WELCOME INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD!
WELCOME INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD!
Wow this is such a precious moment! Even before you were born, the Father saw this day would come and now you are born into His family! (Psalm 139) You have generations of loved ones in heaven that have been praying for you and they too are rejoicing at the goodness of God to draw you to Him and give you His gift of salvation which is eternal life with Him. Here is what happened when you called upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ:
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
From the very moment you spoke to God and told Him you believed in His Son Jesus Christ, you were saved from eternal destruction and given eternal life. What does it mean to believe in Jesus Christ? It means that you believe what He said about Himself when He was on earth. As recorded in the Bible, Jesus was God’s Son, sent to earth to save people from their sins.
THE SON OF GOD
Here is what the angel told his earthly parents, Mary and Joseph about Jesus before He was born. Jesus also said He was the son of God, along with His disciples. Those who crucified Him did so because He claimed to be God.
Luke 1:34-35 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God.
Matthew 1:20-23 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto you Mary your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Luke 2:27-33 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, 28 Then he took him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word: 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 Which you have prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel. 33 And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him.
THE GREEK WORD FOR SAVE: Safe, deliver, heal
Strong’s Greek Dictionary
4982. σώζω sozo (sṓzō)
Search for G4982 in KJVSL; in KJV; load in ESI.
σώζω sṓzō, sode’-zo
from a primary σῶς sōs (contraction for obsolete σάος sáos, “safe”); to save, i.e. deliver or protect (literally or figuratively):—heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.
Verb
John 11:25-27 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? 27 She said unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who should come into the world.
John 3:15-17 That whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 5:18-19 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for whatsoever things he does, these also does the Son likewise.
John 10:24-25 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long do you make us to doubt? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly. 25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and you believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me… John 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone you not; but for blasphemy; and because that you, being a man, make yourself God.
JESUS SAVED YOU FROM YOUR SINS
Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Sin is disobedience to God. Here are His 10 commandments as found in Exodus 20, and the NT mentions of the same:
Gods:You shall have no other gods before me.
[This is believing in other gods.]
NT: Matthew 4:10 Then said Jesus unto him, Begone, Satan: for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.
Idols in home:You shall not make unto yourself any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them:
[Graven images is having carved images that are worshipped.]
NT: 1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Swearing: You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain.
[Taking the Lord’s name in vain is saying the Lord’s name as a curse word. God’s name is holy.]
NT: Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray: Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Keep the Sabbath day holy: Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shall you labor, and do all your work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD your God: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day: therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
[Keeping the sabbath is is dedicating the 7th day as a day of rest, in honor of God creating the world and then resting on the 7th According to the Jewish law the sabbath is Saturday, the 7th day of the week.]
NT: Mark 2:27-28 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Honor your parents: Honor your father and your mother: that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God gives you.
[Honor is giving your parents higher esteem for what they have invested into you, even if it is just giving you life.]
NT: Matthew 19:19 Honor your father and your mother: and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Murder: You shall not kill.
[Murder is taking human life.]
NT: Matthew 19:18 He said unto him, Which? Jesus said, You shall do no murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,
Adultery: You shall not commit adultery.
[Adultery is having sexual relations with someone that is not your spouse. In the NT Jesus said even looking at another with lust is adultery in the heart. Matt 5:27]
NT: Matthew 19:18 He said unto him, Which? Jesus said, You shall do no murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,
Stealing: You shall not steal.
[Stealing is taking something without permission that does not belong to you.]
NT: Matthew 19:18 He said unto him, Which? Jesus said, You shall do no murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,
False Witness: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
[False witness is lying about someone.]
NT: Matthew 19:18 He said unto him, Which? Jesus said, You shall do no murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,
Covet: You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor any thing that is your neighbor’s.
[Coveting is earnestly desiring something or someone that belongs to someone else.]
Scripture says that everyone has sinned – falling short of God’s glory. We simply cant pay for our sins or earn brownie points to have our sins forgiven. However scripture tells us that if we confess our sins to God, He is faithful to forgive them and cleanse us from them.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 John 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
As an example: Here is an excerpt of how Daniel confessed sins and asked forgiveness:
Daniel 9:4-11,19 NLT
I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands. 5 But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations. 6 We have refused to listen to your servants the prophets, who spoke on your authority to our kings and princes and ancestors and to all the people of the land. 7 “Lord, you are in the right; but as you see, our faces are covered with shame. This is true of all of us, including the people of Judah and Jerusalem and all Israel, scattered near and far, wherever you have driven us because of our disloyalty to you. 8 O Lord, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you. 9 But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him. 10 We have not obeyed the Lord our God, for we have not followed the instructions he gave us through his servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has disobeyed your instruction and turned away, refusing to listen to your voice…19 19 “O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and your city bear your name.” 20 I went on praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people, pleading with the Lord my God for Jerusalem, his holy mountain.
Now that you have believed and told God that Jesus is His Son, confess your sins to Him so that He can forgive you and cleanse you. Scripture also says that confession of sin also helps someone be healed.
Romans 10:9-10 That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. 10 For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:9 That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
John 5:14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, you are made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto you.
Here are 2 links to what Jesus is like and what He did for you:
https://thequickenedword.com/what-is-jesus-like/
https://thequickenedword.com/who-is-jesus-christ/
FORGIVENESS
When Jesus forgives you of your sins, it means He lets go of them, and does not keep a record of them. He omits them from our record and puts them away.
TO FORGIVE: {In the NT Greek} To let go and leave
NT:863 – To let go and leave
NT:863 aphiemi (af-ee’-ay-mee); from NT:575 and hiemi (to send; an intens. form of eimi, to go); to send forth, in various applications (as follow):
KJV – cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go, have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up.
We are told that not only does He forgive our sins, but we also need to forgive others. If we do not forgive, we are in danger of not being forgiven.
Matthew 6:12-15 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. 14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Here is a deeper study on forgiveness:
https://thequickenedword.com/meaning-of-forgiveness/
QUESTIONS
1) Is being “born again” the same as being saved?
Yes. Jesus referred to being born again when He spoke to Nicodemus. Who we are, is composed of body, soul and spirit. Being born again takes place in our spirits, where it grows like a tiny little baby does within the womb. As we progress in our faith and journey in God, our spirit man grows from a tiny baby into the full stature of Jesus Christ.
John 3:3-8 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again. 8 The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound thereof, but can not tell from where it came, and where it goes: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit.
Jesus said that if we receive and believe on His name, we are given the power to become God’s child.
John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the children of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
2) Do you have to be baptized in water in order to go to heaven?
No and Yes. When Jesus was hanging on the cross, the man on the cross next to Jesus asked Jesus to remember him we He came into His kingdom. Jesus said to that man that they both would be in paradise that same day. That man did not have the opportunity to be baptized, likewise there are many believers who die before they can be baptized.
Luke 23:42-43 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto you, Today shall you be with me in paradise.
However Jesus also said that unless a person is born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. We know that Jesus Himself was baptized in water and He told His disciples to go into all the world and baptize believers in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Matthew 3:13 Then came Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized by him.
Matthew 28:19 Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:
Mark 16:16 He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be condemned.
Baptism in water is a follow up after believing in Christ. It is a natural outcome of having been born again, but more importantly it is in obedience to what Jesus told the disciples.
Acts 10:46-48 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to tarry certain days.
The Greek word Baptized in scripture means to be fully immersed in water (and not just sprinkled).
BAPTIZE
Strong’s Greek Dictionary
βαπτίζω baptizo (baptízō)
Search for G907 in KJVSL; in KJV; load in ESI.
βαπτίζω baptízō, bap-tid’-zo
from a derivative of G911; to immerse, submerge; to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the New Testament) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism:—Baptist, baptize, wash.
Verb
3) Is there any other way to go to heaven?
No. Scripture says that believing in God’s Son, Jesus Christ is the only way to come to the Father, receive salvation and have eternal life.
Acts 4:10-12 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him does this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved.
John 14:5-6 Thomas said unto him, Lord, we know not where you go; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.
1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, this to be a testimony at the proper time.
1 John 5:11-13 And this is the witness, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.
4) What do I do after having accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior?
Reading the Bible is the number one way to find out about Jesus and your heavenly Father.
The best way to start is to begin reading the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and then continue to Acts. You will get to know how wonderful Jesus is and let His Words sink in. I would recommend reading those a second time through before moving on. Then continue and finish the New Testament.
There are Bible apps and online versions available in Audio if you prefer listening.
Here are links about how to read and study scripture:
https://thequickenedword.com/how-to-get-started-for-new-christians/
https://thequickenedword.com/category/teachings-how-god-speaks/1-who-is-god/about-scripture/
https://thequickenedword.com/tips-on-studying-the-bible/
