Why does the songbird sing his song? Why does the dog give us his bark? The same reason the cat says, "meow". It is their nature to do so, the nature they received from their parents. We humans also have the characteristics of our parents by nature. Among them is a sinful nature. We are born sinners by nature passed down to us from Adam after he sinned against God in the garden of Eden. This presents many problems, the largest being that there is a penalty for sin. We, by nature, want to hide from God and to remain in darkness and to deceive ourselves. But God's light and grace are supernatural, transcending our natural blindness and darkened minds and hearts.
Jesus Christ has paid in full the penalty for sin. This He did once for all by dying our death, shedding His blood as payment to God. He rose again from the dead and now Supernaturally gives a NEW NATURE to everyone who believes.
Romans 5:12 says, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Paul explains this further and adds that not only are we born with a sinful nature, but we are also born spiritually dead. He wrote to the Ephesians, "And you hath he quickened who were DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS, wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, among whom WE ALL HAD OUR CONVERSATION in times past in the lust of the flesh and of the mind, AND WERE BY NATURE THE CHILDREN OF WRATH, even as others." (Ephesians 2:1-3)
One characteristic we humans are born with places us on a very different plain from the animals, however. We have a consciousness of the existence and presence of God. Even in our fallen state, we all have the God-given ability to receive enlightenment and illumination by the Holy Spirit. (He is Supernatural) "In him (Jesus Christ) was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness of the Light, THAT ALL MEN THROUGH HIM MIGHT BELIEVE. He was not the Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which lighteth EVERY MAN THAT COMETH INTO THE WORLD." (John 1:4-9)
Man is not innocently blind, or innocently in darkness, or innocently dead spiritually. The light of truth and knowledge which God sends to him he denies, he covers up, he resists, even if he can make the existence of God a gray area. "He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and MEN LOVED DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the Light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be manifest, that they are wrought in God." (John 3:18-21)
Man in his fallen state still has a God-given consciousness of his creator, and the Supernatural enlightening and illuminating work of the Holy Spirit brings truth and knowledge home to his mind, heart and conscience. Man is without excuse. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, WHO HOLD THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, because THAT WHICH MAY BE KNOWN OF GOD IS MANIFEST IN THEM, for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being UNDERSTOOD by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are WITHOUT EXCUSE. Because that, when they KNEW God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but BECAME vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise THEY BECAME FOOLS." (Romans 1:18-22) Again, man is not innocently blind, he likes to deny truth and deceive himself.
THE SUPERNATURAL WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
God is not only Supernatural, He is a Super Savior manifesting the gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ to unbelievers everywhere. "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and MAKETH MANIFEST THE SAVOUR OF HIS KNOWLEDGE BY US IN EVERY PLACE. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, AND IN THEM THAT PERISH, to the one we are THE SAVOUR OF DEATH UNTO DEATH, and to the other the savour of life unto life." "You are our epistle written in our hearts, KNOWN AND READ OF ALL MEN "Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not, but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully. BUT BY MANIFESTATION OF THE TRUTH COMMENDING OURSELVES TO EVERY MAN'S CONSCIENCE in the sight of God." (ll Corinthians 2:14-16; 3: 2; 4:1-2)
So from this we see that man in his fallen state is still capable to receive enlightenment, and enough illumination to know what he is required by God to believe in order to be saved. He has a responsibility to do so. This is how God is justified to punish "them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." (II Thessalonians 1:8)
Jesus said, "It is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment; of sin, because I go to my Father, and you see me no more, of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. " (John 16:7-11) The supernatural convicting work of the Holy Spirit, enlightens the mind as God's messengers deliver warning about the penalty for sin which is "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord" (II Thessalonians 1: 9) God does not by-pass our minds in requiring that we trust Jesus Christ and His finished work as the only way of salvation. This is where the rubber meets the road so-to-speak, for at this point man must exercise faith in God's revelation, God's declaration, and this is something he cannot see, smell, touch, taste or hear with his senses. He must believe with his heart or soul.
God's Word tells us that the penalty for sin is "Everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord" Our senses cannot grasp this, but they can grasp death, darkness, separation, isolation, physical destruction, pain, punishment, solitude and suffering. The Holy Spirit brings home the fact that if these phenomena are true, then God's warning about the penalty for sin can also be true and His remedy trustworthy. His divine influence upon the heart or soul helps fallen man have the capability to trust God's remedy for sin, it's penalty and it's power. He helps man to fear the penalty and consequence of unbelief.
Even though trusting Jesus Christ and His vicarious death (or death in our place) seems foolish or too easy, God's Word has otherwise proven trustworthy -- so why not trust Him on this one too. So then he believes with his heart or soul and God rewards his faith giving him a NEW NATURE along with forgiveness of sins, eternal life, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. "For by grace (or divine influence upon the heart) are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2: 8-10) Upon believing we are made a new creation, given a new nature "which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:24)
God has revealed so much light and truth by sending His Son Jesus Christ into the world, sending Him to endure the death of the cross, making complete satisfaction to God for sins. And now He offers eternal redemption as a free gift to all who will believe. He has sent the Holy Spirit to supernaturally help natural man see his dilemma, and show him God's remedy. It is no wonder He commands all men everywhere to repent by believing, man has no excuse for not believing and receiving His offer. His grace is presently being dispensed to all. This is why he warns and beseeches "you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain" (II Corinthians 6:1) It is one thing to be enlightened and illuminated concerning the need and the remedy. But it is another thing to apply it to your soul and believe it.
Maybe the good news of God's grace is tugging at the veil over your heart and pulling away the blinders from your mind right now? "Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass (mirror) the glory of the Lord, ARE CHANGED into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (II Corinthians 3:16-18)
Why not turn to Him right now with your heart and mind and be changed into His image? "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (II Corinthians 4: 6)
How
God Saves Men
Believing
Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing
Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
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Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
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