Now in studying the words of God, Jesus Christ, we must expect to be turning the pages of the Holy Bible to come to one understanding ["here a little and there a little"] (Isaiah 28:10). I suggest using the King James Version (KJV). The Word of God can never contradict itself.
What Must I Do To Be Born Again
This lesson is to clarify and enlighten one to the steps for eternal salvation. Here you will find some (but not all) of the most important things one must do in order to be saved. ("Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" John 3:3).
The "born again" process can be put into five steps:
*Note: This is the package leading up to baptism. Nothing can be skipped or left out; it is impossible and takes away from the real meaning of "born again."
The belief in God Almighty is first step. God is creator of all things. This is trivial to most people, but to believe in God means to believe in His only begotten son whom He gave to die for all (John 3:16). God is the God that gave the gift of life to all of mankind.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16).
The belief on the Lord Jesus Christ is the second step. "It is impossible to obtain salvation without Jesus Christ. He is our deliverer from sin. His very name, Jesus, means just that (Matthew 1:21). One must believe that God gave Jesus as a record for our salvation. One must believe that He is worthy and just to forgive us of our sins when we confess by Him (Hebrew 7:25). Jesus died for all man, thus all man is dead, but lives through Him that is resurrected and lives (Revelation 1:17, 18.) Believe on Christ: He is eternal life (1John 5:12; John 3:18).
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16).
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his son." (1John 5:10).
"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." (Roman 8:16).
"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Hebrew 7:25).
"He that hath the Son hath life." (1John 5:12).
"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18).
"I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." (Revelation 1:17, 18).
Confession is the third step. Confession is a critical part in the process (1John 1:9). Confession says that you have recognizgd who God Almighty and Jesus Christ is. It says that you realized who you are without Jesus in your life-nothing, a sinner, lost, condemned to the lake of fire in Hell, filthy and wretched. Plain and simple, confession comes by realization. Realization of the fact that you have sinned and is short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). This is the point in which you would feel a "godly sorrow" [sorry after a godly manner] for everything in your past, perhaps, even to tears. One must understand that it is here emotions WILL be stirred, stirred to the point of repentance (2Corinthians 7:10).
*Note: Can a child that cannot speak or understand (babies) be baptized? NO. Confession comes by the realization of one's sinful nature and past.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us form all unrighteousness." (1John 1:9).
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23).
"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." (2Corinthians 7:10).
Repentance is the forth step. One's repentance picks up where their confessions left off. Having realized one's sinful nature, one must repent to God from it (Acts 20:21). Repentance is where forgiveness from God take its effect (Acts 3:19). This is to say, they would want nothing to do with their past sinful lifestyle anymore (2Corinthians 7:10). One will detest their unrighteousness and furthermore practices to live righteously (Ezekiel 18:30, 31; Romans 6:1, 2). This is last step before baptism (Matthew 3:8).
"Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward or Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 20:21).
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your"sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19).
"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation..." (2Corinthians 7:10).
"Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit:" (Ezekiel 18:30, 31; Romans 6:1, 2).
"Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:" (Matthew 3:8).
Baptism is the last but not least step. Baptism means a dipping under; burial; complete immersion in water. Not sprinkling or pouring, as some are lead to believe. The Bible says that they went into the water (Acts 8:38). Also, John went where there were a lot of water to baptize not where there was just enough to sprinkle (John 3:23).The water represents the blood Christ shed on the cross. Baptism by water is a must (John 3:5). Baptism is symbolic of two of many things: (1) Washing/cleansing. (2) The death, burial, and the resurrection of Christ from the grave. One can only be born again through baptism. It shows that one has been passed from death (buried in the water) unto life (coming out of the water). It is the only way one can enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:5). Every one is a sinner until they believe and accept Christ as He is-the redeemer of sin, and everlasting life (Act 16:30-33; Acts 2:38). Sin exists in this world because of one man, and in contrast, only one man can and will cleanse us from sin, respectively Adam and Jesus Christ (Romans 5:12; 1Corinthians 15:21, 22). Plainly put, baptism says this: Now that I have repented of my sins and accepted Christ, I will prove my belief by accepting His gift of eternal life. Christ is who He is because he died and shed blood for all mankind and resurrected the third day. Baptism is putting words, emotion, and belief into action. It is like an acknowledging signature at the end of a contract; One will have said, 'I am dead to the world of sin and in Christ I live through his resurrection' (Romans 6:1-6, 11). Jesus said except a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:5). One must be spiritual in other to be on a level of communication and understanding with God for He is Spirit (John 3:6; Romans 8:1, 9). Everyone baptized now represents Christ and are one with Him (Galatians 3:27-28). Finally, when"one has immerged out of the water they are a NEW PERSON (2Chorinthians 5:17). All things in the past do not exist anymore. It is the first breath of life all over again-the Divine second chance, Amen (Romans 6:7, 10).
"And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him." (Acts 8:38).
"And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized." (John 3:23).
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5).
"And brought tem out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house." "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Act 16:30-33; Acts 2:38).
"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof." "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."(Romans 5:12; 1Corinthians 15:21, 22).
"What shall we say tjen? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."(Romans 6:1-6, 11).
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:6; Romans 8:1, 9).
"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:27-28).
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2Chorinthians 5:17).
"For he that is dead is freed from sin." "For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God." (Romans 6:7, 10).
"One Lord, one faith, one baptism."(Ephesians 4:5).
Believe in God Almighty and His gift that He gave, Jesus Christ. When confessing, one might want to take comfort in King David's confessing prayer to God in Psalms 51:1-3
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
It is better to confess your sins now before it is too late; for the time will come when everyone will, (Romans 14:11, 12) but without the chance for salvation. Having realized what we are, one will see the need for repentance from all wrong and all evil doing-even that which they were ignorant of. Baptism is the final and most important step of the process. One must be completely immersed in water and raised up out of the water in the likeness of Christ's death (Romans 6:5). Why? Because this symbolizes that we are "like" him at his resurrection, dead to sin, but yet alive and well (Revelations 1:17, 18). Having completely understand [realize] this, one should see no need for further or consequent baptisms [/resurrections], no, not even in the name of rededication. "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." (Ephesians 4:5). Truly, one would agree that the 'final step' is actually a series of steps until one dies or until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ-the Christian race, life or walk. Now, how must one live? The book of Romans 6 and Colossians 3 gives great instructions for the new born child of God. Now that one know the importance of baptism, I pray that they may make the right decisions in their life to study God's word, which is Christ Jesus, and pray for personal conviction that one may find themselves willing and ready to take that final step as did the eunuch in Acts 8:36, "[the eunuch said] See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" I leave you with the words from Ananias-"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). Amen. May God bless you.
Written by: Roberto Blackman Member of the Church of God 7th Day
JEREMIAH 7 - SELF-DECEPTION AND MINGLED RELIGION
It is time for the watchmen to blow the trumpet: destruction is all around us and Christ is pleading that we should amend our ways. It is only when we walk fully in the word of YHWH we will be able to receive of His manifold blessings, therefore let us take heed to the word of YHWH, to obey is much better than to sacrifice.
Urgent Prayer Request
I am asking everyone to say a prayer for my friend Ben. He suffered a stroke which paralyzed one side of this body. He was then diagnosed with Lupus. The doctors then found a tumor in his brain. He's in pretty bad shape, but I know God will see him through. Please say a prayer for Ben.
Urgent Prayer Request
We are requesting for all to keep Bro. Patrick, Sis. Sephora, Bro. Defoe, and Sis. Defoe in prayer. They are very sick and are in great need of our prayers. Whenever you have a chance, please just bow your head and mention these lovely brethren that God will work his miraculous mercy and their healing will their life long testimony.
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