The Moment of If
Writing about our salvation by God, the Apostle Paul brings us back to our moment of “if”. He brings it back to the moment of our salvation experience, saying “…if…”:
– Romans 6:4-7 “5 For if we have become one with Him [permanently united] in the likeness of His death, we will also certainly be [one with Him and share fully] in the likeness of His resurrection.”
– Colossians 3:1-4 NASB Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 [a]Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
He sows that seed of doubt, questioning each of us:
* If we have become one with Him [permanently united]
* If you have been raised with Christ
And then He answers our doubts as we examine our self. We can know we are saved. It is God’s will that we be saved. Today Jesus continues saying, “Whosoever will may come.” See: Acts 2:21; John 3:15-16; John 12:46.
The biggest question
The biggest question for all professing believers:
Were you
truly saved?
Is there any “if” to your salvation story? Could you perhaps have a Cracked Heart?
Were you truly saved?
Beyond the shadow of a doubt — THIS is the biggest question for all professing believers: Were you truly saved, actually redeemed by the blood of the Lamb? Or not.
- Did you “become one with Him [permanently united]”? (Romans 6:5)
- Were you truly saved in your professed “salvation moment“?
- Have you been “raised with Christ”? (Colossians 3:1)
- Have you died and now “your life is hidden with Christ in God”? (Colossians 3:3)
Only you know and God knows. Don’t fool yourself. Jesus will most certainly say to many: “You are NOT of My household” (Matthew 7:20-24; Luke 13:22-30). The worst moment ever, that.
Will you be turned away by Jesus?
Paul basically is saying: There is a humongous ” if ” here. See: Romans 6:4-7.
“if we have become
one with Him”
Giving Him all of you
True salvation in Christ does not require a lot of doctrine, a lot of knowledge, a lot of works, a lot of demonstrating your faith. It does not require we become sinless. The thief on the cross is a prime example (Luke 23:39-43).
What did that thief know about Christ before getting nailed? It was on the cross that he first saw the light. It was a simple verbal exchange with Jesus, and then He died. And then, Jesus kept His promise: “This day….”
Have you made that kind of verbal confession with Jesus? Simple, but true to the core, honest, sincere (Romans 10:9).
And he replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” – Luke 10:27
Don’t worry: He knows your heart. He sees where you are at…. And He can give you eternal life right on the spot, no waiting, no testing you, no doubting you! When you accept Christ as Lord – this happens:
17 Therefore
if anyone
is in Christ,
he is a new creature;
the old things passed away;
behold,
new things have come.
– 2 Corinthians 5:17
See video about The Thief on the Cross
… very worth watching (and funny)
Accept the Gift. Give Him your all.
Just sincerely and honestly accept the Gift, and He will give you a grace that you could never deserve.
Faith is not
a philosophy you spout about,
but rather
an allegiance you live about
day-to-day
with all your heart.
(Based on Luke 10:27)
The truth is, what you say is absolutely worthless – without all of you behind it in action. I think what God is saying here is: It’s all or nothing.
A worthless life arrives in Hell –
Life is full and fast and brief
I’ll not throw it all away – for what?
all my heart to Christ,
all my soul to Christ,
all my mind to Christ,
all my strength to Christ
all my willful, willful self,
all I am, all I want — all for Christ alone.
I’ll step on in to Heaven, complete in Him alone.
Salvation is not based on all I do and all I am.
It’s based on His free gift of grace.
But He requires my all.
– Source: It’s all or nothing. (Based on James 2:20)
And he replied,
“You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your strength,
and with all your mind;
and your neighbor as yourself.”
– Luke 10:27
Got that covered? If I’m not all “in” for Him, my faith is dead (James 2:20) and I’m not His and His alone, and I’m not bound for Heaven. So the question is:
How much is heaven worth to you?
God does the work
We come to Him – and He saves. God does the work of salvation, not the sinner. God does it. This humongous act “is not of yourselves [not through your own effort]” (Ephesians 2:8). But you must choose.
Salvation is a God thing. Thus it does not depend on your works. Salvation is not yours in the end because you gritted your teeth and grunted with effort to cling to His Hand – to the end. We cannot fall out of His Hand – into the fire, because He is the One holding on. (Do you fear His grip is weak? Really?! God Almighty?)
We are all “sinners”. All of us are failing God in many ways – disobedient, time and time again. However, the born again believer does not accept sin in their life. They fight it! Though born again, changed into a new creation, they are still sinners, forgiven, yes, but still struggling against sinning.
On the other side, non-believers, sinners also, have made decisions to accept sin in their life. Whatever the sin may be (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) the “not-truly-saved” person has accepted a normalcy which reveals their true heart.
Their “normalcy” is contrary to God’s normal. Whether a church-going person or not, no matter what their confession of faith —- their “faith” cannot save them because their deeds betray their true allegiance. And it isn’t an allegiance to truly following Christ!
– Source: Sinners, versus living in sin
__________
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].
2 Corinthians 3:5
Not that we are sufficiently qualified in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency and qualifications come from God.
Your moment of decision
The “moment of IF” is your moment of decision. You can have it all – IF: If you accept Jesus with all of you, with sincerity and truth.
Instead of equivocating: Make it “a moment of A Sure Thing” (not an “if” thing). Jesus is that Sure Thing.
Change your “Oh regret” (The sin that was….) — to “Oh joy inexpressible“(joy that is inexpressible and glorious (1 Peter 1:8). That puts you on the journey to God’s Fantastic Home – for those who follow Him.
Are you a goat?
Are you a goat or one of the sheep of His fold (Psalm 23)?
Don’t let your moment of if morph into your eternal moment of not. Decide to follow Jesus.
This article is an adapted excerpt from: Salvation in Christ is beyond huge
FOR MORE:
The Apostle Paul takes us back to the question of questions for all of us about our salvation: The moment of “IF”. Is there any “if” to your salvation story? Could you perhaps have a Cracked Heart?
_____________
Living between two opinions – 1 Kings 18:21
Is yours a sound doctrine that Jesus will approve?
Being 100% given-over to Jesus
Beliefs “deserving full acceptance and approval”
Holding to beliefs “deserving full acceptance and approval”
Being faithful little by little
What joy and exhilaration – soon
See video about The Thief on the Cross… very worth watching (and funny)
We know the will of God in this
Jesus Brings Us To Creator God
Salvation in Christ is beyond huge
The Power of Now | Andree Seu Peterson. | “The power of now”, in World Magazine | Oct 29, 2005. | (She quotes: The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer).
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