Salvation & How to be Born Again

Our Separation From God

Ever since God created mankind, even though he was created without sin, he has been making bad choices that have led him further and further away from God.

On the one hand, God is pure and righteous and holy, but on the other, mankind has become filled with every kind of wickedness that cannot exist in the presence of our God.

It is our own sinfulness (according to God's standard) that separates us from God, and if it is not remedied, it will ultimately lead us to the fire of hell.

But God does not want that for anyone.  He loves us and wants us to be happy — both now and eternally.  So even though we have no way of paying the price for our own sinfulness in this life, God — because of his great love for us — paid the price for us, so that we could be completely forgiven as a free gift from him.

God's Plan Begins to Unfold

God knew that there was nothing we could do to save ourselves, so from the beginning – because of that love – he planned to send his very own son to provide the way for our salvation.

About 2,000 years ago, one of God's chief angels appeared to a Jewish virgin woman named Mary and announced that the Holy Spirit would come upon her – that she would bear a son who would be known as the Son of the Most High – and that she should name him Jesus (Yeshua in their language).

Although Jesus was fully human, in spirit, he was totally one with God and was completely without sin.

From the time Jesus was about 30, he preached for 3½ years about the kingdom of God and the way to salvation, working many miracles and healing everyone who came to him with a need.

Out of jealousy and fear of losing their positions, the Jewish leaders handed him over to the Romans to be crucified — but they did not understand the goodness and mercy of God, who planned to use the crucifixion as an instrument of salvation.

The Crucifixion

The Roman soldiers flogged him terribly using a whip with metal bits in it, his skin was torn from his flesh.  They punched him, plucked his beard, spat on him, and beat him with heavy sticks.  They pushed a crown of thorns on his head so that the thorns pierced deep into his skin, and they mocked him disgracefully.

Then he had to walk through the streets carrying his cross to the place where they crucified him.  At the top of a hill, they nailed him to the cross with large nails.  Nails went through each hand at the base of the palm (at the wrist) piercing the great median nerve and causing excruciating pain.  Then a single nail went through both feet so that he could stand on the nail with the bone of his heal.

They stood the cross upright so that Jesus would be on display in the most amount of pain.  For some of the time he would stand on the nail in his feet, but then because of exhaustion, he would hang by the nails in his wrists.  But hanging would make it very difficult to breathe, and with one of his shoulders dislocated, it was incredibly painful.

After six hours of writhing agony on the cross, Jesus died.  His body was placed in a new tomb and a very large rock was rolled across the entrance.

The Resurrection and Return of Jesus

Of course, being the son of God, neither death nor the grave could hold him, and on the third day after his death (very early on the Sunday morning), he rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples over the next 40 days.

He then ascended into heaven in sight of them all, and now sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty – interceding for us – until the day of his glorious return in the very near future... Very likely, in this very generation.

On that day, all who have died who have put their faith and love in Jesus, will be raised from the dead (just like he was) and will be taken up to the clouds to meet Jesus.  Then, all of us who are still alive will be changed in an instant – we shall be given new, glorious bodies and raised up with all the others to meet Jesus in the clouds...

We will live and reign with Jesus forever.  There will be no more sorrow or tears, no more suffering or pain, but we shall have eternal life with God, knowing all the joy and paradise of heaven.

And remember, all this is given as a free gift from God to those who will receive it!

The Free Gift of Salvation

Jesus' suffering and death was all for a purpose.  God knew that there was no way for our relationship with him to be restored unless he provided that way himself...

So because he loves us so much, he sent his only son to pay the price that we could never pay.  Even though Jesus was completely free from sin, God laid the guilt of us all upon him, then allowed him to suffer a terrible death on the cross to pay the penalty that was actually due to each of us.

Our sinfulness has nothing to do with how good we are compared to anyone else, but how sinful we are compared to God.  Comparing ourselves with each other (from God's perspective) is like comparing the height of ants from outer space!

The fact is, all of us have sinned in various ways and need the forgiveness of God.  All of us know that we have done things that we would be ashamed to talk about in front of a holy and righteous God...

Can anyone truly say that all of their thoughts and actions (of their whole life) have been pure and holy and honest, and full of loving-kindness toward others?  Can anyone say that they've maintained a faithful and perfect relationship with the one, true God? ...No, we have all failed in many ways!

And matter how bad your sins may have been, and no matter how much guilt you feel in your heart over the things you have done wrong, he is willing to forgive you.

That is why Jesus died on the cross so terribly. He paid the price so that everyone could have forgiveness of their sins through faith in him.

Rarely would anyone die to save the life of a good person, but who can comprehend the love of God, that while we were still sinners, he sacrificed his own son so that we could have life.

But the gift of God only begins with the forgiveness of our sins.  If you accept his free gift...

• He will immediately transform you on the inside. He will give you a new spirit that is able to love God and other people more than you have ever done before.
    
• He will immediately come and live inside of you and begin a true relationship of love with you.
    
• Immediately, he will adopt you as his own child, and by his Holy Spirit within you, you will instantly know him as your own, heavenly Father.
    
• He will give you eternal life with him and he will give you peace and joy that you have never known before.
    
• He will raise you up on the last day and give you a new, glorious body (just like his) - able to live and appear in either the physical or spiritual realms - and completely free from all sickness and disease.
    
• At that time, he will receive the whole church of believers as his own bride, and there will be a huge and wonderful marriage supper.
    
  It won't be like earthly marriages between men and women, it will be a heavenly marriage between God and all those who have accepted Jesus and remained faithful.
    
• And you will live and reign with him forever.
    
• And for the here and now — for those who will delight themselves in learning and following his wisdom — he offers abundant life, success, prosperity, and even the ability to change your society for the better!

How to Receive the Free Gift of Salvation

It really is very simple to receive God's free gift...

Now that you have heard this wonderfully good news, if you believe in your heart that Jesus came to save you, all you need to do, is to say a prayer from your heart — one that expresses your belief, and your desire to change and to receive his forgiveness and salvation.

He is listening to you right now.  He hears your every word.  He hears your every thought, and he knows everything that is in your heart... He is keenly waiting for you to accept his offer of love and forgiveness.

If you would like to receive his wonderful gift right now, then open your heart to him and pray this prayer (or one like it)...

Dear Jesus, 
I believe that you are the son of God.
I believe that you came to earth to save me.
And I believe that you died on the cross to pay the penalty for all my sins.
I am so sorry that I have sinned against you,
And I choose right now, to turn away from sinful living.
I invite you to be my Lord and Saviour, and to abide in me with the Holy Spirit.
Forgive my sins and wash me clean.
Change my heart and make me a new creation.
Adopt me as a child of God and set me free from every evil and curse.
Set me on the path of your abundant life and true happiness.
Thank you Jesus!
Amen!

If you have sincerely prayed that prayer (or something like it) then all your sins are now forgiven!  You are now a child of God and he is living inside of you!  All your guilt is gone and you can feel the difference!  You are free, and there is a new joy welling up inside of you!  Praise God, you have been born again!

Water Baptism

Jesus said that everyone who turns to him in this way should be baptised (immersed in water).  This is normally done as a celebration, at a meeting with other Christians.

When we are baptised, it's a symbolic demonstration that we have been washed from our sins.  Also, as we go down into the water, it shows that we have died to sin, and as we rise up, that we have risen to a new life.  In this respect, we are honouring Jesus for all that he has done for us, and declaring to the world that we have turned away from sinful living and have chosen to live God's way.

Baptism also has a powerful effect in telling Satan that you are no longer under his power (the power of sin), but that you are now a child of God and live in victory by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit

When you accepted Jesus and were born again, the Holy Spirit came inside of you and now abides within you.  He gently comforts you and helps you to grow in the knowledge and ways of God.  But God has promised an even more powerful experience of the Holy Spirit, which the Bible calls the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

It is Jesus himself who baptises with the Holy Spirit, and in many cases he does it in response to the laying on of hands.  This is when one or more pastors (or other anointed leaders) put their hands on your head and pray for you to receive this promise.

Another common way, is when the Spirit of God is strongly present during anointed gatherings of prayer, worship or preaching.

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is to give you power and confidence to boldly do the work of God's kingdom and to help strengthen the church.  You become so immersed in God's Spirit that you are changed from being timid, to being full of power and boldness for God.

The Holy Spirit also has many gifts to help you do the work of God's kingdom.

All these gifts are listed in the Bible (in 1 Cor 12), but most commonly you will receive the gift of tongues (this is the Holy Spirit speaking different languages through you), or the gift of prophecy (which is the Holy Spirit speaking through you in your own language).  But there are also gifts of healing and miraculous powers and other wonderful gifts.

If you have been saved, but have not yet received the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, then speak to your pastor, because it is very important to have this empowering gift if you want to be an effective Christian who is able to make a powerful impact on your community, or even the whole world.

Growing as a Christian

We all need to grow in our walk with God, and when we meet together, we are able to encourage each other and learn more about the ways of God.  Your pastor, who is trained in God's Word and the ways of God is there to guide you and teach you in the way of a believer.

The most important book for all Christians is the Bible.  All Christians should make it a top priority to obtain a copy and to read and study it every day.  The Bible contains God's words and instructions for abundant life — his wisdom — and all the information we need to live according to his way.

The Way of Love

God's way is the way of love, and a person without love is like a car without fuel... Without fuel, even the most beautiful car in the world will never fulfil its true purpose.

The most important commandment that God has given us is... 

Love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind
and with all your strength.

And the second is like it...

Love your neighbour as yourself.

The second commandment is also summarised in another way...

Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

Everything else that has been taught through God's Word and the Prophets hangs on these two commandments.  If we are not obeying these two, then we are like a car without fuel, and nothing else will have any eternal benefit.

In the second commandment, "your neighbour" means any other person – especially ones you meet who have a need with which you could help.

To love them "as yourself," means that you have compassion on them, and do for them as you would do for yourself...

If you had a wound, you would wash and dress it.  If hungry, you would feed yourself.  If cold, you would clothe yourself.  If you needed salvation, you would give yourself Jesus.

In short, in whatever way that you would like others to be generous to you, or that you would be generous to yourself, cheerfully do likewise to others... And God's promise, is that He will give it back to you many times over.

Jesus commanded all Christians to live with this kind of love toward everyone whom God brings into their lives (but only when we are born again do we have the ability to do so).

Jesus also said, whatever you do to the least of these ... you do to me.  So God measures the love we have for him by the love we express to others.

Abundant Life

After salvation, it is very important for Christians...

• To grow in their relationship with Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit.
• To do good works.
• And to help others discover Jesus.

Indeed, it's at the very core of our faith to do these things.

Many Christians however, tend to think that they should not expect any improvements to their circumstances in life until Jesus returns and we are all raised in glory.

For example, many who live in poverty, believe that (except from a little outside help) God expects them remain in poverty until Jesus returns.

In fact, nothing could be further from the truth...

Jesus said that he came, so that we could all have abundant life.  He wants all of us to prosper in every good endeavour — providing of course, that we do it his way and not deceitfully.  His word contains all the wisdom on how to do this, but he leaves it up to us to learn and follow that wisdom.

If you want to rise up out of poverty — it is God's will for you to do so — and he will help you — provided that you learn and apply his wisdom... It's that simple!

So if you have a dream to accomplish something great — go for it!  Scripture says that all things are possible with God, and that we can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us.  

Our limitations are not determined by our circumstances, but only by our thinking.  Always remember: Our God created the universe, he is the God of miracles, and his dream, is for you to be a super-achiever, full of joy and life — and and he will work the impossible to help you.  So again, just learn God's wisdom from the Bible, and go for it!

(Please note that we help you to learn this wisdom in our Abundant Life Program.)

Final Note

If you have just received Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, please share it with us via email (see the contacts page) so that we may share in your joy.  Thank you.

Much love in Jesus,
Michael O'Brien