So many people today profess their faith in God through Jesus the Son and therefore the Word of God. Now this is where so many believers start to have difficulties about what it means to be saved and the process of being saved is always changing as well as the life connected to being saved.
Some say you only need to say a prayer and you are now saved, while others will tell you that you need to allow Jesus into your heart and you will be saved. Yet others will tell you that you will have a feeling of love and you will know that you accepted Jesus as your savior and then there are those that will preach that you need to have faith and only you can put your faith in God through Christ Jesus.
Then there are those that say if you do not have a change of heart you will not be able to come to Christ, yes you must make a choice and change your heart to love the Lord, and even those that say it is the grace of God that saves us or any combination of the above, well what is it then, how are we saved?
Now let us start with FAITH. Many agree that the verse of Ephesians 2:8 is taken out of context and that the grace of God saves you through the faith that you put in God and He then gracefully saves you through your faith. Some even say that it is John Calvin that started the false doctrine of God giving you faith as you do not have faith to begin with and therefore Calvin took this verse out of context to fit his narrative.
Then we need to ask, do I have faith or is it given to me and can I find the answer in scripture without bending and distorting the truth?
The second question is can I find what I need outside of scripture in other religions and writings as proclaimed to be p[possible by the Catholic Church?
The answer is rather simple and not complex at all, all you need to do is to read the Bible and it is revealed to you clearly in the Word of God. So to say you have faith that you can place in God is incorrect, and why it is incorrect is because you cannot have faith in God if you have not heard and the hearing comes through the Word of God.
Now note the difference from the King James Version of the Bible to the ESV:
ESV: So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Rom 10:17
KJV: So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom 10:17
From the Word of God to the word of Christ is blasphemy for Christ is the Word of God:
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14.
So you have no faith, you can read any kind of writing of any kind on this earth but if it is not the Word of God then you will not have faith for the Bible clearly states that faith comes by hearing the Word of God and the Word of God is a gift to man and so yes you get your faith from God through His Word. No taking Scripture out of context, no changing of the words like God to Christ in the verse above, so was it changed to support the trinity false doctrine?
So now we know that you need faith and that faith comes through the hearing of God’s Word, and do not make the mistake to call Jesus the Word of God and then the Bible the recorded Word of God a lowercase “word”, no it is all the Word of God as Jesus is the Word when The Word Took on flesh as we see in John 1:14.
1) Faith through hearing the Word of God
Now that you know how to obtain faith and place it in God and His Word you have to realize that the verse of Ephesians 2:8 is perfectly correct in that it says that you are saved by the grace of God through faith, and that by the grace of God He gave us His Word so that we could have faith and through that faith given to us by God so graciously through His Word, we are therefore now saved, you did nothing but listen for you heard.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:8
1.) Faith through hearing the Word of God
2.) Saved by grace through faith and it is the gift of God
We now know that faith comes through hearing the Word of God, and then we saw that the Word of God took on flesh and dwelt amongst us. So that will mean that you cannot come to God if you do not hear His Word, and next you have to accept His Word or you will not come to the Father.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom 10:17
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:8
Now the process has started and yes it is a process that you go through as the above shows you what happens when you hear the Word of God and the Grace of God, but there is a process within this short but utterly powerful statement that we will now explore.
I would suggest using the King James Version of the Bible and the AV as a matter of. Next you will get many a preacher preaching that it is not enough to read the Word of God and have it in mind but we must understand it in our hearts, well I am getting ahead of myself so let’s back it up a bit.
You now read the Scripture and you soon realize that you are not worthy of anything but being cast into the lake of fire, and no you are not Mr. Wonderful and Miss Perfection as you thought. Actually to the contrary you are a despicable sinner and should be on your knees crying out to God for mercy, so you protest this fact, hey?
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Rom 3:23
Like I said we are all despicable to God and as in the time of Noah and the flood we all are in danger of God’s judgment and wrath due to our sins, and yes we own our sins if we want to or not, you will pay the price and that price is unimaginable and eternal and will be spent as such in the lake of fire.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom 6:23
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Mat 25:46
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Rev 20:15
Now many will start talking about the first death and second death and, and, and, but be sure to listen to God when He speaks to you through His word the Bible and realize what you are being saved from, YOUR SINS!
So the process starts with:
A) Conviction of Sin
You have been convicted of your sin and can move on in the process and the next step is to repent from your sins you need to have a way to understand what it is that you are reading, how can you understand what is written in God’s Word. Well as you see below it is the Holy Ghost that will lead you into the truth and the truth of things to come speaking only of God and not about anything else but to reveal God to man.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1Co 2:13
For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. Luke 12:12
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13
Now there are many that say we need to read all philosophies and religions other that the Word of God, well to those please say the following that is once again revealed to us by the Holy Ghost and cannot be refuted unless you harden your heart.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1Co 2:14
This brings us to the next steps in the process and that is the fact that you must know how to repent and receive the Holy Ghost and that we will deal with next.
a) Conviction of sin
b) Repentance
c) Receiving the Holy Ghost
This is a part of the process where many become Bible readers but not saved believers, and that we will look at soon as the concept of accused vs. convicted and convicted vs. broken. For right now we will look at the part of the process that leads to you having repented and receiving the Holy Ghost. The following verse are hotly debated and leads to a large study, but ask yourself if what is written is the truth by praying to the Holy Ghost that is within you after the next part of the process and the truth will be revealed to you.
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Act 2:38
At this point in time people start to split hairs about receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and that it is only the gift and not the Holy Ghost itself, well really, you have forgotten all the verses read before and if so ask yourself the question:
If I do not see the truth, cannot follow the truth in Scripture, am I saved?
Repentance:
This is where you have failure to succeed in being saved and where many today are not saved but believe that they are. This is a strong statement that will receive a strong reaction but stating that I wish to show you the Scripture that makes that statement valid and true.
In churches today it is very much about feelings, the gospel they teach is one of feel good, make your neighbor feel good, be inclusive and offend no one because you must love all even your enemy, show your emotion so people can see your love for God and all, if need be scream and cry out while ripping your coat, for you love God and all of God’s creation, you love even other sinners with no animosity or guile.
Well you can add and subtract to the picture above but you know that throughout the world today it being secular or not the message is passion, love and acceptance. So, what does the Bible say is needed, is what is described above Godly sorrow or worldly sorrow?
You see, most people today preach that you must repent, confess your sins and beg for forgiveness and you have been saved, some add that a simple prayer leads you to this point, sounds strangely like you do it yourself and it is not a gift from God, sounds like ripping your own coat!
And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Joe 2:13
Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow:
We need to clarify this concept of Godly sorrow vs. worldly sorrow because if you misunderstand it this will lead to forming a incorrect concept and therefore a false doctrine.
Just as we need to clarify that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Word of God in flesh and that this Word of God in flesh is the only way that we can come to the Father and the best of all, the Father your God gave you to the Word and that the Word of God then brings you and you will not be cast out.
Jesus Christ our Lord, the Word of God in flesh says that it is the will of God that everything that was given to Him, the Word of God in flesh, should be lost but raised up in the last days, raised up and taken into the clouds with Jesus our Saviour.
Jesus then gives you eternal life and if you do believe in the Word of God you cannot be snatched from His hands, you cannot undo your understanding of the Word of God, but be careful for you can harden your heart and that is where you come into the danger of being given over to a reprobate mind.
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:44
You cannot come to the Word of God unless God draws you to it, it is once again a gift and we will see how this relates to Godly sorrow.
And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. John 6:65
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:37
We saw earlier in this piece that God gives you the faith that is needed to believe in Him and that faith comes through the hearing of the Word of God; well God gave His Word to us the Gentiles so that we may be saved. There are thousands of people that have the Word of God available to them but because of sin they out rightly reject the word of God and there reject God as they cannot come to Him but by His Word that took on flesh, the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:28
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. John 10:29
As you can see the Word of God and God is not separable at all, it is not two persons but only God Almighty and His Word that when spoken creates, and the Word took on flesh and dwelt amongst us.
Now please understand that the process of being saved is much more complicated and wider than you have anticipated, but yet so simple when understood according to Scripture and not to the ways of men.
a) Faith through hearing the Word of God
b) Conviction of sin
c) Godly Sorrow that leads to repentance
d) Repentance
e) Saved by grace through faith and it is the gift of God His Word
f) Receiving the Holy Ghost
Next we will explore the sorrows and their relation to the process of being saved, and yes this is a very important part of the process that you go through when God saves you. When looking at Godly sorrow many elements are added to the process of being saved, and that these are brokenness leading to death through the Word of God unto conviction, and then Godly sorrow unto repentance that leads to resurrection unto life through the gift of the grace God, for God saves you, lest you boast.
Worldly Sorrow Explained:
When you have worldly sorrow you feel emotion for others and the situation that they find themselves in, you have empathy for what they are going through but you are quite removed but emotionally moved.
When it is you that are in the situation you have strong emotions towards your situation and find reasons for why you are in there and blame those reasons whatever they may be, for your misfortune and situation.
So in worldly sorrow there is understanding of conviction, but there is no acceptance or many times there are no understanding as to why the conviction pertains to the convicted. There is no responsibility accepted for wrongdoing but external circumstances are blamed for the breakdown and failure.
A simple way to explain is that a person is convicted for murdering several people. The person is found guilty for they caught the person in the act and he or she confessed to the other murders and lead police to the bodies. The person is convicted and sentenced to life in prison; the person then blames his or her upbringing, parents, school teachers, pornography, justice system, etc. for this failure to comply with the law, and that is the same as blaming God for your sin because He made the rules.
There is no repentance for what was done, and most criminals say that they are innocent while those that do accept that they are at fault blame everything but themselves for the crime, but they admit it was wrong.
Worldly sorrow is conviction without accountability and sorrow for your disobedience that could have lead to repentance. Self-centeredness is the basis of worldly sorrow and we know what the Bibles tell us to do about that situation.
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Gal 5:24
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Gal 2:20
I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 1Co 15:31
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Col 3:3
Godly Sorrow Explained:
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 2Co 7:10
This brings us to a difficult crossroads as we can easily explain worldly sorrow and it being selfish and self-centered. But now we have to explain what Godly sorrow is and how it leads to repentance and this is where we introduce the next point of the process and that is brokenness.
First of all we need to set the table and that brings us to the Corner Stone.
As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Rom 9:33
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. Act 4:10
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Act 4:11
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Act 4:12
I ask you to note the fact that Jesus the Word of God in flesh is referred to as a Stumbling stone, a rock of offence and a corner stone. The fact is that Jesus became a stumbling stone or a rock of offense to the nation of Israel while a rock for the Gentiles to be broken on and saved or when the rock has been rejected the sinner then to be ground to dust by the same rock.
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Mat 21:42
Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. Mat 21:43
And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. Mat 21:44
Here it becomes clear that if you fall on the Word of God you will be broken and only a broken person can come to God to be saved, and only a broken person can show Godly sorrow unto true repentance. Next let’s look at the meanings of fall on this stone and be broken as opposed to this stone falling on you and grinding you into powder.
When you fall on the stone your old self is broken and you through conviction of sin become aware just how despicable of a creature you are, how unacceptable you have become to your creator the Father God that created you and all that exists seen and unseen as well as known and unknown. The only true and living God that is fearfully wondrous, supreme and almighty and that you this vile being of disrespect towards God through its disobedience towards the creator God.
Now you will cry out to your God asking him in Godly sorrow to take over your life and save you from yourself that is so in love with your sin, and you will cry out to the only living God begging Him to change you into a new creature that is filled with love, kindness, goodness and most of all understanding of God and what God wants from you, and asking that the new creature be protected while it works out its salvation in fear and trembling.
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Phi 2:12
Godly sorrow that leads to repentance is the fact of understanding that we are sinful and have remorse for our sin, but more importantly knowing and understanding the danger and helplessness of this position for you can do nothing to save yourself but to cry out to God in fear begging to be saved, and that is Godly sorrow.
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Psa 34:18
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psa 51:10
So it is clear that to have Godly sorrow that will lead to repentance you need to be broken on the stone, and that means that the Word of God will convict you of your sins. This will then lead to the fact that you will admit and accept the fact that they are your sins and that God will remove your name from the Book of Life and you will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
You accept that through your doing there is no good to be found in you and that only God can save you and that this happens through His Word that reveals God’s will to us, His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Word in flesh.
a) Faith through hearing the Word of God
b) Conviction of sin
c) Accepting your fate and begging for mercy that leads to Godly sorrow
d) Godly Sorrow that leads to repentance
e) Repentance
f) Saved by grace through faith and it is the gift of God His Word
g) Receiving the Holy Ghost
So as we set the table above you know that without the Word of God being given to us, we reading the word and receiving faith that leads to conviction and acceptance of our dire situation in relation to God’s commands giving us His will and we being in disobedience to His will must lead to Godly sorrow and brokenness on your behalf to be saved.
Once you have been brought to this point you have died of self and you are now ready to be saved by the grace of God, and note that you have to die of self before you can be saved and that means a new creature that bears fruit that is different to the fruit of the world.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. Mar 8:35
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. John 12:24
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Gal 2:20
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Gal 5:24
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2Co 5:17
Now that you have become a new creature through the Word of God, your saviour the Lord Jesus Christ you are now a new creature and you have repented with Godly sorrow. It is at this point that you and your house are saved by the grace of God that is a gift from God.
a) Faith through hearing the Word of God
b) Conviction of sin
c) Accepting your fate and begging for mercy that leads to Godly sorrow, being broken
d) Godly Sorrow that leads to repentance
e) Repentance
f) Being made a new creature as you have died of self through God’s Word and the acceptance of God’s word as the only truth and confessing it with your mouth
g) Saved by grace through faith and it is the gift of God His Word
h) Receiving the Holy Ghost
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Rom 10:9
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Act 16:31
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:8
Please note that it says in the last verse “the” gift of God and not “a” gift of God, and this brings us to the point where you have now been saved and this is where God gives you the Comforter, the Holy Ghost that will lead you into all truth. With the Holy Ghost we have a teacher and the Holy Ghost will reveal all to you if you serve in the spirit, and that means that you accept that God is a Spirit and must be served as such.
The Holy Ghost will make the Scriptures of God clear to you, and this will only happen once you have died of self, saying a prayer and accepting Jesus into your live will produce a false convert and when you meet your God, this is what His Word will reveal to you:
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Mat 7:22
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Mat 7:23
And then here comes that clincher and that is the same stone that you fell on and was broken you the new creature must now build you house on and you will prosper:
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: Mat 7:24
Now that you have been saved and are a new creature and have accepted that truth you can come to God through His Son, the Word that took on flesh and dwelt amongst us, your saviour and Lord, Christ Jesus.
Now you need to be baptized and you will then receive the Holy Ghost, and now you are ready to work out your salvation in trembling and fear forsaking the world and clinging to God your Father and the Creator of all.
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Act 2:38
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Phi 2:12
Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. Deu 10:20
You have now been saved according to Scripture and not according to man and a manmade doctrine, this is the point where you realize that there is work that needs to be done once you have been saved. There is nothing you can do to be saved other than to read the Bible and live in the Word of God and God will then give you the faith needed to continue on in His Word into everlasting life with God.
As you can’t do anything before you are saved you have to work after you have been saved for faith without works are dead and you have to work out your salvation in fear and trembling, it is an ongoing process and do not let anyone fool you!
You do nothing:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:8
Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph 2:9
Once you have been saved you need to work for God:
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Jam 2:26
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Col 3:23
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1Co 15:58
Here Paul speaks to believers, saved people and not new converts with the onus on work:
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Phi 2:12
This will then bring us to the last point to be added and that is after you have been saved and received the Holy Ghost and that is that now you have to work for the lord and work ceaselessly at it as well.
a) Faith through hearing the Word of God
b) Conviction of sin
c) Accepting your fate and begging for mercy that leads to Godly sorrow, being broken
d) Godly Sorrow that leads to repentance
e) Repentance
f) Being made a new creature as you have died of self through God’s Word and the acceptance of God’s word as the only truth and confessing it with your mouth
g) Saved by grace through faith and it is the gift of God His Word
h) Receiving the Holy Ghost
i) Now work for the Lord in a changed life separate from the world
I hope and pray that this is clear, I have to say that there are many more Scripture to be quoted to help you in your walk with God, but then you do realize that the above is only the road to what becomes a new creature with a changed life and new mission in life and this all go against the world.
Therefore should you be tried and your fruit found wanting, then please be sure to have Godly sorrow unto repentance and everlasting life in God through His Word, the Lord Jesus Christ.
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John 15:19
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. John 17:15
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. John 17:16
The message is loud and clear, the line has been drawn in the sand and now the time has come for you to choose a side and let the battle begin, are you in the world or are you of the world, for the difference is significant and the choice yours as is the consequence of that choice.
Make sure that you are saved for when the time comes it will be too late!