What Happens When One Believes on the Lord?
What Happens When One Believes on the Lord?
INTRODUCTION My theology teacher, Mr. Swenson at the Briercrest Bible Institute, said that the moment a sinner accepted Christ 38 things happened, though he may not be conscious of more than sins forgiven or peace or happiness. In the illustration of a motor running, gears engaging and then the moment that the driver releases the clutch many, many things happen but perhaps all the driver knows is that the car is in motion. Actually perhaps a hundred things have happened which he will gradually learn. Rev. Ray Frame has divided these various things into several neat categories.
IN RELATION TO GOD THE FATHER
ACCESS to God’s grace. Ephesians 2:18, "For through Him (Christ) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." We have access first to salvation, then to prayer.
Ephesians 3:12, "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him.”
ADOPTION as a son into God’s family. Galatians 4:5, "To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Ephesians 1:5, "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ."
INHERITANCE. Acts 26:18, "... that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified."
ELECTED. 1 Peter 1:2, "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.
Ephesians 1:4, "... chosen in Him before the foundation of the world."
John 15:16, "Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen (elected, election) you."
CHILD OF GOD. John 1:12, "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name. " 1 John 3:1, "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. "
HEAVENLY CITIZENSHIP. Php 3:20, "For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour. "
HEIR OF GOD. Romans 8:17, "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ."
Galatians 3:29, "And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise."
NEW CREATION. 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." We were born with the old nature, the fallen Adamic nature; now we have God’s nature.
SERVANT OF GOD. Romans 6:22, "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God." Romans 1:1, "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ. . ."
PRIEST OF GOD. 1 Peter 2:9, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood"
1 Peter 2:5, "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God"
RECONCILIATION WITH GOD. Romans 5:10, "We were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." Ephesians 2:12-13, "Ye were without Christ. . . aliens. . . strangers. . . without God . . . but now in Christ Jesus. . . made nigh (reconciled) by the Blood of Christ."
SANCTIFICATION. 1 Corinthians 6:11, "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified. . . in the name of the Lord Jesus. "
Acts 26:18 lists sanctification as a direct result of conversion.
IN RELATION TO GOD THE SON
ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED. Ephesians 1:6, "To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He bath made us accepted in the Beloved"
For Jesus’ sake we are granted full welcome into God’s family, presence and possessions.
BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST’S BODY. 1 Corinthians 12:13, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body (the invisible Body of Christ)."
Galatians 3:27, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. "
BURIED WITH CHRIST, Romans 6:4, "Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death." Colossians 3:3, "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."
LOVE GIFT TO THE SON FROM THE FATHER. John 17:9, "I pray for them . . . which Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine."
We are a special love gift from the Father to the Son, Christ Jesus.
SAVED BY CHRIST. Acts 16:31, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. "
Acts 4:12, "... for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ)
INDWELT BY CHRIST. Revelation 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him. "
John 14:23, "And We (Christ and the Holy Spirit) will come unto him, and make Our abode with him."
POSSESSES ETERNAL LIFE. John 10:28, "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish. "
1 John 5:13, "... that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe. "
PEACE. John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you." Php 4:7, "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
FRIEND OF GOD. John 15:15, "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I have called you friends."
NAME RECORDED IN HEAVEN. Luke 10:20, "Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."
Php 4:3, "... fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life." cf. Revelation 13:8.
SEATED WITH CHRIST IN THE HEAVENLIES. Ephesians 2:6, "And hath raised us up together, and made us (Christ and believer) sit together in heavenly places. . ."
RECEIVES A BLESSED HOPE. Titus 2:13, "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."
Revelation 22:20, "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen.
Even so, come Lord Jesus. "
FELLOWSHIP WITH THE TRINITY. 1 John 1:3, "... that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ."
MANSION OF GLORY BECOMES HIS. John 14:2, "In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. "
IN RELATION TO GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
BORN AGAIN. John 3:3; John 3:7, "... be born again. . ."; John 3:5, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
1 Peter 1:23, the Holy Spirit takes the Word of God and re-creates the individual.
ANOINTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. 1 John 2:27, "But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you." John 14:26; John 16:13.
TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST. 1 Corinthians 6:19, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you. "
GIVEN A SPIRITUAL GIFT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. 1 Corinthians 12:11, "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will."
INDWELT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. Romans 8:16, "The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God."
SEALED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. Ephesians 1:13, "... in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise."
IN RELATION TO SIN
FORGIVEN. Luke 7:48, "And He said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. " (also Luke 7:47) Ephesians 1:7, "In whom we have redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins. ..
JUSTIFIED. Romans 5:1, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God." Romans 4:5, "... believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly."
REDEEMED. Revelation 5:9, "... and hast redeemed us to God by the Blood." 1 Peter 1:18-19, ".. . not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold."
IN RELATION TO SATAN
Christ becomes our ADVOCATE. 1 John 2:1, "We have an advocate (defence lawyer) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
VICTORY OVER SIN. 1 John 5:4, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."
IN RELATION TO OTHERS
AMBASSADORS. 2 Corinthians 5:20, "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ." He automatically has a responsibility to the outside world as a witness.
CONCLUSION
He receives ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS, Ephesians 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."
Psalms 23:6, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."
REVIEW QUESTIONS
Is it possible that many more things happen than we realize at conversion?
Give an illustration.
Is it true that only 38 things happen when a person receives Christ as Saviour?
Of the 12 things listed in relation to God the Father, how many did you realize the day that you were saved?
Of the 38 things listed which one has meant the most to you? Why?
List 7 things that happen when one believes in relation to God the Father.
List 7 things that happen when one believes in relation to God the Son.
List 5 things that happen when one believes in relation to God the Spirit.
List 3 things that happen when one believes in relation to sin.
List 2 things that happen when one believes in relation to Satan.
List 1 thing that happens when one believes in relation to our fellowmen.