Randy Bell
22 Jan 2017

Be Sure You Are Going To Heaven

Evidence of Salvation 2: Have You Turned From Sin?

I have been waiting a long time to share with you this life-changing evidence of salvation that will remove doubts and fears about your relationship with God.

You see, the Bible teaches us there are no do overs. When we die we enter heaven or hell. Therefore if you want to spend eternity in heaven you must make sure you know and do what Jesus Christ reveals. In fact, even Paul warned the Christians at Corinth to examine themselves to make sure they were really in the faith, and not discover too late that they themselves were deceived. [2 Corinthians 13:19]

So how do we do examine ourselves? The apostle John wrote the letter, 1 John and tells us how and why. He says,  “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, …” [1 John 5:13]

So it is clear, the purpose of the first letter of John is for the “assurance of salvation.” John wrote to give proof to the people who claim to be Christians that they actually were saved by offering clear evidences. These truths will prove whether we are alive in God, or as we say, born again. Please make sure you sit down and read the entire letter!

And please notice when you do, you will find that the Bible never says that you are going to heaven because you sincerely believe you are. It does not say you know you are going to heaven because you prayed a little prayer like, “Dear Jesus come into my heart.” Nor does it say you are assured of heaven because your priest, pastor, or grandmother said you were. Instead, John provides seven clear cut evidences of salvation, and today we look at Evidence #2.

Remember, John learned to look deeper, rather than accept a simple testimony from a person who claimed to be a Christian, because Christ taught him to verify salvation by a person’s fruit.

 

scorm-iconOur Lord warned in Matthew 7:13-14 (NLT) by saying,

13  “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.

14  But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

Jesus continued in verses 21-23 and clearly warned that many, many people would unite with the church and become known to the world as Christians. But, most of these people will be fakes. They would be deceived and sincere, but still, not real. And the only way to know for sure was evidence that existed beyond the surface, way beneath the sheep skins.

Christ insisted that those who broke God’s laws were fake, even if they were popular and even preachers, sincere and spiritual leaders, and even miraculous and famous.

Here’s what Jesus warned. “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ [Matt 7:21-23 (NLT)]

So let’s carefully examine John’s second evidence.

tests-iconComplete repentance is a non-optional proof of life.

This begins with our Lord’s words, “Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not [practice] what I tell you?” [Luke 6:46 (AMP)]

The Lord Jesus questioned the people around Him who claimed they believed and would follow Him. He watched what they did. Those who would not practice and live out what he called them to do were not His followers. They were hypocrites and followers in word only, calling Him Lord, but refusing to obey His commands.

John was different, he followed Jesus. He knew what the Lord was demanding. So he states,

“My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin.” [1 John 2:1(NLT)]

The apostle John continues with his blistering statements in his first letter and proclaims clearly from God’s inspired Word that you cannot be a follower of Jesus and live in disobedience. Sinful living is proof of rebellion and spiritual death, but obedient living is proof of eternal life.

This teaching comes directly from Jesus Christ, and John followed Him closely for three years, taking in everything Christ taught. His faith did not end at the death of Jesus, and in fact, it was empowered at His resurrection! So when John demands real change in a person’s life to prove that they are really going to heaven, he received this idea directly from God.

Your personal opinion does not erase God’s Word. Because you prayed a prayer when you were young and “Accepted Jesus” does not prove you are going to heaven. God’s Word determines what is evidence. Do not bet your life on your church’s opinion, your pastor’s opinion, your mom’s opinion, your best friends opinion, or your own opinion. Bet your life on God’s Word.

John presses forward with his proof in 1 John 2:29 (NLT), “Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children.”

He is saying, “If you know (perceive and are sure) that He [Christ] is [absolutely] righteous [conforming to the Father’s will in purpose, thought, and action], you may also know (be sure) that everyone who does righteously [and is therefore in like manner conformed to the divine will] is born (begotten) of Him [God].[1 John 2:29 (AMP)]

There is no mistake, John demands a new life apart from sin, and this means leaving sin far behind, and only doing what is right, consistently and faithfully. This is not unusual! The U.S. government expects and demands that law abiding citizens do what is right, consistently.

Criminals do not. They live differently, by secretly plotting their crimes. Blatantly they do their own thing and ignore the law or their authorities wishes. They hide their sins! They practice evil by doing what they want.

But true narrow road followers of Jesus, FOLLOW JESUS! They do what He says is right, and refrain from what He says is criminal activity. That is why John presses forward with this evidence of eternal life.

John also says, “Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.” [1 John 3:2-3 (NLT)]

Did you notice John did not say, “SHOULD keep themselves pure.” He said, “WILL keep themselves pure.” That means a true, born again Christian can do this. But, an almost, wishful, believer in Jesus who is not born again, CANNOT obey in this way.

And notice the standard of purity from sin that he demands, he wrote, “just as he is pure.” JUST LIKE JESUS! Are you screaming out excuses now? “Who can live up to Jesus’ standards, this is impossible.”

Well if you feel this way, hold on, John is not done yet! He explodes with these amazing words. “Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. 5 And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. 6 Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.” [1 John 3:4-6 (NLT)]

 

tests-iconLawlessness proves a person is enslaved in sin and heading to eternal punishment!

He writes, “whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” [1 John 3:4]

And Paul agrees and wrote in Romans, “Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.” [Romans 6:16 (NLT)] Notice the change repentance brings to the saint.

Paul writes, “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.” [Romans 6:18-20 (NKJV)]

This means that you are a slave to God or sin, and the hypocrite always sides with freedom from God’s laws, but the saint wants freedom from sin. If you think God gives you freedom from the law, then  I have to ask, why would God help us rebel and disobey His commands?

 

tests-iconGrace is not a license to ignore God’s written commands!

So we know that disobeying and ignoring God’s commandments is lawlessness. Refusing to submit to the law, the commands of the Lord Jesus, is rebellion against God’s authority over you. Just like an American citizen is required to obey the laws of the land or suffer the wrath of the government, men are required to serve the living God.

And it seems there is great confusion today over what Christianity is. False grace is a false doctrine that says that Jesus died to free us from the law of God. But true grace says Jesus died to save us from sin so that we have the new power to obey God’s law.

Jude 1:4 (NLT)  states, “I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” The word used here translated “denies” also means contradict. Today many church people contradict Jesus. “Biblical grace means forgiveness and power to overcome sin, not permission to act immorally.” –  Bible Background Commentary – The IVP Bible Background Commentary – New Testament.

 

tests-iconSin is Disobeying God by Breaking His Law!

“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?‘ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” [Matt 7:21-23]

Well this is why true repentance is an evidence of knowing God! Jesus takes away the sin from a BORN AGAIN, real believer. He did not come to just forgive, He came to remove the domination of sin from inside you.

You are no longer a slave to sin if you are born again. This is not just forgiveness for your past, it is deliverance for your present and future!

This is the long-awaited promise from God given by Ezekiel the prophet, for a totally new life. This is what being born again is all about.

Our great and precious promise is, “… I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.” [Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NLT)]

The promise is not “SHOULD follow my commands,” but “you will keep My judgments and do them.” (NKJ) The proof of a supernatural life is repentance from that old stubborn life of disobedience of God’s commands, and a joyful, full turn to obedience. The responsive heart lives a fully different lifestyle.

This is why John dares to say, “Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin.” This is not possible in human effort or willpower, this is a miracle! But, all those who keep on sinning do not know God. They do not know His salvation. They do not know His forgiveness. We are not just saved from hell. We are saved from sin!

Let’s read this carefully together. [1 John 3:7-10 (NLT)]

7  Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous.

8  But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.

9  Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.

10  So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.

No matter how much tolerance is proclaimed inside and outside the church, DO NOT be deceived. No matter how much grace is preached that is supposed to ALLOW sin to dwell in people’s lives, DO NOT be deceived. “When people keep on sinning,” even if they confess and ask forgiveness over and over everyday, they are NOT saved!

For a short time as they wrestle with repentance, this may happen. But this is not a long extended lifestyle. If your religion is made up of this enslavement to sin, you are not going to heaven, and you DO NOT know God. Those who keep on sinning BELONG TO THE DEVIL.

Christ Jesus destroys, destroys, and destroys this work of the devil in all born again believers.

Paul asks, “Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus …” [Romans 6:1-3 (NLT)]

The proof, the evidence, that you have met Jesus, and are God’s own child is simple, you can’t keep on in your old sins. Your new heart stops you. This new grace of the Holy Spirit inside floods you with holy desires, and powerful strength to obey the living God.

So Learn quickly to walk with God. Do not let anyone deceive you. If you are deceived you allow the devil to trick you and dishonor God by disobedience through ignorance.

The child of the devil is a sin machine, no matter what he believes about his eternal end. The child of God is a love machine who sticks with fellow Christians in the local church and fulfills God’s will together with His spiritual family.

You may say hold on, no one is perfect! You are correct. Please think this through with me. Lucifer and the fallen angels were holy servants of God in heaven. They did not have a sin nature, but they did have free will. They chose to rebel because they were not robots.

Adam and Eve were created perfect, without sin natures, but with free will. Robots don’t love or choose good because they do what they are programmed to do. But God did not create mankind as robots but free agents.

But everything changed when Adam and Eve sinned, and now all mankind is born in the likeness of Adam, as slaves to sin. John knows this and is revealing how powerful and real the sacrifice of Jesus was on the cross. And the Bible reveals how powerful the grace the Holy Spirit releases inside each born again believer really is.

This is why John says to the born again in 1 John 2:1 (WuestNT) “My little children, these things I am writing to you in order that you may not commit an act of sin. And if anyone commits an act of sin, One who pleads our cause we constantly have facing the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One. And He himself is an expiatory satisfaction for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the whole world.”

This is the huge difference between a true Christian and everyone else because we are not sin factories anymore. That is why John writes, “But if anyone should sin, we have an Advocate.” “If” is not the same as “since”! Since all the people of the world without Christ are “sin factories”, they constantly sin, rebel, and do acts of wickedness continually ignoring Christ and His commands.

But the born again are not “sin factories” and do not live in the perpetual life of sin and darkness. So “if” a Christian fails and commits a sin, but then asks for forgiveness, and repents… they are restored to life in the Spirit. But you must understand a true believer does not sin because they have to, if they sin it is a choice, an act of outright rebellion or deception and ignorance, NOT slavery.

John clearly says his letter is to help Christians stop committing acts of sin. The truth sets you free! But if we occasionally fail, John promises in 1 John 1:9 (AMP) “If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].”

 

So let’s make Evidence #2 clear with these final statements from John in chapter 3…

options-icon           

1/ Without Repentance You Are Still Going to Hell!

“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” [1 John 3:8]

2/ Another Evidence of Salvation is Repentance!

“Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” [1 John 3:9]

3/ You Are Either a Child of God or the Devil? Which Are You?

“Here’s how you tell the difference between God’s children and the Devil’s children: The one who won’t practice righteous ways isn’t from God, nor is the one who won’t love brother or sister. A simple test.” 1 John 3:10 (MSG)

The Fake Christian Makes Claims but Does Not Obey!

Remember John states, “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in Him.” [1 John 2:4]

Let me be clear, hypocrites can’t obey! They will scream for love, understanding and a broader mindset. This idea of obedience is too narrow minded to them. Surrendering to the complete control of the Lord Jesus is out of the question, and they have no passion to reach the world for Jesus!

Yes they want to go to heaven. But they actually think religious freedom means liberty from the restricting life of the do’s and don’ts of God’s Word, and falsely believe God saved them without requiring obedience to His commands. Would God free people to sin or free people from sin?

John not only states that those who will not repent are lost but also reminds us again that the first Evidence, “you must love fellow Christians”, is proof also.

4/ Conclusion: Repentance is not optional!

“We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.” [1 John 5:18 ]

Well remember, there are things we can disagree on, but you cannot disagree with the Bible over your salvation and eternal life. Unless you allow the Bible to direct your faith and beliefs you will be lost forever. God so loves you He gave His Word to be clear and concise to prevent you from being confused and miss His gift of eternal life.

If you do not know how to repent and follow Jesus contact us immediately through our website or join us this Sunday for worship.

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Randy Bell
23 Jan 2017

Be Sure You Are Going To Heaven

Evidence of Salvation 3: Do You Obey God’s Commands?

John provides seven clear-cut evidences of salvation, and today we look at Evidence #3.

Christian, these life-changing evidences of salvation will remove doubts and fears about your relationship with God.

You see, the Bible teaches us there are no do-overs. When we die we enter heaven or hell. Therefore if you want to spend eternity in heaven you must make sure you know and do what Jesus Christ reveals. In fact, even Paul warned the Christians at Corinth to examine themselves to make sure they were really in the faith, and not find out they were deceived and lost after all. (2 Corinthians 13:19)

So how do we do examine ourselves? The apostle John wrote the letter, we call 1 John and he tells us how and why. He says, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, …” [1 John 5:13]

So it is clear, the purpose of the first letter of John is the “assurance of salvation.” John wrote to give proof to the people who claim to be Christians that they actually were saved by offering clear evidence. These truths will prove whether we are alive in God, or as we say, born again. Please make sure you sit down and read the entire letter!

And also please watch the first two talks, because this talk is based on the last two as we work through John’s letter.

Now consider this, John will not let go of the idea of complete and total lifestyle change. He already demanded a new love for other Christians in our local church and also proved that turning away from sin is evidence of a real salvation experience.

But next, he demands a person must have a new life purpose and direction by following Jesus and teaming up with our fellow believers. He says we must join in …

The Great Commission lifestyle as a non-optional change and proof of eternal life.

Here is what John says, “… by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments” [1 John 2:3] That’s right, WE know God IF we keep His commandments! His commandments contradict everything this world tells us to do. So let’s think this through.

 

options-icon1. A complete change in lifestyle is an obvious proof of new life

Many today only think of sinners as liars, adulterers, thieves, and murderers, but the “normal and nice” people are OK. But, that is why John continues by explaining this next area of evidence, obedience to God’s commands. John demands that Christians live and do way MORE than others! Our lifestyle is completely different than “normal” people.

From Christ’s own words, a Christian does not just stop lying and cheating, they also begin a whole new lifestyle of working on the assignments God gives them while He builds His Kingdom through them. These narrow road followers of Jesus are radically different than the average person, their life of righteous living overshadows and puts to shame the “normal way of life.” They have a new mission, new purpose, and new perspective.

Jesus said, “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” [Matthew 10:39]

But this is where many Americans, who think they are Christians, seem to be blind in this major area. They do not give up their lives for Jesus. They want to add Jesus, not replace their lifestyle with His way of life.

For example, like a pro football player changing teams, the born again believer changes coaches, uniforms, and playbooks. The real disciple leaves his old lifestyle, and changes direction to follow the Lord Jesus Christ in His great mission, and joins His team in a local church.

Jesus commands His followers to “Come after Me [as disciples—letting Me be your Guide], follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men!” [Matthew 4:19 (AMP)] The mission is clear. We must follow Jesus by reaching others and teaching them to follow Jesus also.

But the fake believer watches in the stands and is nothing more than a fan, while the real Christian gives up his life and is a player in the mission of Jesus! The believer enters the field and has a new purpose and is assigned a team position to work together with fellow Christians in a contest of eternal significance. And understand, this life is now and forever a battleground, not a playground. This means we all have a brand new perspective on why we are alive.

options-icon2. “We keep his commandments” because the commands of God stand “until heaven and earth disappear”

Let’s read the words of Jesus in Matthew 5…

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. [18] I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. [19] So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. [20] “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven! [Matthew 5:17-20 (NLT)]

We know that Christ fulfilled the Law by becoming the sacrificial lamb and shedding His blood on our behalf, completing the ceremonial law forever. The New Testament or New Covenant was paid once and for all by Christ Himself dying on the cross, being buried, and rising again from the dead!

No works that you do will convince God to let you into His heaven because only Christ paid the price. This is the only place where “works” is evil. There is no need for any other sacrifices for sin, these laws are fulfilled by the sinless Jesus! No need for a temple or tabernacle for worship, nor any of its practices. No need for anointing oils, candles, shewbread, animal sacrifices, priests, robes, or the ark of the covenant. This is why Paul argues that being circumcised no longer has any spiritual meaning [1 Cor. 7:19; Gal. 5:21-23].

The curse of the law (all have sinned and the wages of sin is death) leaves everyone needing the salvation of Jesus. But in Galatians 3:13 (NKJV) the Bible declares our new freedom through the cross!

“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”).

But here is where many miss the truth, Christ also fulfills the Law in us by the grace He gives us through a new spirit capable of obedience to God. Yes our Lord also fulfilled another important prophecy about the commands of God.

Here are two clear statements from God’s Word. First God promised…

tests-icon“I will give you a new heart and put a spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” [Ezek 36:26-27 (NKJV)]

Then Paul explains that God’s amazing grace is given to Christians so “that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” [Romans 8:4 (NKJV)]

 

So This is Why The Evidence of Salvation is Also Obedience! Remember Jesus made it clear, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” [Matthew 7:21 (NKJ)]

The true saint actively does the will of God, he does not just believe in it in the way Americans think! Here is what Paul says, “Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” [Philippians 2:12-13 (NLT)]

Did you notice the words, “Work hard” because it reveals and proves your salvation?

But also he said “obeying God” because God empowers and makes it normal for a Christian to live consistently doing what pleases God.

Before we move to next thought, remember, we now know  A complete change in lifestyle is an obvious proof of new life AND also “We keep his commandments” because the commands of God stand “until heaven and earth disappear.”

 

options-icon3. John Clearly Tells Us God Commands Us To Believe

John says, “And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as he gave us commandment.” [1 John 3:23]

1/ What does it mean to “believe on the name of His Son”? How do we find out what that means? Again let’s look at the words of God.

First in Matthew 17:5 AMP God the Father says, “While he was still speaking, behold, a shining cloud [composed of light] overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is My Son, My Beloved, with Whom I am [and have always been] delighted. Listen to Him!”

Listen means to heed His words. And what did the Lord Jesus say to those who wanted to follow Him? The main message is given by Jesus and recorded back in the gospel of John,  “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15 (NKJV)

This means to live in full obedience to Him, in spite of and often in contradiction to what all your friends and family say or demand of you!

Jesus makes this conflict clear in Matthew 10:34-39 (NLT)

“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

Your enemies will be right in your own household!’ “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.

If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.”

Friend, This means your new lifestyle and focus is the Kingdom of God, and all the rest of life is secondary to this passion and narrow road of obedient discipleship.

Let me clarify this idea for you. In Matthew 22:37-40 the Lord commands, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”

Then John the Baptist explains in John 3:36 (NLT), “And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

So we must love God and prove it by obeying Him, this is what believing means!

But Christ is not finished! we must also LISTEN further to God the Son said in Matthew 22 because he did not just command us to love God but also to love people!

2/ Believing on the Son also means obeying His command to love our neighbors!

39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

You must understand the Christian fulfills all the foundational commands from Christ in the new lifestyle of the Great Commission, which is MORE, WAY MORE than the Law ever demanded.

We love our neighbors through the great mission that we all are commanded to join in by God Himself. “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.” [Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)]

Make sure you thoroughly study the Gospels, Matthew through John, listen and fully establish your life on the commands Jesus gave to all His disciples. Why should you? Paul makes no bones about it by saying, “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” [Titus 2:14 (NKJV)]

We do His good works and the GREAT COMMISSION is the focus and purpose of His good works! The abundant life Christ promises those who follow Him is a life so filled with His love that they fulfill His mission with zeal and passion. Paul says they are fervent, ardent, devout, committed, dedicated, hard-core, enthusiastic, eager, avid, vigorous, energetic, intense, and fierce [zealous] to reach the world with the Good News of Jesus. These words are interchangeable with zeal!

Does that describe you?

unit-completed-icon1/ Yes John is clear, and demands keeping God’s Word is evidence that we are born again.

Remember in 1 John 2:5, John declares, “But whoever keeps His Word, truly the love of God is perfected in Him. By this we know that we are in Him.”

And Paul agrees and wrote in Romans, “Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.” [Romans 6:16 (NLT)]

 

unit-completed-icon2/ Paul argues that salvation brings obedience to the saint.

He continues by saying, “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.” [Romans 6:18-20 (NKJV)]

This means that you are either a slave to God and living right or stuck in sin, and the hypocrite always hopes for heaven and desires freedom from God’s laws. But the saint strongly desires freedom from sin.

But if you think God gives you freedom from the law, then I have to ask you, why would God help us rebel and disobey His commands?

 

unit-completed-icon3/ God Does Not Give Grace as a license to ignore His written Word!

From Romans 6, we know that disobeying and ignoring God’s commandments is lawlessness. So, refusing to submit to the law, the commands of the Lord Jesus, is rebellion against God’s authority over us. Just like an American citizen is required to obey the laws of the land or suffer the wrath of the government, men are required to serve the living God.

And it seems there is great confusion today over what Christianity is. False grace is a false doctrine that says that Jesus died to free us from the law of God. But true grace says Jesus died to save us from sin so that we have the new power to obey God’s law.

 

glossary-iconJohn Proves Only a True Christian Can Consistently Obey

“Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him.” [1 John 3:24a] This does not just mean having a friendly relationship. It means literally living inside and together with God’s Holy Spirit. The Phillips translation makes 1 John 3:24 clear, “The man who does obey God’s commands lives in God and God lives in him, and the guarantee of his presence within us is the Spirit he has given us.” The born again disciple has the Holy Spirit literally living inside their soul. This again is the fulfillment of God’s promise and the guarantee of obedient living.

 

glossary-iconJohn Also Proclaims It is Easy for a Believer to Obey Christ’s Commands

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” [1 John 5:3]

The Greek words used here “show what ‘the love of God’ (1 John 4:9, 12) in the objective sense is, not mere declamatory boasting… but obedience to God’s commands, “that we keep on keeping (present active subjunctive as in 1 John 2:3) his commandments.” This is the supreme test.” – Word Pictures in the New Testament.

And Barnes agrees in his commentary…

“This constitutes true love; this furnishes the evidence of it. And his commandments are not grievous. Greek, heavy-βαρεῖαι; that is, difficult to be borne as a burden. See Matthew 11:30. The meaning is, that his laws are not unreasonable; the duties which he requires are not beyond our ability; his government is not oppressive. It is easy to obey God when the heart is right; and those who endeavour in sincerity to keep his commandments do not complain that they are hard.”

“All complaints of this kind come from those who are not disposed to keep his commandments. They, indeed, object that his laws are unreasonable; that they impose improper restraints; that they are not easily complied with; and that the Divine government is one of severity and injustice.”

“But no such complaints come from true Christians. They find his service easier than the service of sin, and the laws of God more mild and easy to be complied with than were those of fashion and honour, which they once endeavoured to obey. The service of God is freedom; the service of the world is bondage. No man ever yet heard a true Christian say that the laws of God, requiring him to lead a holy life, were stern and “grievous.” – Barnes Notes on the New Testament Explanatory and Practical.

 

Well, that was a lot of info, but do you pass this test? If not, stop right now and make a change. Repentance starts with getting real with God and yourself.

And remember, there are things we can disagree on, but you cannot disagree with the Bible over your salvation and eternal life. Unless you allow God through the Bible to direct your faith and beliefs you will be lost forever. God so loves you He gave His Word to be clear and concise to prevent you from being confused and miss His gift of eternal life.

If you do not know how to repent and follow Jesus contact us immediately!

, , ,
Randy Bell
27 Jan 2017

Be Sure You Are Going To Heaven

Evidence of Salvation 4: Do You Love the World… or God?

John provides seven clear-cut proofs of salvation, and today we look at Evidence #4.

If you are born again, life-changing evidence of salvation will remove doubts and fears about your relationship with God.

Remember, the Bible teaches us there are no do-overs. When we die we enter heaven or hell. Therefore if you want to spend eternity in heaven you must make sure you know and do what Jesus Christ commands. In fact, even Paul warned the Christians at Corinth to examine themselves to make sure they were really in the faith so they would not find out they were deceived and lost at Judgment Day. (2 Corinthians 13:19)

So how do we do examine ourselves? The apostle John wrote the letter, we call 1 John and tells us how and why. He says, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, …” [1 John 5:13]

So it is clear, the purpose of the first letter of John is the “assurance of salvation.” John wrote to give proof to the people who claim to be Christians that they actually were saved by offering evidence. These truths will prove whether we are alive in God, or as we say, born again. Please make sure you sit down and read the entire letter of 1 John!

And also please read the first three articles if you have not already because this one is based on them, as we work through John’s letter.

Now consider this, John will not let go of the idea that complete and total lifestyle change is the proof of salvation. First, he demanded a new love for other Christians in our local church. Next, he said if we do not turn away from sin we are not in a relationship with God. And also, he demanded a commitment to the mission of Jesus that He commanded His followers to fulfill, as proof of a real salvation experience.

Next, he forces us to answer this very powerful question.

scorm-iconDo You Love the World or Love God?

Here is how. He makes this statement. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him.” [1 John 2:15;5:19]

John first demanded that we love the church, God’s people. But this is much deeper because it deals with the motive and affection of our hearts toward God Himself. It cuts deeply to the way we think about the world around us. This means a Christian must make a complete change of allegiance from loving the things here in this world and exchange his heart’s passion to God.

We must completely turn upside down and think like Jesus. Our hearts must feel like He did and become strangers in a strange land. True believers love God and what He loves. They focus on God and cling to His Kingdom, feeling like odd ducks, away from home and missing their heavenly Father.

Christ taught these concepts to the apostles and John recorded this part of a prayer of the Lord Jesus in John 17:14-19 (NLT), “I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. ”

“They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.”

With the believer’s passion and focus pointing to God, his heart grows in an ever-increasing love toward God. And understand,  this love causes the Christian to joyfully walk in holiness and work for His Kingdom.

Let me clarify this idea for you. In Matthew 22:37-40 the Lord commands, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”

You see, love not fear motivates the true follower of Jesus.

options-iconBut You Must Also Understand That The World Is Not Your Friend!

James warns everyone in James 4:4 (NLT),  “…Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.”

A true Christian changes sides in his heart! This means breaking from rugged individualism and self-centered living, and instead, the Christian embraces the ways of God Almighty.

And we are not just talking about obeying God’s commands by force or fear, BUT by love. They love God’s culture or social structure which is carefully designed and described in the New Testament. It is the opposite of the world’s way of life.

John reveals this truth by saying, “Do not love the world or the things in the world.” [1 John 2:15;5:19]

Look around you! He is talking about the world you are living in. The world is full of voices calling everyone to love whatever you want except God. It encourages you to please yourself. It beckons everyone to disregard God’s commands. The world demands freedom from the true God telling everyone what to do and preaches “pursue peace and happiness for yourself because that is the supreme way of life. You are your own god. Make up your own mind what your truth is!”

Our Lord Jesus reveals this conflict between the world and God in John 15:18-19 (NLT) “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.“

This makes the world God’s enemy. The voice of evil seeps through all the media, music, movies, video games, and television. The strong pulling voice of pride, greed, and selfish indulgence echoes through the minds of everyone in this world.

But this world is not free and did not create these ideas. Everyone is enslaved to a dark master.

options-iconWhat is so Evil About the World?

“For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world.” [1 John 2:16; 5:19]

Lust is simply strong desires. What the body calls out for and demands is lust. What your eyes see and your heart agrees is the next thing you cannot live without, is lust. The self-sufficient pride that rules the hearts of men to do what they want, when they want to, is NOT from the Father!

The world is so evil because Satan controls the world. Satan is full of hate, murder, and lies and does everything to defy God and destroy the people God loves.

1/ Satan’s darkness rules this world. “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.” [2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT)]

2/ He is a tyrant ruling over the world and controlling nations. “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” [Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)]

3/ These wicked and invisible beings deceive the whole world. “The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while.” [Revelation 20:3 (NLT)]

4/ People the world over have their minds controlled by these dark forces. “So I tell you and encourage you in the Lord’s name not to live any longer like other people in the world. Their minds are set on worthless things. They can’t understand because they are in the dark. They are excluded from the life that God approves of because of their ignorance and stubbornness. Since they no longer have any sense of shame, they have become promiscuous. They practice every kind of sexual perversion with a constant desire for more.” [Ephesians 4:17-19 (GW)]

The Devil’s powerful army of supernatural beings works at keeping mankind confused and disconnected from their loving Creator. In this type of bondage, people are enslaved by the “normal” things of life and driven by strong delusion and selfish desires [lust] for what they see to buy and own, by the fleshly desires of uncontrolled pleasure and partying, and their opinion is that they are doing fine apart from God telling them what to do.

This is why God calls them the “sons of disobedience.“

This overwhelming force of darkness leaves mankind stuck in a science fiction type of existence oblivious to what is real and eternal. Humanity is cursed by sin, blinded by Satan, and broken inside and out. It reminds me of the movie trilogy, The Matrix. People are locked inside a container as slaves, and living in a dream world. This type of mask of delusion is really happening to mankind today.

 

glossary-iconBut God our creator loves mankind, and will not try and make people love Him. Instead, He offers eternal life to all who will follow Him.

His way is available to all. “…as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” [2 Peter 1:3-4]

Our God has always been involved in mankind’s business. He sent His Son and lived among men, taught His ways, and then paid for all our rebellious hatred and crimes by taking the death penalty in our place. He supernaturally acted in human history from the beginning and will continue until the end of time.

He has given us promises as recorded in His Word. He has provided freedom from the things that destroy us through Jesus. And He has given His Spirit to allow people to escape the corruption that destroys humanity.

This dark force and it influences is like a flood that forces humanity to drown in hatred, selfishness, immorality, drunkenness, drugs, war, greed, depression and endless desires for things that never satisfy. The “world or the things in the world” are tainted and poisoned by the vicious enemy of God. The smell of hell is on everything. Nothing of the world drew Jesus to love our broken world the way it was corrupted and ruined, except humanity. He loved us!

And the whole point is, our loving God frees us from self-destruction. That is why Paul could write, “…in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,” [Ephesians 2:2]

options-iconThis Miracle is Evidence of Salvation!

1 John 5:18 (NLT)
We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.

Breaking free from this tremendous force of slavery is only possible through the miracle of salvation. Only God can rescue the drowning people of this world swept away in the flood of sin and death to a new life of freedom. New Year’s resolutions will never work.

 

options-iconBut everyone must answer the question, “Do you love the world or God”?

John says, “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it [strong desire for it], but HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF GOD abides forever.” [1 John 2:17; 5:19]

Only Christians have God’s power to do right and consistently obey God. “But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)” [Romans 8:9 (NLT)]

And only the saint that loves God and proves His salvation in this way will live forever in heaven.

options-iconSo let’s be clear, removing your heart from the crooked culture of the world that you once loved, to fully love God, is non-optional.

The world is not the believer’s friend in anything, anymore. The narrow road Christian is counter-cultural. The world is in conflict with the saint in almost every area. Jesus Christ is absolute in authority, and master of all of the Christian’s life.

All the world’s ideas are examined and everything of the world that contradicts the Bible is rejected. The life of holiness demands thinking in harmony with Jesus. Paul makes it clear in Galatians 6:14 (TLB) “As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in all the attractive things of the world was killed long ago, and the world’s interest in me is also long dead.”

Instead of living life in pleasure, the follower of Jesus abandons the ways of the world and volunteers to be Christ’s slave. He loves Christ. He loves His Word and it is his only guide. He embraces a new way of life as a refugee and narrow road follower of Jesus in a world going the opposite direction.

They kiss the world goodbye. This is easily understood in marriage. Out of love, the couple kisses their old love interests goodbye and forever live life together. So it is with loving God, those who love God abandon the things that God hates. They join Him!

And this was clearly understood by the followers of Jesus who knew Him personally in the very first century. When Peter spoke to Jewish crowd in Jerusalem, he clearly got to them. So he answered them on what they should do to obey God…

“Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins, turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.39 This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles —all who have been called by the Lord our God.”40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. [Acts 2:38-41]

 

The first Christians paid close attention to the fact that heaven was their home, and they were just passing through this world. Peter reminds all born again believers to be alert because we are just refugees, “Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.” [1 Peter 2:11-12 (NLT)]

So let’s make Evidence #4 clear with these final statements from John’s letter…

1/ The World Rejects True Christians!

“Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.” [1 John 3:1b]

Christ warned His disciples from the very beginning of His ministry what living for Him would be like in this sinful, lost world. He explained it like this…

Matthew 5:10-16 (NLT)

10  God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

11  “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.

12  Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

13  “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

14  “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

15  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.

16  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

The world is greatly influenced by the devil and they show it. They reject God, His Word, His Son, and His people. There is always conflict between the world and God in every aspect. They clash in their ideas of good and evil. Jesus stated, John 7:7 (NLT) “The world … does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil.” They will demand evil is good, while God says evil is horrible and all those who follow their lusts must be punished forever.

They will disagree about creation and the future. They will not understand God or His people. They hate God and resent everyone associated with Him.

2/ Overcoming the World Is Evidence of Salvation!

John wrote, “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”  [1 John 5:4-5 (NLT)]

A child of God is a child of obedience. Like a mighty river of life, the grace of God explodes from within the true believer and he defeats the influence of the world that tries to darken His soul. Paul explains this victory of salvation, “Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” [Philippians 2:12-13 (NLT)]

By faith, which is the strong clinging to and relying upon Jesus Christ, anyone can receive victory over this suffocating force of sin and darkness. Paul explains that “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” [Galatians 5:24-25 (NLT)] It does not say should, ought to, supposed, etc. Christians have nailed their sinful desires and they were killed.

Remember the “passions and desires of their sinful nature” is the strong lust that everyone was born with and controlled by until saved from sin by Jesus Christ.

3/ Only True Christians Overcome the World

John says, “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” [1 John 5:5]

The evidence that you have eternal life is that you really are saved from the overwhelming power of the world. Only God can break this power that destroys humanity. Only Jesus, the Son of God, broke the power of sin at the cross 2000 years ago. All are welcome, but most refuse to believe and follow Jesus.

Only a born again real believer can experience the mighty power of God to pull them from the strong addicting force of the world and all it offers. The natural world we know can only be left behind through the supernatural power of Jesus Christ. The step from being “a son of disobedience” to “a son of obedience” takes one of the most unpopular choices.

Jesus explains this through a farming story.

13 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?

14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away.

16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.

18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word,19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.

20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” [Mark 4:13-20 (NLT)]

Nothing in this world can stop a true believer because he loves God and God loves him. Not the devil, sin, people, problems, persecution, worries, wealth, lust for things or circumstances. He does overcome, win the battle, change allegiance, work for God’s Kingdom and experience a total change of life through the Good News of Jesus.

“For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” [1 John 5:4-5 (NLT)]

Whose side are you really on? God or the devil? The Kingdom of God or the world and all it offers?

1 John 5:18-21 (NLT)
18  We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.
19  We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.
20  And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.
21  Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

So I must ask,  do you pass this test? If not, please stop right now and make a change. Repentance starts with getting real with God and yourself.

AN EXAMPLE PRAYER WOULD BE LIKE THIS

Dear God,

Just like I am subject to the laws of my nation, I realize you are my Almighty Creator and ruler of the universe. You are the only one who is all powerful,  good and fair. Because of this, you have the right to establish the law of the world and I now bow to your authority. I have broken your law _________ [fill in the blanks], and I am filled with sadness in how I have acted. Please forgive me! I accept your offer of forgiveness through Jesus dying in the place of my judgment. I turn from all the crimes I am practicing, I have no excuses, And I now am grateful for your mercy. I choose to follow my Lord Jesus by obedience to His commands all my days. AMEN.

Now remember, there are things we can disagree on, but you cannot disagree with the Bible over your salvation and eternal life. Unless you allow God through the Bible to direct your faith and beliefs you will be lost forever. God so loves you He gave His Word to be clear and concise to prevent you from being confused and miss His gift of eternal life.

If you do not know how to repent and follow Jesus contact us immediately through our website.

We want to get to know you now and also see you in heaven someday.

, ,
Randy Bell
27 Jan 2017

Be Sure You Are Going To Heaven

Evidence of Salvation 5: Are You Indwelt By God’s Spirit?

Paul warned the Christians at Corinth to examine themselves to make sure they were really in the faith so they would not find out they were deceived and lost at Judgment Day. [2 Corinthians 13:5-9]

So how do we do examine ourselves? The apostle John wrote the letter, we call 1 John and tells us how and why. He says, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, …” [1 John 5:13]

So today we look at Evidence #5 and ask, Is God the Holy Spirit living inside you? John says you will know if He is, and everyone around will see it too!

 So here is our statement: A radical change of life into a holy life is non-optional because the Holy Spirit actually lives inside the believer.

1 John 3:24 (NLT) “Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.”

John states a clear and supernatural change happens only to true believers. They receive God’s Holy Spirit at salvation. His Spirit is not just a mystical or symbolic description, but a real event that happens when the believer is born again and the Holy Spirit enters a person.

The apostle Paul also reveals this truth in Galatians 6:15-16 (NLT) when he explains the old ceremonies of the Old Testament do not matter now. “It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.”

Believers have God’s Spirit, but the world is flooded by evil spirits and satanic influence. The regular person is not able to see or connect with God. Only when a person repents and follows Jesus does God enter and change everything! Again Paul agrees and says this in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

This evidence centers around the word holiness and is a non-optional change of allegiance by leaving the influence of God’s enemy and dwelling fully under God’s powerful grace. This is a revolutionary change of the mind. It is a new way to think, a new way to see things, and a new freedom from the satanic blindness that rules the world. God makes all things new!

So first understand this, God is holy and anything close to Him becomes holy. So if anyone is born again, the Holy Spirit comes inside that person making them holy. His holy presence cannot be hidden!

According to Strong’s Concordance, The Greek word for grace means “the divine influence upon the heart” which is the opposite of the world’s pull upon your heart. As the Holy Spirit miraculously influences your soul He floods you with new divine desires replacing the lusts that once controlled you. And the Holy Spirit does not stop there but gives increasing strength to please God by fulfilling His will.

Holiness is living fully under the influence of God’s divine presence. This affects all areas of life.

God’s holy presence is pulsating new life inside you and it changes you! Paul describes this in depth in the book of Philippians.

And remember Paul also says, “But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.” [Romans 6:22 (NLT)]

 

glossary-iconSo let’s look closer at John’s word by first reading 1 John 4:13-16 (NLT),

13  And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us.

14  Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

15  All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.

16  We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

1/ What Does it Mean to Have the Holy Spirit?

Christians are altered and “live in love”! They are driven and changed to act in love, not selfishness and hate. The evidence of God’s nature bleeds out of their lives because they are now possessed by the Holy Spirit.

But religious people can have a spirit of Antichrist in them, instead of the Holy Spirit. This is why John makes it clear, the actions of that person are all it takes to expose them as wicked disciples of darkness. The child of disobedience is not the same as a child obedience. A child of obedience is born again by the miraculous power of God. Change, real change happens to the believer.

I know I keep repeating this precious promise from Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NLT), but remember God says, “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.”

The Bible is also clear to explain when you are born again a new heart and spirit are put inside you. The evidence of the Spirit shows through the Christian because they have a change of heart and the new ability to obey His commands. The new Spirit overwhelms the old life with brand new impulses and strength to carefully obey all God’s decrees and applications. Real and deliberate change happens by God’s grace flowing from within their new heart.

The Word declares these changes are bubbling up from within. The spiritual revolution of the heart shows up in changing desires, attitudes, and actions. Repentance from sin and the fruit of the Spirit manifest themselves with great impact. The Lord Jesus said, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.“ [John 3:8 (NKJ)]

Our Lord proclaimed this rebirth would be explosive and life-changing. Floods of new spiritual life from God would radically redirect every aspect of a Christian’s life. The flow would not cease, nor slow down, but instead, floods and floods of God’s power would gush from within your new heart and spirit. John describes the scene…

glossary-iconJohn 7:37-39 (NLT)

37  On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!

38  Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”

39  (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

If you look at the end of the Gospel of John, you see this did happen to Christ’s main disciples soon after He was resurrected from the dead. Christ entered the room they were hiding in and here is what happened. It says,

glossary-iconJohn 20:19-23 (NLT)

19  That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said.

20  As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!

21  Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

22  Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

23  If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Immediately they received a new spirit and a new heart! They were immediately changed by becoming new creatures in Christ. They all looked the same, but their doubting, sinful hearts were renewed by the miraculous power of God. The new responsive heart kicked in, and the old resistant heart was neutralized. Their spirits were electrified by the presence of the living water of God through the Holy Spirit now dwelling in them.

And it was not just those special disciples but every new follower of Jesus that repented was given the same promise, including all believers then, today and in the future.

 

2/ So what will we see if the Holy Spirit is in you?

Paul the apostle explains, “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20  idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,21  envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

First, everyone naturally is enslaved by sin. Our nature is unholy. Our sin flows from within our hearts and floods our thinking with selfishness, lust, and greed. Our actions are the normal result of our human nature! But Paul says the normal way of life leaves everyone on the road to hell and destruction.

Some people call it drama. Others hate their lives and think the consequences of it are unfair. Still, others love this type of life and embrace it. It is who they are!

But our creator sees this unloving lifestyle as an affront to Him because He never created us to live this way. He created us to love and enjoy Him forever. So Paul explains the life the Holy Spirit of God brings into a true follower of Jesus.

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

24  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25  Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26  Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.” [Galatians 5:22-26 (NLT)]

This invasion of the Holy Spirit inside a new believer and changes everything! Floods and floods of love, joy, peace, kindness, etc pour forth from within as the Holy Spirit’s character and life flood his new creations. Starting with new loving desires, new powerful joy, new desires for goodness, and new desires for self-control, they all permeate your soul influencing your mind, will and emotions.

So let’s make Evidence #5 clear with these statements…

options-iconThis Means the Holy Spirit Dwelling in You Changes What You Want “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” [Philippians 2:13 (NLT)]

This Means the Holy Spirit Changes What You Love “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” [Romans 5:5 (NKJ)]

This Means the Holy Spirit Changes What You Are Focused On “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” [Romans 8:5 (NKJ)]

It Means He Changes What You Hate “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” [Romans 8:9 (NKJ)]

It Also Means He Changes What You Do “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

So This means God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.” [Ephesians 2:1-7 (NLT)]

The rest of mankind and even believers who are not born again have not changed. This includes the devil, the demons, and people just like Judas Iscariot who are believers in God. They have not changed because they are not indwelt by the Holy Spirit. They do not have a new heart, or spirit. They do not really love God or obey Him. In fact, false preachers, teachers, and believers have their old sins ruling their lives just like everyone else, in spite of their profession of faith.

What Does It Mean If A Believer Does Not Have The Holy Spirit Dwelling Inside You?

1/ They are hypocrites [actors or imposters without the Spirit] because they do not have fruit “…test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets [preachers] have gone out into the world.” [1 John 4:1]

Some are false preachers and do not have the [Holy] Spirit living inside them but a [deceiving] spirit guides them.They cannot create the fruit of obedience and selfless agape love that only comes from the Holy Spirit. This was clearly taught by Jesus. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” [Matt 7:15-16 (NKJ)]

 

2/ Hypocrites are mixed Into the churches “And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage)..” [Galatians 2:4 AMP]

“For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” [Jude 1:4 (NKJ)]

 

3/ The world [hypocrites included] loves the unsaved preachers “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” [Luke 6:26 (NKJ)]

unit-completed-iconSo I must ask,  do you pass this test? If not, please stop right now and make a change. Repentance starts with getting real with God and yourself. Here is how to be born again.

Acts 2:38-39 (NLT) “Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins, turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

AN EXAMPLE PRAYER WOULD BE LIKE THIS

Dear Almighty God,

Just like I am subject to the laws of my nation, I realize you are my Almighty Creator and ruler of the universe. You are the only one who is all powerful,  good and fair. Because of this, you have the right to establish the law of the world and I now bow to your authority. I have broken your law _________ [fill in the blanks], and I am sick with sadness in how I have acted.

Please forgive me! I believe and accept your offer of forgiveness through Jesus dying in the place of my judgment. I turn from all the crimes I am practicing, I have no excuses, And I now am grateful for your mercy. I choose to follow my Lord Jesus by obedience to His commands all my days. AMEN

Now remember, there are things we can disagree on, but you cannot disagree with the Bible over your salvation and eternal life. Unless you allow God through the Bible to direct your faith and beliefs you will be lost forever. God so loves you He gave His Word to be clear and concise to prevent you from being confused and miss His gift of eternal life.

If you still do not know or understand how to repent and follow Jesus contact us immediately through our website.

 

Read What Happens When You Are Born Again? for a detailed description of what the Holy Spirit actually does and how He changes the follower of Jesus. “A born again person is someone who has a direct connection with Almighty God by receiving the Holy Spirit inside their human spirit …”

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