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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Monday, November 2nd, 2009
Years ago, when my wife and I would disagree, I had a saying that I haven’t had opportunity to state for a while. The saying went something like this: I may not be right, but I’m never wrong. Ha! Boy, how wrong is that! As I’ve matured over the years, I’ve learned to avoid dsiagreements just by being quiet.
Right is the opposite of left. It is also the opposite of wrong. So, as in a lot of situations, a comment made can be misunderstood by those who hear.
Let me try to explain what I mean by the title of this article … Being Right. By ‘being right’, I’m referring more to how God sees us, rather than how we see ourselves. When we see ourselves as “right”, it usually carries the connotation of not being wrong. But when I think of how God sees us, it’s in the sense of what Paul wrote to the Corinthians, as stated in 2 Corinthians, chapter 5, verse 21: “For He (God) has made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, Who (Jesus) knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus).” You see that? The righteousness of God in Him? It might help to understand the ‘righteousness of God’ to say it this way: those in right standing with God. And the question that comes is, “Who can be in right standing with God?” Good question, since the Bible also says “There is none righteous …” Romans 3:10. But Jesus, the One Who knew no sin, is in right standing with God, which is great! That means there’s absolutely nothing we can do to make us ‘in right standing with God.’ It is all what Jesus has done that allows us to be in right standing with God. And that’s what I mean by ‘being right’. Because Jesus, Who knew no sin, was willing to be made sin for us, and paid the price for our sin by His crucifixion, turned around and forgave us (those who have asked for forgiveness) of our sins! That is what I mean: the pleasures of being right … being forgiven, cleansed from sins and made right! You won’t get this just by reading it once. It may take several readings. It may take a revelation from God. Don’t give up. The rewards are way too much!
More to follow …
Tags: avoid, cleansed, forgiven, learned, made, matured, quiet, rewards
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