Mindset For Success

God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through the sanctifying work of the Spirit [that sets you apart for God's purpose] and by your faith in the truth [of God's word that leads you to spiritual maturity]. It was to this end that He called you through our gospel [the good news of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection], so that you may obtain and share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. - 2 Thessalonians 2:13b-14 (Amplified Bible) Whereas justification, accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and being declared righteous before God, is instantaneous and complete, the subsequent process of sanctification is an ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. Having been justified, Christ-followers now see sin as that which separates them from Holy God and seek to eliminate sin from their lives. Sanctification is the process of being set apart from sin and pursuing holiness. A person who has been justified will develop a strong desire to eliminate sin from their life

Even in his own land and among his own people, the Jews, he was not accepted. Only a few would welcome and receive him. But to all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them. All those who believe this are reborn!—not a physical rebirth resulting from human passion or plan—but from the will of God. - John 1:11-13 (Living Bible) Can you point to a specific time in your life where you knelt before the Creator of heaven and earth and... Confessed that you were a sinner, Expressed heartfelt remorse for your sin, Acknowledged Jesus Christ's death on the cross as the only acceptable payment for your sin, Yielded full control of your life to execute His will, Thanked Him for His ultimate sacrifice that provided imputed righteousness to allow you to stand sinless before Holy God, Received the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit into your life to guide you in the execution of His will. Jesus answered them, &quo

Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]. - Romans 12:1-2 (Amplified Bible) Repent The act of acknowledging your sin before a righteous and holy God, accepting full responsibility for the sin that has separated you from God and the acceptance of Jesus Christ's death on the cross as the only acceptable sacrifice for your sins. His death becomes payment in full for your sins, past, present, and futur

I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him, I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. - Galatians 2:20 (Amplified Bible) I have been crucified with Christ... Justification begins with acknowledging that you are a sinner, genuinely repenting of your sin and accepting by faith the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the only perfect, sinless sacrifice, for the payment of your sins, past, present, and future. In that instant, you spiritually participate with Christ in His crucifixion, and the righteousness of Christ is imputed to you so that you can stand before God without sin. But didn't he earn his right to heaven by all the good things he did? No, for being saved is a gift; if a person could earn it by being good, then it wouldn't be free—but it is! It is given to those who d

 Am I justified before God? Heaven can be entered only through the narrow gate! The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide enough for all the multitudes who choose its easy way. But the Gateway to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it. - Matthew 7:13-14 (Living Bible) All religions base their belief of how to enter heaven in one of two ways: Human Achievement - a belief that humans can do enough good deeds, follow enough rules, give enough money, meditate on God enough, be a good enough person, go to church enough, etc. to enter heaven. This is the broad way that leads to hell. Devine Accomplishment - a belief that only through our faith in the work of Jesus Christ's death on the cross as the only perfect sacrifice for sin, the imputed righteousness of Christ (Justification), is a person able to stand justified before a loving and just God who cannot tolerate sin. There is nothing that a human can do to "earn" heaven. Without the payme