BASIC RULES TO
SPIRITUAL GROWTH
- Dr. Sam Raj Saladi
Open Door Ministries
Door no :5-1014 , B.R.Rao Nagar
Old Alwal, Secundrabad -10
Tel Phone no: 9849195041
E- mail : odmsamraj@yahoo.com
web site : www.odmindia.com
PREFACE
God has enabled me to proclaim the gospel for the past 33 years in various places. Many people gave their lives’ to Jesus and were born-again. Soon after the crusade I desired to meet them and give some guidelines for their spiritual growth, but many a times that was not possible. That desire has grown strong and became the driving force to write this small book.
There are basic rules for a Christian life. We will have life and growth when we practice them. This book explains 12 significant and fundamental rules towards spiritual growth. This book is a road map for a new believer, a tool in the hands of an evangelist. If you read and obey to the guidelines, this book will lead you to have a strong, spiritual growth.
These days many people make a decision to be born-again. Others take Baptism too. They satisfy themselves with that and are engaged in various other works. Being unstable, they move here and there, and are unable to grow in the LORD's ways. In the parable of the sower, the seeds which fell on the wayside were carried away by the birds, many people are like that -bearing no fruit. But, the seeds that fell on the good ground, brought 30 fold, 60 fold, and 100 fold fruit
As you read this book, my prayer is that your spiritual life will grow step by step and that you will BEAR FRUIT for the LORD because it is written: "The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire". Matt 3:10
1. SALVATION
In the New Testament Salvation is presented as Repentance, Born-again experience and Redemption.
To know what salvation is - we will understand the following:
a. The love of God
b. The nature of Man
c. Confession of Sins
d. Faith
a. The Love of God:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10
Here is a real life incident about Love. Benson was born in Nigeria. He grew up in a poor household. Like most of the surrounding houses, his family home was a mud house. As a child, he constantly suffered with sickness (fainting spells) . He was rejected by his father-John, for being frail and sickly. His mother, Sarah, faced a tough time. She was beaten and abused because of Benson's illness. One such day, John told his wife that he didn’t wanted to see Benson in their house anymore, else he would take the life of Sarah. Unable to bear the beatings, fear, frustration, with a stony heart she made up her mind and abandoned the little Benson at a rubbish heap presuming him dead. Hours later, he began wailing. which pounded the heart of his mother. Immediately, She ran and took him in her arms, hugged him and brought him home and was even prepared to died for his sake. The child is none but the world's renowned Man of God Benson Idahosa.
God's love for you and me is much more than the love his mother.
b. The Nature Of Man:
"..for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23 .There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. Romans 3:11. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Psalm 51:5. The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9
God loves the sinful person, but hates Sin because He is HOLY. Our prayers, good deeds, our own righteousness, our own godliness will not help us to enter into the gates of Heaven. Jesus said: "I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus 1Timothy 2:5. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst.1 Timothy 1:15. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”1 Peter 2:24. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.1 John 3:5
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:18-19
During the time of First World War, It was declared that a man from each house should go to the war. One man being the father of little children was in tears, unwilling to go because the children had no mother. His neighbor - young Charles saw the plight of this man and went to the war on his behalf. With gratitude, the man was eagerly waiting for Charles to return. Every day, the man was listening to the radio to know the details of the war. One day he was hearing to the list of soldiers who lost their lives in the battlefield. Unexpectedly, Charles name was heard. The man cried bitterly and being grateful, he inscribed these words on Charle's epitaphs: "You died in my place ".
Our LORD Jesus also bore our punishment on himself and died in our place".
"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all...He poured out his life unto death". Isaiah 53:5,6,12
By now, through the scriptures you must have understood the worth of God's love and of the precious Blood of Christ.
c. Confessing Sins:
Now you need to do confess your sins. Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy Proverbs 28:13. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me, Psalm 51:2-3
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death 2 Corinthians 7:10, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.1 John 1:9
Sunny -Bunny were brothers. On one vacation they went to their Grand-dad's place which was on the country side. He had a big farm with sheep, ducks, cows etc. The boys were very excited. Sunny was throwing some pebbles into the pond and suddenly one of the stone hit a duck and it died. He looked to the left, to the right, thinking that no-one had noticed, he quietly buried the duck in the sand. Sunny kept it a secret, fearing that his angry grand dad would scold him, but Bunny - hiding behind a tree noticed everything. He began to threaten Sunny that if he would'nt do all the menial jobs, he would tell the secret of the duck to their granddad. Now, Sunny's heart was filled with lot of pain, fear and timidity. He became restless without peace. He thought to himself "I can no longer bare this guilt. I'll go and tell Granddad all that had happened ". He then ran to his grand dad, confessed all that he did and asked for forgiveness. Seeing the tears of Sunny, his grand-dad hugged and kissed him. The very next moment, Sunny was forgiven. His heart was filled with great joy, and peace. Fear disappeared from his heart there was a great confidence.
Dear friend, this is the moment to Confess your sins to Jesus and be freed from guilt and fear.
d. Faith:
Now, by accepting and believing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you can inherit the promises of God.
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God 1 John 1:12
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans 10:9-10
For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”Rom10:13
"The righteous will live by faith" Rom 1:17
If you are willing to confess your sins and forsake them- Say this prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for me. Now, I repent for my sins. I believe that your shed-blood is the remission for all my sins. I believe that you are the Son of God and that God has raised you up from the dead. I accept you as my LORD and personal Saviour. I surrender my life to you. Thank you for hearing my prayer. Thank you for coming into my life and forgiving my sins just as you promised. In Jesus name. AMEN.
"How shall we escape if we ignore so great salvation?" Hebrews 2:3
2. ASSURANCE OF SALVATION
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Revelation 3:20.
If you can do this prayer with whole heart and faith then you will be invited in to the family of God. You will the Son of God and Satan has no dominion over you. You will be the legal hire for the riches and Gifts of God. Don’t allow disbelief in to your heart, trust the Word of God.
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:11,12
In your daily walk, If you are led by the God, you will be escaped from the wrong ways, closed ways, agony and loss of time. God will lokk at the circumstances differently.
Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4,5
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. Psalm 25:9
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalm 32:8
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Psalm 143:8
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5,6
The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13
Satan will make us to doubt about our salvation. To get out of doubt and to get freedom and to have confirmation is called assurance. To get victory over your doubts, in your new (Born again) life you must face some temptations and shameful situations, at the same you have to leave the worldly profitable things which you have enjoyed in your old life. This is the price which you have to pay.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Ephesians 1:7
Who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:5
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Roma 8:38,39
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. John 10:27-29
“Assurance of Salvation is willingness to take God’s promise with faith”
3. BAPTISM
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2Corinthians 5:17
Now, you have been converted as new person being born again in Jesus Christ. Now you are experiencing the newness, Love, forgiveness and the desire to know about God. As a second step now you have to take Baptism. “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16
Baptism is ….
1. The Command of God:
Since, you have believed Lord Jesus Christ you need to take Baptism. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” Mathew 28:19
2. The role model shown by Jesus:
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. Mathew 3:13, As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. Mathew 3:16
3. It is the symbol of Jesus death on the cross, burial and resurrection:
By testifying outwardly, in connection with sin you are dead, your old life has buried. Now the life which you are living represents the resurrected life of Christ. “Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12, also read Romans 6:1- 6. In Acts of the Apostles, we can see many have believed in Jesus Christ and took Baptism. When Peter preached, 3000 people took baptism. Thereafter, Ethiopian Eunuch, Jail Officer, Lydia, Saul and many were believed in Jesus Christ and took Baptism. That is why, do not neglect Baptism.
“Repentance is an inward action and Baptism is an outward action”.
Is christening / Infant Baptism Biblical?
- In connection with the Infant Baptism there is no evidence in the Bible. This is a pagan ritual introduced by the idolaters. In the year 416 AD, the Roman emperor Constantin has introduced this custom as mandatory.
- As the believers could not able to understand the Word of God in a systematic way, un knowingly there are falling in to this kind of wrong doctrine.
- We can see an example from Acts 8:34-38, 34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [37] [a] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
Footnotes:
- Acts 8:37 some manuscripts include here Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
From the above, we can understand that one should believe Jesus Christ with all his/her heart, but believing Jesus Christ in infant stage is not possible. According to Mathew 19:14, when Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Hear Jesus has not mentioned any condition for children to enter in to the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, christening / infant baptism is not Biblical.
Baptism is faith in action – Watchman Nee
