A,B,C's of Salvation

Black and wicked is mankinds heart

Red is for the blood God the Son shed for you

White as wool our sins become when we put Faith in God's the Son
(Isaiah 1; Romans 3;1 Corinthians 15)

No Christian Site would be complete without the steps one should take to become saved (Born Again). The only place to find the answer is the Bible.

 Let's take a look.

My favorite scriptures are in Corinthians.

It says, "Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of FIRST IMPORTANCE: that CHRIST DIED for our SINS according to the Scriptures, that he was BURIED, that he was RAISED on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then the twelve...(1 Corinthians 15:1-5 NIV)

Petra sings a song entitled the Coloring Song that is appropriate for this subject.

The Coloring Song

David Eden

Red is the color of the blood that flowed down the face of Someone Who loved us so

That can give us life, that can make us grow, that can turn our mornings into gold.

That can give us life, that can make us grow, that can keep our hearts from growing cold.

That can give us life, that can make us grow, that can make the love between us flow.

The following links are a presentation of the Four Spiritual Laws:

A cool presentation of the Good News

If you would like the animated version click here

The following is a message I wrote on a message board of those that steeped in relativism and reincarnation:

The A,B, C's of Salvation

A Quick reading of the Bible will reveal how much God hates sin. Sometimes in the Old Testament he ordered the execution of those that committed immorality and idolatry. Ananias and Sapphira Died when they lied to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5)

This is because God is a holy God that Judges sin. He is a consuming Fire.

God has the absolute right to declare to his creation what he expects and the CONSEQUENCES of unbelief and disobedience

What is sin?

Sin is missing God's mark:

He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36) "Sin is the breaking of God's Law. Every one that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. And ye know that he was manifested to take away sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither knoweth him." (1 John 3:4ff )

How many other religions miss the sin factor:

Many religions avoid or miss this. Some call this world and everything in it, including sin illusion or maya. "..if the world is really an illusion-if what we continually perceive to be real is not real-then how can we distinguish between reality or fantasy? Lao-Tse puts the question well: 'If, when I was asleep I was a man dreaming I was a butterfly, how do I know when I am awake I am not a butterfly dreaming I am a man?'

Other examples illustrate this dilemma: When we cross a busy street and see three lanes of traffic coming toward us, should we not even worry about it because it is merely an illusion? Indeed should we even bother looking for cars when we cross the street, if we, the traffic, and the street do not really exist? If pantheists actually lived out their pantheism consistently, would there be any pantheists left?" (Geisler, WA, 102, ...New Evidence...)

What are the results of sin?

"For all have sinned and COME SHORT of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)

Separation from God is the result of sin.

There are those out there that think that religion has caused nothing but trouble in this world and that Man (and his intellect) is the best hope we have. A Quick look at history will reveal that Man unaided by religion has committed some of the most heinous crimes.

Also those that have committed atrocities in the name of religion (including Christianity) have Jesus' condemnation.

I have been told many times to 'Live and Let Live' This is often a way for people to say that they don't want to be bothered by those that have differing and exclusive viewpoints.

In everyday life we would NOT want someone to just 'Live and Let Live' if they saw us unknowingly walking into the path of a car. We would want to be warned, even if they had to yell and jump up and down to get our attention. In this case to be silent would be to 'Live and Let Die'. For if a person did not warn someone of what was about to happen then this would NOT be the loving thing to do. The same goes for the Message God has for us. Followers of Christ (myself) are responsible to warn others of the impending danger if they do not repent and follow the One that is reaching out with pierced hands.

Jonathan Edwards a long time ago preached a message called, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" This sermon spoke of the impending judgment of God on those that reject God's message. Many people came to the Lord.

I can hear many people today saying, 'How unloving to suggest the existence of Hell for those that refuse to believe the Christian message. To them I would say that God is WITHHOLDING his judgment until his unique message is offered to all people. This is not unloving, this is love in its utmost expression.

"Knowing the Terror of the Lord we persuade Men" (Bible)

ADMIT:

"If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8) "For ALL have sinned and come short to the Glory of God." ( Romans 3:23)

BELIEVE:

Believe what:

Is there a conflict in what the Bible says to be saved? No, of course not. Check out:

Salvation by Faith or Works?

The Bible, "Now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand, by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15)

The Bible is to be read and understood as a whole. The message is simple for those that are listening. God gave everyone the capacity (with His help) to choose life or choose death. He loves us and does not want a world full of robots. Still, there are consequences for making the wrong choices. This is true is everyday life as well.

Examples:

I could just see someone claiming that they have the right to do whatever they want, eating and drinking whatever they want. To this I would give a resounding Amen. However, I would add that if you drink that Liquid Drano in your cupboard you will not be able to eat or drink whatever you want ever again.

Am I being closed minded?

Am I being unloving by saying this?

Quite the opposite!!

Since this is true in everyday life we should not be surprised that it is true in spiritual things.

Some might say that one cannot use earthly examples to illustrate the Heavenly. Jesus did this in his parables. Just read some of them.

The NOW Testament: NOW God is showing Grace and Love to his creation by offering a way out. However, there will be a time when God will judge those that refuse his message of Love. The Judgment of God is actually allowing those that reject his message to have what they ask for. Hell is man getting his own way.

"First, be aware of this: scoffers will come in the last days to scoff, following their own lusts, saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation." ... The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be on fire and be dissolved, and the elements will melt with the heat. But based on His promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell. " (2 Peter 3)

CONFESS:

"But if we confess our sins He (Christ) will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) All we have to do is look at the personal and historical evidence to know that ALL need forgiveness. This is not an illusion as some say.

Can we believe the Bible?

There is more testimonial, manuscript, prophetic and archaeological evidence for the Bible than any other book. Even more evidence for these claims later. I am not trying to show my intellectual superiority, I am simply trying to show that becoming a Christian makes sense.

Many of these same people will not offer any evidence for what they believe. Subjectivists say truth is a personal thing and logic cannot be used because it is faulty. They will use logic to say that one cannot use logic to state what and why they believe the way they do.

" If for example a person believes that logic is somehow highly defective, he certainly is going to find it difficult to induce intelligent people to share his belief by offering supporting arguments which owe whatever conviction they carry to the fact that they are logically valid." (Rosemont, LLZ, 16)

If you have problems with certain parts of the Bible go to:

Bible Difficulties?

I have offered Bible scriptures and revealed what I believe. I have answered the alleged contradictions in the Bible. I have even shown that it is illogical to believe in relativism, subjectivism and eastern mysticism. This I have done in a group hostile to the Bible and Christians not because I am superior, simply because I have the truth by God's grace.

Being born again is past even for the Christian, but also a present reality.

Peter says, "for you HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God." (1 Peter 1)

Notice it says 'Have been Born Again.'
 

John speaks of being born of God and he says, "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him....For whatever is born of God overcomes  the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? ...We know that no one who is born of God sins...And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. THIS IS THE TRUE GOD AND ETERNAL LIFE." (1 John 5)

Certainly our actions as Christians should reflect what has already been done in us.

However, when we sin and we will, we have forgiveness through confession.

"If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us." (1 John 1)

A devotional I used to read said, We do not fight sin we are dead to sin to the degree that we are alive/submit to God.

Life equals a union of some kind and death equals a separation of some kind. When we are united to God in Christ through faith, we are born again and are alive unto God, and it is to this degree that we have been separated from, died to the power of sin. This is due to how closely united we are to Christ. 

However, sanctification/rekoning ourselves dead to sin is getting the body and soul to come into line with what is already true of us in the heavenlies.

BJ Maxwell 05/09/2006