Four Imperatives
John 3:3-7
During the course of
our Lord's earthly ministry he declared that four things are absolutely
necessary for the salvation of our souls. Those who do not experience these
four things cannot inherit the
1. THE NEW BIRTH - John 3:3
In order for anyone to
see, understand, enter into and inherit the
2. REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD - Luke 13:3
Repentance is a change
of mind, a change of motives, and a change of masters. It is turning from sin
to the Savior, from the world to God, from self to Christ. It is a heart work.
And it is a life long work. To repent is to seek the Lord, seek him with all
your heart, seek him all your life, seek him until you
find him.
3. CONVERSION OF HEART - Matthew 18:3
To be converted is to
be humbled before God, to be brought down from your proud, lofty, haughty
opinion of yourself. It is to be child-like before God: humble, inoffensive,
obedient, trusting, kind and teachable.
4. PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS - Matthew 5:20
We must have a
righteousness to offer God which no mere man can produce. And that
righteousness must be our own. We must have the righteousness of Christ imputed
to us. But we must have more. We must have the righteousness of Christ imparted
to us. We must be given, by the power and grace of God the Holy Spirit, the
very nature of Christ, a nature that is inclined toward and does that which is
righteous. This imparted righteousness is Christ in us, the hope of glory.
Don Fortner