Salvation fills believers with joy, but the devil tries to diminish its effect by sowing doubt and confusion. One of Satan’s purposes in doing so is to make your faith unattractive to others. Confidence about your salvation is essential to counteracting the enemy’s tactics—and it involves a what, a who, and a how.
First, you need to understand what salvation means. Though physically alive, all people are born spiritually dead—in other words, separated from the Father and lost in sin (Eph. 2:12). According to John 3:3, the only way to see the kingdom of God is to be “born again.”
Second, you must understand through whom this new life comes. Jesus shed His blood on the cross to pay the sin debt man owed (Rom. 6:23). His substitutionary atoning death provided forgiveness of sins for everyone who trusts in Him (Acts 10:43), and His resurrection is proof that He conquered death. When you trust in the Savior, your sins are forgiven and you cross over from death to life (John 5:24).
Third, you must know how to live in a God-pleasing way. This is impossible in human strength. That’s why God sends His Spirit to permanently indwell everyone who places faith in Jesus (Rom. 8:11). As we let the Holy Spirit have control, He’ll guide us into all truth (John 16:13) and empower us to achieve whatever God calls us to do.
Sin separated mankind from God, and we were spiritually dead. Jesus is the way to eternal life (John 14:6), and the Holy Spirit provides the divine power and guidance to live righteously. What blessed assurance!
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