By William F Holland Jr.
The Christian faith believes that God draws people to Himself when they hear the gospel message about how much He loves them. This is why evangelism is important, since the idea is that the more the gospel is presented, the more people will be convicted and respond to Christ.
After a person has made their public profession of faith in God, they proceed to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, which establishes them in the family of God. With complete water immersion, the believer is enacting the symbolism of Jesus’ death by declaring they have been washed clean and have died to sin. Rising out of the water symbolizes their union with Jesus in His resurrection, emerging from the grave of hopelessness, and being transformed into a new creation in Christ.
As a new child of God, they have invited Him to become the Lord, King, and Master of all they are and hope to be. Their lives are now based on the desire to manifest the character of Christ, instead of making decisions that were once controlled by carnal thinking. This new state of mind continues to be developed by a spiritual process of a renewed consciousness that chooses to stay focused on God and be aware of His presence.
The Bible is not just a friendly recommendation or suggestion when it comes to salvation, it’s the word of God that demands that His children live holy as He is holy and to listen and obey His still small voice. This includes not just growing and maturing in their faith to trust Him in every situation, but to earnestly pray for courage and determination to resist temptation, along with a hatred for sin.
Jesus was tempted but never sinned. He was a natural man of flesh, but He was also the divine Son of God. When we become a Christian, we are also tempted to indulge in things that are wrong, but God in His mercy and grace, has made an opportunity for His children to not only resist the dark influences and persuasions but also to repent and receive forgiveness for their trespasses when they sin.
An important aspect of iniquity to remember there is a difference between making mistakes and willingly committing intentional sin. We do not hear a lot about trespasses anymore, due to the reality that people (even Christians) do not want to be reminded of their dark habits and secrets. We spend, eat, dream, plan, say, and do whatever we want, but how many times do we stop and ask God if our choices are His will?
The blood that Jesus shed on the cross provides the only sacrifice that can forgive and wash the human heart and soul clean. Those who are now committed to walking on the straight and narrow path of obedience are in covenant with God. The old hymn, “I surrender all” speaks volumes about where we stand with the Lord and how serious we are about taking up our cross and following Him.
When Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane right before He was arrested, He is quoted in Luke 22:42 saying, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done.” He surrendered His life for the glory of God, and this is our perfect example to follow.
It’s good for the Christian to realize that just because we have been given the gift of eternal life, this does not mean we are free from the accountability of being sanctified for God’s purposes. Many are watching everything we do and listening to every word we say. If we assume just because our future is secure, that we can do whatever we want, we are living in denial.
The true concept of redemption is that we should be growing closer to God and becoming more holy, not relaxing and neglecting our high calling in Christ Jesus. The enemy of our souls whispers his lies, hoping we will let down our guard and place comforts and pleasures above being a living sacrifice which is our reasonable service.
When Christians stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ, the condition of their garments will reveal the motives and intentions of their hearts. Their deeds will be examined to determine their rewards and standing in eternity. Salvation is free, but it is not cheap. The spiritual reality is that it will cost us everything.
William F. Holland Jr. is an ordained minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.
