The New Birth: Salvation in Jesus Christ

Love Walk Church Amelia Island

Foundations Class

Lesson 1- The new birth: Salvation in Jesus Christ

Congratulations! If you are taking this class, it is because you have made the best decision of your life, and you have now passed from darkness to light and entered the world-wide family of God!!

           Of course, with this major change in your life and destiny, we thought it would help to have these next few weeks to begin to help you to understand all the wonderful benefits and responsibilities you now have.  So sit back, take lots of notes, ask lots of questions, and enjoy your new abundant life.

Being born again

God wants everyone to be “Saved,” but not everyone wants to be. Fortunately, you have made the right choice (and the only one that really makes sense). 

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosever would believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

How do we get saved?

In John 3:1-7, Jesus told Nicodemus, who was a sincere “religious” leader that to enter the Kingdom of God you need a new nature, you need a spiritual rebirth, you must be born again!

Jesus answered and said unto him, “Truly, truly, I say unto you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3 (NAS)

Jesus said, “You must be born again.” John 3:3-7

Why do we need to be born again?

           Since the days of Adam and Eve, all mankind has been cursed with a death penalty because of inherent sin.  In other words, we didn’t choose to be born sinners, but nevertheless, because of inherent sin, sin has been passed down to all generations. 

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so, death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.  Romans 5:12

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

How do we become born again?

That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead you will be saved.  For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  Romans 10:9-10

benefits of salvation

           According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, salvation in the Hebrew (ישועה) is Ysuah (Jesus), which means to be open wide, or free, that is to be safe; something saved, that is deliverance; hence aid, victory, prosperity, health, help, salvation, save, and welfare. 

           In the Greek, it is Sotiria (σωτηρία), meaning; a deliverer, rescue or safety (physically or morally), deliver, health, salvation, save, saving. 

           So, salvation is more than just a “free ticket to Heaven.”  It encompasses all the known needs of man.

Five facets of salvation

1.     Salvation- Justified “Just if I’d” never sinned and “Just if I’d” always done right.  (Romans 3:24; Colossians 1:4)

2.     Peace- through the atonement “At one ment” (Colossians 1:20; Romans 5:11; Isaiah 3)

3.     Deliverance- from demons and your past.  (Colossians 1:20; Isaiah 53)

4.     Health- both physically and mentally (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24)

5.     Wealth- wisdom, relationships, and money (2 Corinthians 8:9)

further benefits of salvation

           Salvation is both instant and progressive.  Just as you wouldn’t expect a new born baby to drive a new car, God doesn’t expect you to be perfect right away.  On the other hand, you wouldn’t expect a 20-year-old to be sporting diapers and a bottle, and neither does God. 

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. Galatians 5:22

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. Mark 8:34

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:19

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Is my salvation Permanent?

           There is a very dangerous doctrine in the church today about “once saved always saved.” These doctrines of devils are unfounded in the Word of God, and will, in fact, lead to eternal damnation if believed.  Common sense tells us that if a person were to be charged with a crime, and then forgiven or the penalty was paid, no judge would the in their right mind allow the criminal to do the same crimes without further punishment. 

So the answer is YES! If you continue in grace.

Grace is the power not to sin again, but to do good.  Not the license to sin again. 

·       God’s

·       Riches

·       At

·       Christ’s

·        Expense

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8

How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? James 2:20

You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell^[a] is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. Matthew 7:13

So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11

Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don’t believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. Hebrews 6:9

Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. ²⁵ All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen. Jude 1:24-25

A brief note on salvation:

           Everyone of us carried the sentence of death in ourselves and rightly so.  If God allowed us all to die and spend eternity in Hell as our punishment, He would be more than just.  God is not only just, He is love.  He is also slow to anger and rich in mercy, and has provided by taking upon Himself at the cross, our humiliation, our shame, and our sentence of Death and eternity in Hell and separation from God.  In doing so, He has provided for us not only a way of escape, but the possibility of an eternity as His children!

And what great nation has decrees and regulations as righteous and fair as this body of instructions that I am giving you today? Deuteronomy 4:8

Just as God came down and personally delivered them (Israel) from all their fears and enemies and supplied everything they needed for a prosperous life, so it is with us.  No one person having been born blind, deaf, dumb or crippled would refuse to have their senses restored or their libs healed.  Therefore, no human in their right mind would be so incredibly destitute of wisdom as to reject so great a Salvation.  However, incredulously some do, but fortunately not so with you. 

Congratulations on your decision to make Christ bot your Savior and Lord.  I implore you now to give all your mind, soul, and strength into strengthening your relationship and knowledge of Him.  In doing so you will secure for your soul the wisdom that not even the most learned of men can achieve by themselves.  You were born to win!

Homework:

Read: Genesis 1 and the Gospel of John

Memorize: John 3:3, Romans 10:9-10