continued from (1) Now That I Believe...
"
...What did I believe?
Every true Christian was saved from his sins by believing a few simple Bible truths:
1. I’m a sinner.
The Bible says that “all have sinned” (Romans_3:23), and that “there is not a just
man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (Ecclesiastes_7:20). It only
takes one murder to make a man a murderer, and it only takes one sin to make
a man a sinner.
2. There are eternal consequences to sin.
The Bible says that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans_6:23), and that “sin,
when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James_1:15). We know that more
than just physical death is meant in these verses, for Ezekiel_18:4 says that
“the SOUL that sinneth, it shall die.”
Also, Revelation_21:8 states that all sinners who die without Christ “shall
have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which
is THE SECOND DEATH.” All sinners deserve to die an eternal spiritual death,
as well as a physical death, for their sins.
3. Christ died for my sins.
Although we are sinners and deserve to die an eternal death for our sins,
“Christ died for our sins” (I Corinthians 15:3). We know that He died both
physically and spiritually because Isaiah predicted that God would “make
HIS SOUL an offering for sin” (Isaiah_53:10).
He was “delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification”
(Romans_4:25) as He “bare our sins in His Own Body on the tree”
(I Peter 2:24).
4. I was saved by believing that Christ died for my sins.
The Lord Jesus died “for the sins of the whole world” (I John_2:2), but
that doesn’t mean that the whole world is saved. Salvation is offered
“unto all” but it only comes “UPON all them that BELIEVE” (Romans_3:22).
Thus while Christ is “the Savior of all men,” He Is “specially” The Savior
The Gospel is “The Power of God unto salvation” only “to every one that
believeth” (Romans_1:16). We are “Justified By faith” (Romans_5:1) and
become “children of God” only “By faith In Christ Jesus” (Galatians_3:26).
Of course, when we speak of faith, it is not enough to just “believe in God,”
for “the devils also believe, and tremble” (James_2:19). When Paul says,
“Believe on The Lord Jesus Christ, and thou Shalt Be Saved,” he means
that we must have “faith in His Blood” (Romans_3:25). Ephesians_2:8 says,
5. I was not saved by good works.
Acts 16:31 does not say, “Believe and try to be good and thou shalt be saved,”
it simply says “believe...and...be saved.” Salvation is “not by works of righteous-
ness which we have done, but According To His Mercy He Saved us” (Titus_3:5).
God says that “to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him That Justifieth the
ungodly, his faith Is Counted For Righteousness” (Romans_4:5). There isn’t a
single thing that we can do to please God. He has “saved us, and called us with
an holy calling, not according to our works, but According To His Own Purpose
and GRACE” (II Timothy 1:9). Therefore salvation is
6. I was not saved by keeping the Ten Commandments.
The Ten Commandments were only a part of the Law of Moses, a law that
contained 613 commandments! When God gave these commandments, He
Demanded that men “keep ALL His statutes” (Exodus_15:26; Leviticus_20:22)
and “ALL His commandments” (Deuteronomy_13:18; 26:18), and Pronounced
a “curse” on “every one that CONTINUETH not in ALL things which Are Written
in the book of the law to do them” (Galatians_3:10).
The Law demanded 100% obedience—100% of the time! That’s why “whosoever
shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For He
That Said, Do not commit adultery, Said Also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no
adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law”
(James_2:10,11).
Since all of us have broken at least one of God’s commandments, we know that
“a man is not Justified by the works of the law” (Galatians_2:16), and “that no
man is Justified by the law in The Sight Of God, It Is Evident” (Galatians_3:11).
“Therefore we conclude that a man Is Justified By faith Without the deeds of the
law” (Romans_3:28). But praise The Lord, “what the law could not do, in that it
was weak through the flesh, God Sending His Own SON in the likeness of sinful
flesh, and for sin, Condemned sin in the flesh” (Romans_8:3).
And so we read that “Christ Hath Redeemed us From the curse of the law, Being
Made a curse for us” (Galatians_3:13), and “By Him all that believe Are Justified
From all things, from which ye could not be Justified by the law of Moses”
(Acts 13:39).
"
(R Kurth)
Berean Searchlight FULL Article:
Now That I Believe (Part 1)
Now That I Believe (Part 2)
Now That I Believe (Part 3)
GRACE And Peace...
====================
Index "Now That I Believe":
(1) Introduction
(2) What Did I Believe
(3) What Happened When I Believed
(4) Why Should I Serve The LORD
(5a) How Should I Serve The LORD (5b)
(6a) How Should I Deal With sin (6b)
(7) How Should I Deal With Adversity
(8) What Is my Future / Conclusion
"
...What did I believe?
Every true Christian was saved from his sins by believing a few simple Bible truths:
1. I’m a sinner.
The Bible says that “all have sinned” (Romans_3:23), and that “there is not a just
man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (Ecclesiastes_7:20). It only
takes one murder to make a man a murderer, and it only takes one sin to make
a man a sinner.
2. There are eternal consequences to sin.
The Bible says that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans_6:23), and that “sin,
when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James_1:15). We know that more
than just physical death is meant in these verses, for Ezekiel_18:4 says that
“the SOUL that sinneth, it shall die.”
Also, Revelation_21:8 states that all sinners who die without Christ “shall
have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which
is THE SECOND DEATH.” All sinners deserve to die an eternal spiritual death,
as well as a physical death, for their sins.
3. Christ died for my sins.
Although we are sinners and deserve to die an eternal death for our sins,
“Christ died for our sins” (I Corinthians 15:3). We know that He died both
physically and spiritually because Isaiah predicted that God would “make
HIS SOUL an offering for sin” (Isaiah_53:10).
He was “delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification”
(Romans_4:25) as He “bare our sins in His Own Body on the tree”
(I Peter 2:24).
4. I was saved by believing that Christ died for my sins.
The Lord Jesus died “for the sins of the whole world” (I John_2:2), but
that doesn’t mean that the whole world is saved. Salvation is offered
“unto all” but it only comes “UPON all them that BELIEVE” (Romans_3:22).
Thus while Christ is “the Savior of all men,” He Is “specially” The Savior
“of those that believe” (I Timothy 4:10).
The Gospel is “The Power of God unto salvation” only “to every one that
believeth” (Romans_1:16). We are “Justified By faith” (Romans_5:1) and
become “children of God” only “By faith In Christ Jesus” (Galatians_3:26).
Of course, when we speak of faith, it is not enough to just “believe in God,”
for “the devils also believe, and tremble” (James_2:19). When Paul says,
“Believe on The Lord Jesus Christ, and thou Shalt Be Saved,” he means
that we must have “faith in His Blood” (Romans_3:25). Ephesians_2:8 says,
“For By GRACE are ye saved, through faith, and
that not of yourselves, It Is The Gift Of God.”
that not of yourselves, It Is The Gift Of God.”
5. I was not saved by good works.
Acts 16:31 does not say, “Believe and try to be good and thou shalt be saved,”
it simply says “believe...and...be saved.” Salvation is “not by works of righteous-
ness which we have done, but According To His Mercy He Saved us” (Titus_3:5).
God says that “to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him That Justifieth the
ungodly, his faith Is Counted For Righteousness” (Romans_4:5). There isn’t a
single thing that we can do to please God. He has “saved us, and called us with
an holy calling, not according to our works, but According To His Own Purpose
and GRACE” (II Timothy 1:9). Therefore salvation is
“not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians_2:9).
6. I was not saved by keeping the Ten Commandments.
The Ten Commandments were only a part of the Law of Moses, a law that
contained 613 commandments! When God gave these commandments, He
Demanded that men “keep ALL His statutes” (Exodus_15:26; Leviticus_20:22)
and “ALL His commandments” (Deuteronomy_13:18; 26:18), and Pronounced
a “curse” on “every one that CONTINUETH not in ALL things which Are Written
in the book of the law to do them” (Galatians_3:10).
The Law demanded 100% obedience—100% of the time! That’s why “whosoever
shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For He
That Said, Do not commit adultery, Said Also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no
adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law”
(James_2:10,11).
Since all of us have broken at least one of God’s commandments, we know that
“a man is not Justified by the works of the law” (Galatians_2:16), and “that no
man is Justified by the law in The Sight Of God, It Is Evident” (Galatians_3:11).
“Therefore we conclude that a man Is Justified By faith Without the deeds of the
law” (Romans_3:28). But praise The Lord, “what the law could not do, in that it
was weak through the flesh, God Sending His Own SON in the likeness of sinful
flesh, and for sin, Condemned sin in the flesh” (Romans_8:3).
And so we read that “Christ Hath Redeemed us From the curse of the law, Being
Made a curse for us” (Galatians_3:13), and “By Him all that believe Are Justified
From all things, from which ye could not be Justified by the law of Moses”
(Acts 13:39).
"
(R Kurth)
Berean Searchlight FULL Article:
Now That I Believe (Part 1)
Now That I Believe (Part 2)
Now That I Believe (Part 3)
GRACE And Peace...
====================
Index "Now That I Believe":
(1) Introduction
(2) What Did I Believe
(3) What Happened When I Believed
(4) Why Should I Serve The LORD
(5a) How Should I Serve The LORD (5b)
(6a) How Should I Deal With sin (6b)
(7) How Should I Deal With Adversity
(8) What Is my Future / Conclusion
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