Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
How does one become a Christian? What is a Christian? And my favorite question: Does it cost anything? One becomes a Christian when he/she acknowledges that he/she is a sinner, then does two things: 1) believes that God raised Him (Jesus) from the dead, and 2) confesses with the mouth that Jesus is Lord ( Romans 10:9 ). What about confessing all sin? In reality, that’s not a requirement to becoming a Christian, even though it’s ok to do. By confessing sins, it makes us feel better as we start a new life as a Christian (though being a Christian shouldn’t be based on ‘feelings’ – but by faith alone in what Jesus provided by: His virgin birth, His sinless life, His death on the cross, His burial and subsequent resurrection, His ascension to heaven, where He ever lives to make intercession for us, and, His eventual return to earth to rule and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords). Boy, that’s a mouthful! It could take some time to digest all that!
Next question: What is a Christian? A Christian is one who believes in his/her heart that Jesus is the Son of God, that God raised Him (Jesus) from the dead after His (Jesus’) crucifixion, and one who confesses with his/her mouth that Jesus is Lord. Oh, same answer as the first question, with an added dimension: after believing and confessing, one then actively follows Jesus’ teachings, and practices (as best as possible) the works that Jesus did ( John 14:12 ).
OK, final question: Does it cost anything to be or become a Christian? Yes and No. No, you don’t nor can’t pay for what Jesus provided; the gifts of God cannot be purchased. BUT, Yes, it does cost one to be a Christian; not monetarily, but certainly in lifestyle, by being: an example to others; a leader of the spiritually blind; a helper to the hurting; a giver to the needy; a witness to those lost in sin and rebellion to God; and, the list goes on and on. It requires that one counts the cost ( Luke 14:28 ), not as an avenue of quitting or escaping, but for the rewards of fulfilling God’s purposes in one’s life.
I could continue forever, but this may be too much already for some. More to come later …
Tags: acknowledges, ascension, believes, burial, confesses, cost, death, digest, example, faith, feelings, follows, giver, helper, intercession, King, leader, life, lifestyle, lives, Lord, mouthful, practices, purposes, reign, resurrection, return, rewards, rule, witness
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Thursday, October 29th, 2009
My wife and I drive about 45 minutes to get to our church – My Father’s House (MFH) – in McConnellsburg, PA. And we’ve been doing it for over 9 years. There’s an obvious question that follows those opening comments. With a church on every corner in your hometown (it seems), why are you driving 45 minutes to attend one? Here’s my answer: we were invited to a special service on a Wednesday night at MFH in June, 2000. After attending the special service, we felt led to visit a regular service the following Sunday. We’ve been going there ever since. Why? Well, we really believe that God led us to this fellowship for a lot of reasons. The Pastor – Bill Chilcote – is as down-to-earth as a preacher can be. He is consumed with the desre to KNOW God, to hear His voice (John, Chapter 10, verse 27 : My sheep ((us)) hear my voice and I (God/Jesus) know them, and they follow Me.), and to do what God says. As Pastor fellowships with God and meditates on God’s Words, it is clearly visible in his life and conduct that he sincerely wants to please God. He is an example to the congregation of what a God-seeking individual is like. His behavior has inspired us to get closer to God. Though God is invisible in the natural, I believe He is totally accessible for fellowship, for praise, for worship, and for receiving our thanks for all He has done and is doing. Other reasons for attending are because we are being prepared for the work of the ministry, for the maturing of the believers, and for the building up of the body of Christ, so that we can get along with all the various churches, regardless of doctrinal differences, etc. According to Jesus’ teaching, “love” is the great commandment: love God and love one another. We at MFH want to receive God’s love toward us, then turn around and give it away to everyone. Are we perfect? Nope! But, we’re seeing lives being changed and that brings pleasure to God.
Tags: building, example, fellowship, give, inspired, maturing, meditate, praise, prepared, receive, thanks, work, worship
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