Greetings friends!
I'm working on an important message as we speak. It will focus on something so important our Saviour spent time discussing it Himself! So, watch for that post, soon to come. Today, I'll be fairly brief in speaking to you, my brothers and sisters in Christ. It seems there is much confusion surrounding the Christian faith. In being persecuted, the ''attacker'' is not often clear on what the true faith is and who is a member of the body. In this short discussion, I wish to ''clear the air'', hopefully helping to pinpoint exactly what one means in saying ''I am a Christian''.
Let's begin with a man, a religious leader in Jesus' day. His name is Nicodemus. He is the person Jesus is speaking to in John chapter 3. Scripture says Nicodemus came to Jesus at night, as he often did. Nicodems was counted a among Jesus' friends. He knew Jesus was from God as none could teach and perform the miracles Jesus did. Jesus responds with, ''except a man be born again, he shall never see the kingdom of God'' (In 3:3). Nicodemus, as each person who first hears the gospel, says, ''how is that possible?" ''How can one go back and be born again?" ''Jesus answered and said, verily verily i say unto thee unless a man be borrn of the water and the spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God.'' He further states that which is born of flesh is flesh but s/he who is born of the spirit is spirit. So, the words spoken by God the Son tell the only way to enter heaven is by a spiritual rebirth. Men are creatures of flesh. We walk from birth in the flesh. We are surrounded by a flesh driven world. It is because we are fleshly beings, we cannot enter eternal existence with God our Father. Jesus tells us the ONLY way a person can access heaven once s/he dies is by being born again, a spiritual rebirth. To live after the flesh involves mainly self gratification, fulfilling all the desires of the flesh, ''if it feels good do it''. To be born of the spirit is to die to the flesh. To do this, then, means we can enter into he presence of God - who is spirit.
Christianity is called a ''cult'', ''exclusive'', ''hate mongering''. This is because of the very words I just quoted byy Christ. One more verse to consider is found in the fourteenth chapter of John, verse six. ''Jesus saith unto him I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.'' In this aspect, I concur, sure, by accepting Jesus Christ as the sole way of getting into heaven seems ''exclusive'' or ''narrow-minded'' as we are often accused of. Simply put, folks, yeah, there is only one way, one path, one means of getting into heaven. Call, accuse, rebuke if you must, this is the Son, God in the flesh, telling us flat out this is how you enter into eternal paradise. He does not, however, force this upon anyone. Rather, He gives us a choice, choose life (heaven) or death (hell). The choice is yours, I made mine over a decade ago, I know where I stand and what eternity holds for me. Do you?
Turn to Romans with me for a moment. Chapter 10, verse 9. ''that if thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the deaad, thou shall be saved.'' I need you to turn in your bible to one more verse if you would, Acts 2:21, ''and it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call upon the Lord shall be saved.'' Also consider Acts 2:38, ''then Peter said to them, repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy spirit.''. Its not hard, brothers and sisters, repent, tell God you are sorry for your sinfulness. Confess Romans 10:9, and as Luke said, ''ye will receive the gift of the holy spirit'', thus, you are reborn! You must then read the bible, fellowship with other believers. Its how you grow in faith and walk in righteousness, was we are commanded to do. Its not always easy to do the right thing. Jesus tells us in John, we will face trials and tribulations in this world, but rejoice, He has overcome the world! Amen!
One more thing regarding the spirit. Ephesians 1:14 assures the converted believer s/he is sealed, we receive the mark of God upon us! It says that mark, the seal, is the sign we are His. It is then that we are children of God, it is then we may cry out Abba, Father!
In closing, friends, there are many sects, denominations, and people who call themselves Christian, but I assure you most are not. Only those who adhere to biblical Christianity. This means no other, extra biblical, texts are used in study or worship. Scripture only guides the worship, lessons, and structure inside and out of the church gathering. (see 2 Timothy 3:16) The only head being Christ. Any other is to be rebuked. the sealed believer is part of and incorporated into the body and thus, we are the church. We believe and guide our lives solely via scripture. God instructs His church on living and worshipping in His word.
Contrary to other religious groups, anyone (regardless of background, culture, RAC, class, gender, anywhere you live, etc.) is invited to the body and church. As an example, I witnessed to a young college student in Nigeria, who had been a devout Muslim. Though her life is in danger, she chose Christ last June, and is now sealed!! Praise God!! God does not discriminate, everyone has been invited to join His body.
Where do you stand? Are you sealed, heaven bound? Please, comment to let me know.
In His Service,
Pastor Aaron
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