IN CHRIST

SALVATION

1. How can I be sure I am going to Heaven when I die?

2. Do my good deeds put me in right-standing with

God?

3. As a Christian what must I do when I sin?

4. What is the difference between righteousness and

holiness?

5. How is a Christian to conduct himself according to

the Bible?

6. What place should the Bible have in every Christian‟s

life?

7. Some guidelines of what I should habitually practice

in order to live a victorious Christian life

8. What is my standing and inheritance with God as a

Christian?

9. With which attitude should a Christian approach the

throne of God?

10. Will my relationship with God last?

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 SALVATION: BECOME BORN AGAIN

The purpose of this study is to gain a new understanding of the term “born
again”, and to reveal the significance of bowing your knee to the lordship of
Jesus Christ.

1. How can I be sure I am going to Heaven when I die?

We must repent of our sins and put our faith in Jesus as our Saviour.
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."
Luke 13:5b Jesus said, "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

To repent is to be truly sorry for your sin before God, asking Him to forgive
you and making a 180-degree turn around - turning your back on sin and
walking towards Jesus as your Saviour.
Romans 10:9-10 "That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and
believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be
saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and
with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."

To be saved is to have your sins forgiven, to be released from the guilt and
bondage of sin, to receive God's free gift of eternal life, and to be granted a
home in heaven for all eternity, instead of going to hell.
Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other
name under Heaven that has been given among men, by which we must
be saved."

God who is a Spirit comes to live in your spirit (the real you - eternal part of
you).
Romans 8:16 "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we
are children of God."

God gives us Eternal Life as a free gift because He loves us. We receive this
gift when we commit our lives to His Son Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.
Romans 6:23b "...but the free gift of God is eternal life IN CHRIST
JESUS our Lord."

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We cannot earn our way into Heaven and we certainly will never deserve it.
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no
one should boast."

2. Do my good deeds put me in right-standing with God?

It is obviously right for every person to live circumspectly (uprightly), but

this does not earn us favour with God. However, purposely living in sin is
certainly wrong, and if deliberately and continually practised it will bring
the wrath of God.
Isaiah 64:6b "And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment."

Righteous deeds are correct, but if we are trusting in them to earn us favour
with God, then they are as a filthy garment.
John 14:6 "Jesus said to Him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life;
NO ONE comes to the Father, but through Me.'"
John 10:9 "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved,
and shall go in and out, and find pasture."

No matter how good a person is, unless he is born again, he will not even
see the kingdom of God.
John 3:3-7 “Jesus answered and said to him, „ Truly, truly, I say to you,
unless one is born again, he CANNOT see the kingdom of God.‟
Nicodemus said to Him, „How can a man be born when he is old? He
cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?‟
Jesus answered,” Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water
and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born
of the flesh is flesh (i.e. a natural birth), and that which is born of the
Spirit is spirit (i.e. to be born again). Do not marvel that I said to you,
You MUST be born again.‟”

Only Jesus Christ who lived a perfect sinless life, could offer Himself as our
substitute and pay the price for our salvation with His precious blood and
the cruel cross of Calvary.
Hebrews 4:15 "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize
with our weaknesses, but one (Jesus Christ) who has been tempted in all
things as we are, yet without sin."
Hebrews 9:22b "...and without shedding of blood there is no
forgiveness."

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Therefore, we need to put our faith totally in Jesus Christ alone for our
salvation.
2 Corinthians 1:9 "...we should not trust in ourselves, but in God..."
John 3:36 "He who has faith in the Son has eternal life."

 What is then ONE purpose of righteous deeds?

Righteous deeds are our way of saying thank you to Jesus for what He has
done for us.

3. As a Christian what must I do when I sin?

We must confess our sin, and the moment we do, we are forgiven by God,
and restored to right-standing with Him. God already knows what sin we
have committed, and therefore confession of sin is entirely for our benefit.
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Man always suffers the consequences of „unconfessed‟ sin. Confessed sin

releases us from the bondage of guilt.
Psalm 32:3-5 "When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away... I
acknowledged (confessed) my sin TO THEE, and my iniquity I did not
hide; I said, 'I will confess my transgressions TO THE LORD'; And
Thou didst forgive the GUILT of my sin."
Proverb 28:13"He who conceals his transgressions (sins) will not
prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion."
Psalm 103:12 "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed
our transgressions from us."
Micah 7:19b "Yes, Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the
sea."
Isaiah 43:25 "I, even I, am the One who wipes out your transgressions
for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins."

If sin is not confessed, it raises a barrier between man and God.

Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and
your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does
not hear."
Matthew 18:21-22 "Then Peter came and said to Him, 'Lord, how often
shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?'
Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to
seventy times seven.'"

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4. What is the difference between righteousness and
holiness?

a) Righteousness is a free gift we receive from God when we are born

again.
Romans 5:17b "...those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift
of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ."
Romans 3:21-22a "But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God
has been manifested (revealed)...a even the righteousness of God through
faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe..."
Phil 3:9 "and may be found in Him (Jesus), not having a righteousness of
my own derived from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ,
the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith."
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 "Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new
creature (or a new species of being); his old life has passed away; a new life
has begun! For God caused Christ, who Himself knew nothing of sin,
actually to be sin for our sakes, so that we, through union with Him,
might become the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD."
Therefore, every born again Christian possesses God's righteousness and
can never become more righteous than that.
This right-standing with God means we have the legal right to call Him
Father, praying and asking boldly for our desires, as little children
unashamedly ask their parents for their desires.

b) The word holy or holiness appears over 600 times in the Bible. God is an
awesome God, a holy God and requires us to live holy lives unto Him.
Exodus 15:11 "Who is like Thee among the gods, O Lord? Who is like
Thee, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?"

We have to choose to separate ourselves unto God, to live a holy

life.
Leviticus 20:26 "Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy;
and I have SET YOU APART from the peoples to be MINE."
Isaiah 35:8-9b "And a highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be
called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it...and
fools will not wander on it. But the redeemed will walk there."
2 Corinthians 7:1"Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us
cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness
in the fear of God."

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The more a Christian forsakes the lust of the flesh and the love of this
wicked world with its evil practices, and separates himself every day unto
the Lord to pray, to read His Word, to worship Him, and actively serve his
fellow man through his local church, the more holy he becomes.

Therefore, holiness depends on your level of commitment to discover and

obey God's will for your life.
1 Peter 1:14-16 "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former
lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who
called you, be holy yourselves also in ALL YOUR BEHAVIOUR, because
it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"
John 17:17 "Sanctify (cleanse, purify, make holy) them in the truth; Thy
Word is truth."
Ephesians 5:26-27 "That He (Christ) might sanctify her (the church),
having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word (or the
baptism of the Word), that He might present to Himself the church in all
her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should
be holy and blameless."
Hebrews 12:10b "For they (our parents) disciplined us for a short time
as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may
share His in holiness."

Holy men and women will be rewarded with more treasure in heaven.
Psalms 18:20 "The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of MY hands He has recompensed (rewarded)
me."
Proverbs 13:13 "The one who despises the word will be in debt to it, but
the one who fears (to obey) the commandment will be rewarded."
Psalms 24:3-5a "Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who
may stand in His holy place (heaven)? He who has clean hands and a pure
heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn
deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord..."
Matthew 6:20 "But LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN
HEAVEN, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do
not break in or steal."
2 Corinthians 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgement seat of
Christ, that each one may be recompensed (rewarded or punished) for his
deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."

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5. How is a Christian to conduct himself according to the
Bible?

God wants His children to live differently from the people in the world. We
should choose to have a reverential fear and respect for God, which will
cause us to hate sin as God hates it and to depart from it.
Proverbs 1:29-31 "Because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the
fear of the Lord. So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way, and be
satiated (or filled - KJV) with their own devices."
Proverbs 9:10 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the
knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
Proverbs 8:13a "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil."
Proverbs 3:7b "Fear the Lord, and depart from evil."

The Bible lists the evil sins of the flesh that we should avoid if we would
rather pursue the good wholesome things of God.
Galatians 5:19-21 "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:
immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery (witchcraft), enmities
(hatred), strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissension
(divisions), factions (heresies), envying, drunkenness, carousing (wild
parties), and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have
forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the
kingdom of God."
2 Timothy 2:22 "Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue
righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord with
a pure heart."
Song of Solomon 2:15 "Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes (demons)
that are ruining the vineyards (Christians)..."

The fear of the Lord is not a negative thing that takes away from your life,
but a positive thing that improves and causes God's blessings to be poured
out upon your life.
Proverbs 14:27 "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may
avoid the snares of death."
Proverbs 19:23 "The fear of the Lord leads to life, so that one may sleep
satisfied, untouched by evil."
Proverbs 22:4 "The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are
riches, honour and life."

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6. What place should the Bible have in every Christian's
life?

The Bible is God's absolute final authority. We should read and digest His
Word daily and diligently in order to change our lifestyle to conform into
His image.
2 Timothy 2:15 "Be diligent to present yourselves approved to God as a
workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word
of truth."
Jeremiah 15:16a "Thy words were found and I ate them, and Thy words
became for me a joy and the delight of my heart."
Job 23:12 "I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have
treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food (or daily
bread - NIV)."
Psalm 119:97,103,113,165 "O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation
all the day."
Vs 103 "How sweet are Thy words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey
to my mouth!"
Vs 113 "I hate those who are double-minded, but I love Thy law."
Vs 165 "Those who love Thy law have great peace, and nothing causes
them to stumble."

As we prayerfully, systematically and thoroughly study God's Word, we

will find how the devil has been stealing what lawfully belongs to us, and
be able to claim back our rightful inheritance in Jesus' Name.

This systematic Bible study is easily accomplished by following the “Read

Through Your Bible in One Year” daily reading program. We should however
concentrate on studying the New Testament, for it is the last will and
testament of Jesus Christ to His redeemed family. It is imperative that
Christians get to know their Bibles, and learn how to apply its truths to their
lives and circumstances.
Hosea 4:6a "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."
John 8:31b-32 "If you abide (or dwell) in My Word, then you are truly
disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make
(or set - Williams) you free."
James 1:22 "But prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely
hearers who deceive themselves."

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We need to learn to speak the truth of God's Word in the face of
contradictory circumstances in order to overcome life's problems.
Mark 11:23 "For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall SAY unto
this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall
not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he SAYS
shall come to pass; HE SHALL HAVE WHATSOEVER HE SAYS."
Proverbs 18:21a "Death and life are in the power of the tongue (or in the
words we speak)."
Proverbs 13:3 "The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; the one
who opens wide his lips comes to ruin."

(SEE HANDOUT “Read through Your Bible in One Year”)

7. Can you give me some guidelines of what I should be

habitually practicing in order to live a victorious
Christian life?

a) Pray daily.
Start off each day with early morning prayer. God is now your Father
and He desires to have fellowship with you.
Acts 3:1 "Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth
hour, the HOUR of prayer."
Mark 1:35 "And in the early morning, while it was still dark, He arose
and went out and departed to a lonely place, and was praying there."
Matthew 26:40-41"And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping,
and said to Peter, 'So you men could not keep watch (or pray) with Me for
one hour? Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into
temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

b) Study God's Word daily.

Just as your body needs food for growth, so does your spirit man need
the Word of God to feed and build you up spiritually.
Matthew 4:4 "But He answered and said, 'It is written, 'Man shall not
live on bread alone, but on every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of
God.'"
Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law (or the Word of God) shall not depart
from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you
may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will
make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."

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c) Fellowship with Christians regularly.
The best way is to become part of a midweek home care group (a River
Spring) in your area. Join a prayer group and make some Christian
friends. Attend Sunday services so that you can firstly worship God
and secondly hear the Word of God.
Acts 2:42,46 "And they were continually devoting themselves to the
apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to
prayer. And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and
breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals
together with gladness and sincerity of heart."
Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking your own assembling together, as is the
(bad) habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more; as you
see the day (of Christ's second coming) drawing near."

d) Confess your salvation to your friends.

Christ was not ashamed to die publicly for you; don't be ashamed to
confess Him in public. It confirms your own salvation and strengthens
you spiritually when you tell others what Jesus has done for you.
Matthew 10:32-33 "Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before
men, I will also confess Him before My Father who is in heaven. But
whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father
who is in heaven."
Mark 16:15 "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the
gospel to all creation.'"

8. What is my standing and inheritance with God as a

Christian?

We are children of God and equal heirs with His son Jesus Christ.
John 1:12 "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to
become children of God, even to those who believe in His name."
Galatians 3:26 "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ
Jesus."

Galatians 4:7 "So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are
a son, God has made you also an heir."
Romans 8:17a "Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God
and joint-heirs with Christ..."

You are an equal shareholder with Jesus. There is nothing that God gave to
Jesus, which He will not also lavish onto you, as you ask in faith.

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9. With which attitude should a Christian approach the
throne of God?

God loves us as His very own children and does not want us to feel inferior.
He desires for us to boldly (confidently) come into His presence, and know
that by His grace He will help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16 "Let us therefore draw near with confidence (boldness) to
the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help
in time of need."
However, He does not want us to be proud or arrogant.
James 4:6b "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

10. Will my relationship with God last?

God is eternal and He plays for keeps. You may go through moments of
weakness when you feel you have failed God, but He will always remain
faithful.
2 Timothy 2:13 "If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot
deny Himself."
John 10:28-29 “And I give eternal life to them, and they shall never
perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who
has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch
them out of the Father's hand."

There is absolutely nothing that is able to separate us from the love of God
which is found in Christ Jesus our Lord, provided we keep living for Him
and serving Him.
Romans 8:35,38-39 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or
peril, or sword? For I am CONVINCED that neither death, nor life, nor
angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor
powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
If we stop living for God and start serving the devil again, we can remove
ourselves from His love.
2 Peter 2:22 "It has happened to them according to the true proverb, 'a
dog returns to its own vomit, and a sow (or a pig), after washing, returns
to wallowing in the mire.‟”

NB: Good news is that you do not have to go forward after every altar call
made.

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Now that you are born again, what is the next step?

1. Surround yourself with like-minded believers by Joining a Cell Group:

Send us a WhatsApp message saying “I want to join a cell group” with
Your Name, Surname and Area to: 066 043 0450

2. Come along with us to an Encounter weekend where we get to spend

some uninterrupted time with God. You‟ll learn more about how to
deal with the past, how to walk in victory over sin and so much more.
Ask your cell leader, a pastor or WhatsApp us for more information:
“I want to come to an Encounter Weekend” with Your Name, Surname
and Area to: 066 043 0450

3. Spend 10 minutes a day meditating on your notes until these truths

register in your spirit man.

4. Start practicing the four steps in point 7 of this module from tomorrow.

5. Start practicing the habit of confessing your sin to God IMMEDIATELY,

and accept your forgiveness without question.

If ever the devil tries to put condemnation onto you, just speak right out
loud and resist him in the name of Jesus Christ, confessing the truth of
Romans 8:1.

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Notes
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