As readers have probably noticed, our initial studies have not focused on the beliefs and practices brought into the church by her heathen “converts,” but rather on Satanic doctrines concocted by false believers within the system.  We will get to the heathen contributions later in this series.  This posting will feature another dangerous in-house error involving four different, though interrelated subjects that take place at different times under different circumstances.  The fact that they are believed by most parishioners to be one in the same entity has created a great deal of confusion. The subjects in question are: “justification,” “conversion” (aka “born of God”), “salvation” and “rebirth” (aka “born again”).

The confusion generated when church people view these four totally different acts as one single occurrence is caused by (A) a failure to identify each separate act individually and (B) a lack of  understanding as to the conditions that must be met in order for each event to take place.  We will now examine each occurrence in order to clarify A and B.

The Book of Romans is the premier source of information relative to justification.  In the first 8 chapters “justification,” justify,” “justified,” etc. are mentioned 21 times.  In no instance does the word mean salvation, conversion, rebirth, etc.  The Apostle Paul defines the act of justification in verses 23-26 of chapter 3.  In verse 23 he reminds the church (then and now) that ALL HAVE (past tense) sinned and ALL HAVE (past tense) failed to emulate God as Jesus of Nazareth did and as we ALL ARE (now) commanded to do.  In verse 24 Paul tells us that justification is a gift provided by God through His GRACE (unearned favor) and made possible by Christ’s death.  In verse 25 Paul states that man must have FAITH in the Lord’s sacrifice in order to be justified, which means to receive forgiveness of all “PAST “sins.  In verse 26 Paul reiterates the fact that justification, though made possible by God’s grace, is nevertheless dependent on man’s FAITH (belief) in the shed blood of Jesus.  Summary: God’s grace (unearned favor), combined with man’s faith (belief in God’s word–Rom. 10:19) produces justification (removal of all PAST sins).  This involves ONLY sins that were committed prior to God’s granting of justification.  Future sins are not included.  Note that man must believe (have faith) that Christ’s blood will erase all of his PAST sins in order for God’s grace to be activated and man’s PAST sins to be forgiven and forgotten.  Note also that no works, no Law-keeping, etc. are needed in order for one to be justified.  Again, to be justified one needs ONLY to BELIEVE God’s promise that Christ’s blood will erase all of his PAST sins.  Justification is not conversion, salvation or rebirth.  It is the first step on a life-long journey that, if continued to the end, will result in salvation (Mat. 10:22) and rebirth.  The above is a prime example of the importance of God’s “fine print.”  GOD IS IN THE FINE PRINT.

Conversion is step #2 on the Lord’s path to His Kingdom.  To “convert” means to complete a 180 degree reversal of one’s spiritual life so that, following true conversion, one is spiritually walking in the exact opposite direction from the direction he had earlier walked.  Having been justified, one must no longer think, say or do as he had thought, spoken or did while on the sin path he had previously travelled (Satan’s “broad” way).  Instead, he must now focus on God’s “narrow” path laid out in His “road map” (Holy Bible) which, if followed in letter and spirit, will lead the traveler to His earthly kingdom.  Jesus speaks of the two paths in Matthew 7:13,14.  Having been converted–“born of God” (born of the Holy Spirit)–one must now “WALK” (live) according the Lord’s commands, the same commands Jesus of Nazareth obeyed as a man.  Having received the Holy Spirit, one must, as did Jesus, obey the voice of the Spirit which lives within the true convert and guides him “unto all Truth.”  Jesus said that God’s Word is Truth (John 16:13; 17:17).  Only those who follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit are true sons of God (Rom. 8:14).  All others are false Christians.  The Holy Spirit leads us in the way of righteousness and away from the way of sin.  In 1 John 2:6; 3:3-10 the apostle lays out in detail the path the convert must walk in order to receive salvation at the return of Jesus Christ.  Jesus discusses this walk and its end product in Matthew 10:16-22.  Read the previous posting concerning what that walk will entail.  One must then “count the cost” of walking that walk (Lk. 14:28), then make the decision of a lifetime.

Salvation is the end result–reward–of a life lived (“walked”) in obedience to the Lord.  Such a walk creates righteousness and holiness within the believer.  Read Romans 5:20 and 6:21.    There will be no “participation trophy” awaiting one who did not “walk as He (Jesus) walked” (1 Jn. 2:6), who ignored 1 John chapter 3 (specifically verse 4), who did not obey God’s Ten Commandments, specifically commandment #4 (Gen. 2:2-4/ Exo. 20:8-11; 31:13-17/ Deut. 5:12-15.  There will be no award for those who dismiss the Old Testament and rejected Ephesians 2:20/ 2 Timothy 3:14-16/ 1 Corinthians 10:11/ John 14:15,23; 15:10,13,14/ Matthew 4:4 and 19:17.  Salvation, as Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:22, will be awarded upon the return of Jesus Christ.  Until then we have the HOPE of salvation (Titus 1:2).  Paul said that we are saved by hope, then asks why would we hope for what we already have (Rom. 8:24).  He was telling us that salvation cannot be attained in this life.  In the next posting we will examine the Biblical meaning of what it means to be “born again.”  L.J.