WHAT IS NECESSARY for TRUE SALVATION to OCCUR?
(PASTOR J. GILBERT HAMMOND)
I am deeply concerned that many people today “THINK" that they are "SAVED" when in truth they may very well NOT BE SAVED and are simply deceived into “THINKING” they are “SAVED.” Many, in fact, seem to believe that their "Good Works" are going to get them to Heaven. I believe that this “deception" is a frequently used tool of the devil and his demons to deceive many into thinking that "they are going to make it to Heaven" when in fact this will only lead them to Hell! This concern is reinforced by JESUS HIMSELF when he said in Matthew 7:21-23, " Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'” (NASU)
OUR “GOOD WORKS" WILL NOT LEAD US TO HEAVEN!
These were (and are) “well-meaning" souls who were (and are) deceived into believing that they were (and are) “GOOD PEOPLE ON THEIR WAY TO HEAVEN" WHEN IN FACT, THEY WERE NOT (AND ARE NOT) ON THEIR WAY TO HEAVEN! Notice that JESUS states that "Many" will claim to be “Saved" and WILL NOT BE TRULY SAVED! JESUS STATES THAT “I NEVER KNEW THEM” AND STATES THAT THEY ARE ON “THE BROAD WAY” THAT LEADS THEM TO HELL! This is a VERY SERIOUS MATTER OF ETERNAL IMPORTANCE! We desperately need to be sure (BE CERTAIN) of our ETERNAL SALVATION! WE ARE "ETERNAL BEINGS.” – WE WILL SPEND ALL ETERNITY IN EITHER HEAVEN OR HELL – IN ETERNAL DEATH OR IN “ETERNAL LIFE." THE CHOICE IS OURS TO MAKE!
Again, in Matthew 7:13-14 JESUS stated, "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (NASU) There is ONLY ONE WAY TO GAIN ETERNAL LIFE! THAT ONE WAY IS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD! JESUS STATED in John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” (NASU)
In John 14:5-6, we read, “Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (NASU) I implore you, Dear One, DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE DECEIVED. The devil’s aim is “TO DECEIVE AS MANY PEOPLE AS HE CAN!" BE SURE OF YOUR SALVATION! Let’s explore how you can be SURE THAT YOU ARE SAVED AND ON YOUR WAY TO HEAVEN!
Allow me to point out that the purpose of the devil and his demons is to deceive as many people he can. The Bible states that he is a LIAR and THE FATHER OF ALL LIES! It is also important to remember that every human being is under the control of the devil UNTIL WE CHOOSE TO PLACE OUR TRUST AND FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST! The devil will do everything is his power to prevent every person he can from trusting IN and ON JESUS CHRIST FOR SALVATION! WHEN A PERSON CHOOSES JESUS CHRIST, THE DEVIL LOSES THAT PERSON FOREVER! That person becomes a CHILD OF GOD upon choosing JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD!
The purpose of this writing is to help you to do a self-examination to help determine the True Nature of your Salvation – to help determine IF INDEED YOU ARE ON THE PATH THAT LEADS TO ETERNAL LIFE IN HEAVEN!
The Bible states that in 1 John 1:9 we read, “If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and righteous (Just or Justified) to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (NASU) For the "UNSAVED PERSON," the process of “Confession of our Sins” and “Believing in and on” (receiving) Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord involves:
1. Hearing the Gospel, (Being made aware of our SINFUL CONDITION and OUR need of SALVATION.) (Romans 3:23 and 6:23)
2. Being “CONVICTED” of “OUR SIN” by The Holy Spirit producing a “Godly Sorrow” within us, (Salvation of a Soul DOES NOT OCCUR unless there is a “Holy Spirit Conviction" producing a “Godly Sorrow" within the heart of the person – THIS IS A DEEP SORROW FOR OUR SINFUL STATE (OR CONDITION) OF SIN.) (John 16:7-11)
3. ACTING ON OUR SINFUL CONDITION (OUR SINFUL STSTE BEFORE GOD) AND CONFESSING “OUR SIN” TO GOD! (1 John 1:9)
4. ACTIVELY “REPENTING” OF OUR SIN TO GOD! (GENUINE REPENTENCE INVOLVES TURNING FROM OUR SIN AND TURNING TO GOD.) THIS NEED FOR REPENTANCE (YURNING AWAY FROM OUR SINFUL CONDITION) IS OFTEN NEGLECTED IN THE GOSPEL MESSAGE. iT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. ONE MUST TURN FROM SIN BEFORE WE CAN TURN TO GOD (TO JESUS FOR SALVATION) WE CANNOT JUST ADD GOD TO OUR LIVES. WE MUST BE EMPTIED OF OUR SIN BEFOE WE CAN BE FILLED WITH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD!
5. ASKING GOD TO FORGIVE US AND TO CLEANSE US OF OUR SIN AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS,
6. ALLOWING HIM TO FORGIVE US AND CLEANSE US – TO EMPTY US OF SIN AND SELF! THIS MEANS ACTUALLY ACCEPTING HIS FORGIVENESS AND CLEANSING! (1 John 1:9)
7. ACCEPTING GOD’S FORGIVENESS AND CLEANSING. This sounds simple but it is not. The devil or his demons will convince so very many people that “THEY DON'T DESERVE FORGIVENESS." WELL, ACTUALLY NONE OF US DESERVE GOD'S FORGIVENESS. IN REALITY, GOD'S FORGIVENESS IS BASED ON HIS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND HIS EVERLASTING MERCY AND AMAZING GRACE. HE GIVES US HIS FORGIVENESS AND CLEANSING (AND HIS SALVATION) BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT COMPASSION FOR US! THANKFULLY, WE DON’T HAVE TO "DESERVE" GOD'S FORGIVENESS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE IT. So, don't believe this lie of the devil.Just accept God's Gracious Forgiveness with thankfulness!
8. ASKING Jesus to Come into OUR HEART and LIFE to be OUR PERSONAL SAVIOR AND LORD! (TO FILL US WITH HIMSELF)
9. ACTUALLY RECEIVING JESUS CHRIST INTO OUR HEART AND LIFE AS OUR PERSONAL SAVIOR AND LORD! THERE ARE THOSE WHO ASK JESUS TO “COME INTO THEIR LIVES” AND THEN DON'T ACTUALLY RECEIVE HIM (OR ACCEPT HIM) ! WE MUST ACTUALLY WELCOME HIM AND RECEIVE HIM INTO OUR LIVES!
10. ALLOWING GOD TO FILL US WITH HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS – WITH HIMSELF! AGAIN, WE MUST ACCEPT HIM INTO OUR HEART AND LIFE AND ACCEPTING HIS FORGIVENESS, CLEANSING, AND HIS ABIDING PRESENCE WITHIN US!
11. WE ARE NOW “BORN AGAIN” INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD. (John 3:16) WE ARE NOW PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST! WE ARE “TRANSFERRED” FROM THE “KINGDOM OF DARKNESS” INTO “THE KINGDOM OF LIGHT”! PRAISE GOD!! WHAT A CHANGE!!
12. GOD ALSO “ADOPTS” US INTO HIS FAMILY AND MAKES US A “JOINT HEIR” WITH JESUS CHRIST OF ALL THINGS. (IN THIS CASE, GOD CHOOSES US AFTER WE CHOOSE HIM!) (Gal. 4:7)
13. WE ARE NOW “FILLED" AND "SEALED" BY GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT. (See Ephesians 1:12-14 ; 4:30 and John 14:16-17) HE NOW LIVES INSIDE OF US! GOD PUTS HIS PERSONAL “SEAL” UPON OUR LIVES SIGNIFYING THAT WE ARE HIS OWN CHLIDREN!
14. WE ARE NOW (AND FOREVERMORE) GOD'S CHILD AND A PERMANENT CITIZEN OF HEAVEN! (Ephesians 2:19). Note the Words of Jesus in John 16:16-17 where HE STATES, "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him,” (NASU) NOTICE THE PROMISE OF JESUS THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WOULD BE WITH FOREVER!
Let’s pause here for a moment and recognize just what happens when this “PROCESS” – (these “steps”) occur in our lives. We are suddenly and completely “SAVED OUT OF OUR SIN” – WE ARE “BORN AGAIN” – We become “A NEW CREATION” in CHRIST JESUS – WE EXPERIENCE THE MOST “MAGNIFICIENT MIRACLE” EVER. WE BECOME A “CHILD OF GOD” – WE GAIN “ETERNAL LIFE!” It is very difficult for us to grasp the “ETERNAL GRAND SIGNIFICANCE” of this EVENT IN OUR LIVES! This is a good place to shout, “HALLELUJAH” – “PRAISE THE LORD” – “THANK YOU JESUS” BECAUSE IT IS ENTIRELY BECAUSE OF THE SUPREME SACRIFICE OF JESUS WHEN HE DIED ON THE CROOS AND PAID FOR ALL SIN, FOR ALL MANKIND, FOR ALL TIME THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BE COMPLETELY FORGIVEN OF OUR SIN, CLEANSED OF ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, FILLED WITH HIS PRESENCE, AND “SAVED” FOREVER!
I NEED TO POINT OUR HERE THAT THESE SEVERAL STEPS IN THE “PROCESS OF SALVATION" MAY ACTUALLY OCCUR SO CLOSE TOGETHER THAT THEY MAY NOT EVEN BE RECOGNIZED AS SEPARATE STEPS IN THE SALVATION PROCESS. HOIWEVER, I ENUMERATE THEM HERE AS A ”CHECK” FOR ALL OF US, FOR INDEED THEY ALL MUST OCCUR!
A WORD OF CAUTION IS IN ORDER HERE! MANY WILL SAY, “WELL, I DON’T FEEL ANY DIFFERENT – I DON'T FEEL ANY CHANGE! THE SCRIPTURES STATE THAT “WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH OUR FAITH! In Ephesians 2:8-9 we read these Words, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (NASU) We believe it by FAITH because GOD SAYS IT IS TRUE. HE WILL KEEP HIS WORD TO US!!
A WORD OF CAUTION: (Four Points)
My referring to “SALVATION” as A “PROCESS” is in no way meant to formalize or legalize “SALVATION.” SALVATION is essentially GOD’S Work. These “steps” may very well occur so rapidly that we may actually not recognize them as they are happening. These “steps” are intended to give you a way to verify you own personal salvation. As you read them, I suggest that you ask yourself, “did this happen to me?” If your spirit (and THE HOLY SPIRIT) bear witness to your heart, then you can be certain of your “PERSONAL SALVATION” and that you are indeed “A CHILD OF GOD!” (And you will know this. As you go through these “steps” you will find that “The Joy of The Lord” will begin to “well up” within you.) THEN REJOICE AND GIVE THANKS TO YOUR LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER AND TO JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD FOR YOUR ETERNAL SALVATION!
WE MUST LIVE THIS CHRISTIAN LIFE BY FAITH AND NOT BY “UNDERSTANDING” OR BY "FEELINGS." GOD GIVES TO EACH OF US A “MEASURE OF FAITH” AND HE REQUIRES THAT WE OPERATE BY FAITH. IN HEBREWS 11:6 WE READ THESE VERY IMPORTANT WORDS, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him (GOD), for he who comes to GOD must believe that HE is and that HE is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (NASU)
All of these steps are important and necessary to True Salvation and becoming a “New Creation” in Christ Jesus. THEY MAY ALL OCCUR IN A BRIEF SPACE OF TIME BUT THEY ALL MUST OCCUR. BE SURE OF YOUR SALVATION. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN HEAVEN!!!!!!
OUR GROWTH AS CHILDREN OF GOD AFTER OUR SALVATION!
NOW WE BEGIN TO GROW AS GOD’S CHILD. To do this, these steps must occur. GOD DOES NOT WANT US TO REMAIN AS “BABIES,” HE DESIRES THAT WE GROW AND MATURE AS HIS CHILDREN! THEREFORE, HE “WORKS” ON US, HE “WORKS” IN US AND HE “WORKS” THROUGH US TO GROW US!
1. JESUS BAPTIZES US WITH “THE HOLY SPIRIT and with FIRE!”
(Matt. 3:11) THE HOLY SPIRIT COME TO INDWELL US FOREVER!
2. HE GIVES US HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO BE OUR “HELPER,” OUR “COMFORTER,” AND OUR “TEACHER.” (John 14:16;; 14:26; & 16:7).
3. We receive The Holy Spirit from God as HIS “FOREVER SEAL" upon us THEREBY SIGNIFYING THAT WE ARE HIS CHILD. (Eph. 1:13 & 4:30)
4. GOD (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) comes to permanently indwell us at this point! (Romans 8:9) OUR BODY BECOME GOD’S TEMPLE!
5. GOD begins HIS “WORK” on us to “GROW” us as HIS CHILDREN! (Phil. 2:13) HE IS VERY PERSISTENT IN THIS PROCESS! HE WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS WORK IN US – HE WILL FINISH HIS WORK!
6. GOD’S GOAL IS TO “CONFORM US TO THE IMAGE OF JESUS CHRIST!” (2 Cor. 3:18) (HIS INTENT IS TO MAKE US “PERFECT IN EVERY WAY” JUST AS HE IS PERFECT – TO "FIT” US FOR HEAVEN.) We can take great comfort in God’s Promise to us as recorded in Philippians 1:6 where we read, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He (GOD) who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (NASU) WE CAN “REST” IN HIS PROMISE THAT HE WILL FINALLY MAKE US PERFECT AS HE IS PERFECT! THIS IS AN AMAZING THOUGHT! BUT, IT IS TRUE BECAUSE GOD HAS PROMISED IT TO US! WE BELIEVE AND ACCEPT IT BY THE FAITH THAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO US!
MAY GOD, OUR LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER, BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND “GROW” YOU MAKING YOU HIS “GROWN-UP” CHILDREN. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE SOON RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST TO “CATCH US ALL AWAY” AND TAKE US “HIOME” TO HEAVEN! WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE! OUR LOVE AND PRAYERS WILLCONTINUE TO BE WITH YOU ALWAYS!!!
IN THE PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR AND LORD,
j. GILBERT (GIL) HAMMOND, PASTOR