What Happened To Me?

Follow-up MEMORY VERSE: Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

You have experienced the greatest miracle God has ever performed and the greatest event that will ever take place in your life - Salvation through Christ. This was an instantaneous act that took place at the moment you received Christ as Savior. You need never receive Him again, for it is a once -for-all transaction. The completion of this transaction brought to you a wonderful gift - eternal life which is a wonderful knowledge to possess.

Perhaps you have already sensed to 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 my life and what other changes, if any, took place at the moment I received Christ?

Before Christ

God created man perfect, and while man was in this state he was in perfect fellowship with God. But when Adam and Eve fell into 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 ever since and separated from the spiritual life, (Eph. 2:1, 4, 5).

Thus we were without hope and doomed to be separated from God forever in torment, (Romans 5:8). God the Son , the Lord Jesus Christ, came to earth and after 33 years on this earth He went to the cross where He took our sins upon Himself, thereby removing the "wall" that separated us from God, (2 Corinthians 5:21; Eph. 2:13, 14).

When we acknowledge this fact that we were and are sinners, and could and cannot save ourselves, and ask Jesus Christ to be our personal Savior. Then at that moment we become a member of God’s family and a new creation in Christ, (John 1:12, Romans 10:9-14, 1 John 5:12, 13). Jesus Christ rose from the dead to give new and abundant life to all who has received Him.

What happened when you received Christ (accepted Him in your life)

Now that we have seen some of the background that led up to our salvation, let’s take a look at some of the things that transpired at the moment you received Jesus Christ. In addition to becoming a member of God’s family, which we have just discussed, you also passed from death unto life, (John 5:24).

FORGIVENESS OF SINS

Forgiveness of our sins, past, present and future, is also part of the transaction, (Col. 1:14, Eph. 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 for all" (Psalm 103:1-14, Rom. 4:7, 8). There are no sins which cannot be forgiven. 

THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit the seal of God came to dwell in your Body, (Eph. 1:14, 1 Cor. 6:19). Can you comprehend this great truth-that God, the Holy Spirit, actually lives within you? What a glorious fact! Back in the Old Testament He dwelt in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle and Temple, but today He dwells within our body. In one of our later lessons we will be studying more about the Holy Spirit and the part He plays in our life.

MEMBER OF CHRIST’S BODY

You became a member of the one true church - the Body of Christ, (Eph. 2:14-16, 1 Cor. 12:27, Eph. 1:22, 23, Col. 1:18a). This is composed of all the children of God, living and dead who are saved during this present dispensation of Grace or Equality, Ephesians 3:2. Acceptance of Christ as Savior is the absolute requirement for entrance into it. There is no distinction in nationality, color, sex, etc., in the Body of Christ, we are all considered as unique members of the "new creation" mentioned in, 2 Cor. 5:17.

This church, the Body of Christ, was never made known, i.e., it was a secret until God revealed it to the Apostle Paul, (Rom. 16:25, Eph. 3:1-6). To him was given the commandments, by God for the church today, the Body of Christ, so that we find our particular instructions for our walk with Christ in the Pauline Epistles or books (found in the Bible). Paul was instructed by the Holy Spirit to write. He wrote the words of God for today’s program.

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, may you comprehend these wonderful truths and through living in close fellowship with the Lord experience the peace and joy that can only come from such a relationship.

Follow-up WORK SHEET - LESSON NO. 2

1. What gift did you receive because you accepted Christ Jesus as your LORD and Savior?

_____________________________________ Eternal life. The forgiveness of all my sins. A home in heaven. Rom. 6:23

2. In one's life what change takes place concerning desires, etc.?

________________________________________ New outlook, convictions, see things in a new light. 2 Cor. 5:17

3. Before your salvation, what state were you in before God?

______________________________________ Condemned, dead in sins, separated from God.   Eph. 2:1, 4, 5

4.   What motivation God to provide for your salvation?

____________________________________ His Love for me. Even if I was the only human, Christ died for me! John 3:16, Rom. 5:8

5.   How were you made righteous in God’s sight?

_____________________________________ By acknowledging Jesus Christ as my savior and asking Him for forgiveness of sins. 2 Corinthians 5:21; Eph. 2:13,14

6.   What had God done concerning our sin?

___________________________________ Forgiven it. That is why we asked him to save us.   Col. 1:14

7. Where is the dwelling place of the the Holy Spirit today?

____________________________________ In us. In our body.    1 Cor. 6:19

8.   What is the name God gives to the one true church today - His church?

___________________________________ The Body of Christ     Eph. 2:14-16, 1 Cor. 12:27

9.   What does Ephesians 3:3-5 tell us about the church in ‘other ages"?

___________________________________ Not made known