Church of the True Way Bible Lesson # 11

In this lesson, we come again to deal with the phrase "in Christ"; and we find that all of the wonderful blessings of salvation that we listed last time, are reserved for those who are truly saved. Not one of those blessings ever accrues to anyone who has not truly been quickened by god, regenerated, called out, justified and sanctified, born again and obedient to the commands of Christ.

It is very important in our day to point out the difference between being saved and truly saved! Anybody can say that they are saved and they proudly say, that they joined a certain church on such and such a date. They even say that they attend the services of that "church" most of the time and they may even be an officer of that church; however that does not mean that they are "truly saved". Belonging to a church and doing churchy things makes you a church-member but not necessarily a truly saved person.

Some might ask, "Well, what difference does it make whether I am a church-member or truly saved". It makes all of the difference between eternity in heavenly bliss and the torment and torture of eternity in hell.

Anyone who is ever saved by grace through faith, and that is the only way anybody is ever saved; becomes at the instant of their salvation, a new creature..A creature who has been created anew by god and that new creature demonstrates the character of god as they live the new life as called for by 2nd Corinthians 5:17, which says, "therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

We become like Christ and are conformed into the image of Christ as we obey him and follow him. That is not "pie in the sky", it is an absolute truth because it was taught by god. (Romans 6:1-4, 6-12; Romans 8:1-4,8-14,28-30; Philippians 4:13; 1st cor.3:16; 1st john2:13; philippians 2:13; to name a few of the scriptures that teach it.)

Now, think about what you have read in the paper, seen on TV., and heard about for the past week. Does that sound like true Christianity to you? When you look around you at your community, your state and your nation, does it look like it has much to do with Jesus? What about your family?

You see, true salvation involves repentance and conversion and there is never salvation without both of these. Both are god enabled; but the person saved wants to be what god would have them to be..

Now, do you believe that god is almighty? He says he is!!! (See genesis 17:1; exodus 6:3; job 33:4; psalms 68:14; 2nd cor. 6:18; revelation 4:8).

If you find it impossible to believe that god is really god, the creator, sustainer and Savior of his creation, then sadly there is no option for you but hell; however as long as you live there is the possibility that you will come to the knowledge of god. Keep on reading the Bible and pray and seek god above all else; because your eternal soul weighs in the balance.

God has allowed most of the people who have the opportunity to seek his face, the great privilege of being born in a country where freedom rings and most can worship as they please. We are blessed but we have somehow allowed our minds and hearts to be captured by self, silliness and Satan.

We can, with god's blessings bring our society back to the place where our children can be safe in school and in the community, where we can sleep without wondering when someone is going to invade our privacy, and where civil expression can be held without the use of vulgar language.