GPS Ministries

So you have accepted Christ. Good now how can you know that true salvation is yours? Please grab a bible so that I can show you from scripture that you are indeed Christ’s and He is yours. I’m going to show you through scripture because it’s the only truth we have, I will repeat myself so please bear with me. You need to memorize these scriptures so you can combat the feelings in yourself and so you can help others to be sure there In Christ. Just so you know the word Christ means The Anointed so when you say Jesus Christ you are acknowledging His lordship that he is the only anointed. The only way to salvation is through Jesus; John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. So this is unrefutable, the only way to God is through Jesus 1Jo 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
Some people say I have a relationship with God or I talk to God well if you didn’t speak to Jesus first your not talking to God. This is easily dealt with though talk to Jesus.
I’m sorry if this offends some people, but scripture is clear that you can’t know God without knowing Jesus first. I won’t water down the truth to cater to people; they have to know the truth. Eternal life is not a plaything to be changed and down played souls are at stake.
If you don’t have a Bible get one, if you don’t have the money for one I’m sure a local church will give you one. You need one so that you may know the truth (Matthew 4:4). The Bible is our backbone its what holds us up. You need to believe the Bible wholly knowing there is no other absolute truth other then it. If you believe the Bible you have to believe Jesus, for we read in John 1:1-14 that Jesus was there from the beginning he is not a created being he is God and that He (the word) was made flesh and dwelt among us.
If you have trouble understanding the bible and you think you learn nothing from it ask God for help with it, Jam 1:5-8 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his way. Remember there is no such thing as an unanswered prayer there is yes, no, and wait.

Now lets jump into this shall we. We know that Paul says in Romans 10:9 that, if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. So if you have done this you are secure. End of story, if you have confessed and you believe with everything in you, you are saved. I know though you sometimes might doubt you are saved. And that is why God has laid this on my heart because He wants you to know you are His. He delights in you knowing Him.
Let’s talk a little about the word salvation. You can be saved from anything burning buildings, embarrassment, cooking, etc. So if I were to ask you, “have you been saved? “; it could be misleading. A definition might be required. Salvation is this, justification the next is sanctification then you have glorification. Also said as this I am saved, I am being saved, and I will be saved. These three parts are wrapped in the saying are you saved. It goes like this, I am justified this means the sin charged to me is forgiven and I will, note I say will inherit eternal life. I can also say I’m never going to lose this, but this is a subject for later. Next comes sanctification, the act of our daily life in Christ. We know we are no longer subject to sin. Before Christ we were in bondage to sin, now in your new life that sin is not what rules you. Then you have glorification that which all saints (anyone who has accepted Christ) will take part in, our glorious unity with Christ when we are truly perfect and have our new bodies we have been promised. You see every person who has and will ever live is an eternal being. You will live forever. But it really comes down to will you live eternally in a perfect paradise God created for those who love, and accept him, or will you go to Hell; the place God created for the devil and his followers, a lake of fire that never stops burning.
So what we are dealing with is the justification. This is going to equip you with biblical truth you can hold onto and prove you are in Christ (truly saved).
So why do I need the justification? Lets look at sin. Were going to look in the Webster dictionary because it was created so that we always know what language is saying in the King James Bible, which is the one I use. By Webster sin is.
SIN, v.i.
1. To depart voluntarily from the path of duty prescribed by God for man; to violate the divine law in any particular, by actual transgression or by the neglect or non-observance of its injunctions; to violate any known rule of duty. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3.Against thee, thee only, have I sinned. Psalm 51.

Sin is not a thing against man but God. Sin is first introduced in the bible in the first
book of the Bible, Genesis. But not where you would think, the concept is indeed introduced when the “Curse” (Gen. 3) comes about. And in that passage we get the first glimpse of how God deals with healing the separation between man and God. Gen. 3:15, And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. This is our first prophecy about Jesus. God is talking to Satan, it shall bruise thy head refers to the fatal blow Christ will deliver when he throws Satan in the lake of fire in rev 20: 10. Thou shalt bruise his heel speaks of Satan’s attempts to defeat Christ during his life/ministry on earth. So in the first place we see sin God already had a plan to give salvation to the world with of the death and resurrection of Christ, and defeat of Satan.
Because of their disobedience Adam and Eve are cursed. God instructed them to not eat of the fruit, yet the serpent deceived Eve. Adam however was not deceived he willfully sinned. He loved eve so much that he disobeyed. God as it says in Rom 5:12 Sin entered by one man Adam and all of the descendents of Adam are damned. But there is reunion with God through Jesus Christ Rom 5:15-17. The word sin though is introduced in Gen. 4, where the first of Adams children Cain and Able are making sacrifices. God accepts Abel’s but not Cain’s, as conjecture it was not accepted because he brought the fruit of the ground. Able brought a sacrifice of blood as God had put into place in Gen 3:21. By killing the animal and covering them with coats of skin he showed his plan (Heb 9:22 with out the shedding of blood there is no remission (of sin)).

In Gen 4:7 God says If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou
doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

The word sin is 448 times in scripture, it is the thing that you will deal with in your
life with Christ. But scripture is very clear. We are freed from sin. A key chapter of this is
Rom 6 it deals with our freedom from sin in Christ. Yet you may read this and feel
really discouraged because you do not feel free from sin. Its seems you try, you
struggle, and at times you hate your self because you just can’t break free. Here’s a
little secret every Christian on the face of the planet, every one that has ever lived
(Accept Jesus) feels and felt just like you. Even Paul the esteemed apostle felt just
like you.

He tell us in Romans 7 14-20

For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present
with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
For the good that I would I do not: but the evil, which I would not, that I do.
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

This is his and your sin predicament; the battle of your old nature and the new that will rage until the Father sees fit for your earthly body to expire. I encourage you to read Romans, ch 7 thus getting more of the feel of this subject, it would be best for you to read
all of Romans for the full effect.
Let’s break these verses down. In verse 14 Paul is stating facts, the law is the good
thing we aspire to be like, our goal is to be spiritual. Previous verses explain this is what he is referring to. Then we have this next statement that gives us an awkward hope and fear.
I am carnal sold under sin. Your thoughts may be as follows; but I was told I’m free from
sin, a new creation, holy, and transformed. But this says I’m carnal?

The webster defines carnal thus
CARNAL, a.
1. Pertaining to flesh; fleshly; sensual; opposed to spiritual; as carnal pleasure.
2. Being in the natural state; unregenerate.
The carnal mind is enmity against God. Rom 8.

So this is telling us that we are, among other things, opposed to the spiritual, thus the law. The law is spiritual but I am carnal. Paul then says we are sold under sin, under sin by the “contract” we have been sold under sin. All that operates in this life is under sin. Many read this and say I’m sold to it, I have no power to overcome it. Not true we are a new new new new, creature (2Co 5:17). You are not sold to sin, but that where you dwell is inhabited by sin. This is not a license to sin. We are called to a holy life, but know you are not going to stop sinning. I am not a pro sin advocate, but by looking at scripture where dose it say you will stop sinning? It precisely tells us it will be our burden till the day we die.
The true test of a man’s spirituality is ones understanding of sin. And the way that we know what sin is and what to do about it is by reading the bible. It is imperative that you read and study the Bible on your own, so that when you hear some one teaching it, you can know if what they are saying is true or if they are speaking lies and twisting the truth. Remember this; the only truth in this world is the inherent word of God, He has given this to you so that you may know His will and discern right from wrong.

Paul then says:
For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Doesn’t this sound familiar? Who today has felt like this, raise your hand. See, I knew Paul and I weren’t the only ones. This is what I struggle with constantly. He says the thing I’m doing I don’t want to, and the godly thing that I want to do (not sinning ect.) I don’t do that. The stuff I did before I accepted Christ or things that are unbecoming of a Christian, I’m doing those things, and I hate them.
Remember this is Paul the man that wrote thirteen possibly fourteen books of the New Testament. He gave us the lists like the one in Gal 5:19

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath,
strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of
the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such
things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Things that in one way or another we all have or are struggling with, and Paul did to.
Now when you read these lists know he is saying those who are given over to these things, theirs a difference between struggling and just doing. Jesus in Mat 5:28 takes our sin responsibility to a much higher level, its not just the committing of an act but the thinking of committing that we are now responsible for. He says :
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed
adultery with her already in his heart.
If someone tells you they do not sin or don’t struggle with sin their lying, plain fact.
The only one who is sinless is Jesus the Son of God. He was not born under sin. He did not have an earthly father (Luke 1:30-35). The disease of sin was not passed on to Him. He still was tempted, but never gave in for if he did his sacrifice would have been worthless.

He then says if then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
He acknowledges that he is subject to the punishment of the law for sin, the requiring of a
sacrifice. Well that sacrifice has already been made for you. Now then it is no more I that
do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. This is your verse of hope. Not an excuse to sin but
when we do, you see you are covered in the precious blood the Lamb of God and no
longer is it up to you to atone for your sin. Jesus is your advocate (1 John2:1). Just as a
lawyer stands and speaks to the judge for you, as the prosecutor is accusing. He is saying
that’s been taken care of, so has that, and that. We still have our old nature but you are
no longer in bondage to that, as Jesus says in Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter
not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Next Paul says of himself in his flesh there is no good. His will is for God, but how to
do good he can’t find. That’s just like you and I. From there he just reiterates with the next two verses that it is a battle with himself; the old nature and the regenerated spirit.
So now we have the knowledge that Paul who we know is a godly man struggled too.
Now lets look at some of our surety in Christ verses you can go back to for strength when you get down.
John 10:25-30
Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s
name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I
said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck
them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is
able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.

We have believed so we are his sheep, we hear his voice. You hear his voice by this,
reading his word and understanding it, you now have a strong desire to know what God
wants (that’s why your reading this!), you come to him in prayer for understanding, He
gives you his peace. Don’t take those things lightly, just because you stumble doesn’t
mean your not saved. He then tells us no one not you not anyone can take you from His
hand plus no one can take you from Gods hand so there is two hands involved. So if you
can pull your self out of God’s hand you are greater then him, I don’t care who you are
your not greater then God. Note what it does not say. It does not say that as long as my
sheep are not sinning no one can take them out of my hand. It says no one can take you
from Jesus hand.
So you have a few verses lets add more. Rom 8:35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for
the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that
loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other
creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord. Once again we have super convincing argument for saying you can’t lose
Justification nothing can separate your from his love.
Lets look at Jud 1: 24
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you
faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.
Look he says Him that is able to keep you from falling and present you faultless before
God
Jesus also says in John 17:9-12 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them
which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

In this scripture Jesus is saying to God those you gave me are mine and I’ve lost none except Judas because he betrayed Jesus and this was unique because it was a fulfilling of prophecy.
Remember you can’t lose what God paid for because God can’t lose what he paid for.

Now what about verses Hebrews 6:4-6
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

How do you explain this huh?

I will explain this soon.

I think now Is good time to look at aspect of suffering with Christ there are many ways we suffer with Christ Jesus. You can look at the book of acts and see suffering that they went though, another really good book is foxes book of martyrs that shows a lot of what Christians have gone through. But there is other suffering we go through. You may not have been persecuted but you suffer with sin, trying not to sin is a struggle and its supposed to be. Like romans 7:14 what you want to do you don’t, if it was easy everyone would be a Christian, and because you struggle people who have never really read there bible judge you for it. Look at romans 2:1
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest; for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

You see, people condemn others and judge them when often they are looking at the disgust they have for themselves. Your not the only one with sin in your life, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). So if you have some one saying (or even yourself) you can’t be saved look at the sin, look at this instead, were all damned without Jesus’ salvation. In romans 2:4 Paul asks; do you despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance. IE are you saying his salvation is good enough for you but not someone else? You were just as damned as anyone else without Christ. To judge someone else’s sin is judgment on yourself. So as a good rule remember what you have been saved from and that you struggle, sin is a level playing field. Don’t look at their sin as being less or worse then yours we were all damned without God grace. Remember Mattew 26:47 the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
Jam 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Though I’ve given much reason for you to know your justified you can’t just live your life to your own whim, scripture is very clear we must fight the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12 & 2 Timothy 4:7). I’ve stated encouragement for you to not doubt the work God has and is doing in you, but it still is a battle every day we make choices to do the will of God or our will. This isn’t so that you can just give up on your struggle all the more it should encourage you to strive harder. To run strong and get to your goal with God saying, well done good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:23). You’ll still get down when you look at yourself and how you fall short but that’s beautiful because when you look up see Jesus and that He’s still pulling for you. His yoke is easy and his burden is light (Matthew 11:30). Remember the thing your enemy wants the most is for you to get your eyes off of God and on you. But what does scripture say, “seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you”(Matthew 6:33).

Phi 4:6-9 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

1Jo 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.