Eternal Salvation requires more from us than a quick prayer over our conviction and guilt for our deviant choices and lifestyle. Repentance means to turn around and walk the other way from our former way of living (Ephesians 4:22-24), and to walk instead according to God’s principles that He lays out for us in His Word.
If we depend on our conviction and a quick prayer for our salvation, we are believing a lie from satanic forces that attempt to derail us from receiving the fullness of God’s regenerating power in our life (Colossians 3:9-10). Conversion means that we die to sin, and no longer pursue it.
The Good News is that at the moment of our conviction, we can step into true conversion by realizing that we are crucified with Jesus, our Christ, and stop allowing our body and soul – our thoughts, emotions, and choices - to serve the devil instead of our Savior (Romans 6:6; Colossians 3:5-9).
If we allow God’s Spirit to convert us from our former thoughts and actions, which war against God’s Spirit, we stop doing things that please the devil, and start living a life that pleases God instead (Galatians 5:16-18). We quit breaking God’s heart with our self-centered lifestyle and live to serve Him with our whole heart (1 Peter 1:5-8, 2:1).
We are not tempted by immorality or drawn away from spiritual maturity to immerse our self in decadent, self-centered, and deviant behavior (1 Peter 1:14, 2:24; Titus 2:12-13; Ephesians 4:31). We live and walk by the Spirit’s direction and pursue holiness, rather than ungodly impulses (Romans 8:12-13; Galatians 5:25; 1 John 1:6-7).
We no longer live according to errant desires, but even our innermost being – our soul and spirit – praise God and never forgets the benefits of living according to His plans for our life (Ephesians 2:10; Psalm 103:1-5). We study God’s Word, listen to righteous preachers who accurately proclaim His Word, and learn from its truth as we trust in Him to equip us to live a Godly life (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Prayer:
Father God, You are our rock, fortress and deliverer. We place our full trust in You, take our refuge in You, dwell with You as our stronghold in a world that often frightens us, and exalt in our salvation that only comes from You (Psalm 18:2). Teach us not to conform our thoughts, feelings, and choices according to the dictates of this world, our flesh, or satanic lies, but to allow You to transform us by renewing our mind so we can walk in Your ways and in Your good, pleasing, and perfect will for us (Romans 12:1-2).
Through faith in Your faithfulness, we are not anxious for anything, but in every situation, through prayer and thanksgiving to You, we share our concerns with You. This results in us receiving Your perfect peace, which transcends our human understanding and guards our heart and mind every moment of our day (Philippians 4:6-7; 2 Corinthians 4:16). Your compassion never fails us, and Your mercy toward us is new ever single morning (Lamentations 3:21-23).
Thoughts for the Day:
Some people mock our belief in God’s imminent return to the earth because it has been over 2,000 years since Jesus promised to return; however, He has good reasons for taking this time. God is not bound by time as we are; in fact, 1000 years is like one day to Him (2 Peter 3:8). Also, He does not desire for anyone to perish in eternal torment, but that everyone will come to a place of repentance and enjoy everlasting and fulfilling life with Him (2 Peter 2:9; James 1:17).
