Jude verse 3“ Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”   Let us focus on what is meant by the common salvation as mentioned in Jude 3.   What is salvation and why is it referred to as common? Salvation is for everyone because Jesus died for everyone. The common plan of salvation began when God made the covenant with Abraham. When Jesus met the woman at the well at Samaria and they were discussing salvation and worship He told her that salvation is of the Jews. This does not mean that God was only concerned about the redemption of the Jews. He loves everyone equally but He had made a covenant with Abraham because He wanted a people who would live holy and be an example to the world.    Jesus is from the lineage of Abraham. It is not that Abraham obtained special privileges; Abraham was faithful and obedient to God. We obtain salvation through obedience and faith in Jesus Christ and through His mercies we are saved from the guilt and penalty of sin. Ephesians 2:8 tells us, ‘ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. ’   The idea of salvation implies deliverance, safety, preservation, soundness, redemption and healing. Salvation includes justification, redemption, grace, propitiation, glorification, imputation, forgiveness and sanctification. Thus, it is that Brother Paul said, “ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greeks.”   Salvation through Jesus Christ saves you from the clutches of the evil one, thus it is that Satan does not have dominion over you. Before you had accepted Christ, you were slated to die both physically and spiritually. Romans 3:23 & 24 remind us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that we are justified freely through the redemption of Jesus’ blood. Have you stopped to ask yourself what would be the state of the world’s inhabitants if Christ had not died for us and offered us the opportunity to repent of our wickedness and return to God?   The love of Christ is awesome and sufficient to answer to your needs. If you are paying scant regards to the love of God and the plan of salvation, Romans 6:23 reminds you that, “ the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”   Every true worshipper of God is committed to God. The pleasures of this world do not hold any form of attraction to the True Worshipper. It is impossible to serve two masters at the same time. While this is true, observation will reveal that worldly customs in many forms have become dominant in places of worship. This tells us that people are moving away from true worship and are now worshipping other gods except the God of heaven. That is why Jesus said, “ not everyone that says Lord, Lord shall enter .”   Today Christendom is in trouble because many are only expressing a form of godliness. How can you differentiate between the true believer and the false worshippers? The true believer is the one who is living as a real Child of God and is in agreement with what Paul wrote to the brethren at Galatia. Galatians 2:20 says, “ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me . ”  If you are a believer can you truthfully say that you are crucified with Christ? Bear in mind that you cannot reach a conclusion unless you understand what it means to be crucified in Christ.   Examine yourself inwardly; are your thoughts Christlike? Would Jesus agree with the way in which you think? Look at your outward appearance. Have you changed your appearance or your sexual orientation? How about your dressing? Does your dressing show the difference between godliness and ungodliness? Or do you believe that how you dress as a Child of God does not matter? There are many who say that it is the heart that matters; do you know that everything that you do comes from your heart; therefore, if your heart is not right your dressing, speech, behaviour, manner of worship and everything else that affect your salvation cannot be godly.   There are many who believe that salvation comes by works inclusive of doing penance or afflicting oneself even to the point of suffering crucifixion. This is not a requirement from God and separate and apart from adorning yourself or behaving in a godly manner. Remember that salvation is a free gift; your work as in your physical work of your goodness cannot lead you into salvation.   The divine order is first you obtain salvation then your spiritual change is manifested through your works. You must first recognize that you are a sinner who needs to be saved by grace. The believer is saved by conforming totally to Christ. Therefore, I implore those who have not yet accepted Christ to submit to the authority of the Lord. Those who have forged a relationship are being warned to walk in holiness before God. Remember that God is to be held in reverence and no hypocrite shall stand before Him. If you are insincere, you will be rewarded for your evil. You might fool man but you cannot fool God. Romans 13:11 warns us, “ And that knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now, is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” Jesus Christ is coming soon all the signs are foretelling His appearance. Are you ready to welcome Him?   Writer: A. E. Fisher    We welcome your questions and feedback.  You may contact us at ofthelivinggodchurch@gmail.com   https://www.pillarandgroundofthetruth.online/

TRUE CONVERSION- GODLY TRANSFORMATION   http://www.pillarandgroundofthetruth.online/ Do I need to change my lifestyle? do i need to be converted? None of us was born perfect and everyone needs to repent and accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour. When you accept Christ as your personal Saviour you will be obedient to God. This is a sign of conversion.   Nothing in life is static; there are always changes. This is also true of our individual lives. Our bodies change as we grow older and our lifestyle also changes.   God does not expect us to remain in any sinful condition because He has given us the chance to repent and be a better person.   Although it is important to do things which will cause physical changes for example males cutting their hair to ensure proper grooming the most essential change in your life is a spiritual change.   Man was made in the image of God but sin marred that image. Romans 8:5-8 reminds us, “ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So, then they that are in the flesh cannot please God .   The word carnal means to be sensual, wanton, lascivious, fleshly and animalistic. These verses are telling us that the natural person is more attuned to do wrong than to follow the precepts of God. Anyone who desires to obey God must become more attuned to God than with the world. One can only be attuned to God when one has been converted.   How can you know if you are converted or know that someone is converted? What is expected of a converted person? Is there possibility that one can be converted yet carnal?   Peter was a Disciple of Jesus and he loved the Lord. He was one of Jesus’ favourite workers yet he had a problem. He believed that Jesus was the Messiah but he also thought that Jesus would set up His Kingdom right then on the earth and destroy the dominance of the Romans. Thus, it was that Peter’s focus was a little out of line. Jesus recognised that Peter had a good heart but needed special assistance.   We read in Luke 22: 31-32, “And  the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fails not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.   At first because of his unconverted state, Peter was unable to properly complete the tasks God had called him to do. However, later when he was converted Jesus gave him, his mandate. Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed My lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed My sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? Peter was grieved because He said unto him the third time, Lovest thou Me? And he said unto Him, Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed My sheep . (John 21:15-17) Conversion was the changing point in Peter’s life. After his conversion he became a powerful Apostle of Christ. He was no longer afraid as he was when he denied Christ; he became very bold.   Zacchaeus was another converted soul. He was extremely happy when he met Jesus. While Jesus was speaking with him. he realized that he was unconverted and needed Christ. Zacchaeus then confessed his sins. He said, “ Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. Jesus was pleased with him and told him, “ This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.   When you are converted, you will seek to make restitution. Restitution means to give back anything which you had stolen. If you had told a lie about someone you must now speak the truth about what you had done; if you stole money or kill someone you must publicly admit your actions. There can be no conversion without restitution. Restitution clears the conscience and give you peace.   A converted soul is easily identified because that individual operates differently from the unconverted. Converted souls speak, eat, dress, talk, walk and think different from others. The change in their lives is both inward and outward. You ought to know that whatever is within your heart is displayed on the outside.   When Paul and Silas were imprisoned, they prayed and worshipped God and God delivered them with a mighty hand. There was an earthquake and a great shaking and the keeper of the prison thought that the prisoners had escape. He was about to commit suicide when the Apostle Paul called to him. The warder was relieved; then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord   Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.   The jailer truly repented and was converted. When he heard the word, he immediately accepted. On receiving the gospel, he immediately became an evangelist by taking the gospel to his household.   While Stephen was expounding the Gospel of Truth to the Jews, the people became extremely angry but their anger erupted when he told them that he saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God in heaven. When he spoke about what he saw the people began to stone him to death. Stephen called to God to receive his spirit. However, the most remarkable thing was that he asked the Lord not to lay the sin to the charge of the murderers. This showed that Stephen was truly converted.   God clearly tells us how we ought to behave and how we can inherit eternal life. Acts 3:19 tells us, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted , that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord .”   Isaiah 55:7 advises, “ Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon .”   In Matthew 18:3 Jesus said, " Truly I say to you, unless you are converted  and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”   A converted heart is more willing to obey God than to satisfy carnal desires. Therefore, a converted heart will live by the Laws of God Psalms 19:7 - The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 2nd Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Luke 21:36 - Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy  to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.   Let us pray   Eternal Father, God of the Universe. Creator and Sustainer of all things. I give You the honour and majesty due to You.  Lord, I am grateful for the chance to be a new creature in Christ Jesus. I thank You that You did not give up on me while I was rebelling against You. How can I express my gratitude for the opportunity to be named a child of the Most High God.  It is my desire to be Your ambassador. Help me to remain humble and obedient. Please help me to keep my eyes focused on godly things and not on the rudiments of this ungodly world. I am grateful that I am no longer held captive by my carnal desires. Father I can feel Your forgiving and renewing love. Thanks for giving me a clear conscience.   As I travel on this new journey, I know that there will be challenges but I am leaving everything in Your care. I ask that You continue to anoint me with Your power. Grant me the spiritual strength to keep on the garment of purity which You have placed on me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.   Writer - A. E. FISHER