What is this "Getting Saved" stuff? & Why do I need it?
THE PROBLEM- We all have a fallen nature. We are not the way God designed us to be.
Most people think "I'm a good person," But the Ten Commandments are what God uses to show us where we are from His perspective, that "we all have a fallen nature." And at the end of the day God's perspective is the only one that counts, because He is the One that we will stand before at the end of our lives.
If you have been watching the Date-Line series on: "Child Predators" you see their face's when they realize that they are caught on National TV going to have sex with what they think are children. They can't believe this is happening and they wish they never did this, some even say " I knew I shouldn't do this..." imagine how they feel getting caught on National TV! "But this is nothing compared to when at the end of our life," all of a sudden we are standing in front of God, and He knows every single thing we've every done, every thought..!
Hebrews 9:27
And just as it is appointed for [all] men once to die, and after that the [certain] judgment,
Revelations 2:23b
I am He Who searches minds (the thoughts, feelings, and purposes) and the [inmost] hearts, and I will give to each of you [the reward for what you have done] as your work deserves.
2Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing].
1. What's this all about?
2. What does all this stuff that was written 4,000 thousand years ago have to do with me today?
1.Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods...
Is God the first person that you think of when you wake up, and the last person that you think of when you go to bed, and do you love Him above all else?Deuteronomy 6:5 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might.
Deuteronomy 7:9 Know, recognize, and understand therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, Who keeps covenant and steadfast love and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments...
Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel (and every one), what does the Lord your God require of you but [reverently] to fear the Lord your God, [that is] to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being,
Have you loved God with all your heart? Any thing that we like better then God is a ''god" to us.
2. Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make to thee any graven image,
This means that we shouldn't make a god to suit ourselves, either
making with our hands or thinking it in our minds.
We hear people say things like "my god wouldn't send no one to
hell, " or "my god doesn't mind if I tell little white lies," or "my god won't mind if I just look at the opposite sex but don't touch,"
1John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods)-- [from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life].
All mankind are divided into two parties or dominions; that which belongs to God, and that which belongs to the wicked one. True believers belong to God: they are of God, and from him, and to him, and for him; while the rest, by far the greater number, are in the power of the wicked one; they do his works, (i.e. Breaking the "Ten Commandments"), and support his cause. (Quoted from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary.)
3. Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain:
For the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.Exodus 20:7You shall not use or repeat the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, lightly or frivolously, in false affirmations or profanely]; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
Romans 3:18 There is no [reverential] fear of God before their eyes.
Jeremiah 5:22 Do you not fear and reverence Me? says the Lord. Do you not tremble before Me? I placed the sand for the boundary of the sea, a perpetual barrier beyond which it cannot pass and by an everlasting ordinance beyond which it cannot go? And though the waves of the sea toss and shake themselves, yet they cannot prevail [against the feeble grains of sand which God has ordained by nature to be sufficient for His purpose]; though [the billows] roar, yet they cannot pass over that [barrier]. [Is not such a God to be reverently feared and worshiped?]
4.Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath-day to keep it holy.
The first four of the ten commandments, tell our duty to God. It was right that these should be put first, because man had a Creator to love, before he had a neighbour to love.
One day in seven is to be kept holy (separate). Six days are for worldly labour, i.e. Work,shopping, school, etc... During the six days we must do all our work. But God knew that we needed a day of rest for our bodies and souls (mind, will, emotions) to be healthy, when we work seven days a week we become weak and sick, God made this day for our benefit, (all theCommandments are for our benefit). It also gives us time to know more about Him. Most or us never listen to this Commandment.
5. Exodus 20:12 Honor thy father and thy mother...
In today's society you can tell that there is not much honor or respect for parents. Most have seen TV shows like"The Simpsons," "The Osborne's," "Nanny 911" etc. The family unit is the foundation of society and when the family breaks down i.e, (no honor, no respect, rebellion) to parents etc. So does society. When there's no respect for parents there's no respect for employer's which have no respect for employees, which have no respect for government etc...
honor means = high respect.
respect means = courteous esteem felt or shown towards a person, heed or regard.
esteem means = have a high regard for; greatly respect; think favourably of.
regard means = give heed to; attention and care.
heed means = attend to; take notice of, give careful attention
rebellion means = rebel, a person who fights against, resists, or refuses allegiance to, the established government, i.e. Including (parents)
allegiance means = loyalty (to a person of cause etc.)
And every society that has gone this way does not exist anymore. You can see why this Commandment is so important.
6.Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
Most people think they are safe from this one because they have never physically killed any one, but God says in His Word:Matthew 5:21 You have heard that it was said to the men of old, You shall not kill, and whoever kills shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment...
(enmity) means = hostility, hatred.
1John 3:15 Every one that hates his brother (or fellow man) is a murderer, and ye know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
So all the people that have hurt our feelings, or that we are offended with, or we have ill will and unforgiveness towards them, God sees that equal to murder, because thats where murder starts i.e. " hurt feelings, offense, ill will, unforgiveness, etc..."
7. Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Men and women think that unless they have physically slept with someone else that they are free from adultery, they say "I've never cheated on my spouse," but they constantly look at other people in a sexual way. But God says in His Word:Matthew 5:27 You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery.
Matthew 5:28 But I say to you that everyone who so much as looks at a woman with evil desire for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
This includes looking at the Internet, magazines, and just looking at another person in a lustful way, because thats where adultery starts i.e. " looking and thinking about it, etc..."
8.Exodus 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.
Every one thinks that their safe from this one, they think that if they don't rob convenient stores, or banks etc, they don't have to worry about this one. But what about "lying on taxes or if someone gives you to much money back from your purchase; you don't say anything."Or how about "time theft from work, playing on the Internet instead of working, or coming in late and not docking the time, or taking office supply's without your bosses permission," even if it is a stamp, pen, paper clip, the low value of an item doesn't make any difference.
9. Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness...(Lie's)
Have you ever told a lie, everyone has and that makes us liars, even what we would consider small lies, i.e. "tell them I'm not here right now" or you are late getting somewhere and you tell them that "the traffic was bad," but it wasn't, you just left late, etc...We always think that it doesn't hurt no one if we tell "little white lies" Not to mention the big ones, "lying about taxes, the person you where with, but wasn't suppose to be, etc... But God says in His Word:
Rev 21:8 .And all liars (those who knowingly convey untruth by word or deed)--[all of these shall have] their part in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone...
Why the big deal about lying? Because it makes us untrustworthy, if you'll lie about the little things you'll lie about the big ones to.
Luke 16:10 He who is faithful in a very little [thing] is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest and unjust in a very little [thing] is dishonest and unjust also in much.
Luke 16:11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the [case of] unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches?
God is saying that if we lie about the unimportant things, we most definitely will lie about the important. If we can't be trusted in the little things, we'll never be trustful in the big.
10. Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet...
This means that we shouldn't desire (have a longing for) anything that belongs to another person, i.e. his or her mate, their job or belongings of any kind, etc...
God wants us to be content with what we have, and He will supply what we need, we don't have to covet i.e. have desire for what someone else has.
Matthew 6:31 Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? Or, what are we going to have to drink? Or, what are we going to have to wear?
Matthew 6:32 For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all.
Philippians 4:11 I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.
This is what coveting says, "I want what you have and because I don't have it will have "ill will" towards you, and look for ways to get it."
" We have all broken all or most of these law's," and God knows how weak we are that's why He sent Jesus.
How did God handle the problem of us breaking the Ten Commandments?
John 3:16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
John 3:17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.
He uses the Law i.e. The "Ten Commandments" to show us that we are sinners, but it (the Law) does not have the power to change us.
Doing what the Ten Commandments require in our own strength is called "Legalism" is defined as the attempt to impose any extra condition for achieving righteousness beyond what God Himself has laid down. God's requirement is stated in Romans 4:24-25
Romans 4:24 [Righteousness, standing acceptable to God] will be granted and credited to us also who believe in (trust in, adhere to, and rely on) God, Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
Romans 4:25 Who was betrayed and put to death because of our misdeeds and was raised to secure our justification (our acquittal), [making our account balance and absolving us from all guilt before God].
This is God's simple but all-sufficient requirement to attain righteousness: that we trust ourselves to Him, believing that He did two things on our behalf.
First, He delivered Jesus to death for our sins, (paying our penalty because we broke the 10 Commandments)
Second, He raised Jesus from the dead that we might be reckoned righteous (because the debt we owed is paid in full.) God asks no more than this, and no one has ever been authorized to add anything to God's requirements.
After that, once we have received righteousness in this way "by faith," the righteous acts that are appropriate will flow out of our "faith." But if we add any extra requirement for attaining righteousness, God will not meet us on this basis, and the righteous acts will not follow. We will never be able to go beyond the best that we can achieve by our own fleshly efforts.
Taken from: "Blessing or Curse you can choose."
Written By Derek Prince
What is sin?
Everyone who commits (practices) sin is guilty of lawlessness; for [that is what] sin is, lawlessness (the breaking, violating of God's law by transgression or neglect-being unrestrained and unregulated by His commands and His will). 1John 3:4The law is the:
"Ten Commandments" ( and really all of what God says in His Word.)
We tend to think that "sin" is if we murdering someone or rob someone, selling drugs, incest, homosexuality, adultery, etc... And that is sin, but sin is also being easily offended, having unforgiveness and ill will towards others, being touchy, lusting after others, time theft and taking things from work regardless of how small the value of the thing, lying about our taxes, bad attitudes of any kind, not showing God's kind of love regardless of the situation or how we feel at the time, our feelings have nothing to do with obeying God, etc...
We have to take into account every action that we take during the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, not just Sunday for one or two hours a week, (if that).
This is all a process, once you "get saved" then you'll be able to start where your at and continue little by little to get stronger, God will give us the ability to do His Will by giving us a new spirit so that if we keep our eyes on Him and study His Word, He will enable us do what He says.
"YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN"
GOD GIVES US A NEW HEART & SPIRIT(Because we can't fix our sin in our own power.)
John 3:3 Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.
Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart [a new heart] and I will put a new spirit within them; and I will take the stony [unnaturally hardened] heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh [sensitive and responsive to the touch of their God],
Ezekiel 18:31 Cast away from you all your transgressions by which you have transgressed (sinned) against Me, and make you a new mind and heart and a new spirit. For why will you die...
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Why did God have to give us a new heart?
We have all turned, every one of us, to our own way of doing and handling situations the way we think is right instead of doing it how God does them. A way that was totally different then God designed for us to go in. He never made us to lie, steal, love something else more then Him, adultery, hate, etc... He made us to have "His kind of Character."
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,
Galatians 5:23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. Or said another way "He made us to be just like Jesus."
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has made to light upon Him the guilt and iniquity of us all. [I Pet. 2:24, 25.]
So after we realize that we need a "new spirit" because we have broken the
"Ten Commandments" and have gone our own way, and have no way to fix
ourselves, what's next?
WHAT IS REPENT?
(It's not just some religious word that you put into a prayer.)What does repent mean?
You always hear repent, but what exactly is it and how do I do it?
Gods Word says:
Repent (think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 3:2
regretting means = feel or express sorrow or distress over (an action etc.)
From that time Jesus began to preach, crying out, Repent (change your mind for the better, heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:17
abhorrence means = (abhor) detest; regard with disgust and hatred.
This is the first thing that both Jesus and John the Baptist said when they started their Ministries, it must be pretty important.
Act 3:19 So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean)...
Revelations 3:19 Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude].
Once the Holy Spirit shows us our need for Salvation (which means
deliverance from a hopeless situation, which in our own power we can't get
out of) then what?
"A Sinner's Prayer"
At this moment you can pray the most important prayer of your life by simply saying:Dear Lord Jesus,
I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You came to earth 2,000 years ago. I believe you died for me on the cross and shed Your blood for my salvation. I believe you rose from the dead and ascended on high. I believe You are coming back again to earth. Dear Jesus, I am a sinner. Forgive my sin. Cleanse me now with Your precious blood. Come into my heart. Save my soul right now. I give you my life. I receive You now as my Savior, my Lord, and my God. I am Yours forever, and I will serve You and follow You the rest of my days. From this moment on, I belong to You only. I no longer belong to this world, nor to the enemy of my soul. I belong to You, and I am born again. Amen!
By praying this prayer, confessing your sins, repenting and receiving Jesus Christ into your heart, God has given you the right to become His forgiven child.
The Bible gives you this assurance: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them who believe on His name".
(John 1:12)
Now just get into God's letters to you (the bible) and He wil make Himself real to you, and you'll truly never be the same.
In His service H.S.M.M.
For God so loved the world...(you)
John 3:16
click me!
For God so loved the world...(you)
John 3:16
click me!
