Get Yourself Saved NOW !!!

On the page ”The Grace of Salvation” we realised that it is totally by the Grace of God, through faith (belief and trust) that we have been saved and that both of these things; the Grace and the Faith, are not generated by ourselves but are given to us freely by God (Eph 2:8-9).

It is now time to realise, with eye-popping wonder, reverent awe and a large dose of humility, exactly what God has done to us at that singular point in time of our salvation.

We are “Regenerated”

Regeneration could be the title of this entire study and is often interchanged with the term “born again”. I wanted to include it separately here to give an insight into our PRE-Salvation degenerative state and help us begin to appreciate in the rest of this study, the difference regenerative salvation has made to our eternal existence.

Let us take a step back for a moment.

Before that singular point in time of our salvation, we were “degenerate” and completely“dead in (our) trespasses and sins” (Eph 2:1).

Remember: “the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23).

We were “them that perish” (2 Thes 2:10) and “unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” (Tit 1:15).

We were a pretty gloomy picture to say the least and it gets worse…

We could not even change ourselves for “They that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom. 8:8) and “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isa 64:6).

Even our heart was “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked“ (Jer 17:9) and we “hateth the light, neither cometh to the light” (John 3:20).

We are told quite plainly “There is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not” (Ecc. 7:20)and“There is none that seek after God” (Rom 3:11)

Remember: “by grace ye are saved” (Eph 2:5)

When exactly are we saved?

The clearest Scripture is found in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians “after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise“ (Eph 1:13)

We can plainly see, it is at the point of belief that we are sealed with God’s Holy Spirit. This is backed up in the book of Acts “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.” (Acts 10:44)

Therefore, let nobody tell you that you are not saved until you are baptised, or that God’s Holy Spirit is not present in you until you have performed some act, have some conditional behaviour, or have accomplished any other work, thus adding to their inferred insufficiency of God’s Grace and Jesus’ totally completed work.

It is God that saves us in every single way and not ourselves in any way even imaginable !

What happens at this singular point in time of our Salvation?

God’s Holy Spirit is sealed within us

At the very moment you are saved, God indwells us and we become the Temple of His Holy Spirit “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Cor 6:19-20)

God’s Holy Spirit is sealed within us. There is nothing in the New Testament that infers that God’s Holy Spirit comes and goes when we invite Him in; an idea I have heard even some of the clergy speak of. He is sealed within us.

Let us look at why this is important…

God’s Holy Spirit “is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.” (Eph 1:14) (NIV)The Holy Spirit is our deposit GUARANTEEING our inheritance. He is essential and it is essential that He be sealed inside us always.

“…if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (give life to) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Rom 8:11)

It is God’s Holy Spirit sealed inside us that guarantees that we will be raised to eternal life as Jesus was, and we can be assured that He is sealed inside us at the point of belief; Nothing can be added to those words to the Ephesians (Eph 1:13-14 above) “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” (Rom 8:9).

At the point of belief we are sealed with the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit and thus, at that precise moment, we are saved.

We are born again

Jesus famously told Nicodemus that a man must “be born again” to see the kingdom of God (John 3:3) and then expanded upon this;“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5).

From the rest of their conversation on this issue (John 3:3-21) we can see clearly that Nicodemus understood the first baptism to which Jesus referred; the water baptism; was his first and natural human birth, asking whether a man could “enter the SECOND TIME into his mother’s womb, and be born?” (John 3:4 emphasis mine).

Jesus acknowledged Nicodemus’ understanding, confirming “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6) thus, we become reborn children of God; them “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:13)

So if the water baptism referred to is our natural birth from our mother and into the world, what is being “born of the Spirit” that Jesus states is absolutely imperative for entering God’s kingdom and therefore, for our Salvation?

Staying with Jesus’ words in this same chapter of John, we can see that Jesus never once mentions the requirement of a water baptism, or indeed any other task or condition, but explicitly tells us five times that it is “belief” in Him that is essential and that “He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18)

We know that we are saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9) and we are told that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom 10:17) (There is also scholarly opinion that the “water” Jesus was describing may also have referred to the hearing of His Word (John 15:3, Eph 5:26))

It is at the time of belief upon hearing the word of God, “the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth“ (Rom 1:16), that we are saved and not by baptism or any of our own efforts or obediences whatsoever.

We are a New Creation !

Now we are “born again” we are a “new creation” “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Cor 5:17). How beautiful is that? All of your past is now irrelevant; you have been recreated – Born Again !!!

We have been recreated as “a new creature” (Gal 6:15) and can now “walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:4). You are a new person; You have eternal life; You are saved forever.

Think on this often and realise what a God-given blessing this really is !!!

We have become sons of God

No, this is not some heretical doctrine and notice also that we do NOT become gods, we become “sons of God”. Other translations render “sons of God” as “children of God” and this is even confirmed in the KJV in Paul’s letter to the Romans “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Rom 8:16). Here the exact same Greek word teknon is used, interchangeable as “sons” or “children”.

The Apostle John tells all who believe in Jesus “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)

Again, this shows that we have been reborn by, and at the point of believing, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God” (1 John 3:2) “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” (Gal 3:26)

We are the children of God and thus, as a child to our Heavenly Father, we can ask Him anything, talk to Him in our prayers and tell Him our troubles. We should want to stay close to Him and listen to His advice given in His Word and use His advice; knowing that it will always be for our good.

We can trust Him implicitly. He is our Father and we are now reborn as His Children. How wonderful is that !

We are joint heirs with Jesus

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Rom 8:17)

God sent His only Son Jesus, to redeem us “that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Gal 4:4-7)

We are heirs “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Pet 1:4)

Remember, this all happens at the point of our Salvation.

Are you starting to understand this astonishing Grace that God has bestowed upon us: “the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:7)

All of our sins have been forgiven

Prior to being born again we were “dead in (our) trespasses and sins” (Eph 2:1) “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23)

At the point of our Salvation every single trespass and sin was forgiven. All our past, present and future sins have been washed away by the blood Jesus shed for us; Paid in full (“tetelestai “ John 19:30) once and for all time because Jesus “offered one sacrifice for sins for ever” (Heb 10:12-14).

Do not let people of some “Christian” denominations tell you that the remission of sins is at baptism (most using Peter’s statement to the Jews on the day of Pentecost: “Repent, and be baptised 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” (Acts 2:38)).

It is not.

“Without shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb 9:22). It is Jesus’ death on the cross and the shedding of HIS blood that gives us the remission of our sins.

(The Greek word translated “for” (for the remission of sins) is “esk” and is commonly seen translated “because of”. In other words, be baptised as an act of obedience “because of” the fact that your sins have been forgiven. This, many scholars agree, fits perfectly with other Scripture and therefore does not contradict the Bible’s plain message that Salvation is by Grace through Faith)

As Jesus Himself said to us “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matt 26:28); not by our baptism, or any of our own works or penances, but by the precious blood of Jesus “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Eph 1:7) and given to us by grace through faith;“that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:43)

He has forgiven us completely of all of our sins/transgressions “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us” (Psa 103:12) and He will “remember (our) sin no more” (Jer 31:34)

I think we ought to remember this each and every day. What a wonderful God it is that has saved us, once and forever.

We are righteous in God’s eyes

Jesus lived the only perfect and sinless life: He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb 4:15b) Jesus is the righteous one, not us.

Jesus was the obedient one: “obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil 2:8)

We have not and could not live a perfect life and only Jesus, who did live a perfect sinless life could die as “the lamb of God” (John 1:29); “a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet 1:19)

God imputed our sin onto Jesus: “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor 5:21) (NIV)…

…and imputed Jesus’ righteousness onto us !

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” (Rom 4:5-8 quoting Psa 32:1-2))

Again, totally by God’s Grace, we are considered righteous, not by our own works of righteousness past, present or future, but by believing in the completed works of Jesus’ perfect life and in His death as full payment for our sins, and in His resurrection; all as the Scriptures foretold, we are “justified by faith” (Rom 5:1).

Speaking of Abraham, Paul told the Romans: “And being fully persuaded that, what He (God) had promised, He was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him (Abraham) for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” (Rom 4:21-25)

Even though we can never be righteous by our own means or works, God has imputed Jesus’ righteousness to our account and placed all of our unrighteousness and sin onto Jesus.

Therefore at the moment of our salvation God sees us as being as righteous as Jesus; for “God…calleth those things which be not as though they were” (Rom 4;17)

We cannot add to this. It is a completed Act of God. Our righteousness, past, present and future, cannot add or take away from the completed work of Grace that God has given us.

We shall stand before God NOT based on even one millionth of one percent of our own righteousness, which would earn us our place in Hell, but based ONE HUNDRED PERCENT upon Jesus’ righteousness, that has been imputed to us by the Grace of God. NEVER EVER FORGET THIS !!!

We are sealed with the guarantee of this Graceful act. We are saved. It is finished.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me HATH everlasting life.” (John 6:47) (emphasis mine).

We are no longer enemies of God

“Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. We are no longer enemies of God” (Jam 2:23)

All because of what Jesus has done for us, living the only sinless life and taking instead, our sins to the cross and shedding His precious blood on our behalf, we are no longer enemies of God but have peace with Him.

“Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1)

We are no longer objects of God’s wrath

Before that point of salvation we “were by nature the children of wrath” (Eph 2:3), yet now reborn as “children of God” (Rom 8:16), we are no longer the objects of God’s wrath.

“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thes 5:9)

We are “Overcomers”

Each of Jesus’ letters to the churches in the book of Revelation contains a blessing for those who are “overcomers”, even saying in the letter to the church in Sardis “He that overcometh…I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (Rev 3:5).

Later in the book of Revelation Jesus says “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Rev 21:7)

John tells us “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:5)

We become Spiritually aware

Before we were saved we walked “in the vanity of (our) mind” (Eph 4:17) and could not understand things of God for “the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” (1 Cor 2:11b) and “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.” (1 Cor 2:14)

Let us see the difference since that singular point of Salvation, when we were sealed with the Spirit of God (Eph 1:13-14)

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” (2 Cor 2:12)

As you read God’s Word following your Salvation, you will learn from it and grow in both wisdom and truth and realise just how wonderful a thing He has done for us.

We have Tender Hearts and Renewed Minds

Part of our rebirth and regeneration is the tendering of our heart and the renewing of our mind.

God promised the nation Israel in the Old Testament, that one day in the future “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” (Eze 36:26).

Although our regeneration is not the fulfilment of that prophecy, with our increasingly tender heart, we are no longer hardened or oblivious to our sin.

With the renewing of our mind we will see sin in a different light and feel differently about it. Increasingly we will start to see the world around us in a different light too.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom 12:2)

Once we are saved, God’s Holy Spirit dwelling inside us will gradually sanctify us over the rest of our life on earth “to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom 8:29).

Our perfection however, will not be complete until we are actually with Jesus at His appearance for “we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2)

We will be Kings and Priests

We are “a royal priesthood” (1 Pet 2:9). Jesus “hath made us kings and priests unto God” Rev (1:6)

As the Church (explained below) we are a “peculiar people” of Kings and Priests that no other group of people in the Bible are called.

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Pet 2:9-10)

Jesus is called an eternal Priest “thou are art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec” (Heb 5:6).

Melchisedec was the “King of Salem, priest of the most high God…(the name “Melchisedec”) by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace” (Heb 7:1-2). Thus Jesus is not only our High Priest but is also our King.

Jesus is the “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev 19:16) and to Him we shall sing this song “for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” (Rev 5:9-10)

There are only three in the Bible that are ever called a “King” and a “Priest”. Kings were always to come through the tribe of Judah and Priests were to only ever come through the tribe of Levi.

Only three can be both a King and a Priest – Jesus, Melchisedec and we, the Church.

Realising this indescribable honour as yet another example of “the exceeding riches of his grace” (Eph 2:7) we should “shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Pet 2:9-10) for this indeed is a “high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:14)

We are Saints

Saints are not people who have lived “saintly” lives as decided upon by the Pope and subsequently posthumously canonised.

We, as those who have received the gracious gift of Salvation, are the Saints; all of us.

YES YOU – You are a Saint !!!

Paul addressed nearly all of his letters to the churches to “The Saints”. The Greek word “Hagios” means “A Holy person or people, consecrated and acceptable to God”.

Remember it is not our righteousness in which we stand justified and acceptable to God, but the righteousness of Jesus that God has imputed to us at the point of belief; that faith to believe also being given to us as part of this tremendous gift of God’s Grace – Our Salvation.

We are the Bride of Christ, the Body of Christ – We are the Church

The church is not the building that you enter on a Sunday morning, the church is the whole body of saved, born again, believing Christians since Jesus was resurrected (and particularly Pentecost) until He returns and gathers us “to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thes 4:17). (This is known as “The Rapture of the Church”).

We are the Church and “the church is subject unto Christ” (Eph 5:24) and He “loved the church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.“ (Eph 5:25-27).

The Lord “nourisheth and cherisheth” (Eph 5:29) His Church. “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.” (Eph 5:30) and “Christ is the head of the church” (Eph 5:23)

We are the Body of Christ.

For “we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another“ (Rom 12:5). “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” (1Cor 12:12).

Once a person is born again, they become a “new creation” (2 Cor 5:17), part of the church and a member of the Body of Christ “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal 3:28)

Each member of this Body of Christ, as in a human body, has a separate function and yet all are to work together “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph 4:12)

We are the Bride of Christ.

As one body, with separate duties, but for the same purpose; wives are to submit to their husbands as the Church is to submit to Jesus Christ, the husband of His bride, the Church.

Similarly, husbands are to love their wives “as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” (Eph 5:25)

We are reminded by the Apostle Paul, of the first bride and bridegroom in the Bible, Adam and Eve, in that a male and female are joined together “and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” (Eph 5:24-32)

Let us therefore as the Church, submit ourselves to the Head of the Church; as the Body, submit ourselves to the Head of the Body; and as the bride, submit ourselves to our Husband.

In each case this is our Lord Jesus Christ “for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” (2 Cor 11:2)

We enter into Jesus’ rest

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews tells us plainly “For we which have believed do enter into rest” (Heb 4:3).

But what is this rest?

“For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.” (Heb 4:10).

We rest from our own attempts at works of righteousness to get into Heaven and from trying to make up for our past failings. We know our own works of righteousness are as “filthy rags” in God’s sight (Isa 64:6).

Instead we trust in the finished work that Jesus has already completed on the cross “Once for all” (Heb 10:10) in “full payment for our sins,” saying “It is finished” (John 19:30).

As we have seen earlier in this study, it is Jesus’ righteousness that is imputed to us by the Grace of God and is not given in exchange for anything that we have done, are doing, or could do.

That is the faith that we need to have and that is the very faith that we are given.

In the Old Testament when the Hebrews were in the desert heading towards their “rest” in the Promised Land; even though they had experienced first hand, God’s awesome power in the miracles He had shown them when bringing them out of their slavery in Egypt (and we are talking national plagues, the Passover and the parting of the Red Sea, to name but a few); they did not believe that God could do all He said He could.

“For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” (Heb 4:2) and because of their unbelief God said “So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.” (Heb 3:11 quoting Psa 95:11)

However, “we which have believed do enter into rest” (Heb 4:3). We who believe in what Jesus has done for us, enter that rest from our works and purely place our entire trust in His finished works.

Thus, we have entered His rest. Praise God.

Yes – More gifts !!!

As if even one of these things would not have been far more than we could have hoped for; knowing we deserved nothing but the wrath of God; we are also given at least one gift of the Holy Spirit to use to benefit others.

“To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.” (1 Cor 12:7-11) (NASB)

AND EVEN MORE !!!

And to add to that we are given the “fruits of the Spirit” that we will start to notice more and more in our lives, as we grow as Christians.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. ” (Gal 5:22-23) (NIV)

(Both the “Gifts of the Holy Spirit” and the “Fruit of the Holy Spirit” are discussed in elsewhere on this site)

To conclude

At the moment of our salvation, Jesus tells us “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John5:24)

As if that was not enough, we are then blessed with being born again literally, as a new creation and having God’s Holy Spirit sealed within us as a guarantee of our future eternal inheritance.

As Children of God we are joint heirs with Jesus.

All our sins have been forgiven, we are righteous in God’s eyes and no longer His enemies or objects of His wrath.

We are “Overcomers” who become more spiritually aware, have more tender hearts and renewed minds.

We are to be Kings and Priests.

We are called Saints and are now collectively the Church, the Body of Christ and the Bride of Christ.

We enter into Jesus’ promised rest and are endowed with a gift or gifts of the Holy Spirit and all of the fruits of the Spirit.

WOW !!!

We have seen here the immeasurable blessings that God has bestowed upon us and can rest assured that, as our loving Father, He will continue to bless us as we stay close to Him and grow in our new and eternal Christian existence.

Think about these blessings as often as you can and thank Him for what He has done for us.

He has taken the most undeserving people since creation and blessed them more than any other in the history of the world.

These things are being given freely to us by the Grace of God.

Let us therefore think of Him daily; let us give Him thanks often; and let us trust Him completely for the promises He has bestowed upon us: “The exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:7)

Praise be to God. Thank you Lord Jesus. Welcome Holy Spirit.

Amen.