Hello beloved creatures of God, I hope you’re fine by God’s grace.
Today in Salvation 101 we’ll talk about the necessity of an entire renovation of character and life for all who would enter Heaven
If you’ve not read the previous posts I invite you to check them out here
Throughout this series of blog posts, we talked about the fact that your spirit and soul are immortal and once your physical body will die, your spirit and soul will keep living for eternity either with The Lord (Heaven) or away from The Lord (Hell). We stressed on the fact that even if you enjoy all earthly goods it is vain if you don’t spend eternity with God; pursuing the pleasures of the world won’t satisfy you, but having a relationship with Jesus Christ will satisfy you. We also talked about the fact that whether you like it or not hell exists and if you don’t get right with God in Christ Jesus, you’ll end up in hell, which is a place of eternal punishment for the wicked. Nevertheless, Jesus Christ loves us as such He paid the price for the punishment of our sins so that we may have life in Him and freedom from sin. If you’re really born again and you follow Jesus, your life will be changed, you will walk in holiness, self-denial, humility, heavenly-mindedness and you will live above the world. Today, we’ll specifically talk about the necessity of an entire renovation of character and life for all who would enter Heaven.
Nowadays, many people identify as Christians while they’re not really Christians. Many people claim they’re Christians while their lifestyle is in complete opposition with everything that Jesus Christ taught. This is dangerous because it means there are not only people who are lying to themselves but there are also people who have a false security, believing they’re going to Heaven while they’re heading straight towards hell.
Our Lord Jesus Christ told Nicodemus that he had to be born again. Being born again isn’t just claiming to be born again. The term has been so used and abused in Christian circles that many people don’t even know what it means. By being born again, you are given a new nature. God recreates your spirit in the image of Jesus Christ and you now have the nature of doing good and obeying God. He removes your heart of stone, gives you a heart of flesh and puts His Word (laws) in your heart and your mind. Obeying God thus becomes your new nature.
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 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.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
John 3:1-9 NKJV
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26 NKJV
This will show in your life, people will notice that you have changed. Your character will be renovated, every aspect of you will be different.
- If you used to dress indecently, you won’t like it anymore
- If you used to love lying, you won’t love it anymore and you’ll seek to walk in truth no matter what it costs you
- If you used to have impure conversations, that one changes too
- If you used to steal that changes too, you work hard, you behave honestly, even in doing business
- Instead of deceiving people in businesses you act honestly
- You begin to walk in purity and righteousness
- If you were stingy you become generous in and for The Lord
- You used to do just whatever you wanted to do but now you ask God first
- You didn’t like reading your Bible but now you’ve developed so much love and passion for reading The Word
- You used to treat people like crap but now you act respectfully and lovingly towards them
- You used to be so short-tempered and to fight with just anyone but now you practice self control
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:19-25 NKJV
The list can be longer than this. Just to say that there will be a real change in your character thanks to God. An entire renovation of character as Charles Finney said.
However, if no one can see from your life that you are a Christian, if you yourself you don’t see any change, and that you’re living just like the world and dealing with yourself, people, finances, business, food, sex and everything else just like the world, for sure you aren’t in God’s Will for you and you aren’t acting as a Christian.
Why do I talk about all this right now? Jesus said not all who call Him Lord, Lord shall enter into God’s Kingdom, but those who do the will of The Father. Many people have tried to discourage Christians from doing works. For sure the works aren’t to get you saved since salvation is a free gift from God such that no one can boast, but the good works are the fruits and signs of the fact that your nature really changed, thus pushing you to do the good works which God has planned before hand for you to do.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 2:17-26 NKJV
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10 NKJV
In the last 7 blog posts, I did my best to explain to you about sin, heaven, hell and eternity. Today, I want you to know that if you choose Jesus as Lord then you must accept that you have to bear fruits and to live an honest lifestyle in every area of your life. Jesus said people shall be known by their fruits. The fruits of your Christianity must be visible not just for a short time but throughout your lifetime. The fruits of your Christianity should be visible not just from afar but even those closest to you should be able to testify.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Matthew 7:15-20 NKJV
Perhaps you’re reading this and wondering whether you’ve ever been a true Christian because you were your own boss, living according to the flesh but convincing yourself that you were a Christian. Know that with God you can’t be lukewarm, there’s no middle.
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
Romans 8:5-9 NKJV
“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Revelation 3:14-16 NKJV
If you really want Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Saviour you should also be willing and ready for change. Turn to Him right now and confess your sins to Him. Ask Him to change you and of course you have to be willing to obey.
Being a Christian isn’t just a one time decision. It’s an every moment decision. The Bible tells us it’s possible to depart from the faith, to even preach the Gospel and to miss Heaven, this means that you shouldn’t let your conscience get seared, you have to prepare for the return of The Lord or for your physical death any time.
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
I Timothy 4:1-3 NKJV
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
I Corinthians 9:24-27 NKJV
Choosing to become a Christian means that your life must be different from the life of the world because God gave you His nature. Some people will say this is “legalism” while it is Biblical. Look at the Apostles in the New Testament Church, after they received the baptism of The Holy Spirit do you see a sinful lifestyle in any of them? Then why do people think that Christianity is a life-style of sin covered up under the word grace to mean “I can do whatever I want and God is okay with it. Jesus died for my sins so I can keep sinning freely”. Don’t fall in that trap and lie of the devil.
Decide firmly today, to serve Jesus and to let Him change you. Yes He accepts you just the way you are but He loves you too much to let you in that state. So if you choose Jesus Christ today, you’re choosing radical and positive change for God’s glory.
Choose now, heaven or hell ? Eternity with God or with the devil? Remember the ultimate consequence of your final choice on this matter will last for eternity.
Prayer to Surrender Your Life to Jesus Christ and to choose holiness
Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, I have sinned against You and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You love me so much that You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I make the decision today to turn from my sins and I invite You to come into my life, change my nature from a nature of sin to a nature of righteousness, set me free, give me a new nature, transform my life so that I live a holy life. I choose from this day forward to love You, to obey You, to humble myself under the mighty hand of God, to practice self-denial, to put You first and to live above the world. I want to live a holy life which glorifies God’s Name. I surrender myself completely to You Lord, spirit, soul and body. I choose today to trust and follow You as my Lord and Saviour. My life is Yours. I choose to obey You. Amen
Weekly Prayer Meeting
I would like to announce that every Saturday from 11:00-11:40 PM (GMT+1) I host a prayer meeting on Zoom (online) to pray for the salvation of our loved ones, our friends and acquaintances etc and to minister healing to the sick. You can join and invite others to join with you, believers as well as unbelievers. You can click on the link here to register for the event.
Looking for a Church?
I can recommend to you Dominion Life Church with General Overseer Apostle Curry Blake. In case there is no campus near you, you can watch online every Sunday at 3:00 PM (GMT +1) for first service and 4:00 PM (GMT +1) for second service
God bless you and contact me on social media for your prayer requests and also to share about your story/testimony with Jesus.
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