The Truth Concerning Salvation

   -  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23) When the Lord looked down from
       heaven He saw the state of mankind.  He saw that there was no man that could bring salvation,
       so He sent His own arm in the Man Jesus Christ to redeem those who would put their trust in
       Him (Isa. 59:16). 


   -  In Revelation 5: 6 Jesus is described as the Lamb who was slain.  Jesus died on the cross for the
       sins of the whole world and rose again on the third day.  He defeated death and triumphed over
       every principality and power through His death on the cross.  He ascended to heaven and was
       exalted to the right hand of the Father, where He received the promise of the Holy Spirit which
       He pours out on all who obey Him (Acts 2:33; 5:32).  He will return again to the earth for the
       saints who have endured; who overcome the world through faith in Him.


   -  We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus.  We are not saved by our own works lest we
       should boast (Eph 2:8-9). If we trust in ourselves and our own righteousness, our works are dead
       and we become a Pharisee in our hearts (Heb 9:14; Phil 3:9).


   -  Grace is not a license to sin, but grace teaches us to say no to sin, and live righteously and
       godly in this present age (Titus 2:12; Jude 1:4).


   -  We must repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  True repentance must
       produce in us the fruit of righteousness or the fruits of the Spirit.   True repentance is
       accompanied by godly sorrow, or a broken heart and a contrite spirit (2 Cor 7:10).


   -  The one who believes and is baptized will be saved (Mark 16:16).  Repentance and faith must be
       followed by baptism by immersion in water, where we publicly testify to God, to men, and to
       demons that our old man is indeed buried with Christ (Rom. 6: 4,6).  Water baptism should only
       be done if one believes with all their heart (Acts 8:37).


   -  There is a baptism of repentance and a baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire. The baptism of the
       Spirit is necessary in order to be clothed with power from on high that we may be His witnesses
       through our lives and by our words (Acts 1:8; Luke 24:49).  Sanctification (being set apart) is the
       work of the Holy Spirit who refines and purifies us as a blazing fire refines silver and purifies
       gold (Mal 3:2-3; Matt 3:12; 1 Thess. 5:23).  Sanctification is a process that begins with the new
       birth and must continue throughout our earthly life.   Although it is God who does the work in
       us, we have a part in putting to death the deeds of the body by His Spirit and working out our
       salvation with fear and trembling (Rom 8:13; Phil 2:12,13).  Everyone who has the hope of seeing
       Jesus and being like Him, purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 Jn 3:2-3)


    -   The scriptures teach that the filling of the Holy Spirit is something that one should continually
         seek.  Some of the disciples who were filled with the Spirit at Pentecost were filled again with the
       Spirit as recorded in Acts 4:31.  In Eph. 5:18, the scriptures also state “And do not be drunk with
       wine, in which is dissipation; but be (continually/ repeatedly) filled with the Spirit.”


   -  One must enter the narrow gate and walk the narrow way in order to be saved. The narrow gate
       is when one enters the Kingdom of God through counting the cost of being a disciple, and
       repenting of their sins.  They are justified (declared righteous) by faith and then must begin to
       walk the narrow way.  The narrow way is the way of sanctification.  Those who do not pursue
       the way of sanctification (or holiness) will never see the Lord (Heb 12:14). The scriptures state
       that there are few who are able to enter the narrow gate and walk this narrow path to eternal life
       (Matt. 7:13-14; Lk 13:24).

   -  The righteous requirements of the law can be fulfilled in those who walk according to the Spirit
       as the scripture says  (Rom 8:4).  These requirements are summed up in loving God with all the
       heart and loving our neighbor as ourselves (Matt. 22:36-40).  It is the royal law of love that God
       seeks to write in our hearts.  The outward manifestation of this will be a life of victory over all
       conscious sin and obedience to all of Jesus’ commandments (John 14:15). 

 
   -  There are two types of sin: unintentional or unconscious sin, and willful or conscious sin (Num
       15:22-31; Ps 19:12-13; 1 Jn 5:16-17).  It is possible to be perfect in our conscience now (Heb 9:14,
       1 Cor 4:4), but it is not possible to be sinlessly perfect now (1 Jn 1:8).  As long as we have this
       corruptible body, unconscious sin will be found in it.   We can, however, be perfect in our
       conscience (Acts 24:16) and be free from conscious sin (1Jn 2:1; 3:6,9).


   -  It is possible to depart from the living God through an evil heart of unbelief (Heb 3:12). The
       scripture says, in the latter times many will depart from the faith, following lying spirits and
       doctrines of demons (1Tim 4:1).  In Jesus’ response to His disciples about what the signs of His
       coming would be, He warned, to take heed that no one deceives them.  He continued to say that
       many will fall away, and most people’s love will grow cold.  But he who endures to the end (of
       these tests and tribulations) shall be saved (Matt 24:10-13).  ( ... continued on next page ... )                                                                                                             
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