Doctrine #5: Salvation of Man

So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, You must be holy because I am holy. And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as temporary residents. [1 Peter 1:13-17]

A Call to Holy Living

Yes girlfriends, we are called to live a holy life as a believer. This verse alone could be an entire message, but I will save that for later. Right now, the emphasis is on understanding our foundational doctrines and knowing that we are called to live a holy life and how we can do that!

• Prepare your mind for action.
• Exercise self-control.
• Put all your hope in salvation.
• You must live as God’s obedient children.
• Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires.
• You must be holy in everything you do,
• You must be holy because I am holy.
• He will judge or reward you according to what you do.
• You must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as temporary residents.

Wow, a tall order. Remember the only way we can do this is to stand on a solid foundation. Thus, the reason today we are continuing to Doctrine #5 in our series of the 16 Foundational (Fundamental) Bible Doctrines.

Benefits of Sound Doctrine

1. 1. Sound doctrine prevents you from living in fear and anxiety.
   2. Sound doctrine will give you a boldness in the Holy Spirit.
   3. Sound doctrine will give you a firm foundation to speak from.
   4. Sound doctrine will help prevent you from receiving the antichrist spirit.
   5. Sound doctrine gives you discernment about heaven and hell.
   6. Sound doctrine will allow you to live a holy life.
   7. Sound doctrine will keep you from falling away from the faith.
   8. Sound doctrine will prevent you from being deceived.
   9. Sound doctrine will help you from going insane in this crazy world.
   10. Sound doctrine will help you to STAND FIRM.

DOCTRINE #5: SALVATION OF MAN

Enter the realm of “BUT GOD,” the unspeakable gift that is our redemption and restoration from Doctrine #4—the tragic Fall of Man. The Bible resonates with so many verses of our redemption, and attempting to compile them all would be exhaustive. The entire Bible is about God restoring our relationship with Him.

Therefore, like always take these scriptures and meditate on them, but then continue your search for more messages that talk about God’s love and his relentless pursuit of every single person being brought back to Him.

HOPE OF REDEMPTION

In the previous doctrine we talked about the fall of man. Because of this fall we are all born with a sin nature, and we are separated from God. We are without hope and are headed straight to hell.

BUT GOD, thankfully He gave us a way to reconcile this severed relationship. It is a choice that every individual will have the opportunity to make some point in their lives. They can choose to say yes to the gift that is being handed to them, or they can choose to say no. This is a choice.

Again, I’m taking a firm stance and going to say something that does ruffle people’s feathers; however, it’s what the Word says and that is our first doctrine that all other doctrines are built on.

There is ONLY ONE hope of redemption, there is ONLY ONE WAY to reconcile our relationship with God Almighty, and this is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ

Jesus replied, I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God. [John 3:3]

NEW BIRTH AND NEW LIFE!! 😊

This born-again concept confused even the people who walked with Jesus. If you read the entire third Chapter of John, you will see the conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus explaining what born again meant. It’s a spiritual re-birth not a physical birth. Our physical bodies remain the same, however, its our Spirit that allows Jesus to make whole. We literally are a new person in the Spirit. It’s our spirit that becomes holy. Jesus now lives within us and it’s the Holy Spirit that gives our spirit the ability to live a holy life.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. [2 Corinthians 5:17-18a]

A LIFE OF WISDOM

Because of this amazing gift that has been given to us and the Holy Spirit that lives within us – our lives should be apparently different than those that are not believers.

• We are to turn from our godless living. Which means we are to walk a holy life. Remember we are new creatures, and we no longer live under the curse of sin.
• We are to walk away from our sinful pleasures. A good example of this my friends is for those of us that are single, living with a boyfriend is living in sinful pleasures. For those that are married, it could be an obsession for having the best house on the block, or a shopping habit that is out of control.
• I love that we are instructed to live with wisdom! Wisdom comes from knowing what the Word says and doing it. People joke all the time saying, geez wish we have been given a handbook to life. Well, we have been – READ THE WORD!!! Wisdom can be gained on every page you meditate on.
• Live a righteous life. Because of our covenant relationship with God Almighty we are to stay pure. Be holy. Live in integrity, do what you say you are going to do. Honest and ethical.
• There is nothing like having a relationship with God, where you can hear and know His voice. Where you have become a living sacrifice and totally committed to being in the Word and serving others.
• We can live with Jesus here on earth and at the same time look forward to the day that we will physically be with Him. We need to be ready and stand firm. Keep that relationship intact and don’t waver.

Jesus didn’t die so that we could say a quick prayer to and then continue to live in sin. We are called to live a life that is Christ like, we should look different. 😊

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. [Titus 2:11-14]

BUT GOD…GODS LOVE FOR US

I think that sometimes people take this amazing gift for granted or maybe don’t understand the significance of it. Jesus gave up His life for US so that WE could have a restored relationship with God the Father and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Yes, at times it’s beyond comprehension. But because of this one act, we have the opportunity to live that perfect life that was given to us originally – that garden of Eden life. We can seek God, speak with God, and take hold of ALL His promises because of John 3:16. Unspeakable and unbelievable, yet true.

And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. [John 3:14-17]

THE INWARD EVIDENCE OF SALVATION

There should be a leading of the Holy Spirit in your life. Woman for sure have that strong intuition, that girlfriend is the Holy Spirit speaking to you. (IF, it aligns with the Word). For me I am guided through peace or lack of peace. When I’m trying to make a decision and if there isn’t peace in my heart or I have a lot of questions, then that isn’t the direction the Lord is leading me. Each of us needs to pay attention to how the Holy Spirit guides us. As a believer the inside evidence of your salvation is the Holy Spirit tugging on your heart!

Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. [Titus 3:3-7]

OUTWARD EVIDENCE OF SALVATION

Different scripture but same exact message my friends. We are to live a life of righteousness.

• When we turn from our godless living.
• When we walk away from our sinful pleasures.
• When we live with wisdom!
• When we choose to live a righteous life.
• When we spend time in the Word DAILY.
• When we nurture our relationship with God Almighty.

When we do these things, that is the outward evidence, it’s what others will see in our lives that shows that we are a follower of Jesus.

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. [Titus 2:11-14]

RENEW YOUR MIND

Living out the Christian life isn’t going to church on Sunday and quoting scriptures to people.  It is a moment-by-moment process of transformation and allowing the Holy Spirit to change the way we think. This is a lifetime process girlfriend, it doesn’t happen once and you are good to go. Every thought and every word we say has the power of life and death. There will be so many messages on this because it’s so important. If you get a chance go back to the message Power in our Spoken Word.

This is how our actions and decisions WILL BE different than those that do not know the Lord or the pretend believers.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. [Romans 12:2]

ETERNAL LIFE FOR BELIEVERS

There is eternal life for those of us that have accepted the gift. Accepting the gift means: we know that we were born with a sin nature, we are separated from God, believe that Jesus died to remove all sins and reconcile that relationship, we repent of our sins, and then CHOOSE to live the righteous life. We will live WITH CHRIST FOREVER.

For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. [1 Peter 1:23]

ETERNAL LIFE FOR NON-BELIEVERS

There is eternal life for those that chose to never accept the gift. Rejecting the gift means: they believe they are good enough by what they do, don’t believe they are a sinner, don’t care they are separated from God, or don’t believe in God at all, don’t believe that Jesus died for them and they have a way out, they did not repent, they CHOSE to continue living in sin and an ungodly life. They will live with the devil FOREVER.

In flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. [2 Thessalonians 1:8-9]

GOD WANTS EVERYONE

The thing is it’s sad to know there will be a separating of people. That some people will not be in heaven and that just breaks my heart. But imagine how it breaks God’s heart. He created each and every person. He loves EVERY single person. Hell was not created for people and that was not God’s plan and is not God’s plan for people to go there. People have been given the ability to make their own decisions and choices. Because God wants EVERYONE in heaven and everyone with Him. However, because of CHOICE not everyone’s life will end well. It comes down to what YOUR choice is.

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. [2 Peter 3:9]

OUR RESPONSIBILITY

If we have chosen to believe in Jesus, become a living sacrifice, live holy and righteous, and renew our minds then it’s also our responsibility to make sure that everyone around us KNOWS the Lord. This is not only the responsibility for pastors, teachers, evangelists – it’s MY responsibility too.

I’m just going to end with that, because the scripture below says it all.

For Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news! [Romans 10:13-15]

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DOCTRINE #1: ALL SCRIPTURES ARE INSPIRED BY GOD

In the beginning, the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created and his life brought light to everyone. [John 1:1-4]

DOCTRINE #2: ONE TRUE GOD

But for us, There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live. [1 Corinthians 8:6]

DOCTRINE #3: THE DEITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor,  Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [Isaiah 9:6]

DOCTRINE #4: THE FALL OF MAN

The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve. [Jeremiah 17:9-10]

DOCTRINE #5: SALVATION OF MAN

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. [2 Corinthians 5:17-18a]