Acts 26:20
But made known openly first of all to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout the whole land of Judea, and also among the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works and live lives consistent with and worthy of their repentance. (The Amplified Bible)
I was saved when I was nine or ten years old — so long ago now that I cannot remember my exact age. It is not essential to know my age, I just knew that I was not a Christian and the only way to become one was to confess my sins and invite Jesus into my heart.
There were about ten or fifteen other kids kneeling at that altar at the same time. The Pastor had told us to stand when we knew that Jesus had become our Savior and Lord. When I poured out my sins to the Lord and prayed for Him to come in, I knew that something had happened. When I stood and saw that all of the other kids were on their feet, I felt confused. But I knew what had just happened was real. I was now born again!
Did that mean that I could live any way I wanted? NO! Did it mean that I had to begin the process of spiritual growth? Absolutely! Spiritual growth can never precede spiritual birth. Just as I had a lot of physical maturing ahead of me, I also had a lot of spiritual maturing to do.
There are some who have the sequence wrong. They hold to the view that we must do works to merit our salvation. Beep! Not according to my Bible. Isaiah 64:6 says: “For we have all become like one who is unclean [ceremonially, like a leper], and all our righteousness (our best deeds of rightness and justice) is like filthy rags or a polluted garment; we all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away [far from God’s favor, hurrying us toward destruction].” (The Amplified Bible)
That does not sound like we can do anything to be justified by our good deeds or righteous actions. Spiritual birth must precede spiritual growth. It is only then that we begin to learn and practice what it means to be a faithful born-again believer. The right sequence!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil