The continual invitation extended by God toward the human family never ceases to exist in the life of a natural man. God reaches toward the human soul through conscience, creation, and the Gospel message.
• John 6:44-45…No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Because of natural man’s callous and hardened state of being, neither conscience nor creation has the much needed convicting effect of a preached Gospel sermon.
• 1 Cor 2:14…But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,
• Eph 2:3…Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath,
When the person and presence of Christ are revealed through Gospel preaching, the Holy Spirit’s conviction and reproof penetrate into the soul of man by stirring the conscience, exposing sin, or showing man what he really is in the presence of Christ. God’s invitation has always been extended to humanity, but it’s the ministration of the Holy Spirit that leads man to acceptance of Christ and cleansing of the soul.
Belief in the truth or exercising faith in Christ is acceptance of God’s invitation into the spiritual family.
• John 1:12…But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,
Through acceptance man forsakes sin as he is drawn toward God in the presence of Christ. When sin is forsaken, God’s power of Divine Grace removes the heaviness of guilt from all the past life. At this point of man’s acceptance through the justification of God, a new birth takes place. A natural man then becomes a new creature in Christ through deliverance from sin and is translated into the marvelous kingdom of God where a new Christian life begins.
• 1 Peter 2:9…ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
• Col 1:13…Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Repentance, forsaking sin, and acceptance of Christ are all things man does when the heart is stirred. Forgiveness of sins, pardon, and union with the Holy Spirit are things God does in the heart of man that accepts God’s glorious invitation into the spiritual body. Yes, this man by the power of God is passed from death and separation from God, into an abundant life of holiness and blessed living. This abundant life is a Christ centered life, where old things are passed away…and all things are become new.
• John 5:24…Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
• 2 Cor 5:17…Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
No comments:
Post a Comment