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GRACE FOUND YOU, YOU RECEIVED IT, AND PREACHED IT TO OTHER`S. WRITTEN BY: OPALE FRANK INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO: APOSTLE GRACE LUBEGA 1st Edition.

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU IT WAS ONLY BY LOVE THAT GOD SAVED US BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. INTRODUCTION TO THIS BOOK. This book helps us to understand who God has purposed us to be through Christ Jesus, what the Law really is and what Grace is, to understand and live a life of faith in Christ Jesus, to understand the baptism in which you have been baptized into Christ Jesus, to understand the deliverance of God for us from the Law of Moses to the Law of liberty in the 1

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU Spirit (the Law of free men), to live a life beyond the cross of Jesus Christ, to understand that sin has no dominion over us, to understand and live the new life in the spirit, to understand the Bible; having been established in grace through faith, to understand the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, to understand Faith, Love and Hope, to understand the life of Salvation, to understand the service with which we have been called to in God. Scriptural references are made to the Amplified Bible version. 2

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU Born again! Born again! Born again!!! When we were growing up, we grew up from different families and experienced different environments however what I am certain about is that there were words which stuck into our lips and were not only mere words – they carried life, feelings and imaginations beyond art. Some of these words include Mummy, Daddy, Brother, Sister, Uncle, Auntie, Grand Mum or Dad and a mention of any of these words aroused a feeling of joy beyond expression in our soul. To our attention many people some including our parents as we over heard 3

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU them talking about God, Jesus, church, Christmas, Resurrection Sunday, left many questions in us of which at times when we sought explanation were told that we were still young to understand them. This left us questioning about when we shall be considered grownups for certain answers to be openly told us. Some of us found the answers to our questions from people who openly declared to us the answers to our questions, some from school, church, songs and other places. This aroused a certain feeling in our hearts to know more about God and His Son Jesus Christ as we were told that God was the Creator of all things and we were His 4

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU children and He--our Father, Oftenly, when in Church and there was an alter call for people who want to receive Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, we found ourselves at the front and confessed Sunday after Sunday, this was for various reasons one of which was that we were introduced to the consciousness of sin and its punishment as told us was Hell, this caused fear in us as we were told that this (sin) makes us enemies of God, however we were not yet satisfied with the say that Jesus died for our sins once and for all, since we were still in sin although Sunday after Sunday we confessed Jesus as 5

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU Lord and Saviour of our lives so as to be His friends again. Apostle Paul in 1 CORINTHIANS 13:11 wrote “when I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside.” This pushes us to question ourselves whether we shall always continue in the old childish mind and mentality or we make up our mind to seek and know GOD ourselves. So let us move to maturity. Maturity is not about age, speech, reason or eloquence. In JOHN 3:10 Jesus askes Nicodemus”Are you the 6

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU teacher of Israel, and yet do not know nor understand these things? [Are they strange to you?] ”. This we ought to always know that learning carries the humility to listen and be taught as we see that Nicodemus being one of the renown leaders of his time humbled himself to learn from the Christ as learning is not only listening but also understanding and letting the Word you have received bear fruit in you as revealed in MATTHEW 13:8 by the seeds that fell on fertile ground as he who hears the Word and grasps and comprehends it; he indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundred times 7

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU as much as was sown, in another sixty times as much, and in another thirty. JOHN 3:21 says “NOW THERE was a certain man among the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler (a leader, an authority) among the Jews, who came to Jesus at night and said to Him, Rabbi, we know and are certain that You have come from God [as] a Teacher; for no one can do these signs (these wonderworks, these miracles-and produce proofs) that You do unless God is with him. Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see 8

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother`s womb again and be born? Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and [even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not [do not be surprised, astonished] at My telling you, You must all be born anew (from above). The wind blows where it wills; and though you hear it`s sound, yet you neither 9

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU know where it comes from nor where it`s going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered by asking, How can all this be possible? Jesus replied, Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet do not know nor understand these things? [Are they strange to you?] I assure, most solemnly I tell you, We speak only of what we know [we know absolutely what we are talking about]; we have actually seen what we are testifying to [we were eyewitnesses of it]. And still you do not receive our testimony [you reject and refuse our evidence--that of Myself and of all those who are born of the Spirit]. If I have told you of the 10

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU things that happen right here on the earth and yet none of you believes Me, how can you believe (trust Me, adhere to Me, rely on Me) if I tell you of heavenly things? And yet no one has ever gone up to heaven, but there is One who has come down from heaven-the Son of Man [Himself], who (dwells, has His home) in heaven. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert [on the pole], so must [so it is necessary that] the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross], In order that everyone who believes in Him [who cleaves to Him, trusts in Him, and relies on Him] may not perish, but have eternal life and [actually] live forever! 11

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgement;, no condemnation--he incurs no condemnation]; but he who 12

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ`s name.] The [basis of the] judgement (indictment, the test by which men are judged, the ground for the sentence) lies in this; the Light has come into the world, and people have loved the darkness rather than and more than the Light, for their works (deeds) were evil. For every wrongdoer hates (loathes, detests) the Light, and will not come out into the Light but 13

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU shrinks from it, lest his works (his deeds, his activities, his conduct) be exposed and reproved. But he who practices truth [who does what is right] comes out into the Light; so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are--wrought with God [divinely prompted, done with God`s help, in dependence upon Him]. We need to ask ourselves “What does born again mean, what does believing mean, what does baptism mean, what does Spirit and spirit mean, what does salvation mean?” The very first reference to born again in scripture was in JOHN 3:3 by Jesus 14

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU Christ Himself, and He went further to explain to Nicodemus that one has to be born of water and the Spirit so as to enter the kingdom of God. The Amplified reference to born again means born from above. JOHN 1:1-36 says IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines 15

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it]. There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came to witness, that he might testify of the Light, that all men might believe in it [adhere to it, trust in it, and rely upon it] through him. He was not the Light himself, but came that he might bear witness regarding the Light. There it was--the true Light [was then], coming into the world [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] that illumines every person. He came into the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not 16

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU recognise Him [did not know Him]. He came to that which belonged to Him [to His own-His domain, creation, things, world], and they who were His own did not receive Him and did not welcome Him. But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name--who owe their birth neither to bloods nor to the will of flesh [that of physical impulse] nor to the will of man [that of a natural father], but to God. [They are born of God!] And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His 17

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, lovingkindness) and truth. John testified about Him and cried out, This was He of whom I said, He who comes after me has more priority over me, for He was before me. [He takes rank above me, for He existed before I did. He has advanced before me, because He is my Chief.] For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing 18

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ. No man has ever seen God at any time; the only unique Son, or the only begotten God, Who is in the bosom [in the intimate presence] of the Father, He has declared Him [He has revealed Him and brought Him out where He can be seen; He has interpreted Him and He has made Him known]. And this is the testimony of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you? He confessed 19

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU (admitted the truth) and did not try to conceal it, but acknowledged, I am not the Christ! They asked him, What then? Are you Elijah? And he said, I am not! Are you the Prophet? And he answered, No! Then they said to him, Who are you? Tell us, so that we may give answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself? He said, I am the voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness [the voice of one shouting in the desert], Prepare the way of the Lord [level, straighten out, the path of the Lord], as the prophet Isaiah said. The messengers had been sent from the Pharisees. And they asked him, Why then are you baptizing if you are not the 20

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet? John answered them, I [only] baptize in (with) water. Among you there stands One whom you do not recognize and with Whom you are not acquainted and of Whom you know nothing. It is He Who, coming after me, is preferred before me, the string of Whose sandal I am not worthy to unloose. These things occurred in Bethany (Bethabara) across the Jordan [at the Jordan crossing], where John was then baptizing. The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, Look! There is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of Whom I said, After me comes a Man Who has priority over 21

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU me [Who takes rank above me] because He was before me and existed before I did. And I did not know Him and did not recognize Him [myself]; but it is in order that He should be made manifest and be revealed to Israel [be brought out where we can see Him] that I came baptizing in (with) water. John gave further evidence, saying, I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and it dwelt on Him [never to depart]. And I did not know Him nor recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in (with) water said to me, Upon Him Whom you shall see the Spirit descend and remain, that One is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. 22

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU And I have seen [that happen--I actually did see it] and my testimony is that this is the Son of God! Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, And he looked at Jesus as He walked along, and said, Look! There is the Lamb of God! From the above script, we see that John the Baptizer himself confesses that he is not the Christ, however he was sent by God to prepare a way for Him! How? By reminding people to repent (a change of one`s mind for the better, heartily amending one`s ways, with abhorrence of his past sins) prepare for the Promised Redeemer of the world as 23

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU spoken by prophet Isaiah “A voice of one who cries: Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord [clear away the obstacles]; make straight and smooth in the desert a highway for our God! ISAIAH 40:3”, as prophesied by the prophets, even Moses [JOHN 1:45]. He was also sent to witness Jesus Christ to the people as by his own words said that God had told him that He Whom the Holy Spirit descends Upon inform of a dove [this happened before Jesus was baptized in the water--it was spiritual, then the dove that appeared after baptism was a manifestation of the Spiritual one John saw as a sign to him for the Messiah], He is the Son of God. 24

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU We need to note that the scriptures tell us that John was filled with the Holy Spirit right from the mother’s womb (LUKE 1:15), he is the greatest one born of woman (MATTHEW 11:11), and he came in the spirit of Elijah (Elias) [LUKE 1:17], that means he was distinct among men. This very John the Baptizer indeed not only witnesses Jesus Christ to the people, he also reveals to us two kinds of Baptisms saying that he baptises with water, however there comes He who baptises with the Holy Spirit whose baptism is greater than his and that Jesus is more preferred than him because He existed before he was, He is also John`s Chief. Remember John 25

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU was baptising with water and saying to the people to repent (change their mind for the better) where as telling people that he was not the Messiah (Promised One) who would liberate men (the world) from their sins however he came to witness (confirm, testify) Him to the people. We see in JOHN 3:5 Jesus tell Nicodemus that unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. This means that it is a prerequisite for one to be born of water and the Spirit to have Part and Lot in the kingdom of God. Let`s remember that Jesus Christ was baptised by John the Baptiser although John hesitated, In MATTHEW 3:15-17 26

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU the Bible says “But Jesus replied to him, Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for [both of] us to fulfil all righteousness [that is, to perform completely whatever is right]. Then he permitted Him. And when Jesus was baptized, He went up at once out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he [John] saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. And behold, a voice from heaven said, This is My Son, My Beloved, in Whom I delight!” We NOTE that although John had reverence for Jesus Christ, he had to baptize Him with “the least baptism” as he said, so as to fulfil the scriptures as the Holy Spirit 27

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU descended Upon Him inform of a dove after the baptism with water. What then is the Baptism of Water? Baptism of water means the immersion of one in water and raising him or her from water. Before the baptism of water by John the Baptizer, it has ever been in the Old Testament also referred to as the baptism of Moses, 1 CORINTHIANS 10:1-2 ”FOR I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, that our forefathers were all under and protected by the cloud [in which God`s presence went before them], and every one of them passed safely through the [Red] Sea, And each one of them [allowed himself also] to be baptized into Moses in the 28

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU cloud and in the sea [they were thus brought under obligation to the Law, to Moses, and to the covenant, consecrated and set apart to the service of God];” We see that in this baptism of Moses was an immersion, as a cloud was on top of all the Israelites and they were in the Red Sea meaning in the water, however with this baptism we see that the Israelites were brought under the obligation of the Law, to Moses, and to the covenant. Why to the Law, Moses and the covenant? We need to note that God is up to sealing His covenants, we see that Him sealing His covenant with Abraham was by circumcision (ACTS 7:8, ROMANS 4:1129

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU And [God] made with Abraham a covenant (an agreement to be religiously observed) of which circumcision was the seal. And under these circumstances [Abraham] became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac [did so] when he became the father of Jacob, and Jacob [when each of his sons were born], the twelve patriarchs.), we see that God also sealed His covenant with Noah with a Rainbow promising never to destroy the earth with floods [GENESIS 9:17]. God made a covenant (testament) with the children of Israel on Mountain Sinai [Horeb] where He had promised the day He encountered 30

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU Moses that His children the Israelites would worship Him after being liberated from bondage [EXODUS 3:12], In EXODUS 20:1-23 God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments through Moses and in EXODUS 24:3 the Bible says “Moses came and told the people all that the Lord had said and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” This means that the Israelites consented to the covenant. Why Moses!!! - God chose Moses because He is the business of manifesting His strength in weakness and using the weak things to bring to shame the strong things [2 31

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU CORINTHIANS 12:9, 1 CORINTHIANS 1:27]. Moses himself in EXODUS 4:1-13 confessed of his inefficiencies. However, we note that for a covenant to operate there has to be shedding of blood, HEBREWS 9:18-22 says “So even the [old] first covenant (God`s will) was not inaugurated and ratified and put in force without the shedding of blood. For when every command of the Law had been read out by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of slain calves and goats, together with water and scarlet wool and with a bunch of hyssop, and sprinkled both the Book (the roll of the Law and covenant) itself and all the people, Saying these words: 32

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU This is the blood that seals and ratifies the agreement (the testament, the covenant) which God commanded [me to deliver to] you. And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and all the [sacred] vessels and appliances used in [divine] worship. [In fact] under the Law almost everything is purified by means of blood, and without the shedding of blood there is neither release from sin and its guilt nor the remission of the due and merited punishment for sins.” We see that the introduction of the Israelites to the Law brought about sin. How??? ROMANS 7:8 says “But sin, finding opportunity in the 33

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU commandment [to express itself], got a hold on me and aroused and stimulated all kinds of forbidden desires (lust, covetousness). For without the Law sin is dead [the sense of it is inactive and a lifeless thing]”, ROMANS 7:9 says “Once I was alive, but quite apart from and unconscious of the Law. But when the commandment came, sin lived again and I died (was sentenced by the Law to death).” By the scripture saying that Once I was alive, but when the commandment came, sin lived again and I died – this means that when Adam fell from the garden of Eden, I too was considered fallen (disobedient, sinner), however I was once alive 34

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU means the “time frame” when God made a covenant of Faith with Abraham, the Bible says that Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for Righteousness and circumcision was a seal for his believing (ROMANS 4:3, GALATIANS 3:6, JAMES 2:23)- It should be noted that Abraham did nothing to deserve this promise and gift by God--for he(Abraham) just believed, however when the Law came, it directed us to works “you shall do and not do” which made us conscious of sin and because of this we ended up sinning. ROMANS 7:7 says “What then do we conclude? Is the Law identical with sin? Certainly not! Nevertheless, if 35

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU it had not been for the Law, I should not have recognized sin or have known its meaning. [For instance] I would not have known about covetousness [would have had no consciousness of sin or sense of guilt] if the Law had not [repeatedly] said, You shall not covet and have an evil desire [for one thing or another]”. Furthermore, it should be seen that even to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, by God instructing them “not to” eat or touch the fruit in the middle of the garden (forbidden fruit), aroused a feeling (desire, conscience) to do what was refused of them no matter the consequence (death) [GENESIS 2:16-17]. The 36

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU scriptures tell us that the Law in itself is holy, however it has no power to also make us holy [ROMANS 7:12-The Law therefore is holy, and [each] commandment is holy and just and good.] The Bible further says that a default in one Law implie (“s” or “d”) meant that you have defaulted in all [JAMES 2:10 For whosoever keeps the Law [as a] whole but stumbles and offends in one [single instance] has become guilty of [breaking] all of it.] This is why the Bible says in ROMANS 3:23 “Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives”. Because of the Law all men (flesh) were 37

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU considered sinners in the order of Adam. What then happened after the rejuvenation of sin? God appointed priests (in three orders with distinctions namely; Aaron, in the order of Levi [DEUTERONOMY 21:5], and in the order of Melchizedek [HEBREWS 5:4-6]), and apart the order of Melchizedek, all the other priests had to offer sacrifices inform of cows and goats for their sins firstly, then for the peoples sins. This they did annually, by offering the blood to the Holy of Holies (within the veil) [LEVITICUS 16:17]. These offerings were just for temporal cleansing of people`s sins, as, soon after people sinned again. There developed a practice of the rich 38

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU oppressing the poor, widows, and orphans through many ways such as grabbing their properties, flogging them due to inability to pay off their debts, inheriting the widows and many other evil practices yet the heart of God is in respecting and helping the poor, needy, widows and orphans [PROVERBS 22:22, AMOS 4:1, ZECHARIAH 7:10]. The rich did this just because offering sacrifices was not a problem to them. The poor at times offered animals which were lame, stolen and yet they knew that these offerings had to be holy and without blemish [LEVITICUS 1:10, 4:23, 4:32]. To the priests also developed a habit of greed and gluttony that they reached 39

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU an extent of eating the portions (fatlings) that belonged to God for sweet aroma, involved in immorality [1 SAMUEL 2:12-17]. This made God angry who later said that He had no pleasure in the sacrifices of the children of Israel [PSALMS 51:16,], their praises and worship as they were just making noise to Him [AMOS 5:23]. Thereafter God promised to make a New Covenant with the children of Israel, where He shall remove the heart of stone (the Law) from them and He shall replace it (stone or the Law) with the heart of flesh and He shall write His laws in their hearts and they shall know Him from the least to the greatest and there be 40

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU no need for one to tell another to know God as He shall be their God and them His people [JEREMIAH 31:31-34]. So beyond John the Baptizer baptizing Jesus Christ for the confirmation that He was the Christ, and calling people to repent [change of mind for the better], this very baptism was a signification of His [Jesus`] death and resurrection as we see that one is immersed in water and then lifted up. In Jesus accepting to be baptized by John, He subjected Himself to the order of things (He respected the process of things), this was more of submission, it should be noted that submission is not weakness. 41

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU In HEBREWS 7:7, Abraham is blessed by Melchizedek and the scripture tells us that the lesser person is blessed by the greater one, this blessing was a signification of the scripture which says that Abraham rejoiced to see My day and he saw it and rejoiced [JOHN 8:56], as we see that the same Melchizedek in the Old Testament was the Christ [HEBREWS 7:15]. In another portion of scripture we see that Jesus Christ is called Son of David [MATTHEW 9:27, 12:23, MARK 10:47, LUKE 1:32]! How come? In the Old Testament, God promised His servant David that He would preserve His kingdom and it shall have no end, this Christ did when He 42

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU came to continue that Kingdom as He is eternal [ISAIAH 9:7], by this He had to come from the lineage of David [MATTHEW 1:1] [the kingly lineage] however this did not mean that He was a Child of David as revealed in where He said that David himself said that the LORD said to my LORD seat at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool [LUKE 20:41-44] “meaning that David himself called Jesus Christ my LORD”. In another portion of scripture we see Simeon bless Jesus Christ as promised by God that he will not sleep until he sees the Lord’s Christ [LUKE 2:25-26]. 43

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU Due to the promise by God to make a New Covenant with the children of Israel He had to fulfil it as He said He would do. The Bible says in ISAIAH 55:11 that the Word from the mouth of God shall never return to Him void, for it shall accomplish what He has purposed it. HEBREWS 6:18 tells us that it is impossible for God to lie [deceive]. The Bible says that seeing fault with the first covenant, He made a provision for the second one [HEBREWS 8:7-8, For if that first covenant had been without defect, there would have been no room for another one or an attempt to institute another one. However, He finds fault with them [showing its 44

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU inadequacy] when He says, Behold, the days will come, says the Lord, when I will make and ratify a new covenant or agreement with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.]. The first covenant [the Law--of stone was Holy however it could not justify any man, it ministered to men there weaknesses without showing them how to move out of the weaknesses it had exposed (ROMANS 3:20-For no person will be justified (made righteous, acquitted, and judged acceptable) in His sight by observing the works prescribed by the Law. For [the real function of] the Law is to make men recognize and be conscious of sin [not mere perception, 45

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU but an acquaintance with sin which works toward repentance, faith, and holy character].). This very ministry blinded (veiled) men to think they could fulfill the Law by them working works of the flesh – this is why the same mentality was even in the New testament as a young man asked Christ “what can I do to inherit your kingdom [MATTHEW 19:16]”]. The Law was and is such a terrible thing that it leads to death, 2 CORINTHIANS 3:6 says “[It is He] Who has qualified us [making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient] as ministers and dispensers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not [ministers] of the letter (of legally 46

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU written code) but of the Spirit; for the code [of the Law] kills, but the [Holy] Spirit makes alive.”, this means that the Law leads men to death, remember the Bible in ROMANS 6:23 For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord. The Bible further says in JOHN 1:17 For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ. Here we are given two packages one given through Moses and another coming through Jesus Christ. 47

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU Therefore the ultimate question is “what is grace?” Grace means the unmerited, unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing. It means receiving something you have not worked for, or something you could not attain by virtue of birth, colour, sex, education, family background or associates and many others. In GALATIANS 4:22-31, We are revealed two a figure of two covenants basing on the children Abraham had “one according to the flesh (by his own strength or making) and another through God`s power (in fulfilment of the promise of God). We see that the one of Abraham`s own strength was 48

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU bondage whereas the one according to God`s promise was freedom. We should note that Abraham and Sarah his wife were promised by God a seed from Abraham`s own loins and Sarah`s own womb, this was practically impossible because they were beyond the age of conception, although promised by God, they resorted to seek an alternative [flesh- through Hagai the maid] instead of believing what God had promised. The one of God [Isaac] had a distinction as it was perfect, remember from Isaac came Jacob from whom the twelve tribes of Israel come forth. That’s why God`s name is “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel)” calling for faith 49

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU from us as HEBREWS 11:6 says “But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].” Therefore God calls for faith and belief in Him. COLOSIANS 1:6 says that grace has its own inherent power as it does not require anything from you except believing. Therefore to us the baptism of water does not necessarily mean being immersed in water, it means us admitting and changing our minds that indeed we cannot fulfill the Law by ourselves and for that we need a Savior 50

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU over our lives. The Bible tells us that we must love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength [MATTHEW 22:37, MARK 12:30], PROVERBS 23:7 says “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. As one reckons, he says to you, eat and drink, yet his heart is not with you [but is grudging the cost].” This means that one’s mind has to be one or in agreement with the heart (source of all things in man [MATTHEW 12:34]). Then “What is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?” Firstly, the coming of Jesus Christ as revealed in JOHN 3:16 was to die for the sins of mankind. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:45 says “Thus it is 51

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU written, The first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a lifegiving Spirit [restoring the dead to life]. Herein we see that Christ has the authority to give life to mankind who were dead (alive to the flesh or world) in sin due to their birth in the first Adamic nature. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross was in fulfilment of the scriptures. GALATIANS 3:13-14 says “Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is 52

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU crucified); To the end that through [their receiving] Christ Jesus, the blessing [promised] to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might [all] receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit. That means that Jesus bore the curses, sins and weaknesses of the world [flesh]. ISAIAH 53:5 says “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.” And 1 PETER 2:24 says “He personally bore our sins in His [own] 53

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU body on the tree [as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.” This means that Christ`s death on the cross was also for the physical eternal health of our bodies. HEBREWS 9:16-17 says “For where there is a [last] will and testament involved, the death of the one who made it must be established, For a will and testament is valid and takes effect only at death, since it has no force or legal power as long as the one who made it is alive.” This means by Jesus being the maker of the New Covenant dying, it was giving legal effect or 54

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU operationalizing the New Covenant. Furthermore, Jesus Christ offered His blood for the establishment of the covenant hence Him being the ultimate sacrifice, not as the blood of the goats, bulls and sheep which only cleansed men for a moment, Jesus` blood did it once and for all [HEBREWS 9:1-28]. Furthermore, the testimony of Jesus Christ did not end in death, His resurrection from the dead meant that we indeed have been justified through Him, as revealed in ROMANS 4:25 “Who was betrayed and put to death because of our misdeeds and was raised to secure our justification (our acquittal), [making our account balance and 55

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU absolving us from all guilt before God].” When Jesus Christ died on the cross, many things happened firstly, the curtain (veil) of the temple was torn into two from top to bottom [MATTHEW 27:51, MARK 15:38, LUKE 23:45]. This is the very curtain that is revealed to us in EXODUS 26:31-35 from where God had revealed or shown Moses of the heavenly temple [tabernacle] to be used as a pattern of the earthly temple in EXODUS 25. Briefly about the curtain in the temple, in HEBREWS 9:3-7, the scriptures tell us of a second veil or curtain in the temple which beyond it was the Holy of Holies where the high priest entered yearly 56

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU with blood of the animals to offer for his sins and then for the people. This place was restricted to only the high priest, who also entered in fear for his life as any impurities [remember he is also human hence susceptible to sin (HEBREWS 7:28)]. These curtains were there implying the destroyed relationship between man and God due to man`s fall from the garden of Eden [disobedience] (GENESIS 3:1-24). It [curtain] also meant limitation to access the presence of God, as the priest did represent all the people. It further signified the Law, Moses having talked to God face to face, his face shorn bright as an angel, however with time, 57

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU the glory on his face kept on diminishing which made him veil the face to preserve that little glory [2 CORINTHIANS 3:13]. THEREFORE, the tearing completely of this curtain from top to bottom meant that Jesus had reconciled the lost relationship between man and God “2 CORINTHIANS 5:18- But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him]., it also meant that there was now free access to God by everyone since Jesus 58

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU entered the Holy of Holies for everyone once and for all by His own blood, and as our High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, hence the limitation [the Law] was done away with through Christ [2 CORINTHIANS 3:15-16- Yes, down to this [very] day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their minds and hearts. But whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away.] HEBREWS 10:16-22 says “This is the agreement (testament, covenant) that I will set up and conclude with them after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their hearts, and I will 59

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU inscribe them on their minds (on their inmost thoughts and understanding), He then goes on to say, And their sins and their lawbreaking I will remember no more. Now where there is absolute remission (forgiveness and cancellation of the penalty) of these [sins and lawbreaking], there is no longer any offering made to atone for sin. Therefore, brethren, since we have full freedom and confidence to enter into the [Holy of] Holies [by the power and virtue] in the blood of Jesus, By this fresh (new) and living way which He initiated and declared and opened for us through the separating curtain (veil of the Holy of Holies), that is, through 60

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU His flesh, And since we have [such] a great and wonderful and noble Priest [Who rules] over the house of God, Let us all come forward and draw near with true (honest and silence) hearts in unqualified assurance and absolute conviction engendered by faith (by that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), having our hearts sprinkled and purified from a guilty (evil) conscience and our bodies cleansed with pure water.” Therefore, since the veil is taken away [done away with] through Christ, we therefore see that equality was also established in the Kingdom of God. 61

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU GALATIANS 3:28 says “There is [now no distinction] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” The veil had brought about division in worship most especially basing on sex [gender], as women were distanced from worship places, were denied speech in worship places--this Jesus brought to an end as we see the scripture says that there is no more male or female, for all are one before Christ. Secondly, another remarkable event that happened at the crucifixion, was Jesus telling one of the robbers who asked to be remembered by Christ when He reaches His Kingdom 62

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU [paradise], that he would the same day be with Him in paradise [LUKE 23:43]. This is one of the most controversial issues with many people`s understandings. They ask? 1. How come that a robber who has been a sinner at once acknowledges Christ and is offered an opportunity for the kingdom of God. 2. How come that Jesus who at one point told James and John that it is God who chooses who to seat at the left and right of His side [MARK 10:3537], later tells this man at the cross that He would be with Him that day in the kingdom of God. In EZEKIEL 18:18-32 God gives us a scenario of a wicked man who turns to Him from all wickedness 63

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU and is forgiven as God has no pleasure in the death of a wicked man in his trespasses but that he should turn [repent] from all that and he or she be saved and live. I strongly believe that that man on the right hand side of the cross had ever heard about Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and on top of that all, he had an opportunity to see great happenings during the crucifixion of Christ such as the thunders and earthquakes, darkness [it was not a normal day]. This man did not take it a minor thing right from the start being with Christ crucified for, One [Jesus] innocence and them truthful offences they committed. As others mocked at 64

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU Jesus Christ, the one on the left familiarized Jesus Christ, for him [on the right] chose to believe Jesus as words like “remember me when you reach your kingdom” were not revealed by flesh and blood, but by the Father in heaven. For we can ask ourselves questions like--how did this man know that Jesus had a kingdom, and yet this was even hidden from Pilate, and many other Jewish Leaders, Pharisees, Scribes and very many people. This also launches us to believing (by faith) in Jesus Christ as the Son of God to attain the Kingdom of God as this man believed, he did not work or do anything, he just believed, - this sets a 65

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU distinction with those of James and John who wanted these places just because of their intimacy [proximity] with Jesus Christ. Remember Christ is our [we who believe] Advocate, High Priest, Helper, and Intercessor [1 JOHN 2:1, JOHN 14:16, 26, 15:26], This Jesus does for only those who believe (faithful). Thirdly, when Jesus Christ died on the cross, He went and disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross] [COLOSIANS 2:15], removed the keys of death and hades from the devil [REVELATIONS 1:18], 66

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU went and preached to the souls that died in the times of Noah and the ones that believed in Him received life eternal [1 PETER 3:19-22], The tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep in death were raised [to life]; And coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. Implying victory to God`s kingdom. Now to us, these promises are passive without believing, even to the original Israel as a nation. It should be noted that Jesus Christ on the cross died for everyone`s sins in the world [JOHN 67

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU 3:16] irrespective of any differences such as either African or White, slave or free, male or female, circumcised or uncircumcised, Muslim or not. This Jesus did out of the very first love for mankind, and so it is up to one to believe in Him for not only eternal life but also His promises. Now there is a belief that Israel a nation with the original blood has inherited the kingdom of God by virtue of their birth. This is not so, the Bible says that if we say we are the descendants of Abraham, we must believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and that we must have faith. The Bible says in GALATIANS 3:8-29 And the Scripture, 68

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU foreseeing that God would justify (declare righteous, put in right standing with Himself) the Gentiles in consequence of faith, proclaimed the Gospel [foretelling the glad tidings of a Savior long beforehand] to Abraham in the promise, saying, In you shall all the nations [of the earth] be blessed. So then, those who are people of faith are blessed and made happy and favored by God [as partners in fellowship] with the believing and trusting Abraham. And all who depend on the Law [who are seeking to be justified by obedience to the Law of rituals] are under a curse and doomed to disappointment and destruction, for it is written in the 69

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU Scriptures, Cursed (accursed, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment) be everyone who does not continue to abide (live and remain) by all the precepts and commands written in the Book of the Law and to practice them. Now it is evident that no person is justified (declared righteous and brought into right standing with God) through the Law, for the Scripture says, The man in right standing with God [the just, the righteous] shall live by and out of faith and he who through and by faith is declared righteous and in right standing with God shall live. But the Law does not rest on faith [does not require faith, has nothing to do with 70

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU faith], for it itself says, He who does them [the things prescribed by the Law] shall live by them [not by faith]. Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified); To the end that through [their receiving] Christ Jesus, the blessing [promised] to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might [all] receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit. To speak in terms of human relations, brethren, [if] even a man makes a last will and 71

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU testament (a merely human covenant), no one sets it aside or makes it void or adds to it when once it has been drawn up and signed (ratified, confirmed). Now the promises (covenants, agreements) were decreed and made to Abraham and his Seed (his Offspring, his Heir). He [God] does not say, And to seeds (descendants, heirs), as if referring to many persons, but, And to your Seed (your Descendant, your Heir), obviously referring to one individual, Who is [none other than] Christ (the Messiah). This is my argument: The Law, which began 430 years after the covenant [concerning the coming Messiah], does not and cannot annul 72

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU the covenant previously established (ratified) by God, so as to abolish the promise and make it void. For if the inheritance [of the promise depends on observing] the Law [as these false teachers would like you to believe], it no longer [depends] on the promise; however, God gave it to Abraham [as a free gift solely] by virtue of His promise. What then was the purpose of the Law? It was added [later on, after the promise, to disclose and expose to men their guilt] because of transgressions and [to make men more conscious of the sinfulness] of sin; and it was intended to be in effect until the Seed (the Descendant, the Heir) should 73

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU come, to and concerning Whom the promise had been made. And it [the Law] was arranged and ordained and appointed through the instrumentality of angels [and was given] by the hand (in the person) of a go-between [Moses, an intermediary person between God and man]. Now a go-between (intermediary) has to do with and implies more than one party [there can be no mediator with just one person]. Yet God is [only] one Person [and He was the sole party in giving that promise to Abraham. But the Law was a contract between two, God and Israel; its validity was dependent on both]. Is the Law then contrary and opposed to 74

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU the promise of God? Of course not! For if a Law had been which could confer [spiritual] life, then righteousness and right standing with God would certainly have come by Law. But the Scriptures [picture all mankind as sinners] shut up and imprisoned by sin, so that [the inheritance, blessing] which was promised through faith in Jesus Christ (the Messiah) might be given (released, delivered, and committed) to [all] those who believe [who adhere to and trust in and rely on Him]. Now before the faith came, we were perpetually guarded under the Law, kept in custody in preparation for the faith that was destined to be revealed (unveiled, 75

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU disclosed), So that the Law that we might be justified (declared righteous, put in right standing with God) by and through faith. But now that the faith has come, we are no longer under a trainer (the guardian of our childhood). For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ. There is [now no distinction] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ [are in 76

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU Him Who is Abraham`s Seed], then you are Abraham`s offspring and [spiritual] heirs according to promise. Hallelujah, in this previous portion of scripture, the Bible clearly tells us that the Scripture [remember Jesus` own words are a witness to Him and He is the Word] foresaw that justification shall come by faith proclaimed to Abraham saying that in you shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, Abraham was accounted for as the Father of the faithful after him believing. This promise was made to Abraham and to his Seed which is Christ Jesus, from whom the nations were to 77

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU be blessed. This as the scriptures reveal to us that Faith came through Christ, and the justification or right standing of men and God was and is through believing in Jesus Christ as Abraham also believed. This goes beyond a mere say that “we are children of Abraham”. This was the problem with the Pharisees of Jesus` time who went about saying that they were children of Abraham. Jesus at one point told them not to presume saying to themselves “we have Abraham for our forefather” He told them that God was able to raise up descendants for Abraham from stones. [MATTHEW 3:9, LUKE 3:8]. So we do not need to lie to ourselves, we 78

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU need to believe in Jesus Christ for ourselves if not yet. The scriptures still further tell us that the Law is not of faith, and if it is of faith or justification comes by it, then there was no need for Jesus to come and die for our sins, and that He died in vain [GALATIANS 2:21]. The Bible says that the Law was a guardian bringing us to Christ, but now Christ is come, therefore there is no more need of the Law – this means that the Law had a duty of keeping us under its guidance in wait for Christ [to Jews before the coming of Jesus Christ], and since Christ (Faith) is come [died and resurrected], we no longer have need for the Law. Why? It has outlived its 79

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU purpose as a tutor because the Master is come. For example “a teacher in class chooses a student to be dictating or writing notes for the rest [students] to copy from the black board as he [teacher] attends to a parent, when the teacher comes back, the usefulness of a student selected to meanwhile represent the teacher will be done [over], hence making that student irrelevant”, that is the same thing with the Law. Now when Jesus [Faith] came, He further promised us a Helper who is the Holy Spirit Who would teach us more about the Father and bring us to remembrance of everything Jesus told us [JOHN 14:26], hence rendering the 80

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU commands written on stone unnecessary to us [who have believed in the Son of God]. Therefore, it is by faith through Jesus Christ that we are sons of God and children of Abraham. This further invalidates the doctrines of the Law [the ministry of death as the Letter kills], remember the Law is and was not for this dispensation but was for those [Jews] who lived before Christ Jesus. 2 CORINTHIANS 3:1-18 says “ARE WE starting to commend ourselves again? Or we do not, like some [false teachers], need written credentials or letters of recommendation to you or from you, [do we]? [No] you yourselves are our letter of recommendation (our 81

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU credentials), written in your hearts, to be known (perceived, recognized) and read by everybody. You show and make obvious that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, not written with ink but with [the] Spirit of [the] living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such is the reliance and confidence that we have through Christ toward and with reference to God. Not that we are fit (qualified and sufficient in ability) of ourselves to form personal judgements or to claim or count anything as coming from us, but our power and ability and sufficiency are from God. [It is He] Who has qualified us [making us to be fit and worthy and 82

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU sufficient] as ministers and dispensers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not [ministers] of the letter (of legally written code) but of the Spirit; for the code [of the Law] kills, but the [Holy] Spirit makes alive. Now if the dispensation of death engraved in letters on stone [the ministration of the Law], was inaugurated with such glory and splendor that the Israelites were not able to look steadily at the face of Moses because of its brilliance, [a glory] that was to fade and pass away, Why should not the dispensation of the Spirit [this spiritual ministry whose task it is to cause men to obtain and be governed by the Holy Spirit] be attended with 83

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU much greater and more splendid glory? For if the service that condemns [the ministration of doom] had glory, how infinitely more abounding in splendor and glory must be the service that makes righteous [the ministry that produces and fosters righteous living and right standing with God]! Indeed, in view of this fact, what once had splendor [the glory of the Law in the face of Moses] has come to have no splendor at all, because of the overwhelming glory that exceeds and excels it [the glory of the Gospel in the face of Jesus Christ]. For if that which was but passing and fading away came with splendor, how much more must 84

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU that which remains and is permanent abide in glory and splendor! Since we have such [glorious] hope (such joyful and confident expectation), we speak very freely and openly and fearlessly. Nor [do we act] like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze upon the finish of the vanishing [splendor which had been upon it]. In fact, their minds were grown hard and calloused [they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding]; for until this present day, when the Old Testament (the old covenant) is being read, that same veil still lies [on their hearts], not being lifted [to reveal] that in Christ it is made 85

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU void and done away. Yes, down to this [very] day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their minds and hearts. But whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory 86

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit. From the above scripture, grace is revealed to us in a glory exceedingly great, to which the Law cannot even be compared to it. To us who have been redeemed and saved by grace through faith [For it is by free grace (God`s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgement and made partakers of Christ`s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfilment of the Law`s 87

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.] EPHESIANS 2:8-9]. We also see that we don’t attribute grace [the gift of God through Jesus Christ] to ourselves but to God, since it is not by our making or doing but by God`s doing, this also means that we stay humble and rested, and let God work and do His will. This also sets a difference between one under the Law and one under Grace, for example, In LUKE 18:10-14 Jesus Christ tells us of two men who went to pray, one being a Pharisee and another a Tax collector, of which a Pharisee when 88

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU praying said that he thanks God that he is not like the rest of the men-extortioners (robbers), swindlers, [unrighteous in heart and life], adulterers--or even like the tax collector who was also praying in the same place with him. He further said that he fasted twice a week and also gave tithe of all that he gained, whereas the Tax collector humbled himself and said “O God, favourable (be gracious, be merciful) to me, the especially wicked sinner that I am!”. Jesus responded saying that the Tax collector went home justified [forgiven and made upright and in right standing with God], other than the other man, for whoever exalts 89

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU himself shall be humbled and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. As earlier on stated, the Law points a man to self-ability as the Pharisee also prayed by comparing himself with others [comparing themselves with each other they became fools, and a fool in his or her heart says there is no God; these two are alike] and also taking pride of what he does oftenly [fasting and tithing] thinking that this is what justifies him before God. In the present day today, people still take pride of themselves in many ways for instance, when maybe one gets good grades at school says “this was because of the hard work and the routine 90

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU reading I made, all our family is bright, ….” And to another when maybe asked or even goes on telling others what maybe his or her sources of riches are; says “I am a hard worker, it was because I am good at planning,…”. What I am saying is that the aim of “one” under grace having realised that the sufficiency is not of us but of God, will always give glory [credit God for everything] to God as “it is not about us, it is all about, to and for God”. The Bible clearly says that those who deny Jesus before men, He will also deny before God [MATTHEW 10:33], another could ask, “how do I deny Jesus before men?” the answer is when you go 91

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU against the will of God, let`s look unto Jesus for an example, He says that He came not to do His will but the Fathers will, He also says that if He says He does not know God then He is a liar, - so are you when you know that it is God`s doing yet account it to yourself. Furthermore, this shows us that moving, living and having your being in the Law is pride [all people under the Law are proud before God], as MARK 2:17 says “And when Jesus heard it, He said to them, Those who are strong and well have no need of a physician, but those who are weak and sick; I came not to call the righteous ones to repentance, but sinners (the erring ones 92

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU and all those not free from sin).” We should therefore keep it in mind that there are two forms of righteousness; 1. Righteousness of the Law also called self-righteousness [this is the one Jesus refers to as those who are strong and well having no need of a physician], and 2. The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ – to this one Jesus said that He came for the sinners [the erring ones and all those not free from the Law], also came to make them who were blind to see. What we need to note from this which is of faith through Jesus Christ is that, we having realised that we are unable to fulfill the Law [our former husbands requirements], 93

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU we believed in the One Jesus who fulfilled it [the Law] for us of which we believe [through faith] in what He did, as He did it for us also who believe [the Bible says that He who knew no sin became sin for us and we took His place becoming the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ His Son 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21], by doing this, Jesus paid off the debt or dowry of our old husband [the Law] [this Jesus did by offering Himself as a ransom Lamb to attorn for our sins. For His blood was distinct from the ones of the bulls and sheep, His blood cleansed us once and for all and so sin is no longer a topic of discussion in our lives; Jesus is now the 94

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU centre of our life.] (fulfilling the requirements of the Law for us hence when He died we also died to sin which was our husband as it was the only way we could be discharged from the marriage bond with the Law) and we got married to a New Husband [Jesus Christ] having risen with the New Man who is Spirit. This believing in what Jesus did for us at the cross is humility as we openly declare that we by ourselves cannot and could not live upto the standards of the Law hence believe and receive the gift of righteousness through believing in what Jesus Christ did for us at the cross, and disregarding that grace is pride, hence 95

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU living directed by the Law is a proud living. The Bible in PROVERBS 14:12, and 16:25 “There is a way that seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death”, and in 1 CORINTHIANS 1:18 says “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” In JOHN 14:6 says “Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.” From the above Scriptures, we are directed to know that the Law, rules and regulations may seem right, however its end is 96

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU destruction [the Bible says that those who walk and keep the Law shall therein be judged by the Law ROMANS 2:12], it further reveals that the message of the cross [grace--Christ dying for the sins of everyone in the world- therefore we need to be in Him for Salvation (eternal life)] is foolishness (meaningless) to the ones perishing [not only non-believers but also those who cling to the Law and not faith, as believing has to be a continuous journey of faith and not a onetime thing]. The Bible telling us that Jesus is the Way and the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Him – this means that 97

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU anything,… (one) that does not profess Jesus, or even professes Jesus but differs or contradicts from His way [according to the teachings of the Bible], to your good, you ought to discern for yourself through the leading of the Holy Spirit, Scriptures, inner conviction, instructions from the children of God… you ought for your own good and for your soul to leave that place, company and find the right place as led by the Spirit of God, and the Scriptures which conforms to God`s Way, it further means that you have to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, for there is no other Way, no other Truth, no other Life but Him 98

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU alone. This further states to us that Salvation is not in religion, wealth, status and many other things but it is only and only in Jesus Christ. Let`s now delve into Righteousness and the Spirit. ROMANS 5:6 says “For when we were still without strength, in the due time Christ died for the ungodly.”, and verses 8 says “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us.” When Christ died, we who believe in Him died with Him and when He rose we rose with Him in the Newness of spirit and life. ROMANS 6:114 says “What shall we say then? Shall 99

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be [in the likeness] of [His] resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [Him,] that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no 100

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For [the death] that He died, He died to sin once for all; but [the life] that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present 101

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law but under grace.” The Bible clearly tells us that when we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior [Saviour; Good Shepherd; Redeemer; Deliverer] we then and then die or are baptised into His death and rise with Him from the dead. The question comes that what dies and what rises??? When we die with Him, the flesh [one susceptible to sin]-- the First Adamic man ”The first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality) [1 CORINTHIANS 102

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU 15:45] ” [nature] dies “remember Christ came to deliver us from the Law since we were rooted in sin, therefore we were originally married to the Law and therefore the only way we would be free from the liabilities of this marriage bond was through death so that we could be set free from the first marriage bondage so that we could marry another Husband which is Christ [Bridegroom, the Head of the “Church” – Bride [Body] MATTHEW 25:1, COLOSIANS 1:18]” therefore Paul reminds us [the Church] that we are no longer under the obligations of the old marriage but of the New one [of Christ]. On rising from the dead we rise with 103

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU the Spiritual man [Spirit man], not again with the old perishable flesh or carnal man. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:45 says “the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life]. JOHN 3:6 says “What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and what is born of Spirit is spirit.” From the above Scriptures we see that the Bible says that Jesus Christ was and is a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life] that means that He is Life in the first place and also a life Giver, as there is a difference between having life and having the ability to give life. That means that there is a very big distinction between what men call life 104

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU and what God our Father calls Life, for example GENESIS 2:17 says “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and blessing and calamity you shall not eat, for in that day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” And JOHN 10:10 says “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” From the above we see that after Adam and Eve eating what was forbidden of them, they did not then and then die however there was something that was lost [deprived of] by them. When the Bible in JOHN 10:10 says that the thief comes only in order 105

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU to steal and kill and destroy, a critical look at these three words are one and the same, meaning “removing from what you already have to your disadvantage”, that means that the devil`s work is only to deprive people [men] of what belongs to them, to their disadvantage, MATTHEW 16:26 says “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” From this portion of Scripture we see that satan [the god of this world] in one way or another deceives [blinds] certain men to think that they are adding up “gaining”, yet in reality they are loosing [to their disadvantage – in the end their soul is not given into 106

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU Christ] WHEREAS Jesus the Lord of Glory came that we may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance – He came to add up to us “we were dead in trespasses and He gave us Life which we did not have in the first place. The Bible says that He reconciled us unto God and we have now an inheritance in God, Our citizenship is now in heaven not on Earth – this is gain to us as we did not deserve it, He freely gave it to us anyway.” Another example, ISAIAH 2:22 says “Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?” This portion of Scripture talks about the people with the First Adamic nature – 107

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU the living soul, that their breath is in the nostrils, that means that to some call this life yet it is not. Job in JOB 1:21 speaks of this kind of life that “Naked I came from my mother`s womb, and naked I will depart”. This Job spoke of this life is true, when he says that naked (in nothingness, emptiness, and simple) he came into this earth and the same way he shall return. Child of God you have a choice to make and now is the opportunity for you to believe in Jesus Christ for you to shift from that kind of so called life to the Life that Jesus gives, for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. To Job had no choice since Christ was not yet manifested in the Flesh, 108

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU however to us He came, therefore where Job was speaking of returning, it is not so to us who have believed in Jesus and those yet to believe. That means that we do not leave the earth empty, as we are now begotten into a Living Hope “1 PETER 1:3-4 – Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [Born a new] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,”. You are 109

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU not empty, you are full of the Holy Spirit, you are full of Jesus. Your end is of the Lord “HEBREWS 12:2 as He is the Leader and the Source our faith and it`s Finisher”. This is confirmed by JOHN 17:3 which says “And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.” By this we see that eternal life is only and only found in Christ. Another example is in PHILIPPIANS 3:1-21 which says “FOR THE rest, my brethren, delight yourselves in the Lord and continue to 110

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU rejoice that you are in Him. To keep writing to you [over and over] of the same things is not irksome to me, and it is [a precaution] for your safety. Look out for those dogs [Judaizers, legalists], look out for those mischief-makers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances-Though for myself I have [at least grounds] to rely on the flesh. If any 111

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU other man considers that he has or seems to have a reason to rely on the flesh and his physical and outward advantages, I have still more! Circumcised when I was eight days old, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew [and the son] of Hebrews; as to the observance of the Law I was of [the party of] the Pharisees, As to my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church, and by the Law`s standard of righteousness (supposed justice, uprightness, and right standing with God) I was proven to be blameless and no fault was found with me. But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I 112

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ`s sake. Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One), And that I may [actually] be found and known as in 113

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law`s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith. [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], 114

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]. Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own. I do not consider, brethren, that I have 115

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward. So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and full-grown have this mind and hold these convictions; and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also. Only let us hold true to what we have already attained and walk and order our lives by that. Brethren, together follow my example and observe those who live after the 116

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU pattern we have set for you. For there are many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, who walk (live) as enemies of the cross of Christ (the Anointed One). They are doomed and their fate is eternal misery (perdition); their god is their stomach (their appetites, their sensuality) and they glory in their shame, siding with earthly things and being of their party. But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly and patiently await [the coming of] the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] Savior, Who will transform and fashion anew the body of our humiliation to 117

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU conform to and be like the body of His glory and majesty, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself.” From the above portion of Scripture Apostle Paul speaks of himself having had all the necessities to have satisfied the requirements of the Law which establishes(d) self-righteousness, of this self-attained righteousness Paul rejected its dictates for Christ`s sake [the righteousness which is of Christ through faith]. We see that Paul in Scripture, was a man who with regard to the Law was blameless and therefore according to him says that he had a reason to boast in the flesh, however 118

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU this flesh he was to boast about is and was to perish [had an end, temporal apparel], and because of this he chose life eternal which is in Christ. He also goes ahead to warn people [then and now] not to put their confidence in the Law or flesh because there end is destruction. Let`s think together, Paul in accordance to the dictates of the Law was blameless, who of us [even you the reader] can just even near to fulfil the requirements of the Law in the flesh “do not`s” and if not any can, so just like Paul says let`s follow his example – he forsook the Law for Christ. GALATIANS 6:13 says “For even the circumcised [Jews] themselves do not 119

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU [really] keep the Law, but they want to have you circumcised in order that they may glory in your flesh (your subjection to external rites).” That means that those ministers of the Law themselves failed and have never fulfilled the Law that they teach to others, and their pride is presenting what they have failed to fulfil [the Law] for others too to fight or struggle trying to fulfil it, and their role is being watch dogs over other men and also giving the men they think have been able to fulfil the Law as examples to them who have failed to. These are the people the Bible in MATTHEW 7:1-5 says “DO NOT judge and criticize and condemn others, so 120

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves. For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you. Why do you stare from without at the very small particle that is in your brother`s eye but do not become aware of and consider the beam of timber that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Let me get the tiny particle out of your eye, when there is the beam of timber that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first get the beam of timber out of your own 121

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU eye, and then you will see clearly to take the tiny particle out of your brother`s eye.” From the above portion of Scripture we see that the Bible clearly tells us some of the characteristics of men under the Law [religion], as they seek to judge others [in thought of correcting or putting one in right standing with the Law], just as my Spiritual Father Apostle Grace Lubega says “they torch others, when forgetting to torch within themselves”, they judge others in the same things they daily do [ROMANS 2:1]. However by the Bible advising them to firstly remove the beam from their eyes before they remove the tiny particle 122

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU from the brother`s – as we all know that even if one was to be given 1000 years in this world to be in subjection to the Law, they still shall be guilty for what they have done in the flesh “ECCLESIASTIES 11:8 says [Yes, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all; yet let him [seriously] remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that comes is vanity (emptiness, falsity, vainglory, and futility)!]”, that means that a man under the Law will die eventually in sin, therefore by the Scripture saying that one has to first remove the beam from their eye, in reference to MATTHEW 5:29 which says “If your right eye serves 123

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU as a trap to ensnare you or is an occasion for you to stumble and sin, pluck it out and throw it away. It is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be cast into hell (Gehenna).” It means that one should put away the Law and embrace grace through faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore having that person embraced grace [understood, walked, and matured in it], then he can be in position to preach and teach it to one still in the Law, as through grace working by Faith we are the Righteousness of God (we are blameless, perfect, holy before God), we live a righteousness fostered life and 124

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU our judgements are spiritual [in faith], as we do not regard any man according to the flesh [2 CORINTHIANS 5:16], and as we know the Law is not of faith but of the works [carnality]. Therefore a man could be walking in the Law yet think has life, yet in reality is walking in death, Christ is Life and Him alone. It should be noted that even Moses from whom the Law was given, was also as quoted by Jesus, - does accuse or point fingers [with due respect] on them who fail in fulfilling the Law`s obligations just as the religious leaders then, now and tomorrow do. JOHN 5:45 says “Put out of your minds the thought and do not suppose [as some of you are supposing] 125

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU that I will accuse you before the Father. There is one who accuses you—it is Moses, the very one on whom you have built hopes [in whom you trust].” By the Bible saying that that which is born of the Spirit is spirit, the first Spirit mentioned in upper case means the Spirit of God, and the second in lower case means spirit in a man. 1 CORINTHIANS 2:11 says “For what person perceives (knows and understands) what passes through a man`s own spirit within him? Just so no one discerns (comes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” From the 126

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU above we clearly see that the Spirit of God and the spirit in a man are both spoken of. The spirit in a man is because of believing in Jesus Christ who is Spirit and gives birth to spirit. However this should not seem confusing or difficult to perceive, the Bible says in Romans 8:9 “But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the [Holy] Spirit of God [really] dwells within you [directs and controls you]. But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God].”, the Bible still says that we who believe in Jesus Christ are one Spirit 127

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU with the Lord, the Holy Spirit resides in the inside of us, we have the mind of God, GALATIANS 2:20 says “I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” From the above, we see that we are one with God, and the connection between us and Him is spirit. We are the very ones Jesus speaks of as worshipers in spirit and in truth in JOHN 4:23 “A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, 128

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers.” That means that worship before God the Father of all things shifted from the physical as done in the Old Testament to the Spiritual, because God is Spirit, those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth. ROMANS 10:14 says “But how are people to call upon Him Whom they have not believed [in Whom they have no faith, on Whom they have no reliance]? And how are they to believe in Him [adhere to, trust in, and rely upon Him] of Whom they have never 129

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?” This means that the things of the Kingdom of God carry precedence or order, as we see that God Himself questions that how will people call upon Him without believing and having faith and trust in Him, the Bible says that he who comes to God must believe that He is and He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, it also further says that without faith it is impossible to please God [HEBREWS 11:6]. The question is how do you present yourself before God? – in faith or unbelief? Remember even to us who are born of the Spirit of God, believing is our nature [as long as we 130

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU are still alive in this temporal apparel “body”], it`s not a one-time thing. In addition to the above, some people have centred on a belief that "we serve one God" – this is a lie, why and how! To us we believe in God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ], There is only One God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and besides Him there is no other in heaven, earth or under the earth. Yet to the men of this world have many other small god`s in whom they believe in. Jesus Himself says “I and the Father are One, He who rejects [denies, does not believe] Me, does not believe in the Father [JOHN 10:30, 17:21, 1 CORINTHIANS 8:6]”, 1 JOHN 2:22 says 131

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU “Who is [such a] liar as he who denies that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah)? He is the antichrist (the antagonist of Christ), who [habitually] denies and refuses acknowledge the Father and the Son.” That`s why 1 JOHN 1:1 says “[WE ARE writing] about the Word of Life [in] Him Who existed from the beginning, Whom we have heard, Whom we have seen with our [own] eyes, Whom we have gazed upon [for ourselves] and have touched with our [own] hands.” That means when we are speaking of the God we serve, worship and adore, we speak from experience since we have had and have a relation with Him, to us He is a Father and we are His sons 132

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU and daughters “what a glory”. Since the Kingdom of God is open to all that believe, the writer in 1 JOHN 1:3 says “What we have seen and [ourselves] heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And [this] fellowship that we have [which is a distinguishing mark of Christians] is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah).” Now looking on the subject of faith and believing, these two look alike, however one takes pre-eminence over the other, in as much as they go hand in hand. Why believe first, we understand that in 133

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU this world, many people have different perceptions to what they call believing and faith, but to us it is what the Scripture says that we go with, as the Bible says in PSALMS 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”, and we move by faith and not sight. The Bible in ROMANS 10:8-11 says “But what does it say? The Word (God`s message in Christ) is near you, on your lips and in your heart; that is, the Word (the message, the basis and object) of faith which we preach, Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God 134

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation. The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed.” Glory to God, from the above portion of Scripture, how one gets born again is clearly prescribed, it should be noted that this is the only way, namely; 1. Believing in the heart that Jesus is Lord 135

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU and that God raised Him from the dead. 2. Confessing with your own lips that Jesus is Lord. The Bible in 2 CORINTHIANS 4:13-14 says “Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, I have believed, and therefore have I spoken. We too believe, and therefore we speak, Assured that He Who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up also with Jesus and bring us [along] with you into His presence.” We see that the principle is firstly believing, then confess what you have believed with your own mouth as a confirmation to your personal salvation. The Bible says “[He has also appropriated and acknowledged us as 136

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU His by] putting His seal upon us and giving us His [Holy] Spirit in our hearts as the security deposit and guarantee [of the fulfilment of His promise]. (2 CORINTHIANS 1:22, 5:5, EPHESIANS 1:14)”. JOHN 20:24-29 says “But Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples kept telling him, We have seen the Lord! But he said to them, Unless I see in His hands the marks made by the nails and put my finger into the nail prints, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe [it]. Eight days later His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, though they 137

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU were behind closed doors, and stood among them and said, Peace to you! Then He said to Thomas, Reach out your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand and place [it] in My side. Do not be faithless and incredulous, but [stop your unbelief and] believe! Thomas answered Him, My Lord and my God! Jesus said to him, Because you have seen Me, Thomas, do you now believe (trust, have faith)? Blessed and happy and to be envied are those who have never seen Me and yet have believed and adhered to and trusted and relied on Me.” From the above portion of scripture, we see that God has called and established us on 138

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU the foundation of faith, to Jesus Christ as we know that He is not a show off, or it is not necessary and He does not prove Himself because He is the I am “I AM WHO I AM”, It should be noted that in the New Testament times God did not prove Himself, however He did so to the men of the Old Covenant just because the principle of their time is and was that they have to see something to believe, for example Moses was given the signs at his request (stick to serpent, hand becoming leprous, I AM WHO I AM) EXODUS 3:14, Hezekiah the shadow moving to degrees he requested 2 KINGS 20:10, however in the New 139

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU Covenant for Jesus to appear to the disciples at that moment was just for Thomas, and also to clear doubt even to this generation [it should not be taken for granted "a light thing"]. Therefore we believe not because we have seen, however it`s by faith that we believe. Maybe taking us back a little, by Thomas holding that he must first see the marks in Jesus` hands made by the nails, and his hands to Jesus` side, I honestly believe that during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, these two happenings of nailing and piercing Him tore deep into Thomas` heart “he cried and cried and kept on remembering these moments”, in other words he was 140

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU driven by emotions, to the extent that even when he saw Jesus Christ, the emotions of the happenings took the place of Christ. Therefore we can learn some lessons from it while making reference to Scriptures. 1. We should never let emotions override or control us. MATTHEW 6:26-27 says “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth and much more than they? And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life?” this drives us back to knowing what makes or adds to you, 141

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU being settled in mind and content. What Jesus meant here was that when you look at birds existent and alive, then you should know that God first dealt with you before he gave attention to the birds [we are precious to our Father, with Him, I and you ought to be anxious for nothing], another example is in HEBREWS 12:16-17 which says “That no one may become guilty of sexual vice, or become a profane (godless and sacrilegious) person as Esau did, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you understand that later on, when he wanted [to regain title to] his inheritance of the blessing, he was rejected (disqualified 142

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU and set aside), for he could find no opportunity to repair by repentance [what he had made], although he sought for it carefully with [bitter] tears.” From this example we are clearly told Esau had sold his birthright to Jacob his twin brother just for a meal, thereafter he wanted to repossess it when it`s need came, since it was unavailable having sold it [shifted title], according to him opted to cry [opted for tears], and yet the solution before God was for him [Esau] to repent [change of mind for the better], remember if Esau was to only repent, God was gracious, merciful and forgiving to make Him repossess his birthright. This is the 143

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU same way God reconciled us through Jesus Christ to the very first love we had lost due to the fall of man from the Garden of Eden. Even up-to now God is calling us to the realm of worship in spirit and truth, so let’s not give place for emotions to lead us, Truth (the Word of God) is our leader. HEBREWS 11:1-3 “NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. For by [faith— trust and holy fervor born of faith] the 144

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a good report. By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.” ROMANS 10:17-18 says “So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself). But I ask, Have they not heard? Indeed they have; [for the Scripture says] Their voice [that of nature bearing God`s message] has 145

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU gone out to all the earth, and their words to the far bounds of the world.” ROMANS 8:24-25 says “For in [this] hope we were saved. But hope [the object of] which is seen is not hope. For how can one hope for what he already sees? But if we hope for what is still unseen by us, we wait for it with patience and composure.” 1 JOHN 4:8 says “He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.” 1 CORINTHIANS 13:13 says “And so faith, hope, love abide [faith-conviction and belief respecting man`s relation to God and divine things; hope-joyful and confident expectation of 146

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU eternal salvation; love--true affection for God and man, growing out of God`s love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love.” GALATIANS 5:6 says “For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love.” GALATIANS 3:26 says “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.” HEBREWS 12:2 says “Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the [of obtaining 147

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” From the above portions of Scripture, we see that the subject faith can only be understood in the personality of Jesus Christ. Faith, hope and love, just like Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one and the same, and therefore one cannot seek to justify the presence of one in isolation or severance of another. With close look to the above Scriptures “where we see the word faith let`s put Jesus [where there are two we live second as faith]” HEBREWS 148

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU 11:1-3 “NOW JESUS is the assurance of the things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality. For by Jesus the men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a good report. By Jesus we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God [Him [Jesus]], so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.” ROMANS 10:17 “So Jesus comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).” What then is the reason for all this, ROMANS 14:23 says “But the man who 149

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU has doubts (misgivings, an uneasy conscience) about eating, and then eats [perhaps because of you], stands condemned [before God], because he is not true to his convictions and does not act from faith. For whatever does not originate and proceed from faith is sin [whatever is done without a conviction of its approval by God is sinful].” It is because God points all we do to be done in Christ Jesus, the Bible says that let him who glories glory in the Lord [1 CORINTHIANS 1:31]. That also means that the life of a born again Christian ought to always be believing [in] God. The subject faith is too wide to be expounded to the fullest however we 150

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU thank God for the Holy Spirit Who is always available to teach you and me in experiences of the Person of Christ. Having believed in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, the Bible says in 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17-18 “Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of 151

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him].” Therefore you are new [spirit], you are not a sinner, you are the righteousness of God. 1 PETER 1:23 says “You have been regenerated (born again), not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from one that is immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God.” Just look at the amazing promises that you are in now having gotten born again, you are incorruptible, born of the Word of God [Jesus] Which lives and abides forever. Nothing can corrupt your spirit, not even sin, nor death, nor satan, nor angels, and even anything born or not 152

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU yet existent. You are pure before God, you are the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus, when God see`s you, He sees Jesus, believe God, trust Him at His word, allow not the outward earthen vessel [body] define you, the Bible says that you are seated with Christ in the heavenly places [EPHESIANS 1:20], you are a joint heir with Jesus Christ, you are spirit. Apostle Paul says in 1 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10 “But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and 153

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength).”, that means that you need not to be intimidated by whatever is surrounding you just like Paul did, as he chose to look at it with the eyes of God 154

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU Who told him “My grace is enough for you; My strength and power are made perfect and show themselves most effective in your weakness”, 1 JOHN 3:20 tells you and me “Whenever our hearts in [tormenting] self-accusation make us feel guilty and condemns us. [For we are in God`s hands.] For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows (perceives and understands) everything [nothing is hidden from Him].” Change your attitude about God, for He is at peace with you, He is in love with you, He is beyond what men here on earth call love, He gives examples of a prodigal son to whom the parent made for a 155

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU feast upon his return, He gives examples that even mother`s who patiently nursed their babies in the wombs for nine months can forsake their children, He says that even young ones of a lion can thirst and die of hunger whereas to you He [God] says He will never leave you nor forsake you, you will never beg for bread, He make`s a feast in Heaven for your sake when you receive salvation, He gave His attention to you ignoring the praises of the angels [ISAIAH 14], He says that He who touches you touches the apple of His eye, He never sleeps nor slumbers just because He has to take care of you, He watches over the whole city just 156

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU because you are in it hence even making the watchman irrelevant, to us He reserved the rest He promised having believed and had faith in Him, greater loved He showed to us that He gave away His life [good shepherd] for our sakes, He leaves [left] the ninety nine sheep just to pursue you and when found [finds] you was [is] joyful. Glory to God. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:18 says “But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word 157

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him].” We see that God is up to men receiving salvation and knowing [knowledge, wisdom, and understanding] Him intimately. “That they may know the One true God and His only Son Jesus Christ, all should come to the knowledge of truth”. EPHESIANS 4:11-12 says “And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), and some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers. His intention was the 158

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ`s body (the church)”. The Bible says in ROMANS 8:29-30 that God foreknew, called, justified and glorified you before time. MARK 16:15 says “And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race].” The Bible says that God wills all men be saved and come to the knowledge of truth [the saving power of God through Jesus Christ]. From all the above Scriptures we see that God did not only prepare salvation to you 159

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU alone but to the whole world, hence He has commissioned us who have believed to reach out to everyone by ALL MEANS. The Bible says in 2 CORINTHIANS 5:20 that we are Christ`s ambassadors [Christ`s personal representatives], therefore we have a cause to stand for. We are called for service as we all have a purpose in God to accomplish in this world, upon the completion of that God given mandate, we shall return home to the Father. Paul told the people of his time that him being in the body was for their good, and that he had revealed the whole counsel of God to them and hence was accountable for no man’s 160

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU blood. Child of God did you know that the “parable of the man who hid his talent and the salt without flavour having no way to be seasoned hence need to be trampled underfoot" was directed to specific individuals who choose to be on a comfort zone “to be out of God`s purpose and mandate upon their lives”, therefore I urge us to ask God through our Lord Jesus Christ concerning our calling. To those who want to receive salvation can speak out these words believing in his or her heart saying; Dear Lord heavenly Father, I believe with my heart that Jesus Christ died for my sins 161

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU and rose again for my justification, and that He is Lord and Savior of my life. I declare that today I am born again. Amen. For more about prayer, baptism, and many other spiritual material. Please you can refer to these material below: i. Sermon of Baptism, Prayer Codes, Faith Series, Seven Guiding Lights (pdf), Understanding Grace, Spirit, Body and Soul… By Apostle Grace Lubega. ii. Praying to get results (book), Believers Authority [book, 162

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU sermon]… By Brother Kenneth Hagin. iii. Spirit, Body and Soul [book], The New you and the Holy Spirit by Andrew Wommack. This book was reviewed by: 1. Papa Muhwire Alexander 2. Papa Wafula Oscar 3. Papa Stuart 163

SALVATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THE NEW YOU GRACE FOUND YOU, YOU RECEIVED IT AND PREACHED IT TO OTHER`S. This book helps us understand the grace of God by which we were saved by faith in Jesus Christ, it helps us to understand the life we now live after salvation, it helps us understand the patience which is with God as His love draws men to repentance and also helps us understand that we all in the body of Christ have been called to service as the Bible says that to whom much is given much is required. About the Author. Opale Frank is a son to Mr. Ojame Okiror Robert and Mrs. Tino Ketty. Opale`s Spiritual Father is Apostle Of Phaneroo Ministries I was once rooted in the Law until came to know About the wonderful grace of God Grace Lubega International. the age of 16, when I being taught by Apostle Grace Lubega. This came after several invitations both at school and home from friends to go to one of the meetings the man of God. God`s hand surprises by the way He meet`s people at His own timing. One time I was too bored, so just like that I just got myself on the way in search for that place, indeed this was my day. It was a day like no other, I felt like not leaving the place of meeting, even after the service. I thought myself to know the Word of God, from then I realized that I knew nothing. I remember of days when my friends came and told me that they were righteous, and we debated Scripture from evening to almost 1:00 am in the morning until they gave up and said “let`s let him alone, for God will slowly deal with him”. From this ministry of Phaneroo I was opened to availability of Great Generals of God, the Great men and women of God in the past and this time. Special thanks to the Campus Manifest teams, and everyone. Glory be to God and Jesus Christ our Lord. For more info contact. opalefrank94@gmail.com 164

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