When we’re saved unto eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior it happens in an instant. It’s the greatest moment anyone can ever experience in their life. The Holy Spirit comes to indwell us, in our mind, as our friend and constant companion. Upon salvation the Holy Spirit gives us a new eternal spirit to replace our sin-stained spirit, hence we are reborn. At conception God gives us a part of himself, which is our original eternal spirit. At that point we become immortal beings. When the Holy Spirit swaps out the believer’s original spirit with a new replacement spirit it’s an actual “rebirth.” God is “birthing” us all over again. Don’t be confused when the Bible says we’re “reborn” because that is exactly what happens to us spiritually. The Holy Spirit is Jesus. The Holy Spirit is God.
Philippians 1:6 – Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
At the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit also changes the destination of our new spirit from eternal death in hell to eternal life in heaven. Just imagine your spirit is a train headed down the railroad tracks that eventually lead to the lake of fire. We’ve all seen the movies involving trains where the train gets to the end of the line, where the tracks end, and then plunges off the tracks into an abyss of some kind. Spiritually speaking, we’re all conceived and born in sin and our unsaved souls are like that train on the tracks headed straight to hell. We can’t stop the train once it leaves the station (at our conception). We can’t get off the train. We can’t prevent the train wreck that’s coming. The spirit of each nonbeliever is on their own individual train headed for the abyss we call the lake of fire. Our only hope is to change the train’s destination before it gets there. In the movies all the railroad switchman has to do is move a lever near the tracks to shift the tracks over a little bit so the train can be diverted down a different set of railroad tracks going to a different destination.
Proverbs 14:25 – A true witness delivers souls, but a deceitful speaks lies.
Keep this mental image I’ve created in your mind. Think of the Holy Spirit as your spiritual railroad switchman. The Holy Spirit of God is the only person who can move the rail switch which will divert the destination of your soul train from hell to heaven. When we’re saved, instead of going straight to hell when we die we now go directly to heaven to be in the presence of Jesus Christ himself. By his mercy and grace God himself saves the unborn and children up to the age of decision where they are able to choose between God and Satan (around age twelve). God’s love, mercy and grace unto eternal life is God’s greatest gift to man and we should honor, praise and glorify God for what he has done for us.
Matthew 22:14 – (Jesus speaking) – For many are called, but few are chosen.
The Holy Spirit writes our names in the book of life which means our salvation is secure. Salvation unto eternal life is irrevocable. Heaven is secure for all believers, who were called by God before the foundation of the world. If you’re going to heaven it’s because you were meant to be there and you belong there. God doesn’t make mistakes. Salvation is the easy part. The hard part of being a Christian is living the rest of your life in obedience to the commands of God, which is your reasonable service.
Jeremiah 31:16 – Thus says the Lord: Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord.
Television preachers love to tell you all the “good stuff” God has in store for you but they neglect to tell you must also work for the kingdom of God if you want to please God. Working for God is the hardest thing you’ll ever do. As believers we are the “church” of God, not some building or a particular denomination. Jesus Christ is the head of our church and our high priest in heaven who is seated at the right hand of God making intercession for the saints. Believers are disciples of Christ and we are to obey all the commands of God, as spelled out in the Bible, to the best of our ability. As disciples of Christ we accept the new responsibilities and tasks we’re to perform for the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15 – Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
We’re to glorify God and I went over the nine ways to do that in my previous blogs. It goes without saying that our first duty is to love God. That is God’s greatest commandment. If we read the Bible daily and pray daily it’s virtually impossible not to love God. Abide in God’s Word and our love for God will always be stoked. Jesus gave his disciples and all believers the Great Commission before he ascended back to heaven. We are to witness the gospel of Christ to the whole world. That is the believer’s number one responsibility.
Hebrews 6:10 – For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Nothing is more important than saving lost souls for the kingdom of God. The Lord’s harvest field is full of lost souls and there are few believers who work it, who witness in it. Only 10% of church-going Christians have read the entire Bible and fewer still have taken the time to actually study God’s Word. You can’t effectively witness for Christ if you don’t know how and you won’t know how until you study the Bible. It’s only common sense. You can’t do anything until you know what to do and how to do it. Catholics don’t witness at all.
2 Timothy 2:21 – Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter (dishonor), he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
Along with witnessing, Christians are also to instruct, edify and discipline fellow believers. Christians can’t do that unless they know what they’re talking about which brings us back to studying God’s Word. My passion is God’s Word. I read my Bible or Scriptures every day. I’ve assembled a reference library for my study of all things related to God. If you want to know God you must go to God. Don’t expect God to come to you. You must make the effort to know God first. I have an unquenchable thirst for God. Those who have it know what I mean. The Bible says those who seek God will have this thirst for God so I know I’m on the right track. God also says in the Bible if you seek him you will find him. I give you my personal testimony that this is true. Only our God says in Scripture, “come let us reason together.” Your duty as a believer is to know God. Search for the truth of God yourselves and then go where God leads you. Good luck on the race God has chosen for your life.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The second greatest commandment of God is to love one another. As Christians we are to fellowship with each other because we are members of the same family. We are brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. We are to love each other, support each other and strengthen each other. Another primary responsibility of Christians is to do good works. We are to care for our own fellow believers first but we are also called upon to help others in time of need. The Bible mentions caring for widows and children especially. God is good and as Christians we are to promote all that is good in the world and set an example so that nonbelievers will see the light of God in our actions and be drawn to the truth of God.
Ephesians 2:10 – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
God will give us opportunities to witness for Christ to those whom he draws to the light of God in us. We do good works out of compassion for our fellowman but we must never lose sight of our main objective, which is to reap souls for the kingdom of God every chance we get. Christians must make their good works testify to Jesus Christ. All who receive our help because of our love, compassion and faith in God must know we come on behalf of our God and our Lord Jesus Christ in the hope that some will be drawn to the truth of our God. God will draw them if their heart is receptive. We just have to be ready to witness to them if they should ask the reason for our faith. All that we have belongs to God so when we do good works we’re only giving to others what God has given to us for this purpose. When we spend God’s money wisely we build up treasure in heaven for ourselves which we will receive on the last Day.
Psalm 42:2 – My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
Psalm 63:1 – O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirst land where there is no water.
Psalm 143:6 – I spread out my hands to You; my souls longs for You like a thirsty land.
Psalm 42:1 – As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O Lord.
Matthew 7:7 – (Jesus speaking) – Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Matthew 22:37 – (Jesus speaking) – You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
Isaiah 1:18 – Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.