Salvation, Transformation, and Growth

Is Christianity being sugarcoated? I feel like Christianity is being preached as if we are the center of attention, but the Bible is completely against this. It's not about us at all! It is about our King, God almighty. He does so much for us that we don't deserve.

Living the Christian life is not about becoming a better person, or checking off a list of works, or deciding that God saves so "I might as well live His way." True Christianity is all about how God draws one in, transforms Him completely, and this one now lives beholding Jesus Christ. 

Think about this:
Salvation is nothing one does; it is all by the grace of God and out of His supernatural power. He draws one to Him and opens his eyes to the knowledge of his sin and hopelessness without God. That is the only reason one would repent and turn to God because in the state of sin, no one will turn to Him. This is the beauty of salvation!

Romans 7:18-25(ESV) For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. vs.19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. vs.20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. vs.21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. vs.22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, vs.23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. vs.24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? vs.25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Ephesians 2:8-9(KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: vs.9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

After salvation, one's life is under the chastising and direction of God. Yes, He has the choice of right and wrong, but His will is limited by God's allowance and directing. This life is not lived in attempt to have less sin; after salvation you are still in your flesh and will still choose to sin at times. This life is not lived chasing perfect deeds; this life is lived chasing a perfect savior!

Phil. 1:21(KJV) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

​Salvation causes one to see how beautiful Christ truly is. It's what causes one to thirst after God more and more. It's not within the man that changes the way he walks, talks, and thinks. These things are transformed by God! His salvation changes one!

Acts 26:18(KJV) To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

PLEASE REALIZE THAT YOU DOING GOD'S WORK IS ONLY BY THE SALVATION GOD HAS GIVEN YOU. THE DEEDS YOU DO AFTER SALVATION ARE NOT OF YOURSELF!

Phil. 3:9(KJV) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

I am not saying that you don't make your own choices, but you never would have made the choice to glorify God if God never saved you in the first place! God commands us in His word to live for Him, but you showing fruits in how you live after salvation is only because Christ has broke sin's bound on you. So in saying that, your works are only done out of result of what Christ first did to you.
Understand? Good, let's move on.
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Sorry, but I am now just getting to my main point, so please, just hang in there.

God has now saved one; this person is now a Christian. Now what? Well, they usually go to church. Why? To know more about this new God in their life. The danger of this is that so many church's teachings are watered down! All this Christian may hear is about how lovey lovey God is to everyone. If you read your Bible a little bit, I bet you will see a God who is a little more than just love.

Yes, God is love, but God is also equally hate! Yes God is full of grace and mercy, but God is full of wrath and judgement also. So you know the one half of God; shouldn't we want to know the other half of God? Do you want to know your God as much as you can?

Many would say God is not hate or even anger; He's just a big happy guy waiting for someone to "decide to love Jesus". If God was just love and loves everyone, then answer me this:

Why did He create hell?
Why did He flood the ENTIRE world and only decide to save eight people?
Why did God destroy Sodom and Gamorrah?
Why did He harden Pharaoh's heart?
Why did He favor Israel as his chosen people?
Why does the Bible talk about so much bloodshed?
Why does the Bible say many will come before Christ and be denied?
Why does God say He loved Jacob and hated Esau?

There's probably many other questions I could ask, but can you see that God is more than just love? Stop reading the easy stuff. It's not wrong to know God loves; it's really important to know God is love. But there is so much more to learn about Him.

You see, I am not trying to tell you churches are wrong, but many churches are afraid to "offend" people if they teach about the other side of God. Let me tell you a secret: the whole Bible is offensive! Jesus Himself was offensive. He never sugarcoated people's sin; He drove straight to the point and was blunt to the sinner. He was not afraid to hurt feelings because sometimes the truth really does hurt.

I have something very important to tell you. If you remember anything you read, let this be it:
DON'T BASE YOUR SALVATION OFF OF WHAT SOMEONE TELLS YOU!

I don't care if it's your pastor, best friend, parent, or sibling! Everything they tell you may be true, but do not believe what they say without lining it up with the Bible. The only one you can believe about your salvation or any topic about living the Christian life is God, the one who is the giver of life! He understands it much more than anyone you will EVER meet. He is the only one who can explain it, and He explains everything you need to know in His word!

2 Timothy 3:16(ESV) All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

You see, without lining things up with the Bible, man finds no reason to read their Bible. With no reason to read your Bible, you will have a belief that is simply based on man's words. The danger of this is that any man can falsely say anything about the Bible. Anyone can say, "God hates alcoholics," and thousands may believe it. Did they actually read a verse that says that or are they just basing their belief off of what one man said? Do you see my point?

I know this whole post is a little rabbit trailish... but I want you to get these three points out of it. First, salvation is a work of God not of man. If it was of man than man would not be truly hopeless would they? Second, any good work done of you after salvation is only because God has saved you first. Your works are not a checklist for God, but they are part of the transformation and working of the Holy Spirit in a Christian's life. You would never serve Him unless He saved you first. Third, after salvation, READ YOUR BIBLE. Don't base your religion off what you heard, but seek to know it for yourself. Grow closer to God by learning more about Him.

I would challenge you to find some answers to the questions I mentioned above. I would encourage you to even find the answers on your own. Don't see what Google has to say, or ask that "really good Christian friend", or go to your pastor. These are all good resources for input or where to look into the Bible for the subject, but a Christian should study God's word on their own. Have some time between just you and God, pray you will understand what He says in His word, and dive in. You can look up what passages of scripture may cover these topics, but read them yourself.

If you still don't understand after searching out an answer, then I would go to someone who knows more or may have more knowledge on the question you are trying to answer. It's always good to discuss deep theology and doctrine with friends or elders.

Find a good church that preaches the word truthfully. I can remember growing up a pastor telling me, "Find a church that reads from the Bible and challenges you to read your Bible on your own." Those are wise words. If a church is challenging you to read it for yourself, I bet there's a better chance what they are preaching is going to be found in the Bible. 

I'm only challenging you to do these things because I want to be an encouragement to you to read your Bible. If you read my last post on lazy Christians, you would understand why I am writing this. It is so very important that we actually find out who our God truly is to us; especially in your own life. Find out more about who God is as your Savior, Father, friend, Creator, and director.
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2 Timothy 2:15(KJV) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
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