CONVICTION
The Holy Spirit uses the gospel of Christ to bring deep conviction upon your soul. You experience the terrible feeling of being separated from God. Some people say conviction is the worst feeling they have ever experienced. Someone once said, “the pains of hell got hold upon my soul.” Conviction is the state of being lost; without God; separated from God; undone; without hope. It is a suffocating, sin-sick feeling. Whenever the Holy Spirit brings conviction upon your heart (makes you know in your heart that you are a sinner) you should seek God for Salvation.
Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom that thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
II Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Psalms 34:18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
DRAWING OF YOUR HEART
After the deep convicting power of the gospel of Christ is felt, the Holy Spirit draws your heart to God our father. Without conviction, and without God’s drawing power, you cannot be saved. You cannot make yourself be saved. Only God can do this. You must completely submit yourself to God and allow him to do all the work. No human can interfere; this experience is between you and God. Only God knows your heart.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the father (God) which hath sent me draw him.
John 6:65 And he said, therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my father.
Acts 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things that were spoken of Paul.
Lu 18:17 Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein …
HUMBLE YOUR HEART AS A LITTLE CHILD
Once you have suffered the pains of conviction and you feel God drawing your heart, you must humble yourself as a little child. Little children are humble. They are dependent upon others to teach them what is right and wrong. You must depend upon God to teach you and change you. Only when you realize that you can do nothing for God will you become truly humble. Upon humbling your heart, you must REPENT of your sins and your sin of unbelief.
Matthew 18:1-6 Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Luke 18:9-18 And he that humbleth himself shall be exalted … Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein …
REPENTANCE
There can be no salvation without true repentance. God looks upon your heart (soul). He expects a complete unreserved trust in him. First you must REPENT (regret with great godly sorrow, to be sorry to God with much hurt inside; to ask for forgiveness); trust in the Lord with all of your heart, mind, and soul.
Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine persons, which need no repentance.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.
Matthew 3:2 And saying Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Luke 13:3 Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
GOD’S FORGIVENESS (MERCY)
When you have truly repented to God, he will forgive you of all your sins. You can only truly repent if you are humble and sincere. God is a merciful God. He said he will cast our sins into the sea of forgetfulness. Jesus made this forgiveness possible by dying on the cross for our sins. Through the blood of Christ, we are forgiven.
Exodus 34:6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.
Ephesians 1:10 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
Micah 7:18-19 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy. .He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Please read Chapter 17 in Luke. It tells about Jesus teaching forgiveness. Also read Matthew 18:21-35. Again, Jesus speaks of forgiveness.
GOD’S GIFT OF SALVATION
God is truly a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. God grants his gift of Salvation to those who have truly repented. When he grants his gift of Salvation you will truly feel a salvation experience. He replaces a heart of stone with a heart of love, joy and peace. These feelings are truly heart-felt! The Holy Spirit will reveal it to you if you have been saved. The gift of Salvation is given by God, and God alone. No one can tell you that you are saved. It is an experience between you and God. He is the only one who knows your heart. There is a witness (proof); God’s Spirit bears witness with our spirit when we are his children. His Spirit will let your spirit know if you are saved. God is all-powerful and all-knowing; He doesn’t rely on someone else to tell you when you have been saved-He does it himself! Salvation is God’s gift through Christ to save our souls. It is a gift that we do not deserve, and we can do nothing to earn it.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man shall boast.
Romans 3:23-24 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh. (Also Ezekiel 11:19)
THE TWO NATURES OF MAN
When God has granted you the wonderful gift of Salvation, you will experience a conflict of two natures. Your outward being of flesh is your natural and carnal nature. It retains the carnal nature with its inclination (temptation) to sin. The Bible repeatedly warns us to resist the devil and his sinful influences. God’s chastisement (punishment) awaits his children who give in to the desires of the flesh; but such chastisement is an expression of his love. He wants us to produce fruits of righteousness, but we cannot produce such fruit when we are in sin.
When you are saved, your inward, spiritual nature becomes opposed to your carnal nature. This opposition, or conflict, does not exist prior to salvation. Because before you get saved, your two natures are harmonious. Prior to salvation your heart (soul) is not pure. When God saves us, he changes our heart (soul) and seals it. Our heart cannot change back to its old ways, but our flesh can. This is what causes conflict between our two natures. However, we cannot sin when we are living in God’s Spirit. The scriptures advise us to walk in the Spirit so that we will not fulfill the lusts of our flesh.
Romans 7:14-19 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.. .. 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 do, that I do.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Romans 3:10 There is none righteous, no, not one.
I Corinthians 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God. For God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.
Please read Romans 7:10-25.
Please read Romans 5:11-21 These verses are about sin through Adam, and salvation through Christ.
Please read Romans 6: 1-13 These verses are about freedom from the power of sin.
Chapter Three in I Corinthians is about how the carnal mind hinders the growth of the Spirit.
Please read Chapter 15 in I Corinthians. It speaks very clearly on the natural and spiritual body.
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT (SALVATION)
We are not saved by our works of righteousness, but according to God’s mercy. When he saves us, God keeps our Salvation. We are not in charge of it. Therefore, once we have passed all of God’s requirements (not man’s), we cannot lose our Salvation. His Spirit is with us forever. When we are saved, we are given eternal life. God paid the price for our sins through his son. He convicts us, saves us, and keeps us by his power. Salvation changes people. Remember-hearts of stone become hearts of love, joy and peace. Love, joy, and peace will make you feel different; new. These are fruits of the Spirit. You actually change inside (your soul) when you are saved.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.
Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us.
LIFE IN THE SPIRIT
God’s Spirit brings life. He rescues us from the death of sin and breathes new life into us. God intended for us to have a full life. His Salvation provides us with that opportunity. The scriptures tell us that we truly do not live until we are saved. (John 10:10) In fact, the Bible says we are dead in sins when we are lost sinners. (James 2:26, Ephesians 2:1-5)
Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our Spirit, that we are the children of God.
II Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord (God) is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Please read Romans 8:1-39.
LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU
The Bible speaks emphatically against the deceivers working in the world who deceive people straight into hell. There are deceivers who say that you can get saved simply by saying a sinner’s prayer, or by shaking the preacher’s hand. Others tell you to “accept the Lord.” BEWARE! Read what the scriptures say on this subject. The idea that we accept Jesus into our hearts is wrong! This would put us above him if it were true. What can a beggar give a King? We must humbly ask him into our heart when the Holy Spirit leads us. We cannot “make a decision” to become Christian. Salvation is not a mental process; it is heart-felt change that begins and ends with the Lord. These differences may sound like splitting hairs at first, but when you study the scriptures you will find that there is a vast difference between what the Lord taught when he was here on earth and what a lot of people are teaching today. Let the Lord witness his truth to your heart.
Remember, no one knows your heart but God. No one else has any authority over, through, or by God to tell you that you are saved. No one else even has the right to tell you how to be saved unless they simply tell you to seek the Lord. Others can pray with you or for you; but they cannot tell you how long to pray, what to pray, or if you have prayed enough. God will let you know when you have satisfied him. It is between you and God only.
I John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you.
I John 4:1-4 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words. For because of these things commeth the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Please read Matthew 24:4-14.
Matthew 24:4-5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depths of the sea.
Please read Galatians 1:3-24.
Galatians 1:3-8 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God our Father …. but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
The Bible is the greatest book ever written. It has an entire library of books between its covers. In it, God himself speaks and the Spirit witnesses to you. The Bible was given to us through divine inspiration by God-not by the will of man. It is God’s love letter to us as his children. In it, you can find out how to conduct yourself (how to talk, act, and dress), and how to live your life. Some parts of the Bible are very difficult to understand, especially for someone who is not saved, but it is very important for all of us to read and study the Bible. It explains how God created the world, and what it will be like in the last days before he destroys the world. Regardless of who you are, reading and studying the Bible can help you grow.
Note: Due to the lack of space, and the vastness of the subject matter, not all of the appropriate verses could be quoted. Please read the suggested chapters from the Bible. You will find that everything in this article is supported by biblical scripture.