Ted will have no guidance from God until he is reconciled to God. So, Ted, for all practical purposes, is "dead." Sure, he
still has a soul (his intellect, will, and emotions) operating within his body that is alive, but the "real" Ted - his spirit - is of
no value to him as long as it remains "dead." In fact, his soul - intellect, will, and emotions - takes control of all his
thoughts. His body acts and reacts in accordance with his thoughts. This results in Ted thinking and doing everything that
will cater to and satisfy his five senses and his fleshly desires and lusts. Galatians 5:19-21. His spirit - the "real" Ted - is
relegated to being ignored and unimportant.

God understood Ted's plight and made it possible for Ted to have a relationship with Him.

God, with all-knowing powers, realized long before Ted was conceived that Ted would inherit the "sin" legacy and sinful
bloodline brought about by Adam's sin. Knowing that Ted would never be able to meet His requirements for being "sinless"
through his own efforts - doing good things - God assigned His son, Jesus Christ, to come to earth as a human child to
live a perfect, sinless life as a human being.

Because the Holy Spirit initiated the pregnancy of Jesus' mother, Mary, in a miraculous manner (no man had intimate
relations with her), Jesus could live sinless as He was born without the sinful, bloodline heritage that all other human
beings have. Luke 1:31-35.

Jesus, though tested and tempted in many ways, succeeded in living a sinless life, without using divine powers, for all the
years He lived on earth. This was a direct consequence of Jesus having a pure bloodline - different than the now-tainted
bloodline of Adam - and a willingness to live every day in obedience to the ways of God. Now God could take the next step
necessary for Ted to have a relationship with Him.

God shows his mercy and love for Ted.

As Jesus had agreed prior to coming to earth, because of His love for His created beings, He would take all the
punishment for all the sin and sinful actions man ever and would ever commit. John 3:16. God, the Father, then placed all
the sin and man's past, present, and future wrongdoing upon Jesus Christ. Romans 3:25, 26. Now, Jesus, who had no sin
because of His sinless life, bore all man's sin.

For man to be reconciled to God, no other choice was available to God except to condemn Jesus to death because of
those sins. That He did and Jesus died a cruel death upon a cross. Now the sin and sins of Ted, and all human beings -
past, present, and future - had been paid for by a loving Savior, Jesus Christ.

Once that debt had been paid, then God, the Father, and God, the Holy Spirit, restored life to Jesus Christ. Luke 24. Then
Jesus returned to heaven where He has assumed his rightful position and power as the Son of God. Luke 24:51.

Ted must learn that Jesus has enabled him to be in communication with God.

Without hearing that God has accepted Jesus' death as payment for Ted's sin,T will be unaware of God's provision. As a
result, Ted will continue to be out of communication with God. But God has commanded that other believers tell Ted and
all men of every nation about Jesus' sacrifice. Mark 16:15.

When someone tells Ted about Jesus' great deed of love and mercy, then God, the Holy Spirit, begins convicting Ted of
his need for God. The Holy Spirit reveals to Ted that Jesus has given him the opportunity to accept Jesus’ payment for his
sin. God wants Ted to know that he can be reconciled to God and communicate with Him.

Ted can now choose to communicate with God.

By accepting that Jesus paid the entire price for all his sin, Ted can become reconciled with God. God will supply him with
the faith he needs to take that step. By "confessing with his mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believing in his heart that God
raised Him from the dead," Ted (his spirit-man) is granted "the righteousness of God in Jesus Vhrist." see 2 Corinthians 5:
21.

This means his "sinful nature" or "old man" has been crucified once and for all time with Jesus Christ and no longer exists.
Romans 6:6. It also means that God has forgiven all his past, present, and future sins. 1 John 1:7. Ted - his spirit-man -
has become totally new - even a new "species" that has never existed before - and without sin. 2 Corinthians 5:17.

The "real" Ted - now and forever without sin - is immediately "sealed" - not just "marked," but "preserved" - by the Holy
Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) and placed in Jesus. Only if he, as a mature believer, denounces Jesus as his Lord and Davior,
will his salvation be in jeopardy. Now as a "saved" person, Ted will be able to communicate with God through Jesus Christ
whenever he chooses

When Ted chose to get "saved," the Holy Spirit took up residence within him.

The power and wisdom of God, the Holy Spirit, is now and always available to Ted. Ephesians 1:13, 14. He is always able
to communicate with God and seek the wisdom of God. He can ask the Holy Dpirit to lead him and to supply him with the
power to overcome the desires and lusts of his flesh. John 16: 13-15.

Now that Ted's spirit is without sin, he will never again be dominated by fleshly desires and lusts unless he chooses to do
so. Romans 6:14. Although all Ted's fleshly senses and desires will always try to get him to commit sins, Ted will have the
power to live in accordance with God's word. 1 John 4:4; Romans 6:11. Because he is a son of god, if he commits acts of
sins, he can repent of those sins and ask God to bring him back into full relationship with Him.

To discover how he is to live a victorious life full of the promised blessings of God, Ted is to renew his intellect, will, and
emotions by reading and studying God's word as mentioned in Romans 12:1, 2. God's word will transform his thinking, and
renew his mind, will, and emotions resulting in him breaking away from the world's patterns for living. The knowledge,
belief, and acceptance of God's word, covenant promises, and His love will allow the believer to call forth the manifestation
of God's blessings while living on earth.

Ted is now learning to have a satisfying relationship with God.

When Ted got saved, he became a joint heir with Jesus, an heir of the covenant promises made to Abraham (Galatians 3:
29) and an heir of God. Romans 8:17. Now he could approach God, his Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, with
boldness and confidence. Ephesians 3:12.

The word of God provides Ted the information (called "faith" - Hebrews 11:1) that, if he "believes" that information, he can
know that God has and will provide all his needs for now and for all eternity. He now has the right to look forward to God's
power, protection and provision while on earth and then his transition to heaven when he has lived on earth the number of
days God planned. Philippians 4:19. This is what happened, "when Ted got saved."

You, too, can be saved!

Just pray, "Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in my
heart that You have raised Him from the dead as Your word says in Romans 10:9, 10. I invite the Holy Spirit to live in me
and provide me the power to live a holy life. Forgive me of all my sin and make me a new creation - without my past being
held against me. I ask you to make me the righteousness of God in Jesus according to Your word. I thank You and I thank
Jesus for saving me and allowing me to be reconciled to You. Amen."

Even if your name is not "Ted," you are now "saved!"

If you prayed the above or a similar prayer, you are now in an eternal relationship with God. You are a "new creation" and
now your past does not decide your destiny! Praise God! More information? Just call Pastor Jim at 1-727-868-5527 or
email pastorjrp@tampabay.rr.com .
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