An Overview Of Salvation

Before we begin to tarry at the altar, it is necessary to comprehend God’s mind as it relates to those that do not have His Spirit. I will not be presumptuous and assume you know spiritual history. An understanding of spiritual history serves as a solid foundation in ministry. It causes you to understand what you are dealing with and how to deal. Therefore let us go right ahead into certain questions that we must answer before heading to the altar.

How did we get here?

Let’s firstly, establish the fact that God made all things perfect and holy. However, to man, He gave choice. Choice refers to the opportunity to decide. Man could choose to obey God or not. He gave man a paradise (Eden) and righteous commandments that should have been passed on to every generation. Adam was told not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Contrary to instruction, he did.

The effect of this sin was far greater than Adam had anticipated. In fact, only the Holy Ghost can cause you to understand its true effect. Adam was warned that the day He ate of the forbidden fruit he would die. Though He did not die physically that day, He died spiritually, by the infilling of a foreign spirit – the spirit of iniquity.

Romans 5:12

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

The spirit of iniquity forces men to sin, and sin produces death. Therefore if one is possessed by it, they will be bound by sin and death. This is exactly what happened to Adam. Adam’s spiritual essence was defiled by iniquity. Therefore, when Adam had children, their human spirits were also defiled. They were all born in sin and shaped (fashioned) in iniquity (the spirit of iniquity).

Almost 6000 years later, people are still being born defiled. However, God paved a way so that man could be rescued from this damned state. By sending His sinless son Jesus Christ to die for the sins of the world, God has given the world the opportunity to be saved from sin. All they have to do to be saved is; believe in Jesus as the scripture says, desiring to turn from sin and call upon His name.

The Effect of Sin

1. Sin blinds the heart from being able to truly know God or understand His heart or thinking (His word). Those who do not have His spirit are natural people and they will never be able to understand the perspective God is coming from when He speaks. To them, it will be foolishness..

2. Sin possesses the body, soul and spirit making a righteous (sinless) life totally impossible. It feeds the soul with unquenchable emotionally sinful cravings. (N.B. this includes inhumane, inhuman and immoral acts.)

3. The presence of the spirit of iniquity in an individual makes the person accessible to demonic possession and influence. Demonic spirits can manifest in different ways. The agenda of a demon is to send the soul to hell.

What is Salvation?

The word salvation in a literal sense refers to being preserved, restored to health, rescued or delivered. Salvation, is total deliverance from sin as the spirit of iniquity is removed and no longer has power over the individual. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, was a trade so that we wouldn’t have to be punished for our sins. However, Jesus rose from the dead and became accessible to all men in the form of the Holy Ghost.

Salvation is when the Holy Ghost enters the body of an individual. It is called salvation, because the Holy Spirit saves the soul from the captivity that the enemy had them in and also from the fate of hell. When the Holy Spirit enters, He evicts the spirit of iniquity, and replaces sin with righteousness. He leaves no trace of ungodliness in that individual by sanctifying the person’s body, soul and spirit. His spirit will remain in them so that the spirit of iniquity can never return.

In the stead of sin and death, The Holy Spirit produces righteousness and life in the flesh. This is a nature change, which makes it hard for that individual to sin. However, like Adam before he sinned, this individual has the ability to choose to live righteously or not.

How is one Brought to Salvation?

Ecclesiastes 3:11

11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

It is important to note that God cannot be surprised. He has already experienced every day (that has been and will be) and every heart before the world began. His experience was in His heart by His foreknowledge.

Ecclesiastes 3:15

That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

This scripture can appear to be confusing but is very clear when revealed to you. That which has been in the foreknowledge of God is happening now, and that which is our future has already happened in the foreknowledge of God.

This is what the word “world” in verse 11 is teaching . The interpretation of the word “world” here refers to “time out of mind” (past and future); the ancient time, or everlasting or eternity. Eternity refers to the time beyond time, the pondering of God’s heart - His imagination. The place where He devised His plan for the redemption of man, as well as experienced every creature. This is what allowed God to despise Esau and love Jacob before their birth. This is because they had already lived out their lives in His heart and hence …that which hath been is now. Let us revisit, verse 11:

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

God has set eternity in the heart of all men in the form of the conscience. Note well, that God’s foreknowledge includes His plan of salvation, and the true way to Him. However, the scripture also notes that no man can find out the work that God has done throughout eternity. Why is this so? This is the effect of the presence of iniquity on the conscience. It restricts the perception of the conscience. Its presence causes the conscience to become evil and to produce dead works. Simply put, the defiling of the conscience allows the unsaved man to sin without conviction.

Nevertheless, the truth is already buried in the heart of every person. It is eternity in our hearts that is able to navigate between a lie and the truth, especially when one hears the truth. Though the conscience has the knowledge of evil, it also has the knowledge of good.

Acts 2:36-37

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

As Peter preached His first message, the scripture says that those listening were pricked in their hearts. But why? They were the generation that had crucified Jesus Christ. They were pricked in their hearts because that is the place where eternity was. Their hearts bore witness to the truth and the message they were hearing. Their conscience ensured that they knew the word they were hearing was irrefutable. They were so convicted, that they begged for clarity on how to be saved. It is the preaching of the gospel that awakens the dormancy of eternity in the hearts of men. When this is awakened, it causes them to perceive their sinfulness and it compels them to repent.

Therefore, a minister does not have to fear false religious beliefs, denominational barriers, or mental blocks. The Word of God is designed to connect with a place in the heart that no other speech can reach. The Word of God will bypass the philosophy of the mind and attach itself to eternity in the heart. Eternity will then make it known to that individual that they are entertaining not only the truth, but God Himself.

Romans 10:14

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Here we see the strategy of God revealed. Preaching is the tool He uses to draw the lost. Please note here that preaching is not only screaming and shouting the Word of God, it refers to any form of speaking of the Word of God, or any method used to give clarity to it. Preaching will spark belief in the heart, which will in turn encourage repentance.

John 6:44

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:

This is a verse taken out of the mouth of Jesus Christ, the Lord. It is God the Father that draws, or leads by inward compelling, men unto Himself. Note well the following script. This drawing allows the individual to seriously consider the Word of God:

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Facts to consider

1. IT’S NOT THEIR FAULT. - The sinful state of human beings is not their fault. They were born in sin, contrary to their will. They inherited it from their ancestor Adam. Therefore, learn how to separate the individual from the sin itself. The sin is caused by a foreign spirit, if that foreign spirit were to be eradicated, the true beauty (innocence) within would be easily noticed.

2. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: John 6:44. Though it is not God’s will that any perish, He will draw depending on the disposition of the heart to Him. He uses situations, circumstances and relationships, coupled with His Word to cause men to consider Him.