The Holy Spirit was sent to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgement (John 16: 8-11); IMO this is the first level of faith and is usually called mental assent. There is little if any personal involvement as it is primarily a mental affirmation. However those who are convinced at this level are pointed to Jesus the righteous One as he is the only One who can die for our sin, redeeming us. These are drawn to Him by the truth and the love and the hope revealed in the gospel (John 6: 44; 12: 32) Those who wish to come after Him discover that there are three requirements of discipleship: deny self, take up his cross (die to the old self) and follow Him (observe all things He has commanded) (Matt 16: 24)
When we deny self we empty or humble ourselves. (Phil. 2: 5- 8) God gives grace to the humble but resists the proud. He opens the heart (Acts 16: 14) to receive Jesus as the Christ the Son of God by believing in His name (John 1: 12, 13) and to respond in faith hope and love, love being the greatest. This is the second level of faith. Faith is a work of God (John 6: 29), by the grace of God (Acts 18: 27) and received as a gift (Rom. 12: 3). To say that we receive this faith by the exercising of our minds in choosing to believe is beyond the pale. The individual is begotten by God, given the right become a child of God and the word is implanted his heart. The individual believes with all his heart and mind that God is and that he is the rewarder of those who seek Him and that Jesus is the anointed One, the Son of God. This faith at this level is still incomplete, however, as shown by the fact that he is not yet a child of God.
The second requirement of discipleship is to take up our cross (that is to die to the old self). When Jesus took up His cross it was to die. This is accomplished when our faith works with our works of faith and there by perfects or completes our faith. (James 2: 20-24) You see that faith without works of faith is dead. These works of faith that lead to salvation (precede salvation) are calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 2: 21) confessing his name before (Rom. 10: 10) , repentance in the name of Christ (2 Cor. 7: 10) and baptism in the name of Christ (Mark 16: 16). To suggest that these works are works of righteousness, IMO, is beyond the pale. When we obey these commands, are faith is complete (this is the third level of faith, are hearts and conscience are sprinkled with the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1: 2) as our bodies are washed with pure water (Heb. 10: 22).
All spiritual blessings , including redemption, justification, sonship, life and salvation are in Christ and we are baptized into Christ and His death, we die to the old self and are clothed with Christ. At the same time we become children of God through faith and baptism into Christ. (Rom 6: 3-7: Gal. 3: 26, 27) and Jesus pours out the gift of the Holy Spirit abundantly, immersing, baptizing and anointing us with the Spirit.
IMO. as we come forth from this baptismal experience, we are born of water and Spirit. (John 3: 5) The Spirit regenerates and renews, guides and indwells. To be immersed in the Spirit means that we are totally exposed to the work and influence of the Spirit in the outward man; to drink of the Spirit means that the inward man, the heart and conscience, is similarly influenced. (1 Cor. 12: 13) He gives us a new heart and Spirit.
The third requirement of discipleship is to follow Him; to do all things that he has commanded. We do this not merely from a sense of duty but because we want to please Him in every aspect of our life. If the above is true, conversion is certainly not a one-step operation; we are obliged and desire to walk in the light as He is in the light as the blood of Christ continues to cleanse us from sin.
God bless.
When we deny self we empty or humble ourselves. (Phil. 2: 5- 8) God gives grace to the humble but resists the proud. He opens the heart (Acts 16: 14) to receive Jesus as the Christ the Son of God by believing in His name (John 1: 12, 13) and to respond in faith hope and love, love being the greatest. This is the second level of faith. Faith is a work of God (John 6: 29), by the grace of God (Acts 18: 27) and received as a gift (Rom. 12: 3). To say that we receive this faith by the exercising of our minds in choosing to believe is beyond the pale. The individual is begotten by God, given the right become a child of God and the word is implanted his heart. The individual believes with all his heart and mind that God is and that he is the rewarder of those who seek Him and that Jesus is the anointed One, the Son of God. This faith at this level is still incomplete, however, as shown by the fact that he is not yet a child of God.
The second requirement of discipleship is to take up our cross (that is to die to the old self). When Jesus took up His cross it was to die. This is accomplished when our faith works with our works of faith and there by perfects or completes our faith. (James 2: 20-24) You see that faith without works of faith is dead. These works of faith that lead to salvation (precede salvation) are calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 2: 21) confessing his name before (Rom. 10: 10) , repentance in the name of Christ (2 Cor. 7: 10) and baptism in the name of Christ (Mark 16: 16). To suggest that these works are works of righteousness, IMO, is beyond the pale. When we obey these commands, are faith is complete (this is the third level of faith, are hearts and conscience are sprinkled with the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1: 2) as our bodies are washed with pure water (Heb. 10: 22).
All spiritual blessings , including redemption, justification, sonship, life and salvation are in Christ and we are baptized into Christ and His death, we die to the old self and are clothed with Christ. At the same time we become children of God through faith and baptism into Christ. (Rom 6: 3-7: Gal. 3: 26, 27) and Jesus pours out the gift of the Holy Spirit abundantly, immersing, baptizing and anointing us with the Spirit.
IMO. as we come forth from this baptismal experience, we are born of water and Spirit. (John 3: 5) The Spirit regenerates and renews, guides and indwells. To be immersed in the Spirit means that we are totally exposed to the work and influence of the Spirit in the outward man; to drink of the Spirit means that the inward man, the heart and conscience, is similarly influenced. (1 Cor. 12: 13) He gives us a new heart and Spirit.
The third requirement of discipleship is to follow Him; to do all things that he has commanded. We do this not merely from a sense of duty but because we want to please Him in every aspect of our life. If the above is true, conversion is certainly not a one-step operation; we are obliged and desire to walk in the light as He is in the light as the blood of Christ continues to cleanse us from sin.
God bless.
- 1
- Show all