Accepting Jesus,God's Gift to Humanity
How and Why Would I Accept God's Gift?
For non-Christians, this whole thing called religion is waaay too complex and convoluted. That's because religion is man-made. Christianity is God-made. And, because God is not the author of confusion, Christianity is more simplistic than you might realize.
Consider these Holy truisms based on God's written word, the Holy Bible, and many Christians' conclusions based on those truisms ...
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God initiates the process of salvation by drawing us to Him and has provided Jesus as the way of salvation. Read John 6:44; 12:32.
> Since Adam and Eve, people have been born with
hearts infected with rejection of God... so, it's "only
natural" for people to reject Him. And, that means to
accept Jesus is wondrously supernatural, which is
God's territory.
> In order for God to draw us, we must experience a
radical change of heart toward Him. Read Psalm 51:10
> Only God can change the heart, and that's why He sent
Jesus to bring us - a wandering, lost people - back to
Him. Read Luke 19:10
> If you have even fleeting thoughts and questions
about Christ, God, Heaven, eternity, God is working on
your heart. Thank Him for that, and ask Him to
continue working in you to show you the way to
salvation through Christ. Read Romans 10:13
> When you know you want to have a fresh start for
your heart and spirit - a rebirth through Christ - you
can be assured God has changed your heart. You are
drawn. Thank Him, praise Him, and accept His free gift
of eternal salvation that He sent to the world through
Christ Jesus. Read Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8-9
"For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
THROUGH CHRIST...
Our sin debt is paid, we are reconciled with God, and assured of eternal salvation.
"Faith Comes by Hearing..."
Coming to, and growing in, Christ is not something that happens by osmosis. Rather, it involves becoming acquainted with and studying God's word, and asking questions of trusted individuals deeply rooted in that word. To jumpstart your faith journey, it is very helpful to attend a church that preaches and teaches God’s unaltered word. If that’s outside your comfort zone right now, get a good Bible and reference Bible and read what God has to say to us. A word of caution about that, though. God tells us that those who are void of the Holy Spirit cannot grasp spiritual truths expressed in spiritual words. In Acts 8:30-31, we are told of Philip coming upon a man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” Turn to a Christian to help you on your journey.
A good starting point for anyone wanting to learn about God's plan for salvation is "the Romans Road," a collection of scriptures from the book of Romans that has been used for years to help people seeking answers to their questions about the who, what, when, where, why and how of Christ and God's salvation plan for humanity.
Take a look at ...
Romans 3:10
the Human Condition - No one can ever be "good" enough on his or her own merit to enter God's kingdom.
Romans 3:23
the Holy God - "We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."
Romans 3:26a
the consequence of rejection - Eternal death. "For the wages of sin is death; but..." what a beautiful little word... BUT...
Romans 3:26b
the assurance of eternal life through Christ - "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 5:8
our hope in Christ - “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 10:9-10
our acknowledgement - "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."
Romans 10:13
the ability and desire of God to save all - "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Romans 5:1-2
the settling of justification and peace on us - "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”
Romans 8:1
our reason to celebrate - "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit... ."