvation message, Are you willing to accept Jesus Christ as the Lord over your life?! That would mean, He is Lord over all my thoughts, actions, deeds. Lord over all that I have and do! That is the crux of the salvation message.
There will be a change in my wineskin (my mind) and my heart(heart of Christ). My old self, will die daily, as you give your Lordship of all “I am” to Christ, and we become more and more Christ- like. It is a growing process! I for one, am still undergoing the entire growing process of being Christ-like!
Things to do: Read the word of God, Let God (Holy Spirit) convict us of sins, empower us daily to live like Christ, and have a communion with God at all times. There are NO secular and spiritual days or moments! Like Apostle Paul says, Invest into your spirit man, your flesh will eventually die!
When we look around, Man still wants to feel forgiven, He dips himself in the Holy River, visits Holy Places, hurts himself, sacrifices kids, and still doesn’t find an answer which comforts his soul. Now it’s upto us to reach out to this dying world with the Gospel!
Who wants to change the world?! The Change is Here,
The Change is You (living in Christ, and living like Christ) Let’s reach out!
Sam John
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