Song Library

IMPORTANT BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES

Salvation through God's Son, Jesus Christ This first principle is at the very heart of our relationship to God; that is, our salvation (forgiveness of sins) is made possible by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ upon the cross. This occurs through repentance (Mark 1:15, Luke 13:3). Repentance begins with the heartfelt conviction or recognition that you are a sinner. As you come to accept this fact, believing that Jesus shed His blood for your sins and making confession of those sins to the Lord, He is faithful to forgive your sins (I John 1:9, Acts 3:19). This forgiveness is synonymous with justification (being placed in good standing with God) that makes you a new creature; you are now a new person in Christ Jesus (II Corinthians 5:17, Romans 5:1-2,19). This new life come an act of the Holy Sprit that regenerates this condition of new life in your heart and mind(Titus 3:5, Ephesians 2:1,4-5). These spiritual actions while instantaneous produce a conversion in your life that causes you to turn away form your past sins. You are now born again (having become children of God) and have been placed in His family with a desire to serve the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:3, I Peter 1:23). Holiness through God's Holy Son This is the second principle of the grace of God. The Lord has not only forgiven us and placed us in His family but He desires to bring us in to His Holy image. To as many as believe upon Jesus and are willing to seek the Lord to allow His Holy Spirit to impute (place within them) His holiness, there is a sanctifying process that removes the old desire to return or live in a lifestyle of sin (Romans 5:2, I Corinthians 1:30, I Thessalonians 4:3,Hebrews 13:12, I John 1:9). This sanctification (death of old nature of sin) is critical to reaching the Holy life that God wants us to live (Luke 1:74-75, Hebrews 12:14). Not only is this an initial and instantaneous cleansing by the blood of Christ, it is an ongoing work of the Spirit to sanctify us by applying the word of God to our hearts (Ephesians 5:25-27). While the work of grace dose instantly sanctify (cleanse from sin), we all find it necessary to wrestle with our flesh and seek the lord to apply His blood to every area of our life. We are blessed to have God's word to encourage us that God will perform His Will to produce in us a life of holiness (I Peter 1:13). Outward Evidence of the Inward Change Every person who has believed in Jesus Christ and has been converted to a new lfe in Him is ready to follow on in their desire to identify with their Redeemer. While the blood has washed their heart clean, there will be a thirst or desire to give open testimony of their inward change. Jesus taught that His disciples (those how believe and follow Him) should be baptized in water (John 3:22-23) as both a form of identifaction with Him as a symbol of His death,burial, and resurrection.Baptism by immersion in water (Mark 1:8-10, Acts 8:36-38,10:47-48,16:33, 19:3-5) and recognizing the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19) are vital expressions for a new Christian to give open testimony of their salvation and fellowship with the Body of Christ. It is the work of the Holy Spirit that prompts a new believer in Jesus Christ with a desire to make "restitution where possible" for their past sins and offences. This was a powerful testimony to unbelivers who came into contact with early Christians. This is a conviction that the individual is willing to make a "wrong" right by asking forgiveness or a willingness to restore something wrongfully taken (Matthew 3:8, Luke 19:8-9, Romans 13:8) While some conditions make restitution impossible, the Holy Spirit leads the believer to know when and how to restore something.