1WS Matt 19:16. The supreme question before every person in this world is, What must I do to have eternal life? Eternal life in God's kingdom is worth more than all this world. Matt. 16:26. If we lose an eternal home in heaven, we have lost everything.
2WS Rev. 21:27. Nothing that defiles can enter into God's city, and since sin is what defiles, that means we must get rid of every sin before we can be ready for a home in heaven.
3WS John 3:3. In addition to having all our sins forgiven we must be born again, have a change of heart, be converted. Matt. 18:3.
4WS Heb. 5:9. Eternal salvation will be given only to those who obey Jesus. So it takes three things to make a sinner right with God and fit him for a home in God's heaven:
1. The pardon or forgiveness of all his sins, which is justification.
2. Being born again, or the new birth, which is regeneration.
3. Obedience to all of God's instructions each day through the indwelling of Christ in his heart by the Holy Spirit, which is sanctification. This brings up six important questions:
1. HOW CAN I HAVE ALL MY SINS FORGIVEN?
5WS Ps. 32:5. God forgives our sins on three conditions--repentance, confession, and faith in the Lord Jesus as our personal Saviour and Sin Bearer.
Repentance is accompanied by a godly sorrow, which leads us to turn from all that we know is wrong. it is produced in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and will be given to everyone who yields to the convicting, drawing power of the Spirit. Confession is to be definite (Lev. 5:5); we are to confess the very sins of which we are guilty.
2. HOW CAN I KNOW THAT ALL MY SINS ARE FORGIVEN THIS MINUTE?
6WS 1 John 1:9. Simply by complying with God's condition of repentance and confession. I must then believe that I am pardoned, and thankful for forgiveness.
7WS Ps. 51:7,10. Along with our prayer for pardon, we must ask God to give us a new heart, a clean heart, a new life from above.
3. HOW CAN I OBTAIN THIS NEW HEART AND REALLY BE BORN AGAIN?
8WS John 1:12,13. Receive Jesus into your heart, and you will be born again. Surrender your will to Jesus, and He will create in you a new heart.
4. HOW CAN I KNOW THAT I HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN AND HAVE A NEW HEART?
9WS 2 Cor 5:17. The supreme proof of the changed heart is the changed life. The old habits of sin have passed away, and we live in newness of life unto God. The things that we once did not care for, such as reading the Bible, going to church, praying, working for other souls, we now love; and the worldly things we once loved, we now do not care for.
10WS Eze. 11:19,20. God gives us a new heart so we can obey His precepts. If you purpose to do just what God commands, you have a new heart.
5. HOW CAN I LIVE A TRUE CHRISTIAN LIFE?
11WS Gal. 2:20. Living a Christian life is being so surrendered to Jesus that He can live His life in us each day. This is the only way anyone can ever live a true Christian life.
After you receive that new heart, Jesus is to live in your heart every day, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight.
Your part is to abide in Him by surrender, consecration, prayer, and feeding on His Word; then He will abide in you each day. John 15:4-6.
HOW CAN I KNOW THAT I AM LIVING A CHRISTIAN LIFE?
12WS 1 John 3:24, 2:3,4. By a daily life of obedience to His commands.
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