We are not automatically Christians or born again or converted or saved.
In Matthew 18: 3 Jesus said verily verily i say unto you, except you be converted and become as little children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
So one was ever born a Christian or a Child of God. They become by choice.
John 1 : 12-13 But as many as received Him ( Jesus), to them gave He power to become the children of God, even to them that believe on His Name. Who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh , nor of the will of man, but of God.
The Bible is full of examples of conversions: that of Nicodemus, paul and others.
In order to get born again, we must
-recognize our sinfulness
Most of us fail to see ourselves as serious sinners. We feel like we are a good person. We tend to compare ourselves to others instead of God's standards (the 10 commandements) still being important in the eyes of God unto this day. Let us see how we rate as compared to the ten commandements:
1) you shall have no Gods before me (exodus 20:3)
No one can claim they have never put anything ahead of God ( money, career, ownself-centered goals, pleasure, sport, entertainment, sin, vice, a relationship, ocult practices etc..)
2) you shall not make unto yourself any graven image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is in earth beneath or that is under the water under the earth...
Many have been guilty of inventing a god of their own imagination and liking who suits them. People want a god that overlooks sins and take everyone to heaven. They have improvised and dreamed up a god of their own image, not to mention the represention of Jesus through imagery and representation and worship of images and statutes of Mary.
3) you shall not take the Name of the Lord your God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guitless that takes His Name in vain.
Let us carefully, for God keeps records of everytime we have used His Name as a curse word and we shall answer for it one day.
4) Remember the Sabbath day and keep it Holy. Six days shall you labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God: in it, you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your man or woman servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is whithin your gates.
To God the Sabbath is the day that follows the six working days. it is the seventh day. That day should be His day, everything we do and say shall revolve around Him.
How many of us can claim they ve made that day Holy for the Lord? That they make no one in their house work in this day. That they celebrate the Lord and consecrate that day to Him alone? Or that they have never missed the opportunity to gather together with theirs asssemblies in the Name of the Lord in that day?
5)Honour your Father and your Mother.
How many of us can claim that they were never been disrespectful towards their parents, that they always listenned to their advices and honored them?
6) you shall not kill.
How many of us can claim, as a woman to have never committed abortion or supported anyone who did? How many men can claim they never urged a woman to commit abortion before as they were not ready to have a child or yet another child? how many parents urged their children to commit abortion in order to protect them and themselves from the shame of having children outside marriage or before they have been able to complete their studies and get a job?
7)You shall not commit adultery.
How many can claim they have never committed aldultery when Jesus said in Matthew 5:28 that whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her, has committed aldutery with her already in his heart.
Besides how many can claim that they have never been with someone else whilst their wife or husband is at home waiting for them or that they have never been with someone else's wife or husband? Nowadays, not many.
8) you shall not steal.
How many of us can claim that they have never taken anything that does not belong to them. Even something small or even the boss's time to go at some place?
9)you shall not bear false witness against your nieghbor.
Who can claim they never lied before in order to cover themselves or someone they love. Well whenever we did someone else who was innocent had to bear the guilt.
10)you shall not covet your neighbor's house, you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.
Have you ever desired something that you do not neccessarily need just because you saw on it with someone else. Have you ever looked at someone with envy? Have you ever been ungrateful?
Most people are guilty of breaking all ten commandements. Many places in the Bible reaveal that liars, adulters, thieves, the covetous etc... shall spend eternity in hell ( Rev 21:8, 1 Cor 6:9-10, Gal 5:19:21).
HOW COULD YOU EVER EXPECT TO GET TO HEAVEN BY LIVING A GOOD LIFE?
Roman 3:10 As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.
Roman 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.
Roman 6:23 For the wages of sin is death.
We cannot possibly get to Heaven by keeping the Law ( the 10 commandements).
The law was given by God to show us how much we need forgiveness by accepting the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for our sins. The Bible says , the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith ( Galatians 3:24)
We are condemned on our own and need a Savior.
Once we recognize it, we are qualified to be saved.
Jesus said, the Son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost. This is the key to being born again.
Many foolishly attempt to make themselves acceptable by their own works.
In Rom 10:1-3 Paul says for i i bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge( Bible) for they being ignorant of God righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God ( the sacrifie of Jesus on calvary).
Trying to work our way to Heaven is an insult to God.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone that says unto me Lord, Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven: but he that does the will of my Father who is in Heaven. Many will say unto me that day Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in Your Name? And in Your Name have cast out demons? And in Your Name done many wonderful works?And I will profess unto them, I never knew you. Depart from me you that work iniquity.
Sadly they were trusting their own goodness and works instead of the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins.
Jesus is our Substitute sacrifice for sin
The Bible says that, Christ died for our sins according to the scripture ( 1 Cor 15:3). Jesus paid for our sins ( hell) on the cross.
We cannot therfore born again by earning it.
Titus 3:5 says Not by work of righteousness which we have done, but according to His Mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says For by Grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.
All our faith must be in Jesus Christ 100%.
Getting to Heaven cannot be both by grace and by works.
Roman 11:6 says And if by Grace, then it is no more of works. Otherwise, Grace is no more Grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more Grace. Otherwise, work is no more work.
Therefore we conclude that man is justified (saved by faith) without the deeds of the Law ( Rom 3:28).
Any verses in the Bible eluding to doing good works are always addressed to an already born again Christian, encouraging him to faithfully serve the Lord after being saved.
Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying and these i desire that your affirm constantly, that they who have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Baptism has nothing to do with us getting to Heaven.
In fact, St Paul said Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel (1 Cor 1:7).
The thief on the cross went to Heaven without ever being baptized. You won't find a baby baptized in the Bible, nor anyone else before being born again.
However, after some have been saved, they should follow the example of Christ by being baptized by immersion in a true Bible practicing Church.
But remember we are saved by the Blood of Christ, not the water of the baptisery.
Ephesians 1:7 In Whom we have redemption through the Blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His Grace.
Roman 5:9-10 Much more then, being now justified by the Blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were ennemies, we were reconciled to God by death, we shall be saved by His Life.
Would you like to be saved now?
Pray this prayer to Jesus and mean it with all your heart:
Lord Jesus i know i am a sinner, i know i sinned against You and unless You save me i am lost forever. I thank you for dying for me on the cross. I come to You now and ask You to save me. I now receive You as my Lord and Savior and renounce to satan and any satanic activity into my life. Please cleanse me from inside out with Your blood and renew my spirit. I declare i am now Your servant and a child of God Almighy. Take out of my life anything that does not glorify Your name and use me to save as many souls as possible for the advancement of Your Kingdom. AMEN.
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