Why is this such an important topic? This is undoubtedly the most important question in life! ARE YOU SAVED? The answer to this question determines where you will spend eternity. I have asked so many people, are you saved? Moreover, they answer … “well yea, I was baptized as a youth and grew up in church,” or “yea I know about church and I live a good life”, or “I’ve always believed if we live the best we can honest and we will make heaven”. My friend do not side step this question. God’s word says in (John 3:7) as Jesus was talking to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, and answered his question with this reply “except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” The term born again implies re-birth. In modern day vernacular, it means to be saved. Saved from what? It starts after the time of creation, after Adam and Eve. In the garden God said to them “of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it. For the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Spiritual death and natural death were imposed as a sentence for disobedience as well as dislocation from the Garden of Eden. Before the imposed death penalty in (Genesis 2:7), God had freely given the gift of life to man by breathing life into his nostrils. Therefore, we see the meaning clearly in (Romans 6:23) “for the wages of sin death but the gift of God is eternal life.” Having laid the foundation of the origin of sin, we see now why we “must be born again.”

Gods’ Plan to Restore Fellowship with Mankind:

• The remedy for sin was established long before the plague of sin appeared in humanity (I Peter 1:19-20) “But with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot who verily was ordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”  (Revelation 13:8) “The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”  (john 3:16) “For God so loved the world, He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. (II Peter 3:9) “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Every person is given the opportunity to “get right” or restore fellowship with God.


• God declares in scripture that all people are sinful and separated from God. Therefore, it is impossible to experience God’s plan for our lives. (Romans 5:12) “Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, that all have sinned.” ( Romans 6:23) “for the wages of sin is death.” The result of sin is death and separation from God.


• Jesus Christ is the antidote for the death sentence. He is the remedy for sin and separation. (John 14:6) “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the father, but by me.” ( Romans 5:17-18) “for if by one man’s offense [Adam] death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as by one the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation [Adam]. Even so, by the righteousness of one [Jesus] the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.


• It is important to grasp the concept of Christ becoming our substitute, or the object of God’s wrath. Christ’s vicarious life, displayed in the form of a sacrificial lamb, His cruel death was the payment for sin, in that the blood of a spotless lamb or sacrifice would appease the demands of a just God. (Leviticus 17:11 )“for the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the alter to make atonement for your souls; for tit is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul.”( II Corinthians 5:21) “for he [God] hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.


• Now that provision has been made, it is up to you to accept the invitation of life everlasting in the family of God. Personal invitation in (Revelation 3:20 )“Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come to him.”  (John 1:12 )“ But as many as receive Him [Christ] to them gave he power to become the son’s of God, even to them that call upon his name”. (Ephesians 2:8) “For by grace are ye saved Through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.”


• Acceptance, based on faith and repentance is the first step, then on to confession, which will provide the new believer with a clear conscience. Let me say a little on repentance and its importance. The Greek word for repentance is Metanoia which means reversal of one’s decision or a change of mind; going in another direction. The earmark of true conversion is a life that is set on a different course, a change of mind about the direction in which one is going. II (Corinthian 5:17 )“Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creation; old things are passed away; and behold, all things become new.” (II Corinthians 7:10) “For Godly sorrow worketh repentance [change of mind] to salvation not to be repented of.” (Romans 10:9-10 )“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shall be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteaouness ; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”(I John 1:9) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”


• Now by faith in God’s word and through acceptance, repentance and confession you now have been cleared of all your previous sins and have been accepted into the family of God, you now have experienced new birth, new life, you are a new creature in Christ, and the heavy burden of sin has been lifted. (Romans 6:4) “We are buried with by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the Glory of the Father, even so also we should walk in newness of life.”( Romans 8:1-2) “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit, For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”


• Now having a life evidenced by good fruits, service and good deeds, which I may remind you all this is based on a love relationship with Christ. Works will not save us! I serve my wife because I love her, not out of duty. It is very important now to find a body of believers [church] and join fellowship. Pursue Water baptism for it was a command of procedure to follow salvation. Baptism is the act of an outward profession of or faith in Christ. Symbolizing being buried with him in baptism and being raised up in newness of life as stated previously out of (Romans 6:4). Church attendance is supported by scripture (Hebrews 10:25) “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the day approaching”.


• Do not forget private devotion. Read and study your bible and find a secluded place to pray to the father above, as Christ was our example in John 17.


• Importantly, seek for the baptism in the Holy Ghost. Remember it is a second and subsequent experience according to the pattern in the lives of New Testament believers. We emphasize this because the Holy Spirit’s role has been neglected over the centuries. The Full-Gospel message proclaims the centrality of the work of the Holy Ghost as an active agent of the Trinity in God’s self-revelation to his creation. (Joel 2:28) A prophecy was given of an outpouring of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:1-4) promise of the outpouring of the Holy Ghost fulfilled. Other narrative New Testament examples are found in (Acts 8:14-20, 9:17, 10: 44-48 & 19:1-7). The Holy Ghost also empowers us to live a victorious life over sin and make intercession to the father when we do not know how or what to pray for; he is a help and guide.


• Are you ready to receive Christ as your Lord and Savior? Let us pray together.