20 replies to this topic

[ozzzyyy]

I walked into the religious instruction classroom in a secular school and, with tongue-in-cheek, wrote in large letters across the blackboard "I hate religion."

"Man, in this class, you'll get shot," gasped one student in amazement.
"But I'm sold on real Christianity," I responded.
"What's the difference?" half the class chorused.
God's Purpose
The point is one can be religious without necessarily being Christian. Let me explain. True, Christianity is a religion, but it's much more than that. It's also much more than believing a creed. It's a relationship with God and people. It's knowing God personally, experiencing His divine love and forgiveness, and communicating this to every life we touch.

We start by realizing that no matter what we have ever done or have failed to do, God loves us and is vitally interested in our total life--both for this life as well as the next.In fact, Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). And again, "I came that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).

The greatest thing in the world is to come to the realization that God is not out to punish you for wrongdoing but that He loves you unconditionally and does indeed have a wonderful purpose and plan for your life.

Man's Problem

Unfortunately, it is our wrongdoing or sin that blocks out our experiencing God's love and receiving the full and abundant life that He has for us. And let's face it, "We have all sinned and fallen short of God's standard" (Romans 3:23). Sin, of course, is not merely doing wrongful acts. It is anything that falls short of the perfection that God envisioned for us--including our damaged emotions, negative attitudes, and mixed motives.

Punishment for sin comes from the wrongdoing itself. Sin has its own self destructive consequences--first spiritual death and ultimately eternal death (Romans 6:23); that is eternal separation from God, the Author of all love and life.

Like a burned out electric light bulb that cannot respond to its power source, man being spiritually dead cannot respond to God's love and power without His help. God's love and power are constant. As sinners we're dead to it.


Christ's Answer

Because our sin has separated us from God, we have been left with a "God-shaped vacuum" or spiritual emptiness. The world's many religions are all evidence of man's endless struggle to fill this vacuum. And his relentless search for inner peace through pleasure seeking, power, fame, fortune, drugs, and mystical experiences all tell of his inner emptiness. But as Augustine put it, "You have made us for Yourself, 0 God, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You."

As it is impossible for us to find God or peace with Him through our own efforts, God in His love and mercy sent His own sinless Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our predicament (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Christ did this by dying on the cross in our place to pay the ransom price for our sins--which was death. Thus Jesus Christ is God's only provision for our sin and He is the only way back to God and eternal life (John 14:6 and Romans 5:8).

As the Bible says, "For there is one God and mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all men" (I Timothy 2:5-6).

Your Response

If you were found guilty of a serious crime and were condemned to death, would you accept a free pardon from the President? I certainly would.

Through the consequences of sin we are all condemned to eternal death. But because Christ died on the cross in our place and paid our ransom, God now offers us a free pardon. All we need to do is to respond to God's love and accept His pardon.

How can we do this?

First, confess. The Bible says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9).

Second, repent. Turn from sin to God. Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the good news" (Mark 1:15).

Third, believe. "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31).

Fourth, receive. Again God said, "To all who received Him [Christ], to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).

It is responding to God's offer of a free pardon for your sin, accepting His forgiveness and making a commitment of your life to Christ that makes you a real Christian. To help you do that, pray the following prayer either out loud or just in your heart:


"Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner. I genuinely repent of my sins and ask for Your forgiveness. And Lord Jesus Christ, I believe that You died on the cross for my sin. I now respond to your call to follow You. I receive you as my Lord and Savior-- and make a commitment of my life to you. With Your help I choose to serve and obey You. Please make me the person You want me to be. Thank You for dying for my sin, for Your free pardon, for Your gift of eternal life, and for hearing and answering my prayer Amen."



Here's Great Assurance



If you sincerely confessed your sin and prayed to receive Christ, you are now a true Christian and have the gift of eternal life. You are a brand new person inside with a new spiritual life. You are a child of God and a member of His family (2 Corinthians 5:17 and John 1:12). God promises all of this. So believe it. Accept it. Take it by faith and not feelings. Feelings change, but God's Word never does.

And His Word, the Bible, says, "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life" (I John 5:11-13).

Your new spiritual life, however, needs care just as your physical life does. If you prayed to receive Christ into your life, we want to help you grow as a Christian. Use the form below to tell us about your decision and we will provide you with a free study designed for new Christian.



"YES, I have just now prayed and asked Jesus Christ into my life as Savior and Lord, and am eager to learn more about the Christian life."

Go to this site:
http://www.backtothebible.org/knowgod/theg...s_english5.html

[anyala]

God bless you for taking the time to plant this seed here. I hope many will read it.

Anyala

[Louis1]

That was wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing.

[-6]

Big difference between satan ways and God's ways
satan: "goes about like a roaring lion seeking who he
may devour"
God: "Not willing that any should perish"

[zzelle]

thanks for sharing

[CrabGrassAcres]

I have a dear friend who is a "Theologian". She is not a Christian, however. All her years in "the Church" and all her study avails nothing because there is no faith in the One she thinks she has studied. There is a huge difference in knowing "of God" and knowing God, Himself. I pray for my friend that she would get to know Him. Sadly, religion often gets in the way, preventing the religious from having true faith.

[susie]

I have a Catholic friend who came here from Portugal, and she is always refering to me as 'an unbeliever' because I am not Catholic. I keep having to remind her that I was brought up in a Catholic/Protestant household, and that there are other forms of Christianity (or religion) than just hers.

[Ginger]

I really do not like the term religion to describe my faith. It is so much more than man-made doctrines that vary greatly amongst the many denominations and can cause division rather than unity among believers. My life in faith is based on an active personal Relationship with Jesus Christ my Lord. To me it makes a world of difference as I am wholly devoted to a Person and not a cause. Jesus wants us to be one with Him, the Father and with one another. (John 17 is His prayer on our behalf)..you can't stamp a religion on how much He loves us and longs for us to have unity. It's all about Relationship and I believe that everyone of us can have a personal relationship with Jesus no matter what our faith background may be. He sees our heart and asks us to come.

[JCK88]

I'm with you, Eaglewings. I have always believed we were called OUT of the religious sytem by Christ to follow his footsteps and way of life. Having faith is not the same as joining a religion. In fact, some must give up a religion to find true faith and to progress spiritually. There is nothing that should come between a Christian and God except the mediator, Christ--and no religion or man-made rules can stand in that place which belongs to Him.
A relationship implies effort to maintain it...far better than going to church and paying dues by rote, or being under the burden of traditions and rules that are not Biblical. Some religions are a racket. Christ's "call" transcends all of that.

[zzelle]

i agree

[midwest prepper]

Requesting prayer for my husband Bob-he went in for a regular checkup last evening and something seems to be wrong with his heartbeat-was immediately put on a blood thinner-had an ekg-has to have an echo-gram Thursday-and an appt.with a specialist as soon as they can schedule it,they will be calling with that info in the morning. Thanks everyone--I haven't been on here long but have really enjoyed all I've read.

[MomM]

Dear Lord, please heal Bob from the top of his head to the bottom of his toes. Please guide the doctors, nurses, techs and everyone involved with his care. Please give them wisdom, discernment, skill and Your love and peace. Please be with Bob's family and comfort and guide them. In your Son's name. Amen

[Jeepers]

Amen MomM

[dogmom4]

praying

[midwest prepper]

Thanks for the prayers-Bob had a echo-gram& saw a cardiologist today. He has artial fibrolation which means the heart is not squeezing as it should just fluttering. He will be having a catherization on Monday.We will be thankful for you all remenbering him in more prayers.He will be 68 on Sunday.

[JCK88]

Adding Bob to our prayer list....and Happy Birthday, Bob!

[midwest prepper]

Thank you much

[Jasminegirl]

[midwest prepper]

Thank you all so much for your prayers--Bob did fine & the problems can be controlled by medications,the shock got his heart back in rythmn.

[MomM]

Thank you Lord!