The late George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees, once said, “I eat lots of ice cream. Ice cream is my salvation.” But spiritual salvation is not as simple as eating ice cream.
The most important experience in life is spiritual salvation. The apostle Peter talked about the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:9). The salvation of your soul is important because your soul is eternal; your body will die but your soul will live forever.
The Bible describes the human condition in a variety of ways and tells us that we need to be spiritually saved. By natural birth we are spiritually lost and because of our actions we are guilty before God. We are separated from God, cut off from his blessing and destined to face judgment without hope.
Spiritual salvation brings us into a right relationship with God. John the Baptist’s father Zechariah said Jesus came to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. (Luke 1:77).
Salvation brings a new standing before God. It takes away guilt and brings peace with God. Salvation provides eternal life and the hope of heaven.
Salvation comes through Jesus Christ. Paul said we receive this salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ. The disciples told the court officials, Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12).
We receive salvation by confession and faith. If you will confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10).
Experiencing spiritual salvation is really quite simple. All you need to know is that God loves you and has provided salvation in Jesus Christ. You recognize that Jesus died to pay the price for your personal sins and make the choice to trust him with your life. When you make that choice, he accepts you just as you are.
In a moment, you pass from death unto life. One moment you’re dead, the next you’re alive. One moment you are guilty, the next you are forgiven. One moment you are lost and the next you are found. One moment you are perishing, the next you are saved.
The question is: have you been saved and experienced spiritual conversion?
The moment you are saved, a new day dawns.
DON’T STOP WITH THE INITIAL SALVATION EXPERIENCE
I have watched many people experience spiritual salvation. It is a wonderful moment in their lives. Most continue on to spiritual maturity, but not all do.
Some people start out well, but they don’t continue. They don’t follow through on their decision to follow Jesus. They don’t understand the implications of their salvation. They forget that biblical salvation means a life of following Jesus. Salvation is a turning point, a turning away from the old and a turning toward the new.
There’s more to the Christian life than simply believing. Some put their faith in Jesus, but fail to realize there is more. There’s more, not to being saved, but to living a God-pleasing life.
The result is, some people who have an initial experience of salvation, fall away. They don’t live in the light of their salvation. Some people carry on, but struggle spiritually. They don’t fully understand spiritual life nor do they enjoy the benefits and blessings of walking with God.
DETERMINE TO ADD TO YOUR SALVATION EXPERIENCE
Salvation comes as a free gift. There is nothing you can do to earn it or merit it. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith‑‑and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God‑‑ not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9).
But while salvation is a free gift, there are things that should accompany the experience of salvation. The book of Hebrews describes this. Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case – things that accompany salvation. (Hebrews 6:9).
There are things that accompany salvation. These are not things that bring salvation, but things that are the result of salvation. They are not things to do in order to become a believer, but things to do because you have experienced salvation.
WATER BAPTISM
Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38).
In many circles today, there appears to be little attention paid to being baptized in water. This is alarming. Even if there is a clear explanation of salvation, nothing is said about water baptism.
Water baptism is really not an option for someone sincerely wanting to follow Jesus; it’s a requirement. We do not become believers because we are baptized in water, but immediately after we become believers, we need to be baptized in water. It’s our public statement, letting the world know that we are following Jesus. It’s a sign that we are burying the old life and beginning a new life.
It’s dangerous to treat water baptism casually. Anyone who understands spiritual salvation will want to be baptized in water. It demonstrates obedience as a follower of Jesus.
Peter said, be baptized, every one of you. Water baptism should accompany your experience of salvation.
NEW DEVOTIONAL LIFE
Prior to salvation, God is distant; after salvation, God becomes a part of your daily experience. There’s a new relationship and a new intimacy with God. This relationship is fostered by certain disciplines.
Bible reading.
When you are born again, you become a spiritual baby and a spiritual baby needs to be fed just as a physical baby needs to eat. One thing that should accompany salvation is a desire to read the Bible. Peter said, Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. (1 Peter 2:2).
Make Bible reading part of your daily routine. Read a modern translation of the Bible. Keep a pen or pencil in your hand to mark important words.
Prayer.
Develop a routine of prayer. Don’t worry about special vocabulary, just talk to God like you talk to your closest friend.
Learn the many aspects of prayer. Pray with praise and thanksgiving. Confess and ask for forgiveness. Pray for the needs of others. Pray about your personal needs.
NEW RELATIONSHIPS
Being a Christian is not a solitary experience; it is a shared experience. Salvation introduces you to a new family. When you are born again, you instantly gain a new set of relationships.
New Testament Christians devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship. (Acts 2:42). Fellowship with other believers was important. The first Christians not only wanted to know the right things, the apostles teaching, they wanted to be with the right people, the fellowship of believers. These new Christians not only devoted themselves to the Lord, they devoted themselves to one another.
You become like the people you hang with, so associate with uplifting people. Your friends will either pull you up or down.
Christians become part of a family. Christians are available to help one another. They encourage one another. They are a support network. They are a family which strengthens each other.
This is one reason attendance at church is so important. We attend church not only to worship and hear the Bible explained; we come for fellowship.
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25).
If you have recently become a believer, connect with others in the church. Many churches have a ministry of small groups that meet in private homes where there is prayer, Bible discussion and sharing of personal experiences and needs. Thihs is an easy way to meet your new family.
ACTS OF KINDNESS
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but no deeds? Can such faith save him? (James 2:14).
James taught that if a man had real faith, there would be some evidence to show the reality of that faith. He said there would be acts of kindness as proof of the inner spiritual conversion.
Paul said the same thing. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10).
We are not saved by doing good but because we are saved, we do good. We show kindness to those in need, care about the hurting and go out of our way to meet the needs of others.
SEPARATION FROM THE PRINCIPLES OF THE WORLD
The world’s way of life is alien to the person who is following Jesus Christ. Christians are ruled by a different philosophy of life and have a different set of values. They have a different world-view,
One thing that needs to accompany salvation is the decision to change our way of thinking and behavior. Christians belong to a different kingdom and are part of another world-system.
What A.W. Tozer wrote several years ago is even more true today, “A whole new generation of Christians has come up believing that it is possible to accept Christ without forsaking the world. The poor quality of Christian that grows out of modern evangelism may be accounted for by the absence of any real repentance accompanying the initial experience of the converts.”
You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. (James 4:4).
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15).
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. (Titus 2:11-12).
Spiritual separation from the world must accompany salvation. Getting rid of the old ways is part of the package. Once you are saved, get rid of the old motives, the old thought life and the destructive habits of the former lifestyle.
STEWARDSHIP OF LIFE
With salvation comes a whole new attitude to our stuff.
Salvation means new ownership. I no longer own my life, the Lord does! Paul said, we are not our own … we are bought with a price. (1 Corinthians 6:20). Salvation means we become God’s possessions.
Salvation means we become stewards of all that we have: our time, our abilities, our resources and our finances, and we are required to be faithful stewards. One day there will be a spiritual audit and we will give an account.
So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust prove faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:1).
Hebrews 6 talks about people who need to add things to their initial experience of salvation, but added, Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case – things that accompany salvation. (Hebrews 6:9). ` `
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