Yesterday I came across a passage of scripture that made me stop and really think about what it means to have a relationship with Christ. We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to even know of him. Our culture today does not resemble a society who knows God, but yet everyone claims they are of God. The Church folks have become to civilized to seek revival. They want everything to stay nice and neat. If God came into our services the way it is meant to be it would be a mess because he would rip it apart.
Today I am talking about has Christ accepted us not have we accepted him. I know the answer, but I ask it because we act as if He doesn’t matter. Jesus is everything or Jesus is nothing!
David Platt says in a sermon called Die in Religion or Devotion “we have created Jesus into the image of a puny savior who begs us to accept him”. We have all been guilty of saying that God needs us to do this for him or to do that for him. The fact of the matter is we have reduced the image of God into the image of our desires. We have idolized Christ more often than we have proclaimed his Glory. We so often claim Christianity but neglect righteousness. We neglect radical lifestyles that rebel against humanism and secularism and fail to separate ourselves from worldliness. I am miserable. I see so many Church folks who are living a “Groundhog Day” routine. I see the problem, but I am part of the problem. I am the vilest of sinners and the chief of self-righteousness.
Everybody I know is a Christian, but I don’t know anyone who desires holiness and righteousness. Our young people are so carnal. They are so intelligent in regards to diverse subjects and so ignorant of the scriptures. They have the ability to learn technologies in minutes, but cannot discern Godliness from worldliness. They think they are saved. Saved from what? Did they just jump out of the “on my way to hell line” into the “on my way to heaven line”? Where is the seeking of righteousness? Where is their hunger for God and thirst for holy living?
Then on top of that we say “All you have to do is accept Jesus as your savior”. Oh how I have said that so many times, but is it biblical? In John 3 how did Jesus explain salvation to Nicodemous? Did he say accept me? Did Jesus ever say anywhere that you can come to heaven by accepting me? He is God! He is Lord! Accepting him doesn’t save us. Rather we need him to accept our vile, disgusting, and sinful nature and give us a new mind that desires righteousness. To explain my position let me just show you a passage from John 2.
23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.
Did you see it? Go back and read it again. He doesn’t need us! He knows what we are made of and He knows we are wretched!
Salvation comes by faith in Jesus Christ and nothing else. We need to get back basic biblical principles and teach the word of God with authority that will cause men to hate us. To often we have watered down the truth so that nobody gets mad and maybe we can convince somebody to get saved. Jesus and all his called men were hated. Here is the truth. God HATES the SIN YOU LOVE!
Do I sound crazy? Look around your Church. Do they really look like they are living in a state of fear and trembling as the scripture tells us to live? They laugh and talk about TV shows and ballgames. The preacher gets no response until he tells his best joke then everybody laughs. Nobody repents! Nobody weeps! Then, it’s over until next time. Our young people walk around in a daze. Half the people don’t have a Bible, and people all around the Church are on their way to HELL!
The Bible teaches whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. However understand this one thing. You cannot be saved and live a continued life of carnality and unrighteous desires to ignore the holiness of an Almighty God!
Jesus loves you! He died for you! If you are His then should you not live for him?
Are you saved? Really? Too many people made a decision and to few have been converted. What is a decision? I am going to be saved now? Jesus said whoever puts his hand on a plow and looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God. Christ has called all men to repentance of sin and a desire for righteous living. Do you desire righteousness? Are you willing to follow Christ even if it means your life or lifestyle? Seek God now while he may be found and then ask him to save your soul and give you a new heart. Then let God lead you on the road of rightousness!
Jesus Saves,
RR
