#Know God and to be known by God#
The study of salvation:
Are you saved?
How do you know?
Are you sure you are saved if you have bondages or sin?
- To be born again
Flesh or Spirit?
- Faith alone or faith + work
Grace and Merits.
- Once saved, always saved.
Two school of thoughts about salvation.
- Baptism needed for salvation.
- Repentance needed for salvation.
+To be born again: Flesh or Spirit+
John 3:1-8
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born [a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
What born again really means?
It meant that “we are born from above”.
Why do we need to be born again?
It is because we are dead in the flesh because of sin.
Eph 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.
Eph 2:5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your trepasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses.
Born of water and spirit?
Born of the flesh is flesh
Natural, earthly, old self, and under bondage of sin.
Born of the Spirit is spirit
Regeneration resulting in a change of heart, peace with God, new life, new creation and becoming children of God.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the [a]right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who 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
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba,[a] Father.”-Romans 8:14-15
Born again is only made possible by the death and resurrection of Jesus, and is the work of Holy Spirit. Born again believer cannot be unborn.
Whats the big deal?
Its about salvation, are we truly saved? When we are born again, we will be renewed.
Renewed mind: 1 Cor 2:16 For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him. But we have the mind of Christ.
Is my mind renewed and focusing on the things of God or constantly by fleshly desires?
Renewed hearts: Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new Spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Renewed behaviour: Change of desires, vision, priorities, words etc. Do I demonstrate Christ like behaviour?
+Faith alone or works?+
Bible verses that talks about salvation based on faith alone.
Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude thata man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians 3:2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?
Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Bible verses about Faith and Works:
You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.-James 2:24
James 2:20-26
You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[a]?
21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[b] and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
James is actually rebuking the people who has faith in God but do not do good works. If the person really believe and follow Jesus they will surely have good works. However, faith alone is only needed for salvation.
Paul : fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) Love, joy peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control..
Paul is saying that when we have the fullness of the Holy Spirit, we will produce the above fruits. Paul and James are saying the same thing.
What’s the big deal?
Real faith in Jesus Christ will lead to us impacting people.
#Once saved, always saved#
There are two teachings of different perspective for this topic. Thoughts by John Calvin and thoughts by Arminius.
Calvin says:
- Sin: Men is sinful and cannot be righteous.
- Pre-election: Men cannot choose on their own. God chose whoever He wants as righteous
- Forgiveness: God only forgave those He has elected.
- Those whom God has elected cannot refused.
- Salvation: Once God chosen the elected, they cannot lose their salvation no matter what.
Arminius says:
- Sin: Men is sinful and their righteousness is not up to the standard. However, they can be redeemed and transformed by God.
- Grace : By the grace of God, God has purposed that all men are righteous but we need to respond to His grace.
- Forgiveness: God’s forgiveness is freely available for those He has chosen and those who choose to respond to God’s grace.
- Since God’s grace has been given to all men, men still have to accept or reject His grace
- Salvation: God’s grace allows assurance of salvation but you can still lose your salvation if you are not faithful and reject God.
Some questions for us:
- Can a person renounce his/her faith? Yes!
- Can a born-again believer be unborn? No!
Evidence of “Christian” who might not be saved:
Ear: No conviction from God’s Word and no life changed.
Heart: No concern about God and souls of men. No fear of God and continues to sin against God.
Mind: No interest in knowing God and the word of God. Only focus in worldly mindsets.
Action: No priority to do God’s will.
Evidence of a Christian who is saved: The Holy Spirit will help us!
- Confession of faith as a sinner
- Changed life in the way we think, we manage our emotions and choices we made.
- There will be constant growth as a Christ follower.
There are times we will fall and don’t be afraid because we must assured of our salvation and that God will help us.
Application:
Lets take time to return to God, our first love for God through prayer and fasting.