Of course, SIN is not a physical virus -- it is a spiritual virus, but it is for real and it demonstrates all the characteristics of a physical virus. We read about the origin of SIN in the Bible in the book of Genesis chapter three. Our ancestors, Adam and Eve became infected with the SIN-virus when they were deceived by Satan in Paradise, and disobeyed God's explicit command. Since that day SIN is transmitted from generation to generation through the ages. The behaviour and consequences of SIN are as follows according to the Bible:
1. It is more dangerous than any other virus. If you die under it's dominion, you face eternal death in hell. We read in Mark 9:34,35: "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched — where 'THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.'"
2. SIN kills the human spirit and becomes engraved in our 'genes' and 'DNA' and corrupts the nature and character of every person on earth. We read in Romans 7:14: "For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin." In 1 John 1:8 we read: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
3. Every single person in this world is born infected with the SIN-virus. King David knew this when he said in Psalm 51:5: "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me." In Romans 5:12 we read: "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned ..."
God's perfect cure
God the Father, in the maturity of time, demonstrated His immeasurable love for the human race by commissioning God the Son to leave His heavenly throne in order to become a man, born of a virgin through the miraculous conception of the Holy Spirit, in order to satisfy God's righteousness and holiness by accepting the punishment for SIN on Himself, and to die a substitutionary death on the Cross of Calvary for the sin of the entire world in our place.
Jesus Christ rose again from the dead on the third day and ascended into heaven where He is seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us - from where He will come again as judge of the world - to raise and collect His redeemed unto eternal life, and condemn the unbelieving world unto eternal death.
Through His substitutionary death on the Cross of Calvary Jesus Christ made a perfect sacrifice and paid the full penalty for your sin and the sin of the entire world, fully satisfying God's righteous demand that SIN be punished by death. Through the shedding of His blood He fulfilled God's legal demand for reconciling man to God and breaking the power of Satan and SIN.
Through His resurrection from the dead Jesus Christ broke the power of Satan who held the power of death, legally stripping him from his authority over the human race, rising as Conqueror over SIN, Satan and hell! Simultaneously He restored for you and me God's purpose in creation and our eternal position as co-heirs with, and Bride of Christ.
Joh 3:16,17: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (NKJV)
Phi 2:5-11: "... Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (NKJV)
Rev 5:9,10 "And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
Jesus said to Nicodemus: "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (Joh 3:3)
There are two births - a physical birth and a spiritual birth. Physical birth is the beginning of physical life -- spiritual birth (or regeneration) is the beginning of spiritual life and a personal relationship with God. You have to be born twice, physically as well as spiritually to be delivered from SIN and receive eternal life. Humans were created body, soul and spirit. However, when you were born physically, you were born with a dead spirit because of SIN. Your spirit has to be born and come alive in order to be able to receive eternal life.
Spiritual life begins the moment when regeneration occurs in a person, in exactly the same way physical life begins the moment when physical birth occurs. In exactly the same way someone who is born physically begins to breathe at birth, a person begins to breathe spiritually when he is born again.
In exactly the same way you know that you were born physically on a particular day, you will know that you were born spiritually on a particular day! Therefore, if you are not sure if you have been born again, then you are not yet born again, because if you are, then you will know it!
By faith! By faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross! God is the only One who is able to quicken the human spirit and faith is the catalyst that changes something humanly incomprehensible into spiritual reality.
Faith in Christ is the method instituted by God whereby the human race can be cured from the infection of SIN. Why faith? Because faith excludes all human effort! Faith excludes all human achievement and credit. Faith treats all people equal.
You cannot quicken your own dead spirit. You cannot save yourself! You cannot earn your position as a child of God through any achievement of your own. No amount of good works, charity, generosity, help to the poor, or whatever other good work you can think of can ever earn you salvation from SIN and a personal relationship with God! There is only one way -- and it is by faith in Jesus Christ!
One final remark about faith. There is a difference between passive and active faith. Passive faith is the passive acceptance of a truth, while active faith is the personal appropriation of a truth for yourself through an active act of your will.
Passive faith will not quicken your spirit - only active faith will!
The reason why there are millions of people in the world calling themselves Christians but do not experience the full joy, peace and purpose of a Christian life, is simply this - passive faith. Passive faith will only make you miserable. That's like believing you're a beneficiary to a Royal estate, but you continue to live in poverty because you have failed to register and collect your share.
You may not necessarily remember the day or date it happened (unless you wrote it down), but you will surely know that it happened! The Bible says in Romans 8:16: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God ...” And we cannot be children of God without being born out of Him, in exactly the same way you cannot be your father and mother's child unless you were born out of them!
You will know that you have been born again when you have a relationship with the Author of your purpose! When you meet Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, you will know that you have found your purpose. You may not yet know the detail of your purpose, but will know that you have found purpose!
It is possible to be very religious, to be baptised, to be a faithful church member, and even to serve on the church council or presbytery, to be a minister, pastor or theologian, without being born again! Religion and theology must not be confused with regeneration! The result and symptoms of regeneration is spiritual life - not religion and theology!
Do you know that you have been born again? Are you not sure? You can make sure this very moment! Regeneration happens instantaneously through a simple act of faith in prayer based on a basic knowledge of the Gospel.
You have to personally accept and believe the following:
You were physically born, and are a sinner because you inherited a sinful nature from Adam and Eve because of the fall. As a result you were born in a broken relationship with God. Rom 3:23: "... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ..."
Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your sin on the Cross of Calvary through the shedding of His blood, death and resurrection. Through His redemptive work on the cross, you may be justified and reconciled with God and this justification and reconciliation is offered to you as a free gift by God through Jesus Christ. Rom 5:18: "Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life." Eph 2:8,9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
This free gift of God must be received by you through a voluntary act of your Will by faith in prayer, after which regeneration will follow as an act of God and proof of your acceptance by Him as His child. Joh 1:12: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name ..."
This voluntary act of your will by faith in prayer must contain at least these three elements:
CONFESSION - that you are sinner, that you have sinned, and that you deserve and are destined for eternal death - Joh 1:9: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.";
REPENTANCE - you must turn your back on your life of sin and be prepared to walk away from it - Act 3:19: "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord .."; and
FAITH - you must fully believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour and trust Him to save you from the penalty, but also from the power of sin. You must trust Him with your entire life - Heb 11:6: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
If any one of the above three elements are wanting, regeneration will not occur.
If you pray the simple prayer below with sincerity and all the earnestness of your heart by turning your back on sin, you will be born again and the Holy Spirit will come and dwell in your heart.
You may also pray in your own words, but it is important that you pray aright and that you mean what you pray. Jesus said in Joh. 6:37: “Whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, thank You that You died on the cross of Calvary in my place.
I confess that I am a sinner who needs Your salvation, forgiveness and cleansing.
Please forgive my sin and cleanse my heart with Your precious blood.
Please come and live in my heart, and make me Your child, restoring Your purpose in my life.
I accept You as my personal Lord and Saviour from this moment.
I believe the Bible as Your inspired Word and I take You on Your Word by faith.
I thank you that You have answered my prayer!
Amen.
If you have prayed this prayer with a sincere heart and active faith, you may now be absolutely sure of your salvation:
You have been saved by grace through faith and your sins are forgiven! 1 Joh 1:9: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."; Eph 2:8,9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
You are now standing in a personal and living relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Son. Joh 1:12: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name"
You have eternal life through Jesus Christ and can be absolutely sure of your salvation and eternal destination in heaven! 1 Joh 5:11-13: "And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."
You may be absolutely sure that you are saved from eternal death and hell! Joh 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
There is much more to be known about your newly found faith and we want to send you some more information. We would like to encourage you to explore the power of prayer through your own prayer life. We want to continue to pray for you. We want to ask God to help you grow in grace and the power of God. We want to help you on the road forward and provide you with vital information concerning your spiritual growth. We also want to communicate with you to encourage you and help you grow in Christ.
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