Salvation, Forgiveness and Living in
Christ
Encounter with a religious scholar
Recently, a religious man came to Chief Apostle N. Lazar of New Jerusalem Church to argue with him about the doctrine of confession of sins. When they both met and were introduced to each other, Chief Apostle asked him the following questions:
The man who had come to question Chief Apostle regarding one of the 7 doctrines given to him from the Word of God, the Holy Bible, was spellbound as he listened carefully to the message from God for the 21st Century from the prophet and apostle whom the Lord Jesus Christ has raised up to prepare the Church in these last days for the soon coming King, our heavenly bridegroom, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Some of these discussions are outlined in the following excerpts.
Salvation
Theories and Facts
Today while many theories abound on when a person is saved, the Bible has the facts. There is no record in the Bible that if a person raises his hands in a meeting and says a prayer to Jesus, he is saved. If that is so, can a person raise his hands in a meeting, say a prayer to Jesus privately, and claim to be saved while continuing as an Atheist, Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist. No, in order to be saved, a person must openly and publicly confess that he denounces his old ways, confess his sin to a man of God as in Matt 3:6 and take water baptism. He needs to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Mk 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. To be saved, he needs to now continue in the Word of God while openly proclaiming to the world, the Church, angels and to God that he is now embracing Christ, His Word and His Body the Church, all three of whom are inseparable.
Early Church and True
Salvation
How did the early church understand the word “saved”. When Peter completed his sermon on the day of Pentecost inspired by the Holy Spirit, there was an immediate response from the audience. The people asked Peter, “What should we do to be saved and Peter told them how”:
Ac:2:37-42: Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Role of the Church in
Salvation
Peter’s explicit description of the way of salvation was profound and clear to those who were soon to be faithful members of the early church of our Lord Jesus Christ. First, those that heard Apostle Peter, believed in Jesus Christ, repented from their sins, confessed their sins as in Matt 3:6 to the man of God, received water baptism, were washed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. They separated themselves from the assembly and fellowship of those who do not walk in accordance with the written word preached by Apostle Peter, and continued stedfastly in the apostle’s doctrine, fellowship, in breaking of bread and prayers. All of these new believers continued in one accord with the family of God and praised God continually. Ac:2:47: Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Note, the phrase added to the church to be saved is bolded. Salvation is not complete unless a person does all of the above and becomes a part of the family of God and abides stedfastly in the family of God, the Church, abiding and continuing in God’s Word until the end. This is the way to true salvation. In John 8:30-32: As Jesus Christ spake these words, many believed on him. (Jesus never told them you are saved). Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. In order to continue in the Word, become disciples of Christ, know the truth and be set free, the early church continued stedfastly in the apostle’s doctrine, fellowship, in breaking of bread and prayers. The apostles declared to the Church all they heard and were commanded of Jesus Christ. In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God, John 1:1. And the Word was given to the Church where Christ resides, Eph 1:22. Apostle Paul states the Word of God or commandment he gave to the Church was the same commandment that he received from the Lord. 1Cor 11:23: “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you”, in reference to his commandment to the Church from the Lord regarding Holy Communion. The church members obeyed and became partakers of Christ’s salvation that is given to all them that obey Him, Heb:5:9: And being made perfect, he (Jesus) became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; If this is exactly how the early church members received salvation it holds good for all time, even the 21st century and is in accordance with God’s Word. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, Heb 13:8. Even today there is a true Church and there is an Apostle from God. The way to true salvation is taught in God’s Church by the man of God who received commandments directly from Jesus Christ in accordance with the Holy Bible. God’s way of salvation does not change with time, seasons or centuries. There is only one way to salvation. That is to repent, confess your sins, receive water baptism, receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and abide in God’s Church continuing in His Word. If you do this, you will be raptured at Christ’s coming. M't:24:13: But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Salvation, Your Eternal Decision
and Destiny
Salvation is the most important decision you will make in your life and will determine your destiny for eternity among the only two eternal choices available, extreme eternal joy (heaven) and extreme eternal sorrow, agony and torture (hell). Shouldn’t this eternal and most important decision in your life hinge on the written Word in the Bible preached by Apostle Peter than on someone else who is neither saved nor has heard directly from God on the topic related to salvation as the apostles did for 40 days they spent with Christ after the resurrection? Ac:1:2: Until the day in which Jesus was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen. Has the person who is misleading you received the commandment from Jesus directly, or are you relying on someone else’s opinion than the Word of God? If someone gives you a bottle with some capsules of medicine, would you not want to make sure the bottle is sealed and read with utmost care the label on the bottle? Many people have lost their lives because they believed someone and did not read the label which said “Arsenic trioxide, a highly poisonous substance which will be fatal if congested”. Eve listened to what the devil said about the apple, fell for the deception, ate the forbidden apple, for she was deceived into thinking God’s Word was not true. Come back to God’s Written and spoken Word. Don’t become an eternal victim of theories and human opinion. Heaven and earth will pass away but God’s Word will always stand. Jesus said in M't:24:35: Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Obtain salvation in accordance with God’s Word. There is no shortcut in Christianity. The Word of God is a two-edged sword and is not meant to be played with. Heb:4:12: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. God’s Word is final and all mankind will give account to God for their adherence in this life to His Holy Word. Come to New Jerusalem Church where God’s Word in taught by the Apostle who has received it directly and physically from Jesus Christ the same savior who appeared physically to the early apostles and gave them commandments to be provided to the church so all who obey will receive eternal salvation.
Heb:5:9: And being made perfect, he (Jesus Christ) became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.
Forgiveness of Sins
Theories and Facts
Today many man-made theories abound which deprive people from obtaining true forgiveness and cleansing by the blood of Jesus Christ in accordance with the Word of God. Because people have not obtained the true joy of having their sins forgiven, the old guilt abides in their hearts and in frustration they acknowledge that a man will be a sinner until Christ comes back. If one who proclaims himself a Christian calls himself a sinner, what about the ungodly and the wicked in this world. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, not torment them with guilt and remembrance of their past sins. Heb:10:2: states that the worshippers purged from sins cannot have any more conscience of sins. If a person calls himself a sinner after claiming to have accepted Jesus Christ, something has gone wrong because he is walking in darkness. 1Jo:1:5, 7: God is light and in Him is no darkness. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we are cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and His blood flows in our veins and arteries and our hearts, then we are not sinners but saints. But the question is, what does the Bible teach us about how to obtain forgiveness of sins and be cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ?
Nowhere in the scripture did the apostles teach people to raise their hands in a meeting, say a prayer and conclude that they were Christians because their sins were forgiven. To the contrary, the apostles explicitly taught the people in the first century that forgiveness or remission of sins does not occur until confession of sins followed by water baptism.
Confession of sins, baptism
and washing away sins
One day a brother asked the Lord Jesus if he would be so kind as to appear to him. He kept on praying eagerly because he wanted to see Jesus. One night as he was praying, Jesus appeared to him and this brother was so delighted that he fell at Jesus’ feet and went close to embrace him. When Jesus saw this brother coming close to touch him and embrace him, Jesus lifted up his hands, stopped him motioning with His hands, and said “No, first go and wash and be cleansed and then you can touch me”. Immediately, this brother understood what the Lord said and went and took water baptism. Jesus made it very clear to him that only in water baptism preceded by confession of sins to the man of God, the blood of Jesus will cleanse a person. Saul had seen Jesus face to face and heard his voice and command. He was blind and fasted and prayed for three days. Yet his sins were not forgiven. After three days, God sent Ananias to Saul, and as Ananias prayed, scales fell off Saul’s eyes and his eyesight was restored. Saul received the Holy Spirit. Then Ananias told him, “Why tarriest thou? arise and be baptized washing away thy sins calling on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ”. Paul arose and testified of his faith in Christ, confessed his sins openly to the man of God, and was baptized and when he was given meat he was strengthened. He was now clean for he had obtained forgiveness of sins from Jesus Christ through the man of God when he confessed his sins and obeyed the Word of God in the waters of Baptism. His sins were now washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ.
On the day of Pentecost, Apostle Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit said in Acts 2:38: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost”. Peter declared that repentance and in essence confession of sins and baptism is required for remission or forgiveness of sins. 1Jo:1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Confess to whom? Jesus directly? But when Jesus was alive, he did not ask anyone to confess their sins to Him. The only record in the Gospels of any confession being performed is in relevance to the man of God, John the Baptist as in Mt 3:6 where people came to him and confessed their sins and took water baptism.
Facts and Biblical Truths
About Confession
Confession is open solemn
declaration. We hear many people
worldwide getting caught in sin having their gruesome act exposed, leaving them
with no alternative but to appear on TV and confess their sins openly. The Biblical method of confession is to the
man of God in the Church of the Living God.
It is important to acknowledge our sins to God, but this is not
confession, for God knows all about us including our thoughts even before the
act is committed. In James 5:14-16 we
read, Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let
them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick,
and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be
forgiven him. Confess your faults one to
another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent
prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Then the Bible points out the effectual fervent prayer of prophet Elijah
which God heard and blessed
Job Pray’s for his Friend’s
Sin
In Job:42:8: the Lord tells Job’s friends, “Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job”. God refused to hear the confession of Job’s friends, because in essence God knows everything and nothing can be covered from Him. So God told Job’s friends that there was no shortcut. They have to go the man of God, if they want their sins forgiven and their standing with God restored. “My servant Job shall pray for you”, God said.
Samuel the Prophet Prays for
Israel’s Sin
In the book of Samuel we read
another instance where the children of
Abraham Prays for Abimelech’s
sin
Ge:20:7, 17: Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine. So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children. God heard Abraham’s prayer and forgave the sin of Abimelech and restored his health and the health of his family. Confession of sins is mandatory for forgiveness of sins. Yes, it takes time to remember all our sins and confess them.
Open public confession in the
Assembly recorded in the Bible
In Nehemiah 9, Now in the twenty
and fourth day of this month the children of
Covering Sins and Consequences
Proverb:28:13 states He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Unconfessed sins will follow people to the judgement throne of God and at that time it will be manifest to the whole universe and shouted upon housetops, Lk 12:3. 1Tim 5:24: Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. When sins are confessed to the man of God in the Church which is God’s judgment throne in God’s presence, to an authorized man of God, the man of God prays unto God to forgive those confessed sins and provides spiritual counsel from God on how to escape those sins in the future. The plans of the enemy will be revealed at that time so we can protect ourselves from future attacks. The Bible speaks loudly and scriptures abound throughout emphasizing this truth.
Joh:20:21-23: Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.
Jesus sent His apostles into the world even as He was sent of the Father into the world to save people from their sins. Jesus sent them with the authority to forgive sins.
M't:9:8: But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified
God, which had given such power unto men (the power to forgive sins).
Ac:19:18: And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their
deeds (sins).
Ro:10:10: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with
the mouth confession (of faith in Christ, repentance from sins and confession
of sins) is made unto salvation.
Living in Christ
When does a person get joined into Christ? Is forgiveness of sins obtained in Christ or out of Christ?
Christian life is living in Christ. 2 Cor 5:17: If any man be in Christ he is a new creature (his nature is changed—it is no more natural for him to sin, but unnatural). But to live in Christ, a person has to be joined into Christ. When is a person joined into Christ?
In Gal 3:27 we read, for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. When a person repents, confesses his sins, and obeys God in the waters of baptism he receives forgiveness of sins in Christ, and receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit and has put on Christ or has been joined into Christ. To receive water baptism, a person has to go to the man of God or the man of God from the Church of the Living God has to come to him as in the case of the Ethiopian Eunuch who was baptized by Philip. Acts 8:38: And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Being joined to Christ and being joined to the Church is one and the same. When a person becomes a part of the body of Christ, His Church, that person becomes a part of the body and flesh of the Lord. Eph:5:30: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. This is the bride of Christ. Being joined unto the Lord and being joined unto the church is one and the same thing. Now he can boldly say, Jesus is the Vine and he is one of Christ’s branches, John 15:5.
Ac:2:41: Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Ac:2:47: Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Ac:5:14: And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
Ac:11:24: For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
In the early church, the new
believers were baptized with water and the Holy Spirit and immediately added to
the church to prepare themselves for Christ’s soon coming. Jesus Christ is coming soon. There is no more time! God’s Word is True. God’s teachings by the man of God from
Jer:6:16: Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask
for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find
rest for your souls.