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The Only Road to Salvation
(1) The initial inception of the salvation act and its process
Now being a sinner with a limited so-called free-will he/she volunteers to believe, perform and receive the following, as God has already moved him/her to this point in his/her heart and mind. The conditions are perfect. The soil is rich, the seed is being planted….
Prerequisites:
1.
Belief there is only one God, creator and maker of all
2.
Possess a healthy reverence (fear) for God
3.
Belief that Jesus Christ was born as a human being by God, his Father.
4.
Hear and
listen to the gospel message of salvation including the essential element that Jesus the Christ dies or atoned for our sins
If the Prerequisites are not met, then salvation cannot occur.
Steps to the acquisition of personal salvation (there are many variations although these steps are crucial)
1.
Belief in the gospel message of salvation that includes:
- Belief that God gives the gift of eternal life to those that believe in his son (and his works on the cross).
- Belief in Christ’s baptism from his death as being in sin although he did not sin, to eternal life, without sin
- Belief that your life will forever change because you believe God will perform a miracle that will wash away your sins with the same baptism as Christ, into your heart and being. You demonstrate this belief further with a water baptism as a strong sign of commitment.
2.
Confess and
repent of your sins with a humble and contrite heart and that you truly are sorry for them.
3.
Belief that Jesus is now coming into your heart as the power of the spirit of God. And that this spirit shall remain in you.
4.
Acknowledge and
thank God with all your heart, his grace (unmerited favor) and loving kindness he is bestowing upon you, as he comes into your heart to be with you, to give you the saving faith required to sustain you through your new life. You cannot do this yourself, this faith is from God as a gift.
5.
Belief He will never let you go. Your desire to reach out voluntarily from your heart to be saved has been met by the true surgeon of your life. He received your heartfelt message of salvation and performed a surgery in your heart you could never do for yourself. He healed your heart and closed and sealed it with his spirit as assurance.
You are saved and a sinner no more. You now begin to work with God as you work out your salvation to its final state. You walk with him on the narrow path to the final state of salvation. We are now being converted as we become the spirit of Jesus. Spiritual faith is matured as God delivers to us.
Note: you never have faith to save your own life, because you have never experienced death. You cannot have faith in something or someone new without having experienced first. You can only believe in something or someone new based on your own will and mind.
Your saving faith is given to you upon arrival of the spirit of God into your heart after you volunteered to be saved and passed the specific steps lists above according to God’s satisfaction.
(1) Initial justification and righteousness state of salvation: a function of the following 4 sequential activities
(belief (the gospel message to God) -->
perform (confession and repentance of sins to God) -->
belief (Jesus’ spirit indwells in the heart by sealing power and the residence of God’ spirit) -->
receive (the initial regeneration of the heart by the saving and sustaining
faith from God’s spirit))
(2) On-going conversion and sanctification state of salvation: a function of two variables
Notice that our own belief is not a factor in this on-going state conversion and sanctification stage or state of salvation. It is replaced and based on our initial saving faith given by God. This is the basis of salvation and is the TRUE faith.
We are now experiencing salvation in our lives for the first time
(2a) Spiritual (faith) growth level >= initial saving faith
(2b) spiritual (faith) growth level = initial saving faith + obedience or cooperation with God
Note: we can never lose our saving TRUE faith given by God. Therefore, even if our obedience goes to zero for a duration or always until we die, through sin, we are still saved and reach the glorification state of salvation. Although there are consequences: we suffer rewards and considered one of the least in the Kingdom of God.
Again, with salvation sin does not affect it!! Saved folks are sensitive to sin and avoid it as much as possible. God says they do not live in sin anymore, and I believed and today have strong faith in his words.
(3) Glorification final salvation state:
Possessing a new spiritual body suited for everlasting life with Jesus at the head, and the other saints in the Kingdom of God.
Bless you,
APAK