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HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN

By Jay Pearson

 

In a movie I watched recently I heard a statement: “Singing in the church choir won’t make you a Christian any more than standing in the garage will make you a Cadillac.” I realized a truth in that statement. We don’t make ourselves Christians. We cannot supply, appropriate, or create the substance to become Christians. Yes, we do believe and confess to become Christians, but the truth is that until God moves in your life you will never reach that point. It is God that works in you to will and to do his good pleasure. We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus. It is not our work, but his. To God be the glory, Amen.

Don’t be so foolish that after receiving such a gracious gift of Christ in you, that you have an inappropriate response.

Galatians 3:3:
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

After his resurrection Jesus Christ appeared to his disciples and showed them the prints of the nails in his hands and feet. Thomas was not with them, but when he was told what they saw he said this:

John 20:25:
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

Then eight days later Jesus appeared to them again. Thomas was there and this was his response.

John 20:26-28:
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

May our response to his call and creation in us be as appropriate. For there is a reason God called you, caused your heart to desire him, and worked a mighty wonder in you. It is for your perfection, fellowship, and eternal life in Jesus Christ. It is all to God’s glory.

Ephesians 3:16-21:
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Pray for one another that we might be all that he would have us to be. If God has worked in your heart to become a Christian, Romans 10:9&10 would be the appropriate response.

Romans 10:9-10:
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Welcome home, Christian.

 

 


From the April 2004 issue of The Vine & Branches