How God Removes Evil From Our Hearts (4)

Salvation means to be saved, which is good news, but saved from what? Good news is only as good as the bad news is the bad. It will be seen, and how we can receive Jesus into our hearts and become Christians, a process that is by God’s grace alone, to God’s glory alone and through our faith alone, which also is by the way supplied only by God.

How was our relationship with God in the beginning? Genesis 1:31
“31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”

What event changed this relationship? Genesis 3:1-8
“3 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: .. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.” (See also 1 John 3:4. Disobedience to God’s commandments, found in Genesis 2:16-17, is also called sin.)

How did sin effect man’s relationship to God? Isaiah 59:2
“2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

How many since Adam’s fall have sinned? Romans 3:23
“23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”.

What are the examples of these sins? Romans 1:29-32
“29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

What are the wages of sin in contrast to God’s gift? Romans 6:23
“23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (See also John 14:6 and Acts 17:28. Jesus is life.)

Why then is death not an unreasonable result if we separate from God? Proverbs 8:36
“But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.”

Can any of our good works make up for our past or current sins and escape death? Romans 3:20
“20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (See also Ezekiel 33:13. Turning to Jesus is our only option.)

How impossible is it to change our sinful lives to good by our strength? Jeremiah 13:23
“Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” (See also Job 14:4. Who can bring clean thing out of an unclean?)

So can we boast of saving ourselves? Ephesians 2:8-9
“8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

How did this transaction take place in Christ’s coming to save us sinners? Isaiah 53:5
“5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (See also 2 Corinthians 8:9, and Matthew 20:28. He exchanged riches for poverty and He became a ransom for all sinners.)

What motived God to save us from sin? John 3:16-17
“16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

How precious are sinners to God as to redeem (save) them? 1 Peter 1:18-19
“18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” (See also Psalm 106:10. To be redeemed means to be saved.)

Having heard our hopeless condition and how precious we are in God’s eyes, what should we ask? Acts 16:30
“30 What must I do to be saved?” (See also Acts 2:37.)

What are the first elements we must experience to have our sins blotted out (erased) and be saved? Acts 3:19
“19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”

What does repentance mean? Ezekiel 33:11
“11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” (See also Luke 3:3,12-13. Shows a turning away from sinful practices.)

What deep feeling must be felt for our sins and not their result, in order for repentance to work? 2 Corinthians 7:10
“10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

When we turn from our evil ways in mind and heart, whose thoughts and feeling do we receive instead? Philippians 2:5
“5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”.

Do we produce this repentance or change of mind ourselves? Acts 5:31
“31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” (See also Romans 2:4. It’s God’s goodness that leads us to repent.)

What must we do before God can forgive us? 1 John 1:9
“9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

To confess is to acknowledge our sins and not justify them, did David admit his sins? Psalms 51:3
“3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.”

What must follow true confession? Proverbs 28:13
“13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

What does God require most of all to be surrendered? Proverbs 23:26
“26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.”

What does God give us in exchange? Ezekiel 36:26
“26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”

What does transformed or changed mean? Romans 12:1-2
“1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (See also Proverbs 23:7 and 2 Corinthians 3:18. We become more like Jesus when we walk with Him.)

When we have received forgiveness, what blessing from Jesus may be ours to accept? Revelation 3:19-20
“19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

What’s is our assurance when we are converted? Romans 10:9-11
“9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

What do we become when we are truly converted? 2 Corinthians 6:18
“18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (See also John 1:12)

Are we promised a change tomorrow? 2 Corinthians 6:2
“2 For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (See also Hebrew 3:15)

Friend, 

Have you received Jesus into your heart? If not, is there anything that would keep you from inviting Him into your heart right now? As Jesus pleads, to day if you hear my voice “harden not your hearts”. (Hebrews 3:15)

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