What Do I Have To Do To Be Saved?

John 3:3 says, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

To be saved you must turn away from sin, believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and receive Him by confessing Him as Lord and Savior of your life.

Here is the step-by-step process. First, you must consider your life and then turn away from everything in it that is contrary to what God wants. This turning away from selfishness and toward God is called repentance, (Mathew 3:7; Acts 3:19).

Second, you must acknowledge, and believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross to forgive you of sin. You take Him as your Savior to cleanse you from sin- as the substitute who paid the price due for your sin, (Romans 5:9-10; Titus 2:14).

Believing means to trust in, have faith in, and to be fully convinced of, fully relying on what you are acknowledging. It expresses reliance upon and a personal trust that produces obedience.

Third, you must ask Him to be Lord of your life, acknowledging openly and verbally that Jesus is not only your Savior, but your Lord, (1 John 2:23).

The Bible says that as many as received Him were given the power to become the sons of God, (John 1:12). So when you open your heart and receive Him, He comes into your heart- your inner person- through His Holy Spirit, and begins to live His life in you. From that point on, it is your privilege and call to confess what God has done, (Romans 10:9).

The power is now established at the beginning of every Christian's life in Christ, through this process. His continuing working in our lives is advanced by the same means through faith, the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things unseen.

..

The Day of Restoration! Easter Sunday!

.....Today is the celebrated day of Restoration for all of mankind. Easter Sunday is the time to rejoice and contemplate the victory, and resurrection, of the finished work of the Cross, through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord and Savior.

.....Restoration can also be seen in Creation as well. Genesis 1:1-2 says, "In the beginning God created the Heaven and Earth. And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep..."

.....We can see in Genesis, Chapter 1 a picture of restoration. I am convinced after exhaustive study that there is a great gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. God does not create things without form and void.

.....In verse 3 of Genesis, we see the first day of creation. The first day can be likened to the incarnation, "Let there be light." When Jesus Christ was born into this dark world there was light manifested at that moment. God now had a body to reach the world. The incarnation is what proves to us that Jesus was legally qualified to represent us.

.....In Genesis 1:7, it says, "And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so."

.....We can see from this verse, the crucifixion of Christ pictured here. We can see Jesus as hung between Heaven and Earth on Calvary's Cross. The crucifixion was God getting rid of what was wrong with us. It was God judging the world in Christ. It was getting rid of who you used to be. It was when God separated and divided your "old man" from the "new creature" you have been made to be in Christ. Before you can enjoy who you are, you have to know how you got rid of who you used to be. A Christian is not somebody who just gets a little spiritual salve put over them and are just forgiven. We are new creatures in Christ. Romans 6:6 says that we were crucified with Christ.

.....Genesis 1:11 says, "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so."
.....
.....Today is the third day, and is the resurrection, which points to the reality of who we now are. When Jesus came up from out of the tomb, the Bible says we were raised together and made to sit together with Him in Heavenly places, Ephesians 2:6. He is the seed of which brings forth fruit of its kind that is now upon the earth through us bringing glory to God.

.....Genesis 1: 14-16 says, "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and for years: And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: He made the stars also.

.....The two great lights today point to the Ascension. Not only did God plan for there to be an incarnation, a crucifixion, and a resurrection; but God also wants us as believers to rise up and become one with Christ in His Ascension. The fourth day of creation points to this because there are two great lights referred to here. The sun points to the Son of God, Jesus.

.....The moon represents us, the Church. The moon was created to rule the darkness, the night. But the moon rules the darkness with no light of its own. The only light the moon has is the light that is reflected from the sun. With that light, it rules the darkness on this earth. This clearly points to the Church. You and I today as believers are a part of the Body of Christ, and we are to rule and to reign with the light that is not our own, but given to us by the Son of God. We do not have any light of our own that is capable of driving out darkness. Any light that we have today that will drive out darkness is a reflection of the Son of God, that is on us and in us. This is what we are to grow up into. This is what Ascension Life is all about for us today.

.....Judges 5:31 is a beautiful verse concerning this today, and says, "So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord; but let them that love Him be as the sun when he goes forth in His might." In other words, let him that loves the Lord reflect the light of the sun (Son), everywhere he goes.

.....So what about the stars mentioned in Genesis 1:16? If the sun is Jesus and the moon is the Church, then those little bodies of light up there must parallel this concerning us in some way also.

.....From my studies, the Spirit of God spoke to my heart concerning this. A star is a body that has been placed in the Heavens and given light for the purpose of making people look up. Stars are also used to help us and others to navigate and gain direction in the darkness while journeying on this earth. God has a great need today for people in the Body of Christ, to cause others to look up. Christians as well as the rest of the world, need people who will draw them to a Raised and Seated Christ, giving guidance and direction as spiritual beings, having a physical experience while on this earth today. We have to start thinking differently today, raising our expectations in our own lives, causing our ways and our thoughts to rise up. May we start thinking more like God and less like the world as we enjoy the celebration of this day.
..
..

Easter - Resurrection Day!

.....Romans 6: 4 says, "As Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."

.....In my line of work I have often had the privilege of meeting those who are at the bottom of their life, feeling lost, abandoned, and helpless, consumed in addiction and other life-controlling issues. And through our ministry's Christian Discipleship Program, I have been blessed and able to see God's miracles everyday as these people have their lives turned completely around and transformed right before my eyes, through the power of God. Like a caterpillar coming out of a cocoon and standing before me as a beautiful butterfly, these people experience liberation from their addictions, leaving behind lifestyles of hatred, and violence, experiencing grace, embracing the faith of a better future, hope, love, joy, peace, and forgiveness, for God, themselves, and others. They have truly become a "new creation" in Christ.

How is this possible?

.....The key to their transformation is the empty tomb on Easter morning. Paul spells out the impact of that empty grave when he writes in Romans 6:4, " We were buried with Christ through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead (This is the power that was unleashed) through the glory of the Father, we too may walk and live a new life." This faith, in choosing to boldly and unswervingly believe what God has said about them, and what He has said has happened to them, frees them to live as never before, for the good of God, and others. This is why the faith of a mustard seed has the ability to move mountains out of our own lives today.

.....Easter is obviously a big deal in the life of Jesus. But it is also a big deal for you and me also. The power of the risen Lord breaks addictions, melts hatred, and gives each of us a sense of purpose to live as resurrection people, experiencing all that God has for us, heaven on earth.

.....The expression "live a new life" literally means "walk a new life." The God we serve loves to take walks. He walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden according to Genesis 3: 8. He walked with the Old Testament people through the wilderness into the promise land in Exodus 40: 36-38. In Christ, He walked the dusty streets of Palestine, and then walked out of the tomb on Easter morning. Why? So we could see the victory that took place for us, and could personally walk with Him as He led the way into a fresh new life for us to experience all that God has for us as never before.

.....I would only ask the Lord to show you the power of the victory that took place over 2000 years ago, on this Easter Sunday. Upon seeing that, I know that your life will be truly changed forever, experiencing it daily in your life, leading you and guiding you into a life of resurrection, hope and power, unlike anything you have ever experienced before.
..

The Lion And The Lamb

.....I was asked by my "Spiritual Mom" about the subject of Jesus being referred to as a "Lion," and a "Lamb." I wish to impart it to you today. I thank you Mom for asking me, and thank the Lord for the Revelation, Wisdom, and Knowledge concerning this. I hope that you are blessed and share the blessing I received from this study with others in my absence. Let's start with the aspect of Jesus being spoken of as a Lamb. Revelation 6: 1, "The Lamb," (Arnion, which is pronounced Ar-nee-on), is the title of the exalted Christ. The Lamb that was slain, but still living, and showing that He has overcome. I am going to show you what now can be revealed, and what has been accomplished today through Christ.

.....First of all, a lamb is a young sheep, representing a person of innocence, something loved and dear. In the Bible, a lamb was used in direct contrast to the beast. The beast was and is savage, cruel, hostile, and destructive. Our Lord is a lamb, gentle, compassionate, loving, kind, innocently suffering, and dying to atone for our sins.

.....In the book of The Revelation of Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb combine the two elements of Majesty, and Meekness.

Majesty is the dignity or power of a Sovereign God.

Meekness is one that is full of patients, mild, gentle, and kind; not inclined to anger or resentment.

The Lamb represents the First Coming, Victorious Death, Resurrection, and Ascension.

.....In Genesis 22:7, the lamb was originally a burnt offering, a sacrifice, which belonged entirely to God. Jesus was the Lamb referred to in Isaiah 53: 6-8, our substitute, and voluntarily accepted our guilt and punishment, the iniquity of us all, laid upon Him.

.....In John 1: 29, John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus as the "Lamb Of God," who justifies us, and takes away sin.

.....1 Peter 1: 18-19 says, that we were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold, aimless tradition received from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot.

.....Revelation 5: 6, and 12, is a picture and a "Proclamation In Heaven," to what is already true about the Lamb being slain, and when someone comes to the "Throne of Grace," he will find a sacrifice already there, (Christ), provided for him to offer to God. And the Lamb slain, in Revelation 13: 8, is what gets us in the "Book Of Life."

Revelation 12: 11 is a key scripture that I wish to explain to you in detail.

.....It says, "They overcame him, (The Enemy), by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."


.... First of all, it speaks of the ongoing warfare on this Earth. It also speaks of the overcoming ability of the redeemed, and the basis of their triumph, the "Blood Of The Lamb," which is our Salvation, and source of overcoming victory, (The Authority Of God's Word), and our testimony, (Testifying To The Truth). The Holy Spirit is preparing us today in our own faith, and faithfulness, releasing the wisdom to embrace "The Cross," for the full manifestation of God's Kingdom here on this Earth. How you may ask, is He going to do this?

Through our focus and Revelation on The Lamb...The Lion will manifest itself.

There are not a lot of scriptures about "The Lion," so let me explain.

(This is where the Revelation comes in.)

.....A lion is a large powerful cat, considered king of the beasts, representing a person of great courage, strength, and significance. And a Lion's share represents the whole thing, or the biggest and best portion. Jesus is referred to as "The Lion", and His share is us in Him, and God's Kingdom.

.....Jesus is The Lion from the Tribe of Judah. Now understand that Judah means "The Praised." This is the key and Revelational aspect of the Lion. He is coming from a Praise in His people rising up. A catching away or elevated consciousness of who we are in Christ, (which is in a state of mind or being), as in 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17, which says, "For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel (A Messenger), and with the trumpet, (A Clear Sounding Word), of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, (A High Place), to meet the Lord in the air, ( a new dimension, The Spirit Realm). Through this we are transformed into the image and likeness of Christ, perfected, and complete as in the example we have with passage of scripture on the Mount of Transfiguration in Mathew 17:1-13. The Salvation of the Soul taking place.

.....This is the new song of "Praise," referred to in Revelation 5: 9 saying, "You are worthy to take the scroll, and open the seals, For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood. Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, have made us kings and priests to our God, and we shall reign on the Earth." Through the Revelation of the Finished Work, we will have come up, or are elevated with who we are in Christ. The Lion, Christ, will claim His Lion's share, which are His people, and peace and tranquility will stem from the fullness of God's Kingdom fully establishing itself on the Earth as stated in Isaiah 11: 6-9. Blessed are those called, ( For Fellowship and Eternal Blessedness) to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, Revelation 19:9. For within the Lamb, the Lion will appear.
..

A Proper Self Image By His Grace

.....A proper self image is an identity based on Truth as it is taught in the Word of God. It is only as we learn and rest in what the word of God teaches us about our total acceptance before Him that we can become free, and then go on to love and accept others. The real focus of the Christian life is in knowing Christ. Until we rest in the finality of the Cross, we will never experience the reality of the Resurrection, which is Christ living in and through us today. We must rest in the fact that Jesus did it all, and it is a "Finished Work," or we will keep busy trying to "pay off our own debt," atoning for our sins. We will never enjoy a personal relationship with God or anyone else when guilt stands between both parties. God knows this, and that is why Jesus Christ has dealt with our sins once and for all. Total forgiveness for entire lives, Past, Present, and Future.

.....Concerning the old covenant, Hebrews 10: 11-12 says, "Day after day, the priest would stand, ministering and performing his religious duties, over and over again, offering the same sacrifices, which could never take away the sins. But when this man (Christ) had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God."

.....Hebrews 9: 14 says, "The blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleansing our consciences form dead works, and acts that lead to death, so that we may serve a living God.

.....The sacrifice of Jesus, God's Son, was and is not only superior because of the "once and for all" offering, but also because through it, God could reach where no ritual offering ever could, man's heart.

.....One place where we can see our common failure to understand the "Finished Work" of Christ is in our celebration of communion, the Lord's Supper. 1 Corinthians 11: 27 is commonly misquoted. The verse says, "Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord." Paul never said that the people must become worthy, he was talking about them examining the way in which they are celebrating communion. Because of the common misuse of this verse, we miss the wonderful picture of grace in the Lord's supper. We end up examining ourselves with morbid introspection, searching for, and confessing our sins, feeling painful regret.

.....The dominant emotion is often F.E.A.R. (False Evidence Appearing Real), and inadequacy. This is not what God intended, and misses the true point of the Lord's Supper. In 1 Corinthians 10:16, Paul refers to the observance as a "Cup of Blessing or Thanksgiving," not a cup of regret, or morbid introspection, seeing where we fall short and missed the mark. The Lord's Supper has become like the "Day of Atonement" for many, where the Israelites were to remember and confess their sins. The Lord's Supper is where we should be remembering the forgiveness of our sins. A time of true celebration. A time of joy, thanksgiving and unity in recognizing that we are one in Christ. The wrong way of taking communion produces a total concentration on self, never obtaining relief from the burden of guilt. And as I said earlier, with guilt standing between us and God, we will fail to rest in Christ's total forgiveness, and can never go on to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 3: 18).

.....The Bible says we are right with God, completely, because of Jesus Christ's Finished Work on the Cross. We have been given the gift of righteousness, (Romans 5: 17), by His sacrifice. Christ has made us perfect forever, being sanctified or set apart from the world, and its ways. This our proper position in life today. Jesus Christ is the propitiation, (appeasement or satisfaction) for our sins, not for ours only, but also for the whole world. We need to celebrate communion in the way God sees us, through His Son's Finished Work.

.....I encourage you today to take communion in a different light and perspective, with a proper self image.

..

.

OUR GLORIOUS BODY!

.....Our natural body was dead spiritually. Sown in it was corruption, dishonor, and weakness. We were made of dust, and under it a force of sin, in which the result or penalty was death. No life was able to be produced from this seed planted within us, through the separation between us and God. The seed of death produced death, that of its own kind. But through the perfect death, The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus, we have another seed planted within us, today. A seed containing Incorruption, Glory, and Power. A spiritual seed, producing a spiritual body from a Life-giving Spirit. The nature of this seed is to bear the image of the heavenly man, Christ in us. This is not task, although we labor in the Word of God, tending to the seed, watering, weeding, pruning it as it produces a life that it was designed to do. Seeing that in the Seed's Death, Christ Life is produced and the harvest of the fruit is inevitable for which the seed was designed, producing good fruit. Opening up our minds by Faith to see who we really are and what we are, maturing, and growing up to be. The whole process starts from the inside out. First the spirit, then the soul, and then the body, each part giving itself up to a death process to produce the Resurrection Life of which the seed was designed to do. Forming the Body of Christ. Eventually the corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality, resulting in the destruction of physical death itself. A true picture and manifestation of the Transfiguration. Seeing ourselves dead to sin and alive in Christ through a Revelation of the Finished Work of the Cross.

.