After Salvation

(A personal letter to the newly saved)

Dear New Christian,

Eternal salvation is appropriated by faith alone in Christ alone*—plus nothing; minus nothing! On the cross of Calvary Jesus Christ who was God in flesh bore and became your sin* and paid the penalty-price (spiritual death*) for your sin as He redeemed you.* This He did as your substitute (in your place) so that you would not have to pay the price in eternity apart from God. When, at His option, He surrendered His physical life,* Christ was taken from the cross and buried in a tomb; but on the third day He rose from the grave*—an action that validated His deity and God’s salvation message to mankind.* Upon your decision to receive God’s grace-gift of salvation by faith alone in Christ alone you instantly were born again* and became a child of God,* a relationship that neither you nor God can change or take back.*

*John 1:12; 3:16-18; 20:31; Acts 16:30, 31; Ephesians 2:8, 9. *2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24. *Matthew 27:45, 46; Mark 15:33, 34. *Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:12; 1 Peter 1:18, 19; Revelation 5:9. *Luke 23:46; John 10:17, 18; 19:30. *Luke 24:46; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. *Romans 1:1-4. *John 1:13; 3:3; 1 Peter 1:23. *Romans 8:16; Galatians 4:6, 7. *John 10:27-30; Romans 8:1; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Romans 8:38, 39; Ephesians 1:13, 14; 4:30.

But although your eternal destination is secure, you must never make the mistake of thinking your behavior as God’s child has no consequences.* Just as you were an infant when physically born into this world and needed to grow to maturity, this same progression is necessary in the spiritual realm. Upon receiving Christ by faith you became an infant-Christian. Whereas your spirit is eternally saved and you are assured of going to heaven, your physical body is yet to be redeemed (changed to a glorified body like that of Christ).* You still retain in the flesh the “sin nature,” which the god (ruler/prince) of this world (Satan)* will constantly use to persuade you to sin and turn away from following Jesus Christ.*

*Romans 2:6; 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Galatians 6:7; Ephesians 6:8; Colossians 3:24, 25; Revelation 22:12.

*Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 49; Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2. *John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11;

2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 6:12. * Romans 7:18-24; 2 Corinthians 4:16; Galatians 5:17.

Just as you were able to choose to accept Christ by faith for your personal salvation, you are now allowed to choose daily to either follow Him or not.* You may either be an obedient child of God or an apostate child of God, i.e., one who “falls away” by choosing to disbelieve God’s Word in thoughts and deeds.* But choosing to follow your Savior will bring abundant blessings during this life and rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ and in the age (millennial) to come.* On the other hand, should you choose not to mature spiritually and go your own way, this can bring discipline by your heavenly Father during this life-time* and loss of rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ and the age to come.* But the choice is always yours to make!

*Romans 6:12, 13; 12:1. *1 Corinthians 5:5; Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:26, 27. *1 Corinthians 3:14; 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 22:12. *Proverbs 3:12; Hebrews 12:5-11; Revelation 3:19. *1 Corinthians 3:12-15; 4:5;

1 Peter 1:7.

To insure that you grow spiritually into a mature Christian heed the following recommendations. As you follow them, you will incrementally advance in your spiritual life and will become increasingly confident in and blessed by it. In the Bible this spiritual growth or process is known as “the salvation of the soul (life)”—as opposed to “salvation of the spirit” (justification)—or “sanctification” (being set apart). The doctrine of “salvation” and “sanctification” are both tripartite doctrines (three-part doctrines) consisting of a positional (eternal, past tense), an experiential (on-going during this life, present tense), and a final (post this life, future tense) partition. The following recommendations have nothing to do with your positional state but everything to do with your status in the experiential and final aspects of your sanctification/soul salvation.

Recommendations that Elevate Spiritual Growth

Follow-up your decision of faith in Christ by believer’s baptism, for this was the first “official” action by Christ* “to fulfill all righteousness” and is the first act of obedience specifically mentioned by Christ for new believers.* Find an assembly of believers (local church), which adheres to the fundamental doctrines of the Bible* (see “core doctrine” of www.bibleone.net), and request that you be baptized to publicly demonstrate your trust in Jesus Christ.

*Matthew 3:13-17. *Matthew 28:19. *Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:25.

Study (feed upon) God’s Word, i.e., absorb Bible doctrine,* because only through His Word does God sanctify (set apart; spiritually mature) us.* This involves more than a daily cursory (devotional) reading of the Bible or what you may gain in a Sunday school class, and you must depend upon the Holy Spirit as your primary instructor in Bible doctrine.* It most assuredly means much more than what you may gain from the “milk” of 3-point encouragement-oriented homilies given from pulpits of most churches throughout the world, but will involve commitment and daily time and effort in order to gain the “meat” of the Word.* In regards to this, make it a point to study prophecy on coming events (the “latter days”) for such makes up over one-third of God’s Word; and, no other specialization of study can instill more comfort (hope and joy) in your present spiritual life.* And as you study, make effort to memorize various passages of Scripture—this will assist you immensely in your walk and witness for Christ.

*2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17; Hebrews 4:12. *John 15:3; 17:17; Ephesians 5:26; 1 Peter 1:22. * John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13; 1 John 2:20, 27. *1 Corinthians 3:1, 2; Hebrews 5:12-14; 6:1. *Romans 15:4; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

You will find that the Bible is an integrated message system, all of which points toward Jesus Christ the Messiah. Although the Bible is composed of 66 books written by over 40 authors over thousands of years, it is a unified whole. Every word, every number, every place name, even the implied punctuation is the result of supernatural engineering.

Live by the principle of faith, not legalism.* In the same manner (by faith) that you received Christ Jesus your Lord, you are to now live by faith in him*. In other words, just as you could not through any self-means (effort, works) achieve eternal (spirit) salvation; you cannot now as a child of God achieve temporal life (soul) salvation, which will produce “divine good works” in this life and rewards to come. Anything you endeavor to do in your own power will result in “human good works,” which will all come to naught before the Judgment Seat of Christ. It is only when you place your trust in the Holy Spirit that resides within you to “do works through you” that “divine good works” are achieved in this lifetime.*

*Proverbs 3:5, 6; Romans 7:6; 8:2; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Galatians 2:20. *Colossians 2:6. *Ephesians 5:18.

Evidence your faith by talking continuously with your heavenly Father.* This is not about setting aside any special time each day to pray. Rather, it is a function that should become as natural as breathing as you maintain a discourse about yourself, others, and life’s events while you live out each day. There is nothing too unimportant for you to talk over with your heavenly Father. Always assure Him that you depend on Him for knowledge, wisdom, and power in order to live for and please Him.

*Luke 18:1; 21:36; Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

The one ingredient of your prayer life that deserves special mention, which will have more impact on your walk with God than any other, is your daily employment of 1 John 1:9. This verse, which is written specifically to Christians, explains how you may immediately be forgiven of any sin in your daily walk and thereby allow for the restoration of the Holy Spirit’s influence (power or fullness) in and through you for righteous living. God’s promise in this verse is that if you will “confess” (a word from the Greek meaning “to name” or “take ownership of”) your sins (i.e., not make any excuse for them), God will immediately forgive you the sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness (even sins you can’t remember or are unable to call to mind). Unless this is done as God reveals to you your sins, the Holy Spirit will be both grieved* and quenched* (limited), which in turn will gravely hinder any “divine good works” in your life and future heavenly rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ and the age to come.

*Ephesians 4:30. *1 Thessalonians 5:19

Seek fellowship with other children of God who adhere to biblical doctrine. This process should go beyond your local church. It may mean establishing a home Bible study among those you identify as Christians who both love and thirst for more intimacy with your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It does not mean you are to turn your back on reaching out to the spiritually lost in order to share God’s plan of salvation, but that you should extend your more intimate socialization to those who are Christians.*

*Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:25.

Share your faith (your testimony) with others who are spiritually lost as a true ambassador for Christ.* Do not become discouraged if many do not accept Christ as a result of this, but also do not become surprised that many do. You are only charged with the responsibility of sharing your faith, not convincing them to make the decision to accept it. It is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit to convince the lost to make faith-based decisions;* nevertheless, these decisions are up to each individual. Once you have shared your testimony with another, you have been both obedient to and have pleased your Lord. And remember that seed sown today may give birth tomorrow, i.e., no word for Christ will go without benefit.

*2 Corinthians 3:6; 5:20; Ephesians 6:20. *John 16:7-11.

Assist others to grow spiritually who have been newly born into God’s family. Spend personal time with them in Bible-study, prayer, counseling, and friendship. In like manner, support your local assembly (church) in its endeavors to teach Bible doctrine and to reach the spiritually lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Keep your focus on Jesus Christ* and follow the two great commandments* to which He personally gave emphasis, which are (1) “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” and (2) “love your neighbor as yourself.” For as He said, “All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.”

*John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 2:2. *Matthew 22:37-39.

The Christian life (spiritual growth) is not achieved without trials, dedication, faith, and tenacity. Nothing worthwhile is achieved apart from these. But be assured that if you will follow the above recommendations faithfully, your joy and hope during this life will be immeasurably improved. Although you may be subjected to trials and discipline in order to strengthen your faith, your gain will be far greater than any earthly riches.

God bless you in your spiritual journey.

Charles of www.bibleone.net