I recently finished reading a book by Charles Leiter entitled Justification and Regeneration. It is inexpensive on Amazon (link: Justification and Regeneration (Expanded Edition): Charles Leiter: 9780981732152: Amazon.com: Books). I suggest that you take the time to read this book.
Chapter Seven is entitled “A New Heart.” Chapter Seven has three headings.
The first heading is “The Promise of a New Heart.” Pastor Leiter cites Ezekiel 36:25-32 as he points out that a Christian does not have a wicked heart or a heart that is deceitful or desperately sick. These things are NOT true of a believer’s heart. Why? Because God has given a believer a new heart.
Along with a new heart, God puts His Spirit (i.e., the Holy Spirit) within a believer. As a result, a believer will live a changed life. It is impossible to have a new heart and the indwelling Holy Spirit and live “in sin.” Please understand that this does not mean a believer does not sin, because a believer will sin. But, a believer will not live “in sin.” He points out that a Christian will spiritually grow over time.
It is important to appreciate that Ezekiel 36 contains promises and not mere exhortations. These promises are unconditional and are fulfilled in the life of every believer. Notice the number of “I will” promises in the text.
The second heading is “The New Covenant.” Pastor Leiter cites Jeremiah 31:31-34 as support. In reference to v. 33, Pastor Leiter writes:
Once again we see that God never gives someone an “A” at the beginning of his Christian life without simultaneously giving him a love for the material!
The third heading is “Three Great Certainties.” Pastor uses Jeremiah 32:38-41 are support. He points out that all Christians have one (or the same) heart. The reasons is that God promises this heart as a gift – “I will give them one heart and one way.”
All Christians have one way. This is the promise of God. See v. 39. He points out that all Christians are moving in the same direction – upward and Godward. While some may move at different speeds, they are moving in the same direction.
Notice that he writes that anyone who travels in a different path that leads in a different direction (not upward and Godward) is NOT a Christian. All believers persevere in holiness. At page 68, Pastor Leiter writes:
Into the hearts of all Christians He puts an ongoing, holy fear of Himself that secures their abiding faithfulness to Him.
He distinguishes this “true Bible security” from the “once saved always saved” theology.
If you are unsure about your salvation or are not a Christian, it is vital that you continue reading.
IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT YOUR SALVATION
If you are unsure about your salvation, you need to check out my book The Salvation Meter: Biblical Self-Diagnostic Tests to Examine Your Salvation and Spiritual Growth (book link at Xulon Press: https://www.xulonpress.com/bookstore/bookdetail.php?PB_ISBN=9781662828638 ). At Amazon the book link is https://www.amazon.com/Salavation-Meter-Biblical-Self-Diagnostic-Spiritual/dp/1662828632 . I also have a website in which I am updating the content in the book. The link to my website for the book is https://thesalvationmeter.com .
IF YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN
… please (1) read through “God’s Plan of Salvation” so you can understand what God did for you through His only unique Son, Jesus Christ, and (2), from the bottom of your heart, pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” meaning every word. If you do, you will be reconciled to God – saved – through Jesus Christ.
God’s Plan of Salvation
In the beginning, God, who is holy, created the entire universe. As a part of His creative actions, He made humans (male and female) in His image to know Him. For a while, everything was right between God and our ancestors, Adam and Eve. But Adam and Eve sinned, whereby sin was passed down to all of humankind so that we became sinners separated from God. Nothing we could do on our own could bridge that separation so that without God’s intervention, hell would be our eternal destination.
Fortunately for us, in His great love and mercy God provided humankind with the only means of salvation, which is through Jesus Christ who is God’s only unique Son. While retaining His deity, God the Son became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life, and died a substitutionary atoning death on the cross, thus fulfilling the law Himself and taking on Himself the punishment for the sins of all those who would ever repent and trust in Him for their salvation. Jesus rose from the dead, showing that God the Father accepted Christ’s sacrifice and exhausted God’s wrath against every believer. He now calls all unbelievers to repent of their sins and trust alone in what Christ did to save them.
If we repent of our sins and completely trust in Christ alone that He died for our sins and rose to life from the dead, we are born again into a new life, an eternal life with God.
Scripture References: Genesis 1:1, 26, 31; Habakkuk 1:13; Genesis 2:7-25; Genesis 3:1-7, 22-24; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:19-20, 23; 5:17-19; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; Matthew 1:18, 20, 24-25; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 2:17; 9:25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 John 4:10; John 3:16-18; Mark 1:15; Acts 17:30; 26:20; Romans 1:4; 4:25; John 3:5-8; 1 Peter 1:3.
“Sinner’s Prayer”
Lord, Jesus Christ, the only unique Son of God, thank You for Your free gift of eternal life. I know I’m a sinner who cannot save myself no matter what I do, and I deserve to spend eternity in hell. But, I know that because You loved me so much, You voluntarily died on the cross for me taking my sins upon Yourself, and You physically bodily rose from the grave showing that Your sacrificial death was sufficient payment to give me eternal life in Heaven. I now repent of my sins and completely trust alone in what You did for my eternal salvation. Please take control of my life as I now receive You as my Lord and Savior. Thank You so much for saving me. I am now Yours forever!
(Scripture references: John 1:1-4, 11-14; John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:21-26; Isaiah 53:4-6; Mark 1:15; Acts 16:31; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10, 13; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; John 10:27-29).
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