The whole plan of salvation, forgiveness of sin and holiness exists because of God's great love for us. God in His rich mercy, grace and love He has made full provision for the sinner to actually become holy. God makes salvation and holiness possible through Christ as a FREE GIFT. God and Christ have gone through a great deal of effort to make this GIFT possible. The atonement of Christ did cost Christ a great deal. God's will is that everyone should come to Christ to receive this gift of eternal life. He now stands with open arms ready to embrace you and set you free from all your sin and sin nature. He is watching and waiting for you to just believe Him and take Him at His word.
Eph. 2:1-10 "AND YOU [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God].Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God's] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind. But God--so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved, delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation). And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One). He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus. For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved, delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.] For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. (Amplified Bible)
You need to realize that you are a rebel and criminal against God. You need to see your desperate sinfulness and misery of your own corrupted sinful condition. You are dead to God and live in trespasses and sin. You walk after the lusts of your flesh seeking to please every desire. Your heart is desperately wicked.
Mark 7:21-23 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
Romans 8:7 "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God."
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord".
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God"
Isa. 53:6 "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
Jer. 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
Romans 3:10-19 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."
Sometimes a person can get trapped in looking only at his sins. If all of your focus on is your sins, you will totally miss God's solution.
When the Israelites sinned against God the Lord sent fiery serpents among them. Many were bitten and died (see Numbers 21:5-9). Then they asked Moses to pray to God for them. They knew that they had sinned. The Lord told Moses to make a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole. The Lord said that everyone that is bitten, when he looks upon it, shall live.
Now if one of these Israelites was just bitten by one of these snakes but only looked at his sinful and dying condition, he would die in his sin. The solution is NOT in looking at your sinful condition. God made full provision for these disobedient and rebellious Israelites just as he has already made a complete and full solution for all of mankind.
John 3:14-18 "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
The solution to your corrupted sinful condition is ONLY in Christ. You must see your sin and then see God's free provision to set you free from this sinful condition.
No works of the law or the flesh shall improve your corrupted sinful condition. This includes all religious duties ceremonies and rituals.
Eph. 2:8-9 "For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved ([3] delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]" (Amplified Bible)
Romans 3:24 "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
Gal. 2:16 'Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
Gal. 2:21 "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. "
Gal. 3:11 "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith."
Romans 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin "
Gal. 3:21-22 "Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe."
The law cannot save anyone. It was never designed to make any person holy or to give LIFE. Christ's birth, ministry, death, atonement, and resurrection would have been totally unnecessary if we could be holy by the law. No person has ever been made righteous or holy by the law.
God really LOVES you NOW even while you are living in your corrupted sinful state. He offers complete freedom from your old sinful nature through the GIFT of HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST.
Romans 5:6,8-10 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."
John 3:16 " For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 8:32 "He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"
2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
Hebrews 7:25 "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them."
Eph. 2:4-9 "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Luke 19:10 "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Romans 8:2-4 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and of death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, having sent his own Son, in likeness of flesh of sin, and for sin, has condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law should be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to flesh but according to Spirit."
GOD REALLY LOVES YOU!! He has provided the ONLY solution in Jesus Christ the Lord for your sinful nature. Christ is God's gift to you NOW, in your PRESENT condition. The provision has already been made for you. If you are a sinner, a criminal, very rebellious, and lost, living totally in your corrupted sinful condition then you are totally qualified to receive Christ's gift of salvation and holiness for you. These are the ONLY qualifications possible. Nothing that you can do in your own strength and effort will ever make you any better. The ONLY way to get out of your corrupted sinful condition is to receive Christ and His holiness. It is while you are still a rebel and criminal that God truly loves you enough to offer you freedom from your sinful condition.
You must have confidence and assurance that God will preform His word to you. You must to expect to actually receive Christ and His divine nature by faith.
Heb. 10:23 "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)"
Heb. 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
Romans 14:23b "for whatsoever is not of faith is sin."
Matt. 1:21 "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."
John 3:36 "He that believes on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him."
John 3:18 "He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
Truly expect to be saved from your sin. If you do not believe, you are condemned already
Give yourself as a living sacrifice as you are now and place your self in God's loving arms. Many find it easy to give God the bad things about them, but you also must give up all things that you consider are good also. Remember that in your flesh dwells NO GOOD THING. You must be willing to place your entire self on His altar. When you have placed your self on His altar you must consider your act of consecration as complete. On this you can rely with certainty. The next thing you must do is to actually act and rest on some of the revealed words of God. In other words, believe what God says of a person thus consecrated, the altar sanctifies the gift. Believe what God says because He says it. Leave it all there, wholly, at once, and forever. What God says is truer than your feelings. Believe Him and have feeling. Confess your faith in him. Confess your part of the work done. Rest there knowing that you have turned all over to God forever. Now you must reckon yourself dead unto sin and alive unto God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. You have complied with the terms laid down so far, but it is not by works, but by faith. There is still the great thing for you to do, that is believe. Believe that God is, at least, as faithful as you are, and is doing his part, though you do not see him, or feel him -- believe he is NOW sanctifying you. You can believe (know) you are consecrated, and you can believe what God says a believing, consecrated soul receives. God can not bear false witness. He honors such faith and does the work."
Do you want to be able to turn from sin to holiness? Do you want perfect love to God and man, and a perfect rest in your soul all the time? Do you crave to be actually cleansed and set free from the domain of sin? It is impossible to be made holy without faith to secure the blessing. Do not forget that the grace of God turns the command to be holy into a promise of God that secures holiness. Here is a promise to help you realize God's grace. This promise will become the foundation for your faith to actually secure the promise. The Word of God says that 'every devoted thing is most holy unto the Lord and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.' Still again. 'The altar sanctifies the gift'. The altar is greater than the gift; and whatsoever is laid upon the altar (in faith) becomes sanctified and holy. It is the altar that does the work. The question arises: Who and what is the altar? We are told that it is Jesus the Savior. Upon Him I lay myself (in faith). The altar sanctifies the gift. The blood cleanses from all sin and your whole corrupted sinful nature. Can you believe that? Will you believe it? The instant we add a perfect faith to a perfect consecration the work is done, and the blessing descends. As Paul says: 'We which have believed do enter into rest'.
Have you lain everything upon the Christ your altar? If not do it NOW. What does the altar do? Glory be to God, it sanctifies the gift and makes it holy. When does it make what is placed on it holy? The SECOND it touches it!! Thus we become instantly holy if we are on the altar Christ and we are perfectly consecrated. Will you believe that? Will you take God at his word? You must believe that Christ makes you holy right NOW. Will you take that step and receive full salvation? If you can and will believe that the blood of Jesus Christ sanctifies you NOW, the work of sanctification will be done, and the glory of God will come upon you. Plant yourself firmly on God's word; he says that the altar sanctifies you and that the blood cleanses and makes you holy. Now believe that word; and receive it in your heart; say, 'I am sanctified by the blood, because Christ says so,' and hold on with unmoved confidence till the witness comes. God says, ' Believe and ye shall know'. Your faith must not rest or relay upon any of your own mental abilities, but upon the simple statement of God that because I placed myself on the altar, I am now sanctified. Do not put any trust in your own words or even your own faith. Your only hope and confidence must be on God's ability to save and sanctify you. You can never have any confidence in your ability or faith to bring your self to God.
When all was brought to the altar, Christ, in faith "the altar sanctified the gift," the sanctifying power came, and the life was henceforth "holy" and "acceptable to God."
This is the way it works, by FAITH lay yourself as you are NOW on the altar. BY FAITH lay your love for sin on the altar. By FAITH lay your whole carnal nature and wicked heart on the altar.
When does what you lay on the alter become Holy? The SECOND IT TOUCHES IT!!!! It is that easy!!!
This is repentance by faith. Remember the solution to SIN is only found in the person of CHRIST, not yourself. You can not save yourself!! Take God at HIS word (you may not have any feeling) but just do it believing GOD will make you HOLY as HE says HE WILL!!
DO NOT DELAY!! TODAY is the day of salvation. Ask in faith and then believe the work is done!! Do not depend on any feeling or evidence that it is done but rest in God's word alone. The work is done the second you ask!!!
Mark 11:24 "Therefore I say unto you, What things that you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them."
You must BELIEVE and ACT your faith BEFORE you have any feeling or evidence of salvation. You must stand on God's word no matter what. You must act like the work was done the second you asked!!! This is the difference between sinner and saint, between heaven and hell. Many wait around for some evidence of salvation. This is wrong, you must act your faith RIGHT NOW before you have any evidence whatsoever.
Abraham believed God's word and then acted as if the word was true without seeing any outward evidence. By this act of faith, it was accounted to him for righteousness. The act of faith must take place BEFORE seeing any results of God's promise of salivation. Without this acting of faith salvation will not take place.
Gal. 3:6-7 "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham."
Jam. 2:14,17-21 "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God."
Heb. 11:8 "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went."
Heb. 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Many believe in the facts of the gospel but they never actually receive any saving benefits at all. They remain in their corrupted sinful condition. One reason for this is many consider their head knowledge saving faith. Many base their salvation on a feeling, emotion or experience they once had. When the bible says to believe, it means that you have to believe it so much that you act as if it was true even in the face of opposing circumstances and inward feelings.
Do not expect that God will save you at some future time. Many people when they see God's promise accept the truth of it but think that God will fulfill it some time in the future. THIS IS A FATAL ERROR!! For faith to exist, you must exercise it NOW. For example, you see your need for God's love and His promise to give you His love in your heart,. Deut. 30:6 "And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live." Then you ask Him to do it. Do NOT expect that he will do it at some future time or you will totally miss the blessing. You must believe that God has given you His love the SECOND you asked. Then by faith you must act like you have His love now. You must continue to act it by faith even in the face of all opposition. You must believe and act like you have it BEFORE you have any evidence of it.
You MUST BELIEVE NOW!! Will you say in faith, 'Yes, Lord, I do receive Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit for salvation and my sanctification now.' Do not turn away from this blessing and make yourself a legalist and say: 'I will be sanctified by works, some future time, when I have made myself better.' God would have you say, 'I am sanctified by my sanctifying Savior and Holy Spirit, now, as I am.'
Take the word of God that the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses me from all sin and apply it to your own heart. Confess to yourself, to Satan, and to God, that it is true to you, even you, because the Lord hath spoken it. Refuse to listen to the lying voice of Satan that it is not so. Let no inward feeling or outward sign distract or keep you from your choice to count God's Word true to yourself. And according to such a faith it shall be done unto you. Have you given all to Christ? Are you now longing to be fully saved? Are you persuaded that Jesus saves you now?
Say 'I will believe,' 'I will believe, I can, I will, I do believe, that Jesus saves me now.' Do it with persistent determination of faith. Thank God for the blessing as a thing already received. Learn this simple lesson of believing, of simply taking God at his word without evidence! Believing is your part, and saving is God's part.
Will you now look up to Jesus, take hold of Jesus, and hold fast to Jesus, as your sanctifying Savior right now? If so, you need not go without the blessing one more hour. Then go on your way reckoning that God has kept his word. Thank God for the blessing, and confess it the first occasion that offers; and you will find God true to his promise.
Remember, the will of God is your salvation and sanctification, for He has called you unto sanctification.
John 6:40 "And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believes on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."
Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Matt. 11:28-30 "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
You must believe that the blood of Christ does right now cleanse you from all sin. You may be without any feeling but remember that you are not saved by feeling, but by faith. You must live, clinging to God's word about the matter. Say 'the blood of Christ does sanctify me'. Even when you are dead to any feeling say I know that Jesus sanctifies my soul, because He said so. If someone asks you how you are doing say 'I have no feeling, but have perfect faith that the blood cleanses me NOW.' You may have to walk this way for several days by faith alone. You must continue to walk this way no matter what circumstances, doubts, fears, trials, temptation or worries you may have to face. The blessing will come.
When you receive Christ you also get His power, ability, desires, inclinations in the heart to walk in all holiness.
John 1:12 "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."
Isaiah 40:29 "He gives power and grace to the week; and to him who has no might he gives and increases strength and grace."
Psalms 68:35 "O God, You are truly awesome and Holy in Your temple: You are my God and You give me grace, strength and power. You make me strong. Blessed be God.
Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit within you, to meet and totally defeat every evil and fleshly tendency and anything ungodly in your life.
Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit within you. It is FREELY given to you that you may completely satisfy and fulfill every righteous requirement and demand of the law.
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