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You have experienced the greatest miracle God has ever performed and the greatest event that will ever take place in your life – Salvation through Jesus Christ. This was an instantaneous act that took place the moment you received Christ as Savior. You never need to receive Him again, for it is a once, in a lifetime transaction. The completion of this transaction brought you a wonderful gift – eternal life, which is a wonderful knowledge to possess.
Perhaps you have already sensed a change that is taking place in your life. You have new desires, convictions, etc., and look at life and people in a new light. Everything is different. This is due to your new life in Christ.
What things led up to this change in your life and what other changes, if any, took place at the moment you received Christ?
Before Christ
God created man perfect, and while man was in this state he had perfect fellowship with God. But when Adam and Eve fell in sin because of their disobedience, this fellowship was broken and sin became a part of the human race (Romans 5). Since that time, sin has been passed down from generation to generation (Romans 5:19). Mankind has been dead in sin and separated from the spiritual life that can only come from God (Ephesians 2:1, 4-5).Therefore, we were without hope and destined to be separated from God forever in torment (Romans 5:8). He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to earth. After 33 years on this earth, He went to the cross where He took our sins upon Himself, removing the “wall” that separated us from God (2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:13, 14). When we acknowledge this fact that we were sinners, and could not save ourselves, and ask Jesus Christ to be our personal Savior. Then at that moment we become members of God's family and a new creation is Christ (John 1:12; Romans 10:9-14; 1 John 12, 13). Jesus Christ rose from the dead to give new and abundant life to all who has received Him.
When You Received Christ
Now that we have taken a peek at some of the background that led to your salvation, let's look as some of the things that transpired at the moment you received Jesus Christ. In addition to becoming a member of God's family, you also passed from death to life (John 5:24).
Forgiveness of Sins
Forgiveness of our sins, past, present and future, is also part of the transaction (Colossians 1:14; Ephesians 4:32b). All that has been done before this point, in your life, has been forgiven. All recent sin and all sins you will commit were paid for in Christ's sacrifice ”once and for all (Psalms 103:1-14; Romans 4:7, 8). Even those sitting on “death row” who have been saved, had their sins forgiven, even though they have committed murder. This forgiveness places you in a position to do His will.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit came to dwell in your body (1 Corinthians6:19). Can you comprehend this great truth – God, the Holy Spirit actually lives within you?
What a glorious fact! In the Old Testament He dwelt in the Holy of Holies, in the Tabernacle and Temple. Today He dwells within us. (Go to “Other Resources That Can Be Claimed” for more about the Holy Spirit.)
Member of Christ's Body
You became a member of the one true church – The Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 1:22, 23; Colossians 1:18a). This is not the visible church, but the invisible one composed of all the children of God, living and dead, who are saved during this present dispensation of Grace. Acceptance of Christ as Savior is the only requirement for entrance. There is no distinction in nationality, color, sex, etc., in the Body of Christ, but we are all considered unique (2 Corinthians 5:17).
This church, the Body of Christ, was never kept secret until God revealed it to the Apostle Paul, (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:1-6). To him was given the commandments, by God for the church today. We can find our instructions for our walk with Christ in Paul's Epistles or letters, in the New Testament section of the Bible. Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, wrote the words of God for our existence today.
These, then, are the blessings that have come to you as a result of your accepting Christ as your personal Savior. As you begin your new life in Christ, understand these wonderful truths, and by living in close fellowship with the Lord, you will experience the peace and joy that can only come from such a relationship.