Just as natural laws govern the physical universe, spiritual laws govern operations in the spiritual realm. They are as absolute in that realm as the law of gravity is in the natural realm. In other words, just as what goes up must come down, the forces in the spiritual realm activate spiritual laws as well.
The following are a few spiritual laws relevant to salvation:
A. Man is born under the curse of sin.
B. Jesus preached a gospel of repentance.
C. Jesus is God's provision for salvation.
D. Man's cooperation is necessary to receive God's provision.
E. God is faithful to His promises
A. MAN IS BORN UNDER THE CURSE OF SIN
1. The Curse of Sin
The power of sin is the power scripture calls the law of sin and death. It is a curse which sentences us to sin and death, everlasting destruction, and the power of Satan on this earth. The whole earth is under this curse, bound by the evil which entered the world with the first sin.
"But the scripture hath concluded all under sin..." (Galatians 3:22)
"For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23)
"For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now...waiting for the...redemption of the body." (Romans 8:22, 23)
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin and so death passed upon all men ... even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression". (Romans 5:12, 15)
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one... (Romans 5:17a)
"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners..." (Romans 5:19a)
2. A Look at Some Results of the Curse
Following are some of the attributes of natural life (death) under the power of the curse:
Abusiveness
Adultery
Anger
Arrogance
Avarice
Bitterness
Boastfulness
Confusion
Depression Egotism
Envy
Fear
Futility
Greed
Hard Heartedness
Hatred
Hostility
Impurity Insensitivity
Jealousy
Lust
Moral Weakness
Murder
Paranoia
Power Hungry
Pride
Rage Rebellion
Restlessness
Rivalry
Sedition
Self Indulgence
Self-Centeredness
Suicide
Suspicion
This is surely a picture of death and not life. It's called spiritual death, just as Adam and Eve did not physically die because of their sin but were banished from the bliss of Paradise as a result. Since that day every child who is born enters into a cursed world, banished from the presence of God, which is life itself. (Genesis 3:23, 24)
3. A Look at the Contrasting Kingdom of God
In contrast, the Kingdom of God invites us to a quality of life that far supersedes the natural life under the curse. Following are some of the characteristics of Kingdom living:
Contentment
Courtesy
Dignity
Faith
Faithfulness
Fearlessness
Forgiveness
Generosity Gentleness
Goodness
Happiness
Health
Honor
Hope
Humility
Integrity Joy
Kindness
Love
Moral Strength
Patience
Peace
Purity
Respect Serenity
Tenderness
Trust
Truth
Understanding
Wisdom
Following is a further contrast of the two kingdoms.
The Kingdom of Darkness
(Law of sin and death - Rom.8:2) The Kingdom of Light
(Law of Spirit of life – Rom.8:2)
a. Life is filled with restless voids. a. The life God gives fills the restless voids. He gives peace that passes understanding. He fills the hungers of the soul.
b. Situations and people cause anger and bitterness. b. Anger and bitterness are replaced with peace, love, forgiveness and acceptance.
c. Getting even is a strong driving force. c. Getting even holds no importance.
d. The "me first" attitude governs man's actions because "I've got to take care of myself; no-one else cares". d. Others are regarded as more important than me; God takes care of me.
e. Man has a strong desire to be right. His opinions are the only thing he has that's really worthwhile and he'll defend them at all costs. e. Humility is more satisfying than the arrogant need to be right; sharing life is more meaningful.
f. Man often desires power and manipulates others to get it. f. Love for others doesn't allow manipulating or dominating them.
g. Man's pleasure is found in receiving. He doesn't perceive the value of giving. g. Giving provides deeper satisfaction than receiving. (In giving you receive.) Life and freedom is found in dying to selfishness.
h. Man is greedy. Money often is his main objective.
h. The Kingdom is the main objective. God is trusted to provide all needs.
Kingdom of Darkness (Cont'd)
i. Man desires to be entertained, stimulated. Kingdom of Light (Cont'd)
i. The desire to serve God is the motivation. Other things seem to be a waste of time. As much as he enjoys good entertainment he doesn't need it.
j. Man elevates himself by putting others down. j. The desire is to edify others, to give life and not destroy it.
k. Man is often aggressive in his pursuit to be "on top" of situations and events in his life. k. Letting God rule and taking a back seat brings a certain authority over life that the power-hungry lack or forfeit.
l. Man is confused, resulting in the various religions, philosophies, and political positions held in this life.
- humanism
- creationism
- metaphysics
- democratic vs. republican
- self realization
l. God answers the questions of His children and truth and wisdom are found rather than empty and vain philosophies.
God's word is truth and the Spirit gives it life.
It's supernatural.
m. Man carries heavy burdens and tries to solve life's problems. The pressures often weigh him down, influencing him to lean on drugs or alcohol to lighten the load and free him for a while. In actuality the load becomes heavier as he suffers the effects of these "spirits". m. Casting all burdens on the Lord provides freedom from the ordinary pressures of life and problems too big to handle. Jesus is the "higher power".
n. Man needs to identify with a hero. He looks for strength and inspiration in people. Sadly to say there is little to emulate in people. n. God is our hero; in identifying with Him His life and power fill us in a way no other hero's can.
o. Man tries to "be somebody" or do something to justify his existence or make his life more meaningful while he's here. o. With God there's no need to "be somebody"; the source of life is in Him. He is all in all.
p. Man often becomes depressed without a cause or suffers anxiety or other symptoms of emotional disease without inviting it. He consequently spends much time and money working out the problem. p. In God there is peace and restoration. The power of forgiveness brings freedom from hurts of the past. Also, there is freedom in God from the oppression of the enemy, Satan.
q. Man also suffers much physical sickness, again spending time and money trying to overcome it. q. Sickness is often a result of the curse. God has also provided healing and health for His people.
B. JESUS PREACHED A GOSPEL OF REPENTANCE
"From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near'."
"The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10)
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (II Peter 3:9)
"...but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3)
"When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?' Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38, 39)
C. JESUS, GOD'S PROVISION FOR SALVATION
1. God Provides Salvation from Sin
"For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16, 17)
"Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (I Timothy 2:5)
"And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life i s in his Son. He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life." (I John 5:11, 12)
2. The Cross, God's Instrument
At the cross Jesus died to take upon Himself the punishment for sin.
"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us..." (Galatians 3:13)
"For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (II Corinthians 5:21)
3. Transfer from Kingdom of Darkness into Kingdom of Light
Christ's death on the cross made it possible for us to be delivered from the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Light.
"Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." (Colossians 1:13)
"...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." (I John 3:8)
And now, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13)
D. MAN'S COOPERATION A NECESSITY FOR RECEIVING GOD'S PROVISION
1. Man's Response to God's Provision
It is up to a person to receive Jesus Christ and His Kingdom into his life. It is a decision he needs to make which, once made, will alter the course of his entire life.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (II Corinthians 5:17)
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." (John 1:12)
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
"And you will not come to me, that you might have life." (John 5:40)
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." (Revelation 2:7 )
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." (Revelation 3:20, 21)
2. Man's Natural Goodness is Not the Answer
Man's righteousness will never be sufficient to satisfy the just demands of God's standard for holiness. This is because man's goodness is still part of the fallen nature. The only way to satisfy God is to accept the righteousness He sent into the world, His Plan and provision for our lives.
"And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." (Philippians 3:9)
"For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment . . . and there is no one who calls on Thy name." (Isaiah 64:6, 7)
3. Faith, God's Requirement for Man
The way a person receives God's provision into his own life is by faith. To repent of his sin means to acknowledge his fallen state and turn to God for deliverance which comes through belief in and acceptance of Jesus' death for his sin nature in exchange for the righteousness of God.
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (II Corinthians 5:21)
"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 should boast." (Ephesians 2:8, 9)
Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace. . . (Romans 4:16a)
E. GOD IS FAITHFUL TO HIS PROMISES
1. God's Faithfulness
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)
"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord." (Isaiah 55:7, 8)
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (II Corinthians 9:8)
2. Jesus Transforms Us Gradually into His Image
From this point on the christian is transformed gradually in order to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ...
"But we all...are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (II Corinthians 3:18)
...to the extent that he cooperates with God through a relationship of prayer and faith. We'll always have the sin nature to deal with, even though we have the power over it. We have a choice daily to walk in life or death.
"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God..."
(Romans 8:7, 8)
"You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (John 15:16)
IT'S UP TO YOU AND I HOW MUCH OF GOD (LIFE) HE CAN HAVE.
"Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I will deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble: I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation." (Psalm 91:14 16)
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