WHEN A CHRISTIAN, IN THIS PRESENT WORLD, SAYS THAT HE IS "SAVED." HE IS TESTIFYING TO THE FACT THAT HE IS A MEMBER IN THE BODY OF CHRIST, FREE FROM SIN AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. THAT HE HAS RECEIVED THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST, THAT HE IS ALIVE BOTH PHYSICALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY, THAT HE IS IN RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD, AND THAT HE IS ONE OF GOD'S ELECT. PREDESTINATED FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, TO WALK UPON THE STREET OF GOLD IN THE HEAVENLY CITY NEW JERUSALEM. Eph:1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (KJV) Eph:1:4: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Eph:1:5: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, THOSE OF US THAT ARE SAVED, WILL NEVER BE CONDEMNED AS LONG AS HE ABSTAINS FROM THE WORKS OF THE FLESH. Rom:8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Rom:8:2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. HE THAT RECEIVES THE HOLY GHOST, IS ALIVE BOTH PHYSICALLY, AND SPIRITUALL, FOR IT IS HOLY GHOST THAT BRINGS THE INWARD MAN, THE SOUL, TO LIFE. THE RECEIVING OF THE HOLY GHOST IS THE EARNEST OF OUR INHERITANCE. Eph:1:13: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Eph:1:14: Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. WE, THE SAINTS OF GOD, FOUND GRACE IN THE EYES OF GOD BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. BEFORE WE WERE BORN, BEFORE WE HAD DONE ANY GOOD, OR EVIL, GOD LOVED US, AND PREDESTINATED US TO BE ADOPTED INTO HIS FAMILY OF FAITH. GRACE IS AN UNMERITED FAVOR. WE DID NOTHING TO DESERVE GOD'S LOVE, BUT HE LOVED US; ELECTED, SELECTED, HAND PICKED US TO BE HIS VERY OWN. BY GRACE ARE WE SAVED THROUGH FAITH, AND NOT OF OURSELVES, IT IS A GIFT OF GOD. Eph:2:8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph:2:9: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph:2:10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. HOLY CHILDREN FILL YOUR LIFE WITH GOOD WORKS, FOR EVERY GOOD DEED IS WRITTEN DOWN. Rv:20:11: And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. Rv:20:12: And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. IF YOU ARE A NEW CONVERT TO THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, YOU MAY NOT BE ACQUAINTED WITH HOW WE BECOME A MEMBER IN THE BODY OF CHRIST. WHEN A CHILD IS BORN INTO THE WORLD, BECAUSE OF THE ORIGINAL SIN OF ADAM HE IS ALIVE PHYSICALLY BUT DEAD SPIRITUALLY, THE INWARD MAN THE SOUL IS DEAD. 1Cor:15:22: For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (KJV) WHEN ADAM TRANSGRESSED THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD, SIN WAS IMPUTED UNTO ADAM, AND BECAUSE OF OUR PHYSICAL UNION WITH ADAM SIN WAS ALSO IMPUTED TO ALL HUMANITY. WHEN THE SPIRIT OF GOD DEPARTED FROM ADAM WE ALL DIED THE SPIRITUAL DEATH. NOW WHEN A CHILD IS BORN INTO THE WORLD, HE MUST BE BORN AGAIN. THE SOUL OF MAN MUST BE BROUGHT TO LIFE. Jn:3:4: Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jn:3:5: 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. Jn:3:6: That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. COME INTO THIS KNOWLEDGE SAINTS OF GOD, IT IS THE INWARD MAN THE SOUL THAT SHALL LIVE IN ETERNITY. THE OUTWARD MAN OF FLESH, AND BLOOD SHALL PERISH, BUT THE INWARD MAN, THE SOUL, IS RENEWED DAY BY DAY. 2Cor:4:16: For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (KJV) BELOVED OF GOD, WHEN THE ELECT OF GOD ARE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, THEY COME INTO THE PROMISE THAT THEY SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST, IT IS THE HOLY GHOST THAT BRINGS THE SOUL OF MAN TO LIFE. Acts:2:38: 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. (KJV) WILL THE WATER OF YOUR BAPTISM SAVE YOU? YES, THE WATER OF YOUR BAPTISM WASHES YOUR SINS AWAY. ANANIAS, A DEVOUT MAN, SAID THESE WORDS TO THE APOSTLE PAUL. Acts:22:16: And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. AS THE WATER SAVED NOAH, THE WATER OF YOUR BAPTISM WILL SAVE YOU. 1Pt:3:21: The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: SAINTS OF GOD, I BELIEVE THAT THE NAME LORD JESUS IS THE MASTER KEY TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. I BASE MY OPINION ON THESE VERSES OF SCRIPTURE. Acts:19:1: And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, Acts:19:2: He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. Acts:19:3: And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Acts:19:4: Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. Acts:19:5: When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts:19:6: And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. Acts:19:7: And all the men were about twelve. WHEN THE ELECT OF GOD, ARE BAPTIZED INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD, THEY ARE TRANSLATED OUT OF THE WORLD, AND INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST. Gal:3:27: For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (KJV) AND, WHEN THEY RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST THEY ARE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. FOR WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD? THE KINGDOM OF GOD, IS RIGHTEOUSNESS PEACE, AND JOY IN THE HOLY GHOST. Rom:14:17: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (KJV) WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR THE CHILDREN OF GOD TO BE BAPTIZED INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST? 1Jn:5:11: And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (KJV) ETERNAL LIFE IS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A PERSON TO RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE OUTSIDE OF THE BODY OF CHRIST? INSIDE OF THE BODY OF CHRIST IS THE SYSTEM OF LAW KNOWN AS THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE, OUTSIDE OF THE BODY OF CHRIST IS THE LAW OF MOSES' WHICH IS KNOWN AS THE LAW OF SIN, AND DEATH. Rom:8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Rom:8:2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Rom:8:3: For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: Rom:8:4: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. HOW ARE WE, THE ELECT OF GOD, MADE RIGHTEOUS IN THE EYES OF GOD? WE ARE MADE RIGHTEOUS BY FAITH, AND CONFESSION. Rom:10:9: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Rom:10:10: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. CHILDREN OF LIGHT, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS TO MAKE HEAVEN OUR ETERNAL HOME. AND, THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY THAT I KNOW OF TO BE PERFECTLY RIGHTEOUS IN THE EYES OF GOD. AND THAT IS, WHEN A CHILD OF GOD PLACES THEIR FAITH, AND THEIR TRUST IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST FOR THEIR SALVATION, GOD THE FATHER ALLOWS HIS CHILDREN TO DECLARE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST, WHICH IS A PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS PASS. Rom:3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Rom:3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Rom:3:25: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; Rom:3:26: To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. THERE ARE MULTITUDES OF FALSE PROPHETS THAT PREACH FAITH PLUS NOTHING EQUAL SALVATION, BUT THAT IS HERESY. FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD. Jms:2:20: But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (KJV) LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, IF A MAN BELIEVES THE DOCTRINE, OF FAITH PLUS NOTHING EQUALS SALVATION, AND REFUSES TO PARTAKE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER, THERE WILL BE NO LIFE IN HIM. EXCEPT A MAN EATS OF THE FLESH, OF THE LORD JESUS, AND DRINKS OF HIS BLOOD, HE WILL HAVE NO LIFE IN HIM. Jn:6:53: Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Jn:6:54: Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. Jn:6:55: For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. Jn:6:56: He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. Jn:6:57: As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. Jn:6:58: This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. LET ME GIVE YOU ANOTHER EXAMPLE, IF A MAN REFUSES TO WORK IN THE HARVEST, AND IS NOT FRUITFUL. HE WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE BODY OF CHRIST, AND BURNED. Jn:15:1: I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Jn:15:2: Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Jn:15:3: Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Jn:15:4: Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. Jn:15:5: I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. Jn:15:6: If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. THE SECRET TO RECEIVING ETERNAL LIFE IS TO ABIDE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST. THE SECRET TO ABIDING IN CHRIST, IS TO BE FRUITFUL. THE SECRET TO BEING FRUITFUL IS TO OBEY CHRIST JESUS. THE SECRET TO OBEYING JESUS IS TO LOVE HIM. THE SECRET TO LOVING CHRIST IS TO KNOW HIM. BELOVED OF GOD, FOR A PERSON TO RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE, THEY MUST REPENT. EXCEPT A PERSON REPENT, THEY SHALL SURELY PERISH. WHAT IS REPENTANCE? IT IS THE TURNING FROM DOING YOUR OWN WILL, TO DOING GOD'S WILL. AND BE TO SORRY FOR THE SINS THAT YOU HAVE COMMITTED. JESUS, THE SON OF GOD, SAID THESE WORDS. Lk:13:4: Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? (KJV) Lk:13:5: I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. CHILDREN OF GOD, IS IT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO YOUR SALVATION THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST WASH YOUR FEET, AND THAT YOU WASH THEIR FEET? YES, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS, I BASE MY OPINION ON THESE VERSES OF SCRIPTURE. Jn:13:8: Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Jn:13:9: Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jn:13:10: Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. Jn:13:11: For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. Jn:13:12: So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Jn:13:13: Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. Jn:13:14: If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. Jn:13:15: For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
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