Cassandra Valentine - No Longer A Tare: Converting the Christian Believer Workbook

NO LONGER A TARE

Converting the Christian Believer Workbook

Cassandra L. Valentine

Copyright 2021 by Cassandra L. Valentine

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

Cassandra L. Valentine/Rejoice Essential Publishing

PO BOX 512

Effingham, SC 29541

www.republishing.org

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture is taken from the King James Version.

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible, BSB Copyright 2016, 2020 by Bible Hub Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.comThe NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2016

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, represented by Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

No Longer A Tare/ Cassandra L. Valentine

ISBN-13: 978-1-952312-91-5

DEDICATION

To my Lord and King, Jesus Christ, thank you for the privilege and honor to serve you.

To my husband Paul Valentine Sr., thank you for giving up time with me so that I could complete this work. Your love, support, and encouragement will forever be cherished.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MODULE 1

LIFE IN CHRIST

ETERNAL SALVATION

When asked to explain salvation, the average Christian will say that it is centered on God saving us from eternal punishment in hell by forgiveness of sin. Salvation is a more complex process than is often understood. When we reduce salvation to just escaping the punishment of hell, we limit Gods plan for our lives. Salvation is an invitation to eternal citizenship in the Kingdom of God, and it comes with benefits and responsibilities.

WHY MUST WE BE SAVED

Before receiving salvation, Scripture tells us that we are spiritually dead.

John 5:24 [NKJV]- Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

Ephesians 2:1-3 [NKJV] also describes our state before salvation:

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Several points are made in these two passages of Scripture about a persons condition, state, and status before receiving salvation:

1)They are spiritually dead.

2)Judgment is their inheritance, not everlasting life.

3)They are guilty of trespasses and sins.

4)They have the spirit of Satan working in them.

5)They fulfill the desires of the flesh and mind.

6)They are the children of wrath.

Re-read both John 5:24 and Ephesians 2:1-3 and identify all six points listed above.

Acts 26:18 [NKJV]also gives insight into our condition before salvation:

to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.

In addition to the six points listed above, Acts 26:18 identifies four additional facts about the unsaved:

1)They are spiritually blind.

2)They are citizens of the Kingdom of darkness.

3)They are under Satans power.

4)They have no forgiveness of sins.

The chart below summarizes what we have discovered so far.

NOT SAVED

• Spiritually dead
• Spiritually blind
• Will receive Gods judgment
• Guilty of trespasses and sin
• Have the spirit of Satan working in them
• Fulfills the desires of their flesh and mind
• Children of wrath
• Citizens of Satans Kingdom
• Under Satans power

SAVED

• Made alive by Jesus
• Eyes are open
• Saved from judgment
• Forgiven
• Have the Spirit of Christ working in them
• No longer fulfills the desires of their flesh and mind
• Children of God
• Citizens of Gods Kingdom
• No longer under Satans power

Now, we have established the spiritual condition of people before salvation. In the following section, we will review what happens upon receiving salvation.

THE NEW CREATION

[2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, when a person becomes saved or receives salvation, they become a new creation. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word new as having been seen, used, or known for a short time.

For some, this will be hard to believe: when God says something, He means what He says. Gods Word tells us that we become a new creation, and we are just that new. In John 5:24, Jesus declares that a person goes from death to life. God swaps out the dead spirit and replaces it with a brand-new spirit, filled with His light. Isnt that great news!

Ezekiel 36:26-27 NKJV also talks about the new spirit and new heart we receive when saved:

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

God does miraculous work in us when we receive salvation!

[2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

When God has replaced these past things, the newly saved person wont behave the same way. They will see things differently upon salvation. Activities and behaviors that were once appealing will become appalling. Their eyes will be opened (Acts 26:18).

2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that we become different immediately upon receiving salvation. Merriam Webster defines different as being partly or totally unlike in nature, form, or quality. The very essence of our nature changes.