Our Hope in Christ

The Joy Of Expecting A New Baby (Kent Heaton) One of the most magical moments in life is the first cry of a newborn baby. It has a distinctive carol of innocence, purity and freshness. The long awaited moment has arrived. Plans are made with anticipatory excitement and in fruition of nine months of expectant joy life presents itself in the form of a newborn child. At that moment all time stands still. Laughter is mixed with tears and hearts swell with unbounded love. Helpless on their own the newborn is held close and tenderly swathed in the embrace of their mother. The only time of greater anticipation is when grandchildren are born. Regardless, the joy of expecting a new baby is almost beyond understanding. Jesus told a ruler of the Jews in John 3 that “unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Nicodemus thought Jesus was speaking of returning to the womb of the mother to be born. Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:5-6). The new birth is the means by which people of God have been newly created into the image of the Father. Paul described the process as a resurrection in Romans 6:3-9. The birth of a child of God is a most wonderful thing. As with the excitement of a baby’s birth the people of God should have anticipation at helping others come to knowledge of the truth and experience the new birth. To be born again is to experience the birth of water and the birth of the Holy Spirit. The Ethiopian of Acts 8 understood this birth when he said to Phillip, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" (Acts 8:36). The new birth is experienced through water (not as many teach today as “faith only”) and the Holy Spirit. Peter declared on the Day of Pentecost that all men are to "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2:38-39). The new birth is characterized by being born of the Holy Spirit. Paul shows how the Holy Spirit cries out as the “Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father’” (Romans 8:15). People of God are spirit led people (Romans 8:1-14). Experiencing the new birth is experiencing the dwelling of the Holy Spirit in our spirits to make intercession for us and to guide us. When a person became a child of God under the Law of Moses they were born into a Jewish family and when the parents kept the Law in regard to circumcision and offerings the child was under covenant with the Lord. The Hebrew writer declares those who are the people of God now are those who have been taught to know the Lord and have become children of God through obedience (Hebrews 8:7-13). The new birth is when someone comes to a knowledge of truth and is obedient to the will of the Father. As exciting as it is to expect a child or grandchild we as people of God should be working diligently to help others experience the new birth. We should have a greater expectancy for the spiritual birth. Our goals and aims should be to bring more people to a knowledge of salvation through the new birth. Let us be busy about sharing the good news of those who are born of the water and of the spirit.

Without salvation, through the blood of Christ, we have no hope. By the great mercy of our God, we are told in His word how to be obedient to the gospel call of salvation. No man, no creed, no counsel and no pope can reveal any truth outside the scriptures for therein contains all all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 2 Peter 1:2-4. This page is for scriptual articles on God's plan for man to be reconciled to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.

ARCHIVES 2009 Learning From What God Cannot Do If You Had Known Me What Happened at the Cross? 1000 Marbles The Lord's Church is Unique The Spiritual Significance of Baptism Living Like No One Else What is the Great Commission? Peter Got It Right! When We Are Strong 2010 A Destiny of Glory Spiritual Debtors Adrift Without an Anchor Do You Feel Saved?

WHAT IS NECESSARY  FOR YOUR SALVATION? HOW IMPORTANT ARE THE SCRIPTURES FOR YOUR SALVATION? ♦  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit. (2Pe 1:20-21) ♦  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (Rom 10:17) ♦  And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  (Act 8:35-37) ♦  And that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work. (2Ti 3:15-17) HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO BELIEVE ON JESUS AND TO CONFESS HE IS LORD? ♦  Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house. (Act 16:30-31) ♦  If thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Rom. 10:9-10) HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM FOR YOUR SALVATION? ♦  Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:39) ♦  There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 3:21)

HOW IMPORTANT IS GOD'S GRACE FOR YOUR SALVATION? ♦  For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; Ephesians 2:8 ♦  That, being justified by His grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:7 HOW IMPORTANT TO YOUR SALVATION IS ENDURANCE, HOLDING FAST THE WORD, AND HOPE? ♦  But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. Mathew 24:13  ♦  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him. James 1:12 ♦  For we are saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, then we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. (Romans 8:24-25) ♦  Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you - unless you believed in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:1-2) Are any of these NOT necessary for your salvation: God's grace? God's revealed word that teaches us how to be saved? Listening to God's written word and believing it? Believing in Jesus and confessing Him as Lord? Recognizing our sins and repenting? Being baptized for the remission of sins? Enduring trials and remaining faithful to the end? Keeping hope ever before you? Did you choose anything on this list that is not necessary for salvation? If so, why? Is that answer from God's word or your own opinion or the opinion of the church you belong to? One more question: Whose opinion counts: Yours? Your church's? God's word?

Baptism is the link between you and... Baptism is the link between you and... Baptism is the link between you and... Remission of sins: And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name. Acts 22:16 Salvation: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned. Mark 16:16 Which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 3:21 Christ's death:  Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Romans 6:3 Being buried and raised with Christ: Having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, I say, did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses. Colossians 2:12-13 Dwelling in the body of Christ: For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13 Putting on Christ: For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. Galatians 3:27 Receiving God's word and being added to the church:  They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls. Acts 2:41 A new life. We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4

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