I'M SAVED NOW WHAT?
Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, Working in you that which Is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:20-21)
Sin the need for salvation
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10
We must first realize that there is a need for salvation:
I guess it's safe to say that some words don't mean what they use to mean Dr. Tony Evans states it this way. Modern technology is responsible for a lot of these changes in meaning. for instance, if you stop a person on the streets and ask them what windows are, chances are good that the answer will relate to a computer program instead of clear panes of glass that people look through.
Another example is the word help; it is used to mean a cry of desperation by someone in trouble. but today it's an option on a computer's toolbar. Although for some computer users, clicking on the help icon still represent a cry of desperation by someone in trouble)
Here's one more example: the words save or saved. To a twenty first century mind, "save" is a command whereby the data in a computer file is preserved, and "Saved" describes the condition of the file after the command is performed. For instance if I type a letter when I'm done if I do not press the save button on my computer that letter is lost.
Coming back to the spiritual realm if I don't choose to be saved I'm lost,Jesus said for the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
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Save: 1a) to deliver from sin(1b) to preserve or guard from injury destruction or loss;to rescue
2a) to put aside as to store or reserve
So once you preserve something you safeguard, protect, and care for it.
And to reserve something is to put it aside. This sounds a lot like
· Sanctification - to set apart for a sacred purpose. Lost: 1a) Not made use of (2a) No Longer Possessed, No longer known (3a) Ruined or destroyed, doomed, damned to miss from one's possession or from a customary or supposed place.
Therefore, there is a need for salvation.
What is salvation?
Salvation:(A) Preservation or deliverance from destruction, difficulty or evil. (B) A source, means or cause of such preservation or or deliverance. (C) Deliverance from the power or penalty of sin;
What is Sin? Sin is the failure to obey the revealed word of God. Missing the mark.
Failing to Measure up
God said to Moses, "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am Holy: Leviticus 19:2).
Sin becomes sin when it is measured against the standard of God and not the standard of people. You may be a nicer person than your neighbor, but when God is the standard, we all come up short. For all have sinned and come short of the Glory. Romans 3:23
One reason we don't have a high view of sin today is that we have a low view of God. We haven't visited him lately, because when we are in his presence we don't feel so good about ourselves anymore.
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David understood the seriousness of sin in relation to God's holiness.
after his sin with Bathsheba and the arranged murder of Uriah. David
confessed to God, "Against you, you only, I have sinned and done
what is evil in your sight" Psalm 51:4
Jesus said, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40.
Sin makes us self-centered and Self-dependent instead of God-Centered and God-Dependent. You know you're getting deeper into sin, the deeper you get into independence- the idea that you can run your own life and don't need God. The less you need God, the more sinful you have become, because you are trying to function independently of the Creator.
The Inherited Sin Nature
We never teach our children how to sin. No child ever needed a class on how to be selfish or disobedient. No, we have to teach our children how love, to share, to be kind to one another, to stop fighting. The bad stuff is automatic. The capacity for sin is present when a child is developing in the womb.
Jeremiah 17:9 say's the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it. He was referring to our capacity to rebel against God.
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing. Romans 7:18a God told Adam and Eve that on the day they ate from the tree he commanded them not to eat from, they would die. (Genesis 2:17)
When Adam ate of the forbidden fruit and sinned against God, His sin was imputed or charged, to the whole human race. Paul wrote, "Through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned" Romans 5:12
We understand how a charge account works. You accumulate a debt on your account, which must be paid off in full in order to clear your account. That's what basically happened here. When Adam sinned, God posted a debt of sin to the account of every person who would ever be born.
We understand that the wages of sin is death. There was a separation.
And Jesus came to reconcile man back to God. He paid a price that he didn't owe.
But God Loved us so much that he sent his only begotten son that whosoever believed in him would not perish but have ever lasting life.
So know that your saved, and that your not still walking around lost.
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If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shat believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10
So I'm Saved Now What?
Growing in Maturity
And the Lord your God will clear out those nations before you, little by little: you may not consume them quickly, lest the beasts of the field increase among you. Deuteronomy 7:22
Maturity is a gradual process. What does it take to grow up and become spiritually mature? Why do some Christians not grow as they should?
People understand the concept of growth in the physical development of humans, and we know why it is important. Babies are immature physically and mentally, but we expect them to develop. If they don't, there is a problem. How do they develop? By nourishment.
Spiritual growth is a similar concept. Growth is development or improvement toward a goal called "maturity" or in the bible "perfection"
Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, Working in you that which Is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:21)
Perfect: the word perfect means mature or complete, not flawless.
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A1. We Have to have a Desire to Grow
We will never grow unless we have the desire to grow. As with children they desire to grow example I can't wait till I'm 16 so I can drive, or better yet I can't wait till I'm 18 I'm out of here.
That's how we should be in the spiritual I can't wait to get to the next level. (I Peter 2:20) tell us that we should desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.
Desire: to Crave, long for, yearn for.
Some like being babies. They don't have to grow. It's easy to be a baby- no responsibilities. Others feed you, clothe you, and change your diaper.
In the spiritual you don't study your word, pray, teach, rebuke sin, or do any work it's a free ride. But being a baby is not the goal of life. We are born babies so we can grow up and be productive and useful. Same as in the church we become born again, so we can become mature Christians serving the Lord.
A2. We must maintain this Desire to Grow
So even seasoned members who once had the desire to grow may lose it because of circumstance, our expectations, and laziness. We start out on fire then lose our zeal. Others develop a level of maturity and stagnate. They are satisfied, thinking no more growth is needed.
Scriptures teach that growth is always needed.
(Philippians 3:12-14) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I Press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Let us press toward maturity, none of us was born mature there is a process. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. I Corinthians 10:12.
But there has to be a desire. One of the main reasons Christians don't grow is that they do not see the need for growing. They have no desire to work and serve the Lord. There fine were they are they don't want to do the work it takes to grow just give me the title. We desire to be somebody to stand out but we don't desire to do the work that it takes to get that Title, that's called maturing. When people develop a burning hunger and thirst to work for the Lord, then they will begin to develop and mature.
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B. There has to be Nourishment
A child cannot grow physically without proper food. Babies need food to grow properly if they don't get the nourishment that they need, they can't grow normal they may become abnormal.
2 Peter 3:18 Grow in grace and KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
KNOWLEDGE: FACTS, TRUTH
(Matthew 4:4) Man shall not live by bread alone, but every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
(Matthew 5:6) Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
(II Timothy 2:15) Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Take this Test to check your spiritual Nourishment
How much time did you spend this week watching television, sports, entertainment?
How much time did you spend on some hobby?
How much time did you spend studying your Bible?
How many services did you attend?
Now ask yourself which do you nourish best: your spirit or your body.
And are you feeding your mind on God's Word or Pleasures of the flesh.
Exercise and Practice is needed to develop maturity.
Practice makes perfect, developing skills requires continual repetition.
Knowing that this is a faith walk that maturing is all about faith
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
Don't expect to reach your goal over night it takes patience.
James 1:4 but let patience have her perfect work,
that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
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So I'm Saved Now What?
Walking In Purpose
I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10
Purpose: a point, a reason
Jeremiah 1:5 before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee: and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Ordained: Intended, Meant, Designed, Predestined, Appointed, Predetermined.
You did not choose God but he chose you.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the father in my name he may give it to you. John 15:16
How do I bring forth fruit?
Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you (Live in Me, and I Will live in you) Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me you can do nothing. (John 15:4-5amp.)
For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, they are plans for good and not evil to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:1
Hope: a chance, expectation, desire
3 John 1:2 Beloved I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
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