by Strategic San

Created on: December 31, 2008

Faith expressing itself as love covers over a multitude of sins. Sinfulness is a state of mind caused by disbelief that God does exist and/or that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him [seeking to have a relationship with Him]. Faith is believing God the Father does exist and sent His Son, Jesus Christ [in the flesh] to save people from sin [disbelief]. Faith expresses itself as love by a heartfelt sincere desire to show compassion in words and deeds. Then faith compels one to be kind and generous towards a person [or a group of people] in a time of need without passing judgment about the how and why there is the adversity. People who are sinful either do not believe God exist or do not believe He rewards those who earnestly seek to have a relationship with Him.

Now, this is where the Holy Spirit comes in. God has to be the one to make the first move. He does this by sending His Holy Spirit to dwell with a person. Without the Holy Spirit dwelling with a person there can be no willingness nor interest in communicating with God. God chooses the time and place for introducing Himself to each of us. He does it when it is the best time for us. He has already predetermined the time to call each person into a relationship with Himself.

Once God calls, then it is up to the person to respond to the call. Once their response is pleasing to God He then justifies them. To be justified is to be set free from quilt or shame. God then takes us through a process of justification through trials until our faith has been perfected. We find we meet the requirements of God through our diligent study of God's word and the help of the Holy Spirit to work out our own salvation. After this process has been completed we go through the process of being glorified. To be glorified is to have the ability to over look the transgressions of others and consider them already forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ and to treat them the way God has treated you with kindness and great mercy. Mercy is when you do not get the punishment you deserve.

An outward response to the call of God is to submit oneself to water baptism. At which time, a minister of God is to lay hands upon you and anoint your head with oil for the transferring of the Holy Spirit that dwells with you to begin dwelling in you. The Holy Spirit will then act as a catalyst operating inside of you to will and to perform according to your faith. Each person has a measure of faith and as trials prove their faith they grow in understanding.

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