So we made the decision to accept the free gift that God has given us by believing in Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. What next? How do we know we are actually saved? What changes will be in your life? We know that we are promised eternal life for all those who believe. What promises has God made for your life now? We will answer these questions in this and the following posts.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
When we confess our sins and turn to Jesus and believe that He is the Son of God who came into this world and paid for our sins, we are saved. We are “born again.” We become a new person, apart from sin. We are no longer enslaved to sin. It is a victory! There is a change in our lives and our desires begin to change. Many things are immediate, but we still struggle. But God in His grace gives us His Holy Spirit to dwell within us, to guide us away from those evil desires we once had and we become a “new creation,” living by the Spirit, instead of by our own flesh. Perhaps that is the first test to ask yourself. Was there a change when I first believed or was my confession and belief not real or not from the heart? Of course, we all still slip up and there is much growing we will do throughout our lives. We are not perfect. Don’t expect yourself to be. But the Holy Spirit will work on your life as you grow in Christ.
Ezekiel 36:26-27
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
As believers, our life will change. Our heart will change. We have the Holy Spirit within us to guide us and strengthen our faith.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
In other words our old self is dead, and our new self is a changed person, with the Holy Spirit living within us. Christ died for us so that we can have life. And that gives us hope.
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Our faith is in Christ. Jesus has declared us righteous and has given us the Holy Spirit. With the Spirit living within us, and knowing what Jesus has done for us, how could we not live for Him?
Romans 8:5-17
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
There is so much in this scripture. It is so rich with God’s promises and our identity in Christ. We are His children. We are heirs with Christ. We have inherited eternal life in heaven. Again, that is our inheritance, not our earnings. It’s incredible that as believers, as children adopted by God, we have His Holy Spirt living in us to guide us, to strengthen us, to convict us when we need it. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in each of us! Therefore, we need not fear, but we have peace, knowing that we have eternal life as promised by God. God guarantees it!
Ephesians 1:7-14
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Notice the tense of these words: we have redemption (it’s already been done), having made known the mystery of His will (it has been revealed to us already), we have obtained an inheritance (it’s been given to us and no one can take it away), you were sealed (again it’s already been done and the seal locks us in to our inheritance of eternal life). So what does this have to do with the change in us? Knowing that we have this assurance of eternal life, and knowing what God has done for us, and having the Holy Spirit living in us, sealing us and guaranteeing our salvation, and knowing that God has promised this to us (and He always keeps His promises…always), we can have peace, and joy and hope. We have nothing to fear.
John 14:1-4
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
Jesus says we have no reason to fear. No reason to worry. No reason to feel guilt. Jesus took away our sins and nailed them to the cross. All of our sins. Our sins have been washed away.
Psalms 103:11-12
For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
My Daily Scriptures 