1 Corinthians 2:10,14. These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. … The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
The Triune God mobilized all the plans of heaven and earth in order to save you and me:
God the Father planned salvation.
Jesus Christ completed salvation.
The Holy Spirit fulfills that salvation within us.
As seen throughout the Old Testament, God continually prophesied through His Word about the coming of Jesus Christ.
Genesis 3:15 says that the offspring of the woman would come and crush the head of the serpent, meaning He would break the authority of Satan.
Exodus 3:18 says that on the day the blood of the lamb is applied, all sin, curse, and disaster will pass over.
Isaiah 7:14 says:
“Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel, which means God with us.“
Through these prophecies, God declared that Christ would come, defeat Satan, resolve all sin, curses, and disasters, and restore the blessing of meeting God and being with God again.
The method of this salvation is written in Isaiah 53:5–6:
“But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.”
God sent Jesus Christ to this earth to suffer and finally die on the cross, redeeming all our sins. This too was foretold through the Word.
Then in Psalm 16:10, it was clearly prophesied that He would not remain in the grave but would rise again.
And in Joel 2:28, God promised that He would pour out His Spirit on those who call on His name.
Therefore, the Old Testament already prophesied where Jesus Christ would be born, how He would die, how He would rise again from the dead, and how He would come through the Holy Spirit.
As 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 says, Jesus Christ came according to the Scriptures, died according to the Scriptures, and rose again according to the Scriptures, proving that Jesus is the Christ.
Now, when we believe in Christ, when we receive the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the risen Lord, when He knocks on the door of our hearts, He enters and dwells within us and fulfills in us the salvation that was completed on the cross.
Thus, the Triune God mobilized all the plans of heaven and earth to accomplish this salvation for us. This is a perfect salvation and an eternal salvation given to us.
But, what is false salvation?
Some people mistakenly think that having a religion means they are saved. Religion is something man created on his own. It is not the gospel. It is not life. Religion may have the good intention of doing good deeds, but religion can never overcome Satan, original sin, or hell. A person who has not received salvation cannot truly perform good. From a spiritually dead state, true goodness cannot appear.
Some people think that becoming a member of a church means they are saved. However, even if someone becomes a member of a church and worships regularly and lives a faithful religious life, religious life without the gospel, legalism without the gospel, and mysticism without the gospel can never solve spiritual problems. Instead, the burden of suffering only increases.
Others misunderstand zeal as the standard of salvation. Think about the zeal of people who perform rituals and devotions in other religions. But even with such zeal, salvation cannot be obtained.
Some people believe that strong conviction or determination will bring salvation. They say, “I believe in myself. I can do it.” But such conviction often leads to wrong results, and when they are alone, they eventually experience frustration and failure.
Others think that memorizing scriptures, chanting mantras, or praying certain prayers will bring salvation. But these things bring only temporary external change. They are never inner change or spiritual change. To such religious people who were burdened with suffering, Jesus said in Matthew 11:28:
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Lay down all your religious burdens and enjoy the true rest and peace that Jesus gives.
Second, what is the state of being saved?
The state of salvation is when inner change and spiritual change take place. The moment we believe in Jesus as the Christ and receive Him as our Savior, the Holy Spirit dwells within us. From that moment, the Holy Spirit governs our lives. Our problems may still remain the same, and our circumstances may not immediately change. But when the Holy Spirit begins dwelling within us, many changes begin to occur.
Romans 8:2 says that the Spirit of life comes into us.
John 3:3–5 says that through the Holy Spirit we are born again, and we can see and experience the kingdom of God.
In John 14:16–17, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would be with us forever, dwelling within us. Therefore, no one can drive the Holy Spirit out, and He never leaves us.
What changes occur when we realize the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?
As written in Romans 8:1–2, we are set free from the law of sin and death.
In Romans 8:4, what we could not accomplish, the righteous requirement of the law, because of our weakness, the Holy Spirit fulfills in us.
In 1 Corinthians 2:10–14, through the Holy Spirit within us, we come to understand God’s will and realize God’s grace and blessings.
In 1 Corinthians 3:16, we become God’s temple and enjoy the blessing of being with God.
As written in Galatians 5:16–17, the Holy Spirit makes us aware of our sins and wrongdoings.
In John 14:26–27, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would guide our weakness.
In John 14:27, He promised to give us true peace that the world cannot know and cannot give.
God also hears our prayers, and when we cannot pray, the Holy Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings that cannot be expressed.
And Romans 8:28 says that all things work together for good. Therefore, all the problems and events of our past, and all the things happening now, will work together to accomplish God’s good purpose. Everything becomes a platform for blessing and an opportunity to fulfill God’s will.
Third, how can we enter this state of salvation?
Salvation means that we abide in Jesus and the life of Jesus is within us. Jesus said that this is only possible when we are born again through the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, John 3:16 says:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
When we believe in Jesus Christ, who came to this earth for us, and receive Him as our Savior, we become children of God, receive eternal life, and enjoy the kingdom of God.
Fourth, what changes occur in a person who has life?
First, our spiritual registry changes. We change from children of the devil to children of God. Our identity changes. We change from slaves of sin to servants of righteousness. Our spirit, soul, body, and the condition of our lives all change.
The background that leads our lives also changes. In other words, our spiritual identity, spiritual belonging, spiritual state, and spiritual background all change. We who were once children of the devil have now become children of God. 1 John 3:8 says that the one who sins belongs to the devil. Spiritually, we once belonged to the devil, but now we belong to God and to heaven.
In Ephesians 2:1, our spirit, which was dead in transgressions and sins, has now come to life with new life. Our spiritual background has also changed. Before, we lived under the guidance of the devil, within the background of hell. But now we live under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the throne of God and heaven have become our background.
Fifth, what does God do with those who have this life?
God never abandons them. He continues to guide them until the end and shapes them into holy children of God.
Romans 8:37–39 says:
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Nothing and no one can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
So, how have we changed after receiving salvation? The Holy Spirit is now with us. Because our spiritual identity, spiritual belonging, spiritual state, and spiritual background have all changed, no one can take us away, and no one can destroy us.
Enjoy the background of the kingdom of God, receive answers, and live in victory as children of God.
Prayer. Father, open my eyes to see the things that came from Your Spirit. Help me understand the true changes since Jesus came into my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.