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We have so far learnt that those who believe will be given
eternal life because Jesus died on the cross, was buried and was
resurrected and by that overcame the power of evil completely.
We have also learnt that escape from God's judgment leading
destruction is possible through our names being written in the 'book
of life.'
Now, has this gospel become relevant to you?
For those of you who have heard the gospel of salvation and
now desire to be saved, the next step to take is to repent of your
sins, to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and this should be followed
by baptism with water and Spirit. What does repentance mean?
Repentance means confessing the sins you have ever committed
before God and changing your attitude, acknowledging you have
ignored God and that you have rebelled against Him, by turning 180 degrees
and changing the direction of your life.
In repenting, therefore, you disown your past sinful self and are
making a decision to walk in the way that pleases God with a fresh
attitude.
True repentance will naturally be accompanied by appropriate actions.
'Believing in Jesus' is to accept Him as your Saviour and as a
living Son of God who died for your sins and as Jesus Himself
declared,
I am the way, the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
It is also to believe that Jesus is the only way to salvation and to
completely surrender yourself into His hands.
Ac.3:19, Ep.5:8-10
Lk.3:8, Ac.26:20, Mt.3:8
Mt.16:16, 1Co.15:3
Jn.14:6
Heb.7:25
@@You may possibly have received Jesus as your Saviour in your
heart while reading this writings. As the Bible says,
If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord" and
believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
It is important that you confess with your mouth. The author of the Epistle
to the Hebrews pleads with today's readers,@
Today,
if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.
NOW is the time of decision!
The last step involves receiving immersion in water in the name of Jesus
(baptism in water) and immersion from heaven (baptism with
Holy Spirit). Through them, you will stand at the start line as a
Christian!
Baptism with Holy Spirit seems to take place soon after baptism
with water as in Jesus case; Holy Spirit descended on Him as He
was praying. However it can happen after a lapse of time or before
water baptism. In either case, the Bible says that it will be am
observable experience as water baptism, that can be noticed by both yourself
and the observers.
Both baptisms will build the foundations of your personal
relationship with Jesus and of eternal salvation....and the walk of faith
starts right there.
We will now turn to the concept of salvation as spoken in the
Bible.
Ro.10:9
Ro.10:13
Heb.3:7-8,:15,4:7
Mk.16:16, Ac.2:38
Lk.3:21-22
Ac.8:15-17
Ac.10:46
Ac.9:2-6, Ga.3:2-4
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