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 James 2:19 "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble". The devils believe, but they are not saved!! The Bible says ... "Hell is prepared for the devil and his angels" [Matthew 25:41] The devils also knew who Jesus was! [Luke 4:34].
The Philippian jailer, was holding Paul and Silas in prison. Seeing God's powerful answer of an earthquake, to their faith and singing, he cried out to Paul and Silas ..... "What must I do to be saved?" and Paul answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved"
[Acts 16:30-31].
"Saving Faith" is what is missing with people who say they are Christians, and there is no evidence of a changed life to support their claim! Paul gave a warning to Jews who claimed to have become Christians that, .. "We are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that Believe to the Saving of the soul" [Hebrews 10:39]. Believing in Jesus to "the saving of the soul" is "Saving faith". In other words, it is faith that works salvation, producing a completely changed life, from how they lived before. The Bible says, nothing avails before heaven, but a "new creature" [Galatians 6:15; 2 Corinthians 5:17].
Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear" [Isaiah 59:2]. Jesus spoke about a rich man in hell, that there was "a great gulf" between him and Lazarus in Heaven. [Luke 16:26].
Though sin has separated us from God, yet, He so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son, to suffer our judgment and penalty for sin, which is death [John 3:16].
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" [Romans 6:23]. "Death has passed upon all men, for that, all have sinned" [Romans 5:12]. The problem of sin is a big one. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" [1 John 1:8]. The Bible says, we all have a sinful nature, a "deceitful heart which is desperately wicked" [Jeremiah 17:9].
Even though Nicodemus was a religious leader, loved God, and sought to be a good person, Jesus said to him ... "Marvel not that I said unto you, you must be born again" [John 3:7].
This new birth is a "must", because - Our first birth dies because of a black corrupt and deceitful nature, and because of these bodies of sin [Romans 6:6].
We need a regenerated, (new birth) spirit [Titus 3:5-6].
Then we have a new heart and real love for God; mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, family, friends, and neighbours!
Being "born again" of the Spirit of God by faith in Christ, is the beginning of the Christian life. "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" [Galatians 3:26].
We begin as a baby, but are not meant to remain a baby.
Our Heavenly Father has a great inheritance for all his children as we grow up into Christ in all things [Ephesians 4:13]. How do we grow out of being a spiritual "baby"?
Peter said .. "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious" [1 Peter 2:1-3]. Growth in the Lord is stunted by the five things, Peter mentions; which are deadly poisons that only growing in the Lord's grace and his Word can overcome! The mean 5 are .. * "All malice" * "All guile" and * "hypocrisies" * "And envies and * All evil speakings".
If these traits of the old life and sinful nature, are not, as Peter says .."laid aside", then, true growth from the Word of God will be hindered. These nasties cannot co-exist in fellowship with Christ! The last 2 are the remedy .....
* Desiring "the sincere milk of the Word", means, not considering any notions of deceit about the Word, but appreciating it's purity and great perfection and value to you. * Tasting that the Lord is gracious.
There has never been and never will be anyone that can compare with the graciousness of our Lord Jesus Christ, our loving Saviour!
To benefit from the precious Word, we need to know in our hearts through humbleness, honest confession, and openness, his great grace and lovingkindness personally. It is only then that His Word will be LIFE to us. A Christian that spends no time in the Word of God will remain a spiritual baby, doting on the carnal remnants of worldly life, and losing out on apprehending that, for which he or she has been apprehended by the Lord Jesus Christ [Philippians 3:12]. Jesus is the Captain of our salvation [Hebrews 2:10].
We are "soldiers" in this army. If we become "chocolate" soldiers: we will be like many, that have been foiled and found slain on the battle field! Every CHRISTian is in a fierce fight, but the chocolate christIAN is found eating fairy floss at the town fair. The encouragement is to "endure hardness as a good soldier of our Lord Jesus Christ" [2 timothy 2:3]. This hardness that we need to "endure" is not only the battle in the "outfield" but also the inward battle! The Lord said to Israel - "O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help" [Hosea 13:9]. How great are the battles within the heart of every believer!
And many are the Lord's chastenings upon spiritual loss, as David had to "endure". Take courage dear saint that the Lord did say to all Israel in the despair of self destruction ... "In me is thine help". Praise the Lord for such grace as was showed to king David and is available to every keen soldier of the Cross [1 Samuel 30:6-8]. Paul spoke about "conflicts without and fears within" [2 Corinthians 7:5].
Even if the Lord has been on the outside of your life - Invite Him in! and let Him know everything, because He is "gracious"! [Exodus 22:27]. "A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory" Matthew 12:20].
David said - "The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me ..." [Psalm 138:8].
"Then shall we know if we follow on to Know the Lord" [Hosea 6:3].
Grant hayman.
The Lord wonderfully BLESS. He does The BEST!
 Song - "People Need The Lord".
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What is a Christian
