Do You Know if You Are Saved?

 Romans 8:4 - For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?

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Where is your hope? Do you have hope? Hope cannot be in the things around us. Hope can only be found by looking to the One who gives us that hope...Jesus Christ.

Do you know if you are saved?? Some don’t know what it is. Some believe there are many ways to be saved, that all religions somehow, in their own ways, can save us. What does it mean? What happens? How does it happen?

Often it happens when we come to our wits end, the end of the rope, the end of ourselves, the bottom of the barrel, we hit a wall. And yet for others it can just happen without a specific incident. The heart just knows.

All of this is nothing new to this blog! 

God saves everyone uniquely in His way to suit any particular person. It’s personal. I think that’s why a prayer prayed with head bowed corporately does nothing. It’s about the heart that is ready to change. It’s unexplainable how it happens. It just does...and one will know when it does.

I can repeat a prayer all I want but it doesn’t mean a thing without an immediate heart change toward God.

God loves us all but He will not allow all to receive eternal life without first receiving His Son. And receiving is the key word. Our works or our perceived goodness cannot give us eternal life. That would mean Jesus’ death on the cross was meaningless. Why, then, did He have to suffer the anguish and humiliation if we could get to heaven on our own merit? The Bible tells us it is a free gift from God. We don’t deserve it either. He offers it...and we must make a conscious effort to receive it.

There are so many lost “Christians” who will be sadly disappointed some day when they realize they heard the truth (or even those who were fed lies from their church) and did nothing (could do nothing) about it. Maybe they figured they had plenty of time left or just thought the truth was THE lie that true believers believed.

There is not one true church. Jesus wasn’t about denominations. They are all man made, according to certain men’s ideas, sometimes for power over people. But there is THE Church of Jesus Christ. It is made up of people of all tribes, tongues and nations who believe that only Jesus Christ can save. No other man or woman. He is a jealous God, so He will not allow our devotion to anyone else. No one.

After writing this this popped up on Facebook (love when this happens): The Church, the house of God, is simply Christ Himself in undivided oneness found in all those in whom He really dwells. (T.A. Sparks) Really dwells...by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

It’s Jesus Christ alone. Government won’t save, idols won’t save, no man or man made thing will save. When we come to that realization some day that we can’t do this “thing” whatever it is on our own or we can’t fix it, we’ve come to the end of ourselves. That’s a very good time to seek the One who saves. He will save us from ourselves, our enemies, our death and the coming earthly judgment. Only Jesus saves.

Our hope, trust and faith must be in that which we cannot see. While we cannot see Jesus, He is alive spiritually. And He will save until God the Father says, “Enough, it’s time to return to earth and wage war on the enemy.” No one knows the day or hour but earth looks pretty far from the Garden of Eden these days. Best to be prepared.

2Corinthians 4:18- ...while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Isaiah‬ ‭45:22 - Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.

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Whoever Shall

Acts 2:21 - And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.

This truth about calling on the name of the Lord can either be easy or difficult to understand. First it is the power of God! But it also is an act of our will. It’s an easy thing to do but often our will gets in the way. Oh, that pride that so strongly dwells within each of us. 

To be truly saved and called children of God, we must do exactly as the Bible suggests...

Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38) Repenting of sin can only be done by calling on the name of the Lord...only on the name of the Lord. Jesus Himself said that He is the only way, truth and life. No one else saves. We cannot save ourselves by good works or by knowing someone who is saved or going to church. I’m sure by now this sounds quite repetitive (and will continue to be) but there’s only one truth and one way by which we can receive forgiveness of sin and life everlasting. How many ways can it be explained? Only one way...the same way!

Let’s go one verse further, Acts 2:39, For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call. This is telling us the promise of the remission of sin is for all people. This is not saying that because of one being saved, it passes on to others. Each must call on the name of the Lord. In some way, shape or form, He is extending the invitation to repent. It is up to us to respond. And a bonus when we do is the gift of the Holy Spirit who will teach us the truth. Jesus is the way to life and is the truth. He will open our understanding to the writings in the Bible.

You will note baptism comes after repentance. As a commentary I read explains: for several reasons be baptized should not be joined with for the remission of sins to teach baptismal regeneration. First, the context of this passage demonstrates that the repentance is only connected with the removal of sin at salvation: “whosoever shall call… shall be saved.” A baby can’t repent; it has no understanding of sin; so baptism for the remission of sin does not work and yet that is the way of most churches, including the one I was part of as a child. How could it be that so many churches are, sadly, mistaken? Two articles on baptism:

https://www.gotquestions.blog/biblical-baptism.html

https://www.gotquestions.org/children-baptism-communion.html

We must be able to understand we have a sinful nature and need for a Savior.  

Acts 4:12 - Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Casting Those Crowns

Revelation 4:10-11 - ...the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”

There is a notion that God needs what we think we can give Him. We strive to do what is morally right, never lie or steal, pour out love on others. None of these are wrong to do! But if we do them thinking we have a foothold into heaven, we are mistaken. If we believe this then we take the power of the Cross away. There was no point in Jesus’ death. 

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5) 

Apart from Him...we can do nothing. 

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

These scriptures imply that something first must take place between God and us. That something is called coming to Christ, receiving Christ, being, as Jesus states, born again...by water and Spirit. Then when we have this behind us, we have Christ and His Spirit in us and we have been given eternal life. Nothing we can do on our own. Nothing. Only what Christ has done for us. His death for our life. Not our works for our life. 

Here are a few sentences from a Bible study I am doing called Behold Your God: If God is big, we are small, and sin is heinous, then salvation is not all about us; it is about Him. He must accomplish it. He will do it for His name’s sake. Salvation is a rescue of the completely helpless and undeserving from a life of sin, as well as from its penalty. Because of God’s kind treatment of His enemies [us before salvation], He is given ever lasting praise.

 And then these words from a worship song called In Christ Alone:

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe!

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save.

Till on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied;

For ev’ry sin on Him was laid—

Here in the death of Christ I live.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—

This is the pow’r of Christ in me;

•••

No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand;

Till He returns or calls me home—

Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand.

It is His power to save which empowers us to do His will, not out of obligation or hope that it will gain us access to heaven. If we hear Him asking us to “Come” and we respond, His Holy Spirit will come into us; thus the words: “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” (Ezekiel 36:27)

Not my achievements but what God has done in me. I will gladly cast any crowns to His feet. He spared His life for mine. All glory is His. Nothing can I do but praise and obey Him. 

Revelation 5:11-12 - Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

Just Like in Noah's Day

Genesis 7:1 - Then the LORD said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation." 

We are familiar with the story of Noah and the ark. We have known it since childhood. But how many believe it? Was it just a story? I believe it because the Bible "told me so." I also believe that history repeats itself...nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). 

If you remember the Noah story, you know that the reason for the ark was to save the lives of Noah, his family and anyone else who wished to be saved from a flood that was to occur. Of course, no flood had ever happened before, so Noah pretty much had to have faith in God alone and in that which was not seen. (Hebrews 11) So we are to believe also.

The world had turned corrupt (Genesis 6:11) Man had turned wicked and every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil. God was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart (Genesis 6:5-6). So He decided to destroy all living things, except those that would enter into the ark He asked Noah to build. He chose Noah because of his righteousness, his trust and devotion to God.

If history repeats itself, could it be this might happen again? I so totally believe this because I've read the Bible and I know how the end of the story will take place! God may not ask another earthly man to build yet another, greater ark, but I know a Man who became the ark. His name is Jesus.

After the flood, life began again...and again it became corrupt and evil, as evidenced throughout His Word. This time God sent His only Son to be born to become that ark in which all mankind would be allowed to enter into, into a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ. Enter into Christ and be saved. Repent, admit your sin and weaknesses and enter into a life of righteousness, like Noah, and no longer have fear of what the evil in this world dishes out. 

Trust in the one true God. Commit your ways to Him. Share the Gospel and do it without being ashamed. Let your light shine in the world. Listen for the prompting of His Holy Spirit. This is all available for anyone who is willing to submit to the Lord. Our religion can't save us. Our goodness can't save us. But Jesus can. He is the Way, Truth and Life (the Door...to the ark). No one goes to the Father but by Him (John 14:6).

I know this hard for some to believe. But read Genesis 6 and 7 for yourself. It's an easy read! See what happened to the people who did not choose to enter into the ark. Jesus saves! Enter in. If you've balked all your life, it's not too late. He will not reject a heart willing to seek Him now. Just as Noah walked with God, so can we all...through Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah! Do you trust God and believe with all your heart? This is for you:

Romans‬ ‭10:8-11‬ ‭- But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

Something A Little Different

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." (John 3:3,5-7,18-21) 

The scriptures may be different. 

The approach may be different. 

The message is always the same because Jesus never changes, 

nor do His words, 

nor what He has done, 

nor what He says we must do to receive everlasting life.

I'm attaching this old video. It speaks for itself. I hope you take the 3:53 minutes to watch. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=umn3iCn90IY

Acts 16:30-31 - And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Made Well

Genesis 1:1-2 - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

It's a new year and the time to make all those resolutions. Instead of all the self improvements of proper eating and exercise, which are good to do, why not exercise self improvement on a different level by opening up a Bible and improving one's knowledge of the Word. There is truth in this Word, as well as encouragement and many other wonderful things. 

As I read just these first two scriptures I saw something applicable to us all. Before we know God, before we are filled with His Spirit, we are in darkness. We are without spiritual form and devoid of spiritual truth. But somehow, somewhere or through someone, God's Spirit hovers over us all. He would not have said that He sent His Son to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29) and that His desire is that none should perish (2Peter 3:9).

This does not mean that all will be saved. It takes a commitment on our part, a responding to the stirring of the Holy Spirit when we recognize it. Then God will fill us with His Spirit and remove the void between God and man that came as a result of Adam and Eve's sin in the garden. The darkness of souls and minds will be replaced by the truth of His Word. Those who respond will be able to say they have seen the light (Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 4:16). 

There is an account in John about a lame man who sat for 38 years by a healing pool. He claims that he never got into the water fast enough to be healed by the angel of the Lord who stirred the waters. Jesus met this man there and asked if he wanted to be healed. The man said, yes, but... Could it be all these years he truly didn't want to be healed...and then he met Jesus? I know this happened to me on occasion until God's Spirit stirred my heart. I "stepped into the stirred waters" and life has not been the same since. Is there a stirring within you? Is there a desire to be healed of all your sins? If you say you have no sin, you have sinned! 

We are all sinners without spiritual form and devoid of the truth until God's stirring awakens us, we step into His waters and are healed. God created the earth; He creates us that we might have fellowship with Him. Let Him make you well. 

John 5:4 - For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. 

Sorrow Turns to Joy

John 16:17-22

Then some of His disciples said among themselves, "What is this that He says to us, "a little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me"; and, "because I go to the Father?" They said therefore, "What is this that He says, 'A little while'? We do not know what He is saying."

Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, "Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.' Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

"A woman when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore, you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you."


There are no doubt some who wonder the same thing as the disciples: What is this He says? Maybe, rather, it is, What is this she says? What is this thing that's so important about Jesus? What about sin, forgiveness, righteousness, power of the Holy Spirit, knowing, receiving, accepting Christ? Or even sorrow turning into joy? And joy that cannot be taken away?

It's all about Jesus. He is the only way to God the Father. He is the Door, the light to our path, the straight and narrow Way, the Alpha and Omega, First and Last, Beginning and End, our Good Shepherd, our righteousness, our Savior and Lord. His name is above all names. He is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. He was and is and always will be. He is love and His love is eternal. He is accessible to all when and only when we call on His name for the forgiveness of our sins and enter into relationship with Him.

Jesus was going to leave His disciples. They still did not know where He was going exactly. To His Father. A concept difficult to understand. They would be filled with sorrow but that would eventually turn into joy when He returned. And what's this about about a woman in labor? Okayyy.

Adam and Eve were in relationship with God. Relationship. We know what that means. Let it sink in: kinship, the state of being related, a feeling of being close or connected. We marry, we are in relationship. It is intimate. God desires that for all of us. Can't imagine it? Try a little harder. It IS possible.

He desires that He be our husband...and that goes for men too, in a spiritual sense. You love Him, you want to spend time with Him, you want to talk with Him and listen to Him. And since the Bible says the husband is to be the head of the house, we all are to be submissive to Him. But this submission is not like one might think. It's not oppressive submission. Only good comes out of this because He knows best. Oh, how can anyone explain this to someone who doesn't know Jesus??

Jesus was about to leave His disciples, and the world. Spoiler alert: we know He came back. Oh, the joy. The joy for His followers and for all down the road who would hear of this Man, take heed, join the ranks of other true believers, through receiving Christ. ...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (‭Romans 10:9, 2Corinthians 5:17) He becomes the joy that will not be taken away. The gift of His forgiveness, righteousness in Him, and eternal life...for those who are obedient to His command to be born again.

He comes into our lives and we take Him in. While we still have trouble in this world, it is He who has victory over it...in the end. There will be an end someday and those who do not have this relationship will be forever lost and permanently out of favor with God. They will not be with Him in paradise, like many believe. That is only given to those who commit their lives to Jesus. He waits for all to come to Him, receive Him by faith, assurance that He is who He says He is...and taking that assurance seriously. If you do this, in a little while you will receive the joy everlasting.

Lord, only You can properly work in a person's life toward their belief. My words are inadequate. It is by Your Spirit we are drawn. I pray that Your Spirit would be recognized by those who don't fully understand. You drew me, you can draw others. Time is short. But then you know that.

John 1:12 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God.

RISE UP

John 5:1-9

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. 

Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to Him, "Do you want to be made well?" The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me."

Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. 

I love this story. I look at it as how the world might view the issue of salvation. The world is one vast multitude of spiritually sick people. We are sick in our sinful, fleshly natures. We are born this way. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But there is a Man who can change all that.

At some time in their lives, many have been met by this Man. He knows all about us. He asks us in some way if we want to be made well. When that water, that knowledge, is stirred, some make it into that pool and are healed. Others, however, maybe don't go into the pool because they just aren't sure now is the time. They aren't sure if they want to be healed. They might know what they should do, but...it means change. It means letting go of, losing, the old life for a new and better one.

But our God is patient and won't hesitate to confront again, and again, and again. This man was afflicted 38 years. Yet Jesus came to Him. He will meet us and ask us repeatedly in some way if we want to be healed (saved). This salvation is for whoever steps into the pool. Maybe all our excuses have run out or this time we understand the call, or maybe we just need one more word of urging. Then Jesus will tell us to rise from our wrong spiritual condition and walk...follow Him.

There is only one way to be healed, to have our spirits stirred, to rise out of our sinful spiritual condition. His name is Jesus Christ. If you hear Him, respond. Rise and walk with Him.

Matthew 16:24-26 - ... If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Away With Death and the Grave

Hosea 13:14 - "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction. Pity is hidden from My eyes."

This blog was actually created awhile back. I never tweaked it to publish! It's now been tweaked.

I was dwelling on the story of Abraham and Sarah in my mind. I was going over the so interesting story of how through Abraham's son he would become the father of many nations, as would Sarah become the mother of many nations.

Even through Abraham and Sarah's disobedience, two nations were born...two great nations, with so many descendants. God provided, God promised and it came to be. Sarah's maid servant Hagar bore Ishmael with Abraham and Sarah and Abraham bore Isaac. A tale of two sons, two nations.

I got to thinking about Hagar. She was Egyptian. So Ishmael was part Egyptian. Then I thought about how Ishmael was disgruntled to say the least, jealous for sure, that he would not receive the inheritance as the first born. That privilege went to Isaac as Abraham and Sarah's son, the rightful inheritor...in God's eyes. He told Abraham and Sarah the inheritance would be through their son...not Sarah's maidservant's.

My thoughts bounced to the plagues in Egypt and how there will be plagues that will take place in the last days, imitating those of the Old Testament. 

Just like Hagar was maidservant to a Jewish household, so the Jewish people, Israel, we're enslaved in Egypt. The plagues took place to open the eyes of Egypt to an all powerful God.  But He kept hardening Pharaoh's heart until Pharaoh finally couldn't stand all the harassment and told Moses to let his people and go...get out of here and worship your God. Leave us be.

There are three things all tied together. Maybe I'm off my rocker but this is what is see:

Ishmael was in the line of descendants of the Middle Eastern people. He was the descendant of Mohammed, today's Muslims. The animosity he had toward Isaac has been passed down through the subsequent generations. There has been a recent rise in the tensions between Islam and Christianity.

At church one night we were discussing Chapter 16 in Revelation talking about the plagues that will come upon us in the last days before Christ returns. It is believed that the anti-Christ will be born out of the Middle East. There will still be animosity against Christians which will only get worse.

As an aside, being in Christ before these days will be helpful. It will help people to understand better what is in store because of the wisdom and power the Holy Spirit has in the lives of Christ followers. We will understand that our lives are secure in Christ for those last days, no matter what happens.

The plagues...Egypt. If Ishmael, a descendant of Mohammed, had jealousy and hatred for Isaac--the rightful heir AND descendant of Christ--what we are going to see in the last days is a repeat of what happened back in Exodus.

We were shown that night in Revelation that when these plagues, which will be different and by far more horrendous (if there's a word worse than horrendous, use it) occur, they will be done to again reveal God's awesome power and might. His judgment will be upon those left on earth at this time. But, like Pharaoh, these people's hearts will be hardened also against God/Jesus, despite all these plagues. They will only curse Him; His name will be blasphemed, and they will be left to their own desires...and eternal death. They still will not believe.

This time there will be no letting up. No one whose heart is hardened will survive. All believers, however, will have been exonerated and taken away.

What I see and consider is the attitudes of many, not all, Muslims for Christians and Jews. It is going to become a "my way or the highway" lifestyle, often ending in death to those who will not bow down to worship their god, Allah. Ishmael would not have anything to do with his honest heir brother then; it has not changed and will not change. The world's hatred is growing. There is more and more unrest. People want to kill people just because they don't like them...and that goes for all people in the world. What IS the matter with us? There will never be peace in this world as we would like to see it...until Jesus returns.

The question I ask is will you be ready? Can you stand against the forces of evil on your own or do you want supernatural strength? It's the whole reason Jesus came...to take us out of harm's way, to ensure in us an everlasting life. Can you truly say you are in that place? It is an individual decision to make. Jesus provides a way. And then we will see that He will destroy the very last enemy...that of death (1Corinthians 15:26). Revelation 20 tells us this also: And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

We can avoid this death. It's what it means to be saved. We shouldn't look at that word and cringe, but embrace the meaning of it. It means you are born again...from the physical birth to spiritual one. The physical will pass away but the spiritual will live on. It's a choice we make.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." John 3:16, Romans 10:9-11