Saved... Now what?

"From the apostles and the spiritual leaders, your brothers. To their non-Jewish brothers and sisters ...
Dear brothers and sisters,
We have heard that some individuals who came from us have confused you with statements that disturb you. We did not authorize these men to speak. ... The Holy Spirit and we have agreed not to place any additional burdens on you. Do only what is necessary by keeping away from food sacrificed to false gods, from eating bloody meat, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual sins. If you avoid these things, you will be doing what’s right. Farewell!" (Acts 15:23-29 GW) "But we know that no one is made right with God by following the law. It is trusting in Jesus Christ that makes a person right with God. So we have put our faith in Christ Jesus, because we wanted to be made right with God. And we are right with him because we trusted in Christ—not because we followed the law. I can say this because no one can be made right with God by following the law." (Galatians 2:16 ERV) " I want you to put your foot down. Take a firm stand on these matters so that those who have put their trust in God will concentrate on the essentials that are good for everyone." (Titus 3:8 MSG)

Believer or Saved

"You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!" (James 2:19) But they aren't saved - everybody talkin' about heaven ain't going there! Want to be sure we are? "And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." (James 2:23-24) "...because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.” (Genesis 26:5) 

Surety comes not just by believing the Word of God, but by OBEYING it, through the power of the Holy Spirit in us. "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit ..., having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,..."(1 Peter 1:22-23) Christ Jesus explained it best, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but you don’t do what I say? The people who come to me, who listen to my teachings and obey them—I will show you what they are like: They are like a man building a house. He digs deep and builds his house on rock. ... But the people who hear my words and do not obey are like a man who builds a house without preparing a foundation. When the floods come, the house falls down easily and is completely destroyed.” (Luke 6:46-49 ERV)

Marriage Done Well

"He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord." (Proverbs 18:22) Marriage done well is a blessing from God! "...because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. ... But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. ... But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband." (1 Corinthians 7:2, 33, 35) "Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." (Ephesians 5:33) "Marriage is honorable in every way, so husbands and wives should be faithful to each other. God will judge those who commit sexual sins, especially those who commit adultery." (Hebrews 13:4 GW)

(fully clothed couple in the sun's glare)

Listen to: Paul Sheppard "Getting Married, Staying Married" (November 2017 archives tab):

https://www.oneplace.com/ministries/destined-for-victory/listen/