I’ll never forget it. I was in middle school. All around me were other middle school kids crying. Hardly anyone was standing. It was a powerful moment—so much so that even now when I think about it a range of emotions come over me. Where was I? I was at a youth camp. It was the last night where everyone “asked Jesus into their heart.” Mercy Me’s “I Can Only Imagine” was playing while the camp speaker asked all the kids to bow their heads and close their eyes. He would then say, “ok whoever wants to receive Jesus repeat after me….”
Sound familiar?
Have you ever asked Jesus into your heart?
Now first let me say this—I am not arguing in this blog that Jesus doesn’t save through this method (because He clearly does). Also, John 1:12 would suggest we do need to receive Jesus in some way or another. But my question is why has it become so mechanical? So forced? So calculated? Receiving the grace of Jesus is a beautiful thing. We tell people it is free (which it is), but we forget to tell them it will cost them their life (which it will). I’m humbly submitting that this might be the main thing contributing to our lethargic, apathetic, and consumer based Christianity that’s plaguing our nation right now.
Doesn’t it haunt you that this “prayer” is never uttered in the New Testament?
Have you ever asked yourself why?
Doesn’t it haunt you that people never made a “decision” but rather gave up all they had to follow Jesus?
Why is the life we are calling people to, so different from what the original disciples called them to?
When I first became a Christian about 4 years ago, the church I went to would give an “invitation” at the end of every sermon. It was very similar to the experience above. He would have people bow their heads and close their eyes, and “accept Jesus into their heart.” He would then usually say something like “I see your hand, God sees your heart.” I think about 15 people would get saved every service. At this time they were probably a 3,000+ person church with multiple campuses in a tiny town. I remember thinking after about a year, that if 15 people were getting “saved” a service in a town of around 20,000 this city should be upside down for Jesus. But Monday through Saturday nothing seemed much different. Why? Also why do they bow their heads and close their eyes? I struggled with the fact that if someone can’t proclaim Jesus is Lord and that their heart has been changed by His grace in the safest of all places—a church full of people who already love Jesus!—then do we really think they would proclaim Him boldly out in the world, where He’s hated?
Let me clarify though before my email inbox fills up with not so happy Christians defending this method. I don’t care how you preach the gospel, as long as its the gospel that’s actually being preached. Is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus the focus? Is there blood? Is there cross? Is there persecution? 2nd Timothy 3:12 says all who seek to follow Jesus will face persecution. Too many times we proclaim “your best life now”, instead of a rugged cross. If they are being called to more than a stirred heart, but called to an abandoned life, then by all means do it. But, people aren’t being called to die for the sake of God’s glory and His mission, then I’d be careful to call it the true message of Jesus.
Jesus isn’t after people “accepting Him into their hearts” He is after people boldly giving up all they have and following Him by faith, death, and suffering.
Nothing makes me tremble more at night then knowing there are millions of people (most likely in churches) who don’t know Jesus at all, and are being led to hell under the pretense that they are “good to go” because they prayed a prayer. In fact the main reason they stay distant from Jesus is that they think they’ve already “taken care of that.” The truth is, if a boulder dropped on top of you, you’d look different after the fact. Why is it then that supposedly when the most glorious, holy, amazing, and beautiful infinite God of the universe “drops” on us we don’t look any different? You are saved by grace, but real grace changes you.
Is that you? Do you actually know Him?
I’m not asking do you struggle or wrestle (you should) but I’m asking do you know Him? Do you love Him? Do you want more of Him? Even if you are struggling, if you can answer yes to those questions, you are in a safe place. But, if you are simply clinging to something you did years ago, but you have zero intimacy with your Creator, I’d tread softly.
From now on what do you say we….
Stop asking Jesus into our heart, and start asking Jesus to change our heart.
Stop receiving Jesus, and start following Jesus
Stop raising our hand for Jesus, and start raising our obedience for Jesus.
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”
Luke 9:24-25
What do you think? Has it done more harm than good?
75 Comments
david gayle on September 25, 2014 at 8:21 am
Can’t observe it. Can’t measure it. Can’t physically feel it. Don’t bother.
Ask God every day to help you understand. If nothing happens then no big deal. What have you got to lose? You posted on this thread for a reason. God loves you even though you may not believe in Him. But I think you do.
more harm than good a modern – a substitution – that doesn’t work. if someone really wants to know for sure that they are a Christian – then they should become a disciple of Jesus the same way they did in the NT Pray, if you are truly seeking God – for the Creator to send some disciples into your path – they will not lead you in some man made prayer – but will ope the Scriptures with you and call you to obey.
When people believed in Jesus and were pricked in their hearts they asked Peter what they should do? ” Peter said to them Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy spirit”(Acts 2:38). There were many other things he said that day which are not recorded. Repentance explained, would be part of what you are talking about but the baptism he talks about is one in which God is forgiving you. That baptism is in Water according to Acts 10:47-48. It is an act of faith, not a baptism after you are saved but a baptism you are commanded to do for the forgiveness of sins. We are not saved by our works but we will not be saved without them( James 2:24). Self righteousness only get us to Hell.
“It is an act of faith” – faith in Jesus, and action (work) of the Holy Spirit – not water, or baptism that accomplishes this…”lest men should boast”. And, find himself in the same (works) boat as Jefferson highlighted – a “flimsy salvation” based on a long forgotten decision – or, an outward demonstration of faith such as a “baptism”.
We agree that faith and grace are necessary for salvation. The problem is your tradition that says it is salvation is by faith alone. James says, ” You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only( James 2:24).” The kind of faith you talk about is very popular today, but very unlike God has taught from one end of the Bible to the other; and so very dangerous. Why is Noah a man of faith? ” By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with Godly fear, prepared and ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” (Hebrews 11:7). Jesus said, ” And in vain do they worship me teaching as doctrines the commandments of men ( Mt 15:9). If it is the commandments( precepts) of men, it makes our worship of God vain. You cannot separate Jesus from the truth. We both understand salvation is impossible without Jesus. The problem is in your definition of faith. Would Noah have been saved by faith alone? I will pray for your salvation, you have a zeal for God but not according to knowledge(Romans 10).
Austin McGee - Johnston on November 3, 2015 at 10:02 pm
thank you it has been a dangerous road
Disciple 8489 on September 12, 2015 at 10:31 pm
In response to your message of Paul’s receiving of the spirit prior to being baptized, you must understand the authority Christ has been given. As the son of our Heavenly Father he has authority to forgive sin and bless those with the spirit as he pleases. Just as Jesus allowed the thief beside him on the cross, who we can a suite was never baptized
Jewel on February 16, 2016 at 7:51 pm
As to Catholics….their interpretation is….Jesus made the Sacraments but He is not bound by it. He could choose to do so because He is God. But He left us a commandment….to preach and Baptise in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Austin McGee - Johnston on November 1, 2015 at 10:34 pm
i learned that the other day
Dana Whisler on November 24, 2015 at 12:37 pm
What you did with Acts 22:16 is simply ignore it. I have no problem understanding that salvation is by grace through faith. The problem is your definition of faith, which ignores the truth. ” You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone” (James 2:24).
God is First on June 7, 2016 at 3:55 pm
This may not be as literal as it looks, much like the bible itself. I, myself, will pray on this scripture and ask for God to show me His inspiration regarding James 2:24. What does God mean by works? What does god mean by justified and who is justifying him? The entire context of this piece of scripture is necessary, to pray for God’s truth. What is said before and after verse 24, is just as relevant to the message. Sometimes, we remove the truth by dissecting scripture. I know God has spoken to me with a single verse for a specific situation. That’s what I love about God’s Word. It has no shelf life and it applies to all who are in relationship with Him. Peace.
God is First on June 7, 2016 at 3:48 pm
Dear friend, we are saved by the death of Jesus Christ. Our salvation is found in Yeshua, the Sacrificial Lamb, alone. His blood was spilled to clean our sins. He became every sin…even the worst of worst. HE BECAME EVERY SIN ON THE CROSS, so we would be redeemed in the eyes of God. In this case, it is a gift we must accept. God did give us free will, so we accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, if we choose.
We baptize ourselves, we pray, we read the Living Word, we worship, we go to church, we confess our sins…. but we will ALWAYS fall short of the grace of God. It is an act of faith, reverence, obedience, and worship, to be baptized.
Big love!
JesuslovesUandMe on June 8, 2016 at 10:10 am
I agree…. I just wanted to make sure she understands that getting baptized is not what saves you. I think the got questions.org article explained that well. Baptism is an outward expression of what has already happened in a believer’s heart. When I first believed, God Himself baptized me with the Holy Spirit and I’m forever a child of God. 🙂
Thank YOU Jesus for shedding your blood for me and reconciling me back to my Father. 🙂
JesuslovesUandMe on March 30, 2015 at 8:18 pm
Agreed…Please read the response I wrote to Dana from gotquestions.org
True, and an addition is not to forget that Jesus before He went up to heaven gave a command to His Apostles and disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptise them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He prefigure what baptism is to be done with outward means, by water. If water does symbolize nothing at all…well maybe that was why Jesus have showed us the example of baptism Himself. Faith is both expressed internally and externally, spiritually and physically, personal to social, it is all and all.
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing[a] in Him would receive; for the Holy[b] Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
He IS the LIVING WATER. Baptism is an act of faith, being washed over by The Holy Trinity and in His Promises!
Hi Dana I think I know what u mean I’d like ur help I asked Jesus into my heart but it didn’t change me. I continued in beer smoking and all the the things that are Coman to man I go to church but nobody seems to have the answer they only have doctrine to back up their beliefs. I want to be saved by Jesus I’ve been baptised 3 times. Submersion and it still isn’t right I’ve been searching for years. I think if Jesus saved u then I would know like if I got married I’d know I was married. So where do I go from here any answers
Stephen, let me try this again since I cannot find my earlier post. We are told to believe in Jesus, that is what you do. We are told to repent and again it is what you are commanded to do before and without the inner working of the Holy Spirit, as we see it in Acts 2:38. Understanding that the sword of the Spirit is the word of God, so that if the word of God is at work on our heart then we have allowed the Spirit to work. Repentance is that change of mind toward sin that will be followed by works that fit repentance(Acts 26:20). You will need to determine to do these things. It will not be easy, the Corinthians were babes in Christ and acting like mere men(1Cor 3:1-3). They had made changes (1Cor 6:9-11) but they were in need of making more. The point is once we are truly in Christ we have decided to make him Lord, therefore we know the need to obey him and we are in charge of that. There is strength that we can have through his Spirit but that is very much dependent on us. About baptism, baptism is simply and act of faith necessary for salvation. Baptism is were we come in contact with the death of Christ and so his blood(Romans 6:3-4). If that is true, then it works like this, God has said it is for the forgiveness of sins(Acts 2:38). That would mean that God has promised to work in baptism. The problem with many peoples baptism is that they have been taught that God is not at work in baptism to forgive sins. So they have been taught a lie believed a lie and been baptized according to a lie, sad but true. Acts happens to be the only book in the Bible that shows people being baptized into Christ, take note of their conversions do what they did with faith and you will be saved. The feeling of that will depend very much on you, God did not promise us a feeling of joy and peace, but he did promise the forgiveness of our sins, and the hope of eternal life. God wants us to have joy and peace, while we take up our cross and follow our Lord.
First, I’ll ask you to clarify before I jump to conclusions…you said “I’m gay.” Did you say “I’m happy” afterward to reinforce the real meaning of the word “gay?” Or are you really homosexual? …IF the latter is what you meant, sorry to break it to you but you’ve been living in sin. SIN separates us from the Father and you have chosen not to let go of it. That is why you don’t believe — because you choose yourself over Christ. I’m not judging you…just stating the obvious, in love. Your post saddened me and I’m praying for you, Terry. Oh yeah, God is most certainly dissatisfied with your blasphemy (taking His name is vein) which is one of the Ten Commandments…
You’ve already “jumped to conclusions” before writing your reply.
GD is not His Name, so best not to get all righteous on a guy until you can give him some tangible meat to devour whilst inside his carnal flesh.
Sin separates us from The Father. What does Yeshua do then? Casting the first stone are ye?
You are calling a man out for sinning…. do you sin?
Yes you do, so off the high horse, ye hypocrites.
Pardon the course jesting, but I kid, I kid, I sin I sin, either way… you cannot escape (all) sin until you are removed from your flesh, and I guarantee you’re breaking at least ten of YHVH’s laws all day (yep, The Father Himself).
Trust in Yeshua for real. (the LORD, whichever you prefer, hey you could even call Him Jesus or even Yahushua for that matter if you like it better.)
Teach them about Yeshua and His Grace and to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. They will find Him faster when the scorning stops and the facts start.
No one cares….more than your Creator. I pray by faith in mercy & grace one day you’ll be enlightened with the great truth that God does care, even though most Christians will quickly condemn you to perish. 8 or 9 times? That confirms the point I believe Mr. Bethke was making! Tradtions & doctrines of religion have hindered the Truth & Power of God’s Word. I’m sure your nature finds more pleasure in the life you currently live. If you honestly humble yourself, fervently pray, diligently seek Him and turn from your ways His grace is sufficient to save, bless & keep you. Although He is just & righteous to give you the the desires of your heart. Perhaps you desire your own way rather than abandoning all (of your “self”) for divine love, peace, joy, faith, goodness & self control.
God loves everyone. Gay or straight, God loves you. And Jesus is with you no matter what. Do not be discouraged by anyone. Pray. Be with Jesus Christ. He is with you. Your relationship with Jesus Christ is yours and yours alone. Let him into your life. Don’t listen to anyone but God. I will pray for you. I will pray for those that condemn you. Only Jesus Christ can judge. Only his word is the truth. All shall be granted eternal life through Jesus Christ. Only Jesus Christ can judge us. Have faith my friend. Jesus is with you. I am with you. You are not alone. You are loved by God.
how about whenthis: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? 12Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
The thief on the cross was not baptised but he was promised internal life only through faith as he heard and had believed , so he cud speak to jesus the way he did.The true foundation of salvation is hearing the truth and let that truth set u free before you now decide to follow your father.How to become a child of God is number 1 and following him is number 2.Let the dead bury their own dead.Jesus saw people as dead because they were not saved so they cannot follow him.In all scriptures with examples of people who got saved, they had to hear a message, the message touched them then there was a response.inviting jesus into the heart (which heart) the math 7 kind of heart.jesus will never come into it.jesus uses the word to clean your heart before he comes in and dwell as the holyspirit.Take note ‘your Father ‘
At the age of nine I prayed to ask Jesus to come into my heart to be my Lord and Savior. I loved being a Christian. I loved Jesus and I loved the Bible. I used to love witnessing to non-believers and loved defending my belief in (the Christian) God and orthodox/conservative Christianity. Then one day someone challenged me to take a good, hard look at the foundation of my beliefs: the Bible. I was stunned by what I discovered.
1. The Bible is not inerrant. It contains many, many errors, contradictions, and deliberate alterations and additions by the scribes who copied it. The originals are lost, therefore we have no idea what “God” originally” said. Yes, its true—Christians can give “harmonizations” for every alleged error and contradiction, but so can the Muslims for errors in the Koran, and Mormons for errors in the Book of Mormon. One can harmonize anything if you allow for the supernatural.
2. How do we know that the New Testament is the Word of God? Did Jesus leave us a list of inspired books? Did the Apostles? Paul? The answer is, no. The books of the New Testament were added to the canon over several hundred years. Second Peter was not officially accepted into the canon until almost the FIFTH century! So why do all Christians accept every book of the New Testament as the word of God and reject every non-canonical “gospel”? Answer: the ancient (catholic) Church voted these books into your Bible. Period.
There is nowhere in the OT or the NT where God gives men the authority to determine what is and what is not his Word. If Second Peter was really God’s Word, the entire Church should have known so in the first century.
3. Who wrote the Gospels? We have NO idea! The belief that they were written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John is based on hearsay and assumptions—catholic tradition. Protestants denounce most of the traditions of the Catholic Church but have retained two of the most blatant, evidence-lacking traditions which have no basis in historical fact or in the Bible: the canon of the NT and the authorship of the Gospels.
The only shred of evidence that Christians use to support the traditional authorship of the Gospels is one brief statement by a guy named Papias in 130 AD that someone told him that John Mark had written a gospel. That’s it! Papias did not even identify this “gospel”. Yet in 180 AD, Irenaeus, a bishop in FRANCE, declares to the world that the apostles Matthew and John and the associates of Peter and Paul—Mark and Luke—wrote the Gospels. But Irenaeus gives ZERO evidence for his assignment of authorship to these four books. It is well known to historians that it was a common practice at that time for anonymously written books to be ascribed to famous people to give them more authority. For all we know, this is what Irenaeus did in the case of the Gospels.
The foundation of the Christian Faith is the bodily resurrection of Jesus. If the story of the Resurrection comes from four anonymous books, three of which borrow heavily from the first, often word for word, how do we know that the unheard of, fantastically supernatural story of the re-animation of a first century dead man, actually happened??
Maybe the first book written, “Mark”, was written for the same purpose that most books were written in that time period—for the benefit of one wealthy benefactor, and maybe it was written simply as an historical novel, like Homer’s Iliad; not meant to be 100% factual in every detail, but a mix of true historical events as a background, with a real messiah pretender in Palestine, Jesus, but with myth and fiction added to embellish the story and help sell the book! We just do not know for what purpose these books were written!
I slowly came to realize that there is zero verifiable evidence for the Resurrection, and, the Bible is not a reliable document. After four months of desperate attempts to save my faith, I came to the sad conclusion that my faith was based on an ancient superstition; a superstition not based on lies, but based on the sincere but false beliefs of uneducated, superstitious, first century peasants.
You can pray to ask Jesus into your heart 10,000 times, but if there is no evidence for his Resurrection, then odds are that he is dead. And if he is dead, he can’t hear your prayers. Sad, but the truth.
The haphazard “research” you’ve accomplished represents the exact reasons for your flippant and errant conclusions… and to what end??
The very choice you’ve made to make yourself heard in this matter is fully a matter unto itself.
To choose a public forum to denounce our Creator and His Fleshly Born Son was merely YHVH’s way of getting at least one of His humble servants to smack you back into reality.
“Then one day someone challenged me to take a good, hard look at the foundation of my beliefs: the Bible. I was stunned by what I discovered.”
*Right there was the first true issue* You never really challenged yourself, and your beliefs were in the Bible as a specific document, primarily -though in truth- NOT the Creator, Nor The Savior Himself as the very basis of your seeking.
How long ago was that “one day”, who was that “someone” and furthermore what did they believe/ what was their belief system of doctrine- and how much of that person’s personal doctrine did you buy into? Papias is obviously one of them.
You were reading “a document” and probably preaching just as you did herein, yet you most obviously NEVER believed in HIM. Your lack of faith and belief in your Creator sent you into a spiral- a “dead end”. (Thank you for that, Yeshua) He will cut your knowledge short if you do not seek HIM truly with of your mind, body and soul. The answers regarding the validity/errancies of that “document” will be downloaded to you on a continual basis. At that time, you will “know that you know that you know” as you likely have heard others say in the past.
Too many atheists have died and come back with enduring as well as modern truthful stories of Yeshua/Jesus saving them directly from the Pit, some in particular who have NEVER HEARD of the Messiah, having either lived in remote regions or having been raised purely under other religious vexations such as Buddhism. The NDE of an Orthodox Jew was particularly harsh as he was answering directly to God’s Angels and had no protection of the savior. God spared him for having cleaned the graves of strangers in life.
At this luxurious point in our generation, the most significant supernatural occurrences that have happened in Moses’s Torah have been proven by “modern” man’s science and for good reason… a great awakening is happening by His Grace.
From your best easy chair, armed with a cheap laptop, and the newfangled “internets”, there is no more the need to hunt through microfiche at a (government controlled) library for answers and there are definitely no more excuses, what with Crusades, Inquisitions and book-burnings on hold for now- what’s a fella to do? The cat’s out of the bag… … and the mice are running for cover.
Thank you! I whole heartedly agree with every word. It felt as if I was writing it. My grief for the Church is so heavy on my Spirit. I have spoken it to fellow Christians but as Yahwey said would happen happens. The people are hard hearted and stiff necked. Those who have ears to hear don’t hear and those who have eyes to see don’t see. The only thing that comforts me is knowing that Yahwey is in control of all things. I speak the word and if they don’t listen their blood is not on my hands.
The end is quickly approaching. I am rejoicing that I will soon be in the presence of my beloved Father. Yet my heart yearns for everyone to see him and to know him that none should perish.
This is a great article you are very right asking god into yur heart means nothing if yu dont mean it and try to live for him everyday. I have a hard life were i see the devil strongly at work in many different ways and he was taking advantage of my weak hopeless state. Now i beg god everyday to help me change the things satan is influencing in my life and to fill my heart and my life with his beautiful presence so i can heal and live my life the way he meant for me to. Its not something yu get from asking once or twice in church i always do but like i said i beg him everyday for his amazing guidence. To live for him is to do everything through him for him and as much the way yu feel in yur heart he would want for yu this is the only way yu can truely let him b lord of yur life. We let satan dig our holes and it takes time patience and strength that yu must pray for to climb out of that hole it not something that can happen with one prayer. When yu let Jesus fill yur heart yu will rejoice greatly like many in the bible who were overcome with god that will b the only true fulfillment. I feel like that will happen to me wen i get my life were he meant for it to b. Living for him would b true happiness but yu hav to fight and perservere through satans tricks and truely want to do whats right i love jesus and i no matter how much i kno him my heart will learn something new about him everyday.
Furthermore, the true believers of God’s gift comes from faith and true action. To understand the use of the word “believe” in the gospel is to understand the context it is being used and to whom the audience is. Baptism is the action needed to show faith and truly provides the gift of the Holy Spirit threw this reborn experience. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, repent of your old worldly ways, and rise with him in your new spiritual life. Read the word daily and share your faith and love with all. God bless you.
Small correction. Your sins are forgiven at the point of baptism (when baptism follows belief and repentance). It is easy to assume that you are saved when your sins are forgiven but don’t assume anything. Remember Job’s three (or four) friends. They said a lot of right things but because of a few false assumptions they got their behinds bruised by God so to speak.
Angela Taupale Williams on October 5, 2015 at 5:15 pm
I have a question/opinion…… My knowledge is not as some what at the level of your competence with the bible and maybe even with Christ alone but i know in my heart all i think about day in and day out is to fulfill His will. I struggle, i do but recently i have found maybe something that i have noticed that nobody else has really wrote on or acknowledged. I saw your blog and i am always blown away by how you think so confidently logic. Anyways so as i was saying, my new insight was that we are Humans right? created by God, initially in the beginning we were to have ever lasting life but as we all should know by now, was the fall man and what not. So with the fall of man it was because of disobedience technically speaking it was the decision Eve made and unconsciously knowing it was Adam’s too. My question was that after all of that came Jesus. We were saved through Him and gifted with the our own free will. So being said i do feel, in my own opinion, that we must declare Jesus as our Lord and savior at the altar and repeatedly make that choice everyday and not just a choice from yesterday defining the rest of your life but more of what you do for Christ today that God the Father will see as obedience on a daily basis and that is through the choices and decision making daily?? so again my point is that to be saved is to declare and to give your life but to be sanctify is a process and everyday we have a choice to lay our lives down and give God authority. I remind myself that i must choose God everyday and that all i have is today!! I would love to hear your opinion on this. You inspire me and praise God for you for. Thank you 🙂
WoW. You moved me. YOU are the one inspiring. Yes, we are all sin. We will forever sin until we go to Heaven. We can only ask for forgiveness each day. And today is the day that matters most to God for each of us. For it is only today that we can use our free will to do God’s work. We cannot be set on what we didn’t do yesterday. Or what we plan to do tomorrow. We can only do today what we can do. Jesus Christ died for us. He died so we can live eternally and never die. So that we can live for ever with him and the father. We cannot judge anyone. Nor should we. Because we would only judge ourselves. The kingdom of heaven was meant for those who open the door to Jesus Christ and accept him into their lives. And that goes for every man and woman ever. Regardless of color, religion, sexual preference, etc. EVERYONE is loved by God and has the opportunity to live eternally in Heaven. Jesus is the only way to Heaven. No man is above God. No man is deemed worthy to enter Heaven. Only through Jesus Christ do we find redemption. Only through Jesus Christ do we find eternity. Only through Jesus Christ do we find salvation. His sacrifice allowed us to be free from the bondage of sin. Only He. Trust in God. Trust in Jesus Christ. The door is open. Fill me with your spirit oh Lord. Bless those who do not know you. I pray that you will be with them and guide them. I pray that you will protect them and keep them safe. I pray that they will find the way to you Oh Lord. I pray this in your name, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Austin McGee - Johnston on November 1, 2015 at 10:29 pm
well if you ask me im terrifyed of the lord when i went looking in the bible for awnceres after this prayer years after i said it as a child and then lived in sin threwout my childhood years and teenage years and adult years im 23 now! commited lots of sin! and now i see the message after confessing because i have been dealing with so many voices in my head because i couldent use my body or my morals right and he revealed himself to me alot.. wisdome could be the death of me. He put his hand on me and said he loves me. all his word is truth. Man all the unseen. i was also mad at the lord when i was a kid and lead a life of sin because of the world and my problems… blamed him alot as if i didnt love him. you have no idea how i have been accocaited with them. KEEP YOURSELF AND REBUKE YOURSELFS FROM SIN ALL OF IT! if you wanna dig deeper dont have to bad of a meltdown. Dictonarys are good for seeing all the lies about the peoples excusses if you say dont say that. look up faith too. “Give thanks to the lord, for his steadfast love endures forever!”
It is unfortunate the discussion got side tracked by baptism. Baptism is a legitimate and needed discussion but hold off for now and let the author’s point sink in.
There are commonly accepted Christian concepts, such has pray Jesus into your heart as a stand alone forms of conversion that have been totally finessed out of the blue. And more likely than not with good intention. The only stand alone example of conversion in the bible that I’m aware of it the first time it was laid out and carried out. What I mean is since it was the first time, there was no precedence thus it stood alone. All other New Testament examples of conversion that follow do not stand alone as the original 3,000 in Acts 2 stands behind. If you assume Peter did not once again botch thing up he cleanest, safest bet to avoid conceptualizations like pray Jesus into your heart it to go to the stand alone source. The following conversion examples after Acts 2 seem to bring out each of the various elements. But for now I suggest not getting into the individual elements. Let the author’s basic point sink in and save further discussion for another day. Otherwise a good point will be lost.
Austin McGee - Johnston on November 2, 2015 at 1:06 pm
You know when you ask Jesus into your heart that you recieved him. Jesus faith is old testemate and all of it is Truth .
He walked free from sin and died so people didnt have to kill animals to sacrafice to the father for atonement and walk free from sin like he did.
He planted the seed threw this prayer so people would seek him, not sin, and not break gods laws. You know if you keep walking in sin, Breaking The Laws after the prayer and dont seek his word you will wish you where never Born
we should not like anything in this world. we all need fear of sin and grow in the lord free from sin in every way of our lifes and bring glory to him in his works threw us and give credit to him for that is the good fruits of our lifes as plants that recieve the light of truth.
Sin is all the bad fruits and it stunts our growth from recieving light and is weighed against us. Weeds dont care and live in sin all there lifes and dont do any good works and resist every word and dont beleave old testamate or new testamate is all the truth.
They are testamonys of the living breathing god that lives and tells the truth. They dont beleave there is a creater or savior who was the son of the jewish god to live our lifes as christens free from all sin.
He is the creater of everything and is even the god of the people that resist christ ways and dont beleave in GOD. GOD that is in the old testamate are all people who experienced and Truth!!!! and heard him!
God sent JESUS for a reason to tell us that everything that is written in the bible is the truth!!!! Those things happened and happen!!! we need to fear the lord and walk blameless like christ the lord did every day!
Austin McGee - Johnston on November 4, 2015 at 2:13 am
i beleave he also is the savior of the poor that have nothing to treasure but him and they are suffering in the cold without homes and will be saved i beleave
Austin McGee - Johnston on November 3, 2015 at 9:03 pm
Hey MY Post Got A Lot Of People Feaking Out! IM Sorry And apologyse for the the ememys attack. It is the free gift to salvation to beleave and recieve the lord for redemtion
Austin McGee - Johnston on November 3, 2015 at 9:44 pm
we are saved when we recieve him. He is the Living water. He is in our hearts and we do need to Praise him for what he did. It Was finnished when he died on the cross ,we need know he was the perfict lamb free from sin. We all had questions sorry, for my post down there he was the pure sacrafice for our sins we were all afraid and we all know why we love him he is worthy of praise. just beleave in him and his kingdom and how gloryous it will be THANK JESUS WE ARE FREE FROM DAMBNATION!!!!! we need to ask him into all the hearts of the children he is lord and worthy of praise.
Austin McGee - Johnston on November 3, 2015 at 9:53 pm
he guides us with the holy spirt because we recived him so we can point out the sin in our lives and be open in heart for people who need him and his saving grace..
What the ‘christians’ i’ve known say something like this ‘and we ask this in the precious name of Jesus’ and then they go out and look for their ‘next victum’.
There are plenty of hypocrites. Jesus made it clear what he thought of them. Jesus said to the hypocrites, “how will you escape the condemnation of hell”. Thing is the ungodly are going to have to put up with the hypocrites for eternity.
I agree with everything except the message that should be preached. Surely once someone is born again, truly encountered the gospel, they will need to die to self daily. But the gospel itself is not a message that focuses on death to self, persecution, etc.. I know you know this. Giving our lives as a sacrifice should be the RESPONSE to the gospel, not the message itself. No prayer can accomplish this. Only the sincere response to an encounter with Him can do it. The good news is The Father’s heart as revealed to us in the very life Jesus lived. Here’s what it says, “My children, I know you don’t understand love. But I cannot help Myself. I will not stop chasing you. There’s no length I won’t go to, even up to and including death, to save you. I offer you My everything, freely, with no strings attached.” Let that be seen in public. Let that be modeled and people will be cut to the heart and cry out as they did on Pentecost. When we see His majesty, I believe offering our life is a natural response. Are we, the voice, presenting Him? C’mon, let’s just display His character and nature and trust in what it necessarily must produce!
People will only display this character and life if they truely had an encounter with him through his word.I agree brother that offering our life is a natural response.It has to be natural, flowing from understanding of Gods own sacrifice for us.Thank you
That’s because Baptists are afraid of the Holy Spirit, they think the gifts are demonic. Fact: Modern christianity is all screwed up. Fact: Until either the Lord raises up an unquestionable miracle ministry with a prophetic voice (The Two Witnesses) or the Lord Himself returns things will remain as they are, even get worse.
Jesus’ ministry IS perfect and when we plug into Him, and His word, we will receive an unquestionable miracle ministry. His ministry is perfect. It’s man that has distorted The Truth….and that, unfortunately, is part of our brokenness. Many Christians fail to be in the Holy Spirit (as you faithfully observed), when they witness to others. Personal ideologies are born and we have…religion.
…and yes, I’m in Spirit as I preach this, but I PRAY that anyone who reads my messages will ask the Lord to resonate before you, with HIS TRUTH! What is He trying to convey to you in messages you read from others? PRAY FOR HIS WILL AND HIS TRUTH, in Jesus name!
As much as I want others to Know God grace, and to experience what I experience. I’ve noticed that some people were better off not knowing God at all… because giving up their life wasn’t in the plan at the beginning. The culture we live in only wants to spend time with God on a Sunday. Can you Imagine the relationship between a married couple if the interaction was set aside for one day. The scripture is true. Man must lay his life down for his wife as Christ did for the Church. If not… Why get married? “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
Galatians 4:6 tells us God puts His Son in the heart Himself…..and Romans 8:15,16 tells how we can know we are saved….the real sinners prayer is Like 18:13….
He made a very good point… though initially receiving Jesus into our heart is just for first time converts but we christians are called to continue receiving Christ everyday by following his teachings and denying our selves and carrying our crosses. There are different Christians, to Catholics…receiving Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, if one is in a state of mortal sin then one must NOT receive Jesus in Holy Communion, as Saint Paul warned early christians that you must know whom you are receiving. One has to confess their sins to the priest and resolve not to do sins anymore, then one can resume receiving Jesus in the Eucharist. To other protestant sects, or Born Again…. although I have no history as to who started the formula prayer… “Receiving Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour” …. is not an end in itself but just a first step.
Same here too, I think that every Christian has to give emphasis on Holy Trinity…one of the most fundamental tenets of Christianity. When I started reading the Gospels, Jesus had been always referring to God the Father and the Son and Himself altogether, three persons in one God.
Indeed, He did. I also loved that Jesus used The Living Word to base His ministry and testimonies, which God created to be factual….a way to prove His promises are kept. For example…’Truly, truly, I say to you….” OR “Isn’t it written….”.
He never diverted from The Living Word, nor did He add or embellish, or remove context. We know Jesus is perfect. So must be His teachings.
Your title put’s your words in God’s mouth. Not a true christian thing to do according to the Bible. I understand your point, but How can you speak for Jesus? Would Jesus have used such a title? What would Jesus have used as a title? You are doing EXACTLY what you are fighting against. Jesus would educate with love and passion. No matter what. That is what WE as christians should do. I speak only of what I know of Jesus. How he was. What he taught us from the Bible. But you put words into HIS mouth. I pray that you see what you have done. Regardless of the message you are trying to bring. You have brought a more grave one. Look deep inside. Pray to God for wisdom. I will do the same.
Doesn’t it haunt you that people never made a “decision” but rather gave up all they had to follow Jesus?
But they understood something before giving up their all.They acted out of understanding.They were not remote-controlled to do that.What did they understand that made them give up all they had?That is the message we must listen to, before we respond as they did.
Thank you for your Message!! Jesus disciples never invited him into their hearts, actually he choose them to walk with him ” You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 15: 16 . We are saved by the Lords grace and mercy,We should be more like the people of Nineveh, After hearing Jonahs warning, they repented and asked the Lord to have mercy on them and waited on the Lord to see if he would save them and he did. Jesus is wants repentance and obedience not just lip service!!
Thank you for this post. I completely understand your logic, and Christians must be right in understanding that following Jesus does require surrender and faith. To be honest, I feel alone and I know that I always will be alone. While others think that I’m getting even more and more insane, I know that the life of a Christian is insane. It’s opposed to the teachings of the world. While I continue to feel sorrow for the world, as it is, and I know it’s going to get worse, I’m told by others to cheer up, believe in myself, etc, but if that is at the sacrifice of forgetting Jesus, forget it. I’d rather be alone. He died for me, and I have to make the ultimate sacrifice too. The sad fact is that I’m an abuser. I’ve been bullied and abused all of my life and I’m so afraid of abandonment, yet I can’t leave Jesus. It is totally built into my heart. I find it so difficult to trust humans, but I know that Jesus will always stay with us, it is His promise. i write a lot about this on my blogs, but I only have 246 followers. At least it’s better than none. I don’t know if I’m truly saved, but I’m going to continue to pray for God to change my heart, to help me to forgive others, to love others unconditionally, and for patience, as I have no patience. I have a long way to go, but my heart is sincere.
From the beginning, since Yeshua began His ministry, man has made ‘religion’ his/her own ideology. I’m a Christian and my church is Jesus. I go to church to celebrate His truth, His word and His love for us. I pray for God’s wisdom to prevail over mine. I often forget and fail, but I try not to witness without being in the Spirit. Perfection is in God alone, God being The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.
Thy kingdom come Thy will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
We cannot be perfect by doing because we will ALWAYS fall short from the grace of God. We are perfect in God, who died for us.
Be flexible to the Lord and for the Lord, and His truth will always prevail over purported truths by mankind.
I agree with you sort of. But I am curious as your take on why those baptised after the apostles didn’t leave their homes to follow the apostles and why it seemed as though the group of believers lived as a community.
I’m not going to judge you one way or another, but I strongly disagree with how you think. GOD must live in our hearts for us to live like HIS SON JESUS! When David did wrong he repented, and GOD said HE loved David because he was a man after HIS OWN WHAT? HEART! We must let GOD into our hearts so HE can change our hearts!!
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Can’t observe it. Can’t measure it. Can’t physically feel it. Don’t bother.
Ask God every day to help you understand. If nothing happens then no big deal. What have you got to lose? You posted on this thread for a reason. God loves you even though you may not believe in Him. But I think you do.
more harm than good
a modern – a substitution – that doesn’t work.
if someone really wants to know for sure that they are a Christian – then they should become a disciple of Jesus the same way they did in the NT
Pray, if you are truly seeking God – for the Creator to send some disciples into your path – they will not lead you in some man made prayer – but will ope the Scriptures with you and call you to obey.
When people believed in Jesus and were pricked in their hearts they asked Peter what they should do? ” Peter said to them Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy spirit”(Acts 2:38). There were many other things he said that day which are not recorded. Repentance explained, would be part of what you are talking about but the baptism he talks about is one in which God is forgiving you. That baptism is in Water according to Acts 10:47-48. It is an act of faith, not a baptism after you are saved but a baptism you are commanded to do for the forgiveness of sins. We are not saved by our works but we will not be saved without them( James 2:24). Self righteousness only get us to Hell.
“It is an act of faith” – faith in Jesus, and action (work) of the Holy Spirit – not water, or baptism that accomplishes this…”lest men should boast”. And, find himself in the same (works) boat as Jefferson highlighted – a “flimsy salvation” based on a long forgotten decision – or, an outward demonstration of faith such as a “baptism”.
“And now why do you wait arise and be baptized and wash away your sins calling on the name of the Lord.” Acts 22:16
Please please read this!
Rest in Him alone…
Love you!
http://www.gotquestions.org/baptism-Acts-22-16.html
We agree that faith and grace are necessary for salvation. The problem is your tradition that says it is salvation is by faith alone. James says, ” You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only( James 2:24).” The kind of faith you talk about is very popular today, but very unlike God has taught from one end of the Bible to the other; and so very dangerous.
Why is Noah a man of faith? ” By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with Godly fear, prepared and ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” (Hebrews 11:7). Jesus said, ” And in vain do they worship me teaching as doctrines the commandments of men ( Mt 15:9). If it is the commandments( precepts) of men, it makes our worship of God vain. You cannot separate Jesus from the truth. We both understand salvation is impossible without Jesus. The problem is in your definition of faith. Would Noah have been saved by faith alone? I will pray for your salvation, you have a zeal for God but not according to knowledge(Romans 10).
thank you it has been a dangerous road
In response to your message of Paul’s receiving of the spirit prior to being baptized, you must understand the authority Christ has been given. As the son of our Heavenly Father he has authority to forgive sin and bless those with the spirit as he pleases. Just as Jesus allowed the thief beside him on the cross, who we can a suite was never baptized
As to Catholics….their interpretation is….Jesus made the Sacraments but He is not bound by it. He could choose to do so because He is God. But He left us a commandment….to preach and Baptise in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
i learned that the other day
What you did with Acts 22:16 is simply ignore it. I have no problem understanding that salvation is by grace through faith. The problem is your definition of faith, which ignores the truth. ” You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone” (James 2:24).
This may not be as literal as it looks, much like the bible itself. I, myself, will pray on this scripture and ask for God to show me His inspiration regarding James 2:24. What does God mean by works? What does god mean by justified and who is justifying him? The entire context of this piece of scripture is necessary, to pray for God’s truth. What is said before and after verse 24, is just as relevant to the message. Sometimes, we remove the truth by dissecting scripture. I know God has spoken to me with a single verse for a specific situation. That’s what I love about God’s Word. It has no shelf life and it applies to all who are in relationship with Him. Peace.
Dear friend, we are saved by the death of Jesus Christ. Our salvation is found in Yeshua, the Sacrificial Lamb, alone. His blood was spilled to clean our sins. He became every sin…even the worst of worst. HE BECAME EVERY SIN ON THE CROSS, so we would be redeemed in the eyes of God. In this case, it is a gift we must accept. God did give us free will, so we accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, if we choose.
We baptize ourselves, we pray, we read the Living Word, we worship, we go to church, we confess our sins…. but we will ALWAYS fall short of the grace of God. It is an act of faith, reverence, obedience, and worship, to be baptized.
Big love!
I agree…. I just wanted to make sure she understands that getting baptized is not what saves you. I think the got questions.org
article explained that well. Baptism is an outward expression of what
has already happened in a believer’s heart. When I first believed, God
Himself baptized me with the Holy Spirit and I’m forever a child of God. 🙂
Thank YOU Jesus for shedding your blood for me and reconciling me back to my Father. 🙂
Agreed…Please read the response I wrote to Dana from gotquestions.org
True, and an addition is not to forget that Jesus before He went up to heaven gave a command to His Apostles and disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptise them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He prefigure what baptism is to be done with outward means, by water. If water does symbolize nothing at all…well maybe that was why Jesus have showed us the example of baptism Himself. Faith is both expressed internally and externally, spiritually and physically, personal to social, it is all and all.
INDEED!
John 7:37-39 (NKJV)
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing[a] in Him would receive; for the Holy[b] Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
He IS the LIVING WATER. Baptism is an act of faith, being washed over by The Holy Trinity and in His Promises!
John 7: 37-39
Hi Dana I think I know what u mean I’d like ur help I asked Jesus into my heart but it didn’t change me. I continued in beer smoking and all the the things that are Coman to man I go to church but nobody seems to have the answer they only have doctrine to back up their beliefs. I want to be saved by Jesus I’ve been baptised 3 times. Submersion and it still isn’t right I’ve been searching for years. I think if Jesus saved u then I would know like if I got married I’d know I was married. So where do I go from here any answers
Stephen I tried to answer you, but I did not see it come up. Did you get it?
Stephen, let me try this again since I cannot find my earlier post. We are told to believe in Jesus, that is what you do. We are told to repent and again it is what you are commanded to do before and without the inner working of the Holy Spirit, as we see it in Acts 2:38. Understanding that the sword of the Spirit is the word of God, so that if the word of God is at work on our heart then we have allowed the Spirit to work. Repentance is that change of mind toward sin that will be followed by works that fit repentance(Acts 26:20). You will need to determine to do these things. It will not be easy, the Corinthians were babes in Christ and acting like mere men(1Cor 3:1-3). They had made changes (1Cor 6:9-11) but they were in need of making more. The point is once we are truly in Christ we have decided to make him Lord, therefore we know the need to obey him and we are in charge of that. There is strength that we can have through his Spirit but that is very much dependent on us. About baptism, baptism is simply and act of faith necessary for salvation. Baptism is were we come in contact with the death of Christ and so his blood(Romans 6:3-4). If that is true, then it works like this, God has said it is for the forgiveness of sins(Acts 2:38). That would mean that God has promised to work in baptism. The problem with many peoples baptism is that they have been taught that God is not at work in baptism to forgive sins. So they have been taught a lie believed a lie and been baptized according to a lie, sad but true. Acts happens to be the only book in the Bible that shows people being baptized into Christ, take note of their conversions do what they did with faith and you will be saved. The feeling of that will depend very much on you, God did not promise us a feeling of joy and peace, but he did promise the forgiveness of our sins, and the hope of eternal life. God wants us to have joy and peace, while we take up our cross and follow our Lord.
Thanks Dana I will certainly. Do that now and thank you for your help.
I’ve been born again 8 or 9 times and know what? I dont believe a GD thing. And im fine with that. Im gay, im happy and who cares.
First, I’ll ask you to clarify before I jump to conclusions…you said “I’m gay.” Did you say “I’m happy” afterward to reinforce the real meaning of the word “gay?” Or are you really homosexual? …IF the latter is what you meant, sorry to break it to you but you’ve been living in sin. SIN separates us from the Father and you have chosen not to let go of it. That is why you don’t believe — because you choose yourself over Christ. I’m not judging you…just stating the obvious, in love. Your post saddened me and I’m praying for you, Terry. Oh yeah, God is most certainly dissatisfied with your blasphemy (taking His name is vein) which is one of the Ten Commandments…
You’ve already “jumped to conclusions” before writing your reply.
GD is not His Name, so best not to get all righteous on a guy until you can give him some tangible meat to devour whilst inside his carnal flesh.
Sin separates us from The Father. What does Yeshua do then? Casting the first stone are ye?
You are calling a man out for sinning…. do you sin?
Yes you do, so off the high horse, ye hypocrites.
Pardon the course jesting, but I kid, I kid, I sin I sin, either way… you cannot escape (all) sin until you are removed from your flesh, and I guarantee you’re breaking at least ten of YHVH’s laws all day (yep, The Father Himself).
Trust in Yeshua for real. (the LORD, whichever you prefer, hey you could even call Him Jesus or even Yahushua for that matter if you like it better.)
Teach them about Yeshua and His Grace and to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. They will find Him faster when the scorning stops and the facts start.
YHVH Bless!
No one cares….more than your Creator. I pray by faith in mercy & grace one day you’ll be enlightened with the great truth that God does care, even though most Christians will quickly condemn you to perish. 8 or 9 times? That confirms the point I believe Mr. Bethke was making! Tradtions & doctrines of religion have hindered the Truth & Power of God’s Word.
I’m sure your nature finds more pleasure in the life you currently live. If you honestly humble yourself, fervently pray, diligently seek Him and turn from your ways His grace is sufficient to save, bless & keep you. Although He is just & righteous to give you the the desires of your heart. Perhaps you desire your own way rather than abandoning all (of your “self”) for divine love, peace, joy, faith, goodness & self control.
God loves everyone. Gay or straight, God loves you. And Jesus is with you no matter what. Do not be discouraged by anyone. Pray. Be with Jesus Christ. He is with you. Your relationship with Jesus Christ is yours and yours alone. Let him into your life. Don’t listen to anyone but God. I will pray for you. I will pray for those that condemn you. Only Jesus Christ can judge. Only his word is the truth. All shall be granted eternal life through Jesus Christ. Only Jesus Christ can judge us. Have faith my friend. Jesus is with you. I am with you. You are not alone. You are loved by God.
Christ’s Church doesn’t open only on Sundays too…reflect on the lamentable status of “Christian” churches in America that are closed 6 days a week.
how about whenthis:
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
12Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
28And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
The thief on the cross was not baptised but he was promised internal life only through faith as he heard and had believed , so he cud speak to jesus the way he did.The true foundation of salvation is hearing the truth and let that truth set u free before you now decide to follow your father.How to become a child of God is number 1 and following him is number 2.Let the dead bury their own dead.Jesus saw people as dead because they were not saved so they cannot follow him.In all scriptures with examples of people who got saved, they had to hear a message, the message touched them then there was a response.inviting jesus into the heart (which heart) the math 7 kind of heart.jesus will never come into it.jesus uses the word to clean your heart before he comes in and dwell as the holyspirit.Take note ‘your Father ‘
At the age of nine I prayed to ask Jesus to come into my heart to be my Lord and Savior. I loved being a Christian. I loved Jesus and I loved the Bible. I used to love witnessing to non-believers and loved defending my belief in (the Christian) God and orthodox/conservative Christianity. Then one day someone challenged me to take a good, hard look at the foundation of my beliefs: the Bible. I was stunned by what I discovered.
1. The Bible is not inerrant. It contains many, many errors, contradictions, and deliberate alterations and additions by the scribes who copied it. The originals are lost, therefore we have no idea what “God” originally” said. Yes, its true—Christians can give “harmonizations” for every alleged error and contradiction, but so can the Muslims for errors in the Koran, and Mormons for errors in the Book of Mormon. One can harmonize anything if you allow for the supernatural.
2. How do we know that the New Testament is the Word of God? Did Jesus leave us a list of inspired books? Did the Apostles? Paul? The answer is, no. The books of the New Testament were added to the canon over several hundred years. Second Peter was not officially accepted into the canon until almost the FIFTH century! So why do all Christians accept every book of the New Testament as the word of God and reject every non-canonical “gospel”? Answer: the ancient (catholic) Church voted these books into your Bible. Period.
There is nowhere in the OT or the NT where God gives men the authority to determine what is and what is not his Word. If Second Peter was really God’s Word, the entire Church should have known so in the first century.
3. Who wrote the Gospels? We have NO idea! The belief that they were written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John is based on hearsay and assumptions—catholic tradition. Protestants denounce most of the traditions of the Catholic Church but have retained two of the most blatant, evidence-lacking traditions which have no basis in historical fact or in the Bible: the canon of the NT and the authorship of the Gospels.
The only shred of evidence that Christians use to support the traditional authorship of the Gospels is one brief statement by a guy named Papias in 130 AD that someone told him that John Mark had written a gospel. That’s it! Papias did not even identify this “gospel”. Yet in 180 AD, Irenaeus, a bishop in FRANCE, declares to the world that the apostles Matthew and John and the associates of Peter and Paul—Mark and Luke—wrote the Gospels. But Irenaeus gives ZERO evidence for his assignment of authorship to these four books. It is well known to historians that it was a common practice at that time for anonymously written books to be ascribed to famous people to give them more authority. For all we know, this is what Irenaeus did in the case of the Gospels.
The foundation of the Christian Faith is the bodily resurrection of Jesus. If the story of the Resurrection comes from four anonymous books, three of which borrow heavily from the first, often word for word, how do we know that the unheard of, fantastically supernatural story of the re-animation of a first century dead man, actually happened??
Maybe the first book written, “Mark”, was written for the same purpose that most books were written in that time period—for the benefit of one wealthy benefactor, and maybe it was written simply as an historical novel, like Homer’s Iliad; not meant to be 100% factual in every detail, but a mix of true historical events as a background, with a real messiah pretender in Palestine, Jesus, but with myth and fiction added to embellish the story and help sell the book! We just do not know for what purpose these books were written!
I slowly came to realize that there is zero verifiable evidence for the Resurrection, and, the Bible is not a reliable document. After four months of desperate attempts to save my faith, I came to the sad conclusion that my faith was based on an ancient superstition; a superstition not based on lies, but based on the sincere but false beliefs of uneducated, superstitious, first century peasants.
You can pray to ask Jesus into your heart 10,000 times, but if there is no evidence for his Resurrection, then odds are that he is dead. And if he is dead, he can’t hear your prayers. Sad, but the truth.
Gary,
The haphazard “research” you’ve accomplished represents the exact reasons for your flippant and errant conclusions… and to what end??
The very choice you’ve made to make yourself heard in this matter is fully a matter unto itself.
To choose a public forum to denounce our Creator and His Fleshly Born Son was merely YHVH’s way of getting at least one of His humble servants to smack you back into reality.
“Then one day someone challenged me to take a good, hard look at the foundation of my beliefs: the Bible. I was stunned by what I discovered.”
*Right there was the first true issue* You never really challenged yourself, and your beliefs were in the Bible as a specific document, primarily -though in truth- NOT the Creator, Nor The Savior Himself as the very basis of your seeking.
How long ago was that “one day”, who was that “someone” and furthermore what did they believe/ what was their belief system of doctrine- and how much of that person’s personal doctrine did you buy into? Papias is obviously one of them.
You were reading “a document” and probably preaching just as you did herein, yet you most obviously NEVER believed in HIM. Your lack of faith and belief in your Creator sent you into a spiral- a “dead end”. (Thank you for that, Yeshua) He will cut your knowledge short if you do not seek HIM truly with of your mind, body and soul. The answers regarding the validity/errancies of that “document” will be downloaded to you on a continual basis. At that time, you will “know that you know that you know” as you likely have heard others say in the past.
Too many atheists have died and come back with enduring as well as modern truthful stories of Yeshua/Jesus saving them directly from the Pit, some in particular who have NEVER HEARD of the Messiah, having either lived in remote regions or having been raised purely under other religious vexations such as Buddhism. The NDE of an Orthodox Jew was particularly harsh as he was answering directly to God’s Angels and had no protection of the savior. God spared him for having cleaned the graves of strangers in life.
Sometimes it really is as simple as this…
Here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0Ns3D6Tpfs
At this luxurious point in our generation, the most significant supernatural occurrences that have happened in Moses’s Torah have been proven by “modern” man’s science and for good reason… a great awakening is happening by His Grace.
And this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-v6dzIrGR4
From your best easy chair, armed with a cheap laptop, and the newfangled “internets”, there is no more the need to hunt through microfiche at a (government controlled) library for answers and there are definitely no more excuses, what with Crusades, Inquisitions and book-burnings on hold for now- what’s a fella to do? The cat’s out of the bag…
… and the mice are running for cover.
YHVH Bless!
On July 17th 1999 at 10:30am I was converted. I didn’t ask to be saved and I didn’t want to be saved, but I am saved.
”But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me”.
who got saved like u in the scriptures?
AWESOME!!!!
Thank you! I whole heartedly agree with every word. It felt as if I was writing it. My grief for the Church is so heavy on my Spirit. I have spoken it to fellow Christians but as Yahwey said would happen happens. The people are hard hearted and stiff necked. Those who have ears to hear don’t hear and those who have eyes to see don’t see. The only thing that comforts me is knowing that Yahwey is in control of all things. I speak the word and if they don’t listen their blood is not on my hands.
The end is quickly approaching. I am rejoicing that I will soon be in the presence of my beloved Father. Yet my heart yearns for everyone to see him and to know him that none should perish.
Yahwey bless you Brother!
This is a great article you are very right asking god into yur heart means nothing if yu dont mean it and try to live for him everyday. I have a hard life were i see the devil strongly at work in many different ways and he was taking advantage of my weak hopeless state. Now i beg god everyday to help me change the things satan is influencing in my life and to fill my heart and my life with his beautiful presence so i can heal and live my life the way he meant for me to. Its not something yu get from asking once or twice in church i always do but like i said i beg him everyday for his amazing guidence. To live for him is to do everything through him for him and as much the way yu feel in yur heart he would want for yu this is the only way yu can truely let him b lord of yur life. We let satan dig our holes and it takes time patience and strength that yu must pray for to climb out of that hole it not something that can happen with one prayer. When yu let Jesus fill yur heart yu will rejoice greatly like many in the bible who were overcome with god that will b the only true fulfillment. I feel like that will happen to me wen i get my life were he meant for it to b. Living for him would b true happiness but yu hav to fight and perservere through satans tricks and truely want to do whats right i love jesus and i no matter how much i kno him my heart will learn something new about him everyday.
Furthermore, the true believers of God’s gift comes from faith and true action. To understand the use of the word “believe” in the gospel is to understand the context it is being used and to whom the audience is. Baptism is the action needed to show faith and truly provides the gift of the Holy Spirit threw this reborn experience. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, repent of your old worldly ways, and rise with him in your new spiritual life. Read the word daily and share your faith and love with all. God bless you.
We are saved at the point of Baptism. Too many Spiritual leaders don’t teach this. Every who believes you do no need to be Baptized read Acts 38
Small correction. Your sins are forgiven at the point of baptism (when baptism follows belief and repentance). It is easy to assume that you are saved when your sins are forgiven but don’t assume anything. Remember Job’s three (or four) friends. They said a lot of right things but because of a few false assumptions they got their behinds bruised by God so to speak.
thief on the cross was saved without baptism what do u say about him.is God an error guy?
I have a question/opinion…… My knowledge is not as some what at the level of your competence with the bible and maybe even with Christ alone but i know in my heart all i think about day in and day out is to fulfill His will. I struggle, i do but recently i have found maybe something that i have noticed that nobody else has really wrote on or acknowledged. I saw your blog and i am always blown away by how you think so confidently logic. Anyways so as i was saying, my new insight was that we are Humans right? created by God, initially in the beginning we were to have ever lasting life but as we all should know by now, was the fall man and what not. So with the fall of man it was because of disobedience technically speaking it was the decision Eve made and unconsciously knowing it was Adam’s too. My question was that after all of that came Jesus. We were saved through Him and gifted with the our own free will. So being said i do feel, in my own opinion, that we must declare Jesus as our Lord and savior at the altar and repeatedly make that choice everyday and not just a choice from yesterday defining the rest of your life but more of what you do for Christ today that God the Father will see as obedience on a daily basis and that is through the choices and decision making daily?? so again my point is that to be saved is to declare and to give your life but to be sanctify is a process and everyday we have a choice to lay our lives down and give God authority. I remind myself that i must choose God everyday and that all i have is today!! I would love to hear your opinion on this. You inspire me and praise God for you for.
Thank you 🙂
WoW. You moved me. YOU are the one inspiring. Yes, we are all sin. We will forever sin until we go to Heaven. We can only ask for forgiveness each day. And today is the day that matters most to God for each of us. For it is only today that we can use our free will to do God’s work. We cannot be set on what we didn’t do yesterday. Or what we plan to do tomorrow. We can only do today what we can do. Jesus Christ died for us. He died so we can live eternally and never die. So that we can live for ever with him and the father. We cannot judge anyone. Nor should we. Because we would only judge ourselves. The kingdom of heaven was meant for those who open the door to Jesus Christ and accept him into their lives. And that goes for every man and woman ever. Regardless of color, religion, sexual preference, etc. EVERYONE is loved by God and has the opportunity to live eternally in Heaven. Jesus is the only way to Heaven. No man is above God. No man is deemed worthy to enter Heaven. Only through Jesus Christ do we find redemption. Only through Jesus Christ do we find eternity. Only through Jesus Christ do we find salvation. His sacrifice allowed us to be free from the bondage of sin. Only He. Trust in God. Trust in Jesus Christ. The door is open.
Fill me with your spirit oh Lord. Bless those who do not know you. I pray that you will be with them and guide them. I pray that you will protect them and keep them safe. I pray that they will find the way to you Oh Lord. I pray this in your name, Jesus Christ. Amen.
well if you ask me im terrifyed of the lord when i went looking in the bible for awnceres after this prayer years after i said it as a child and then lived in sin threwout my childhood years and teenage years and adult years im 23 now! commited lots of sin! and now i see the message after confessing because i have been dealing with so many voices in my head because i couldent use my body or my morals right and he revealed himself to me alot.. wisdome could be the death of me. He put his hand on me and said he loves me. all his word is truth. Man all the unseen. i was also mad at the lord when i was a kid and lead a life of sin because of the world and my problems… blamed him alot as if i didnt love him. you have no idea how i have been accocaited with them. KEEP YOURSELF AND REBUKE YOURSELFS FROM SIN ALL OF IT! if you wanna dig deeper dont have to bad of a meltdown. Dictonarys are good for seeing all the lies about the peoples excusses if you say dont say that. look up faith too. “Give thanks to the lord, for his steadfast love endures forever!”
It is unfortunate the discussion got side tracked by baptism. Baptism is a legitimate and needed discussion but hold off for now and let the author’s point sink in.
There are commonly accepted Christian concepts, such has pray Jesus into your heart as a stand alone forms of conversion that have been totally finessed out of the blue. And more likely than not with good intention. The only stand alone example of conversion in the bible that I’m aware of it the first time it was laid out and carried out. What I mean is since it was the first time, there was no precedence thus it stood alone. All other New Testament examples of conversion that follow do not stand alone as the original 3,000 in Acts 2 stands behind. If you assume Peter did not once again botch thing up he cleanest, safest bet to avoid conceptualizations like pray Jesus into your heart it to go to the stand alone source. The following conversion examples after Acts 2 seem to bring out each of the various elements. But for now I suggest not getting into the individual elements. Let the author’s basic point sink in and save further discussion for another day. Otherwise a good point will be lost.
You know when you ask Jesus into your heart that you recieved him.
Jesus faith is old testemate and all of it is Truth .
He walked free from sin and died so people didnt have to kill animals to sacrafice to the father for atonement and walk free from sin like he did.
He planted the seed threw this prayer so people would seek him, not sin, and not break gods laws.
You know if you keep walking in sin, Breaking The Laws after the prayer and dont seek his word you will wish you where never Born
we should not like anything in this world. we all need fear of sin and grow in the lord free from sin in every way of our lifes and bring glory to him in his works threw us and give credit to him for that is the good fruits of our lifes as plants that recieve the light of truth.
Sin is all the bad fruits and it stunts our growth from recieving light and is weighed against us.
Weeds dont care and live in sin all there lifes and dont do any good works and resist every word and dont beleave old testamate or new testamate is all the truth.
They are testamonys of the living breathing god that lives and tells the truth.
They dont beleave there is a creater or savior who was the son of the jewish god to live our lifes as christens free from all sin.
He is the creater of everything and is even the god of the people that resist christ ways and dont beleave in GOD. GOD that is in the old testamate are all people who experienced and Truth!!!!
and heard him!
God sent JESUS for a reason to tell us that everything that is written in the bible is the truth!!!!
Those things happened and happen!!!
we need to fear the lord and walk blameless like christ the lord did every day!
i dont know the law and sorry this is just what i think.
i beleave he also is the savior of the poor that have nothing to treasure but him and they are suffering in the cold without homes and will be saved i beleave
Hey MY Post Got A Lot Of People Feaking Out!
IM Sorry And apologyse for the the ememys attack.
It is the free gift to salvation to beleave and recieve the lord for redemtion
we are saved when we recieve him. He is the Living water.
He is in our hearts and we do need to Praise him for what he did.
It Was finnished when he died on the cross ,we need know he was the perfict lamb free from sin.
We all had questions sorry,
for my post down there he was the pure sacrafice for our sins
we were all afraid and we all know why we love him he is worthy of praise.
just beleave in him and his kingdom and how gloryous it will be
THANK JESUS WE ARE FREE FROM DAMBNATION!!!!!
we need to ask him into all the hearts of the children he is lord and worthy of praise.
he guides us with the holy spirt because we recived him so we can point out the sin in our lives and be open in heart for people who need him and his saving grace..
What the ‘christians’ i’ve known say something like this ‘and we ask this in the precious name of Jesus’ and then they go out and look for their ‘next victum’.
There are plenty of hypocrites. Jesus made it clear what he thought of them. Jesus said to the hypocrites, “how will you escape the condemnation of hell”. Thing is the ungodly are going to have to put up with the hypocrites for eternity.
I agree with everything except the message that should be preached. Surely once someone is born again, truly encountered the gospel, they will need to die to self daily. But the gospel itself is not a message that focuses on death to self, persecution, etc.. I know you know this. Giving our lives as a sacrifice should be the RESPONSE to the gospel, not the message itself. No prayer can accomplish this. Only the sincere response to an encounter with Him can do it. The good news is The Father’s heart as revealed to us in the very life Jesus lived. Here’s what it says, “My children, I know you don’t understand love. But I cannot help Myself. I will not stop chasing you. There’s no length I won’t go to, even up to and including death, to save you. I offer you My everything, freely, with no strings attached.” Let that be seen in public. Let that be modeled and people will be cut to the heart and cry out as they did on Pentecost. When we see His majesty, I believe offering our life is a natural response. Are we, the voice, presenting Him? C’mon, let’s just display His character and nature and trust in what it necessarily must produce!
People will only display this character and life if they truely had an encounter with him through his word.I agree brother that offering our life is a natural response.It has to be natural, flowing from understanding of Gods own sacrifice for us.Thank you
That’s because Baptists are afraid of the Holy Spirit, they think the gifts are demonic. Fact: Modern christianity is all screwed up. Fact: Until either the Lord raises up an unquestionable miracle ministry with a prophetic voice (The Two Witnesses) or the Lord Himself returns things will remain as they are, even get worse.
Jesus’ ministry IS perfect and when we plug into Him, and His word, we will receive an unquestionable miracle ministry. His ministry is perfect. It’s man that has distorted The Truth….and that, unfortunately, is part of our brokenness. Many Christians fail to be in the Holy Spirit (as you faithfully observed), when they witness to others. Personal ideologies are born and we have…religion.
…and yes, I’m in Spirit as I preach this, but I PRAY that anyone who reads my messages will ask the Lord to resonate before you, with HIS TRUTH! What is He trying to convey to you in messages you read from others? PRAY FOR HIS WILL AND HIS TRUTH, in Jesus name!
Love and Light
As much as I want others to Know God grace, and to experience what I experience. I’ve noticed that some people were better off not knowing God at all… because giving up their life wasn’t in the plan at the beginning. The culture we live in only wants to spend time with God on a Sunday. Can you Imagine the relationship between a married couple if the interaction was set aside for one day. The scripture is true. Man must lay his life down for his wife as Christ did for the Church. If not… Why get married?
“Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
Thank You for this blog
Galatians 4:6 tells us God puts His Son in the heart Himself…..and Romans 8:15,16 tells how we can know we are saved….the real sinners prayer is Like 18:13….
Hit the nail right on the head brother!
Once you do this it is undeniable JESUS IS THE TRUTH! It is no longer neccessary to “believe” because YOU KNOW IT.
He made a very good point… though initially receiving Jesus into our heart is just for first time converts but we christians are called to continue receiving Christ everyday by following his teachings and denying our selves and carrying our crosses. There are different Christians, to Catholics…receiving Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, if one is in a state of mortal sin then one must NOT receive Jesus in Holy Communion, as Saint Paul warned early christians that you must know whom you are receiving. One has to confess their sins to the priest and resolve not to do sins anymore, then one can resume receiving Jesus in the Eucharist. To other protestant sects, or Born Again…. although I have no history as to who started the formula prayer… “Receiving Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour” …. is not an end in itself but just a first step.
Same here too, I think that every Christian has to give emphasis on Holy Trinity…one of the most fundamental tenets of Christianity. When I started reading the Gospels, Jesus had been always referring to God the Father and the Son and Himself altogether, three persons in one God.
Indeed, He did. I also loved that Jesus used The Living Word to base His ministry and testimonies, which God created to be factual….a way to prove His promises are kept. For example…’Truly, truly, I say to you….” OR “Isn’t it written….”.
He never diverted from The Living Word, nor did He add or embellish, or remove context. We know Jesus is perfect. So must be His teachings.
Peace to your home!
Your title put’s your words in God’s mouth. Not a true christian thing to do according to the Bible. I understand your point, but How can you speak for Jesus? Would Jesus have used such a title? What would Jesus have used as a title? You are doing EXACTLY what you are fighting against. Jesus would educate with love and passion. No matter what. That is what WE as christians should do. I speak only of what I know of Jesus. How he was. What he taught us from the Bible. But you put words into HIS mouth.
I pray that you see what you have done. Regardless of the message you are trying to bring. You have brought a more grave one. Look deep inside. Pray to God for wisdom. I will do the same.
Doesn’t it haunt you that people never made a “decision” but rather gave up all they had to follow Jesus?
But they understood something before giving up their all.They acted out of understanding.They were not remote-controlled to do that.What did they understand that made them give up all they had?That is the message we must listen to, before we respond as they did.
Thank you for your Message!! Jesus disciples never invited him into their hearts, actually he choose them to walk with him ” You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 15: 16 . We are saved by the Lords grace and mercy,We should be more like the people of Nineveh, After hearing Jonahs warning, they repented and asked the Lord to have mercy on them and waited on the Lord to see if he would save them and he did. Jesus is wants repentance and obedience not just lip service!!
Thank you for this post. I completely understand your logic, and Christians must be right in understanding that following Jesus does require surrender and faith. To be honest, I feel alone and I know that I always will be alone. While others think that I’m getting even more and more insane, I know that the life of a Christian is insane. It’s opposed to the teachings of the world. While I continue to feel sorrow for the world, as it is, and I know it’s going to get worse, I’m told by others to cheer up, believe in myself, etc, but if that is at the sacrifice of forgetting Jesus, forget it. I’d rather be alone. He died for me, and I have to make the ultimate sacrifice too. The sad fact is that I’m an abuser. I’ve been bullied and abused all of my life and I’m so afraid of abandonment, yet I can’t leave Jesus. It is totally built into my heart. I find it so difficult to trust humans, but I know that Jesus will always stay with us, it is His promise. i write a lot about this on my blogs, but I only have 246 followers. At least it’s better than none. I don’t know if I’m truly saved, but I’m going to continue to pray for God to change my heart, to help me to forgive others, to love others unconditionally, and for patience, as I have no patience. I have a long way to go, but my heart is sincere.
From the beginning, since Yeshua began His ministry, man has made ‘religion’ his/her own ideology. I’m a Christian and my church is Jesus. I go to church to celebrate His truth, His word and His love for us. I pray for God’s wisdom to prevail over mine. I often forget and fail, but I try not to witness without being in the Spirit. Perfection is in God alone, God being The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
We cannot be perfect by doing because we will ALWAYS fall short from the grace of God. We are perfect in God, who died for us.
Be flexible to the Lord and for the Lord, and His truth will always prevail over purported truths by mankind.
All glory to The One who was, is and is to come.
I agree with you sort of. But I am curious as your take on why those baptised after the apostles didn’t leave their homes to follow the apostles and why it seemed as though the group of believers lived as a community.
I’m not going to judge you one way or another, but I strongly disagree with how you think. GOD must live in our hearts for us to live like HIS SON JESUS! When David did wrong he repented, and GOD said HE loved David because he was a man after HIS OWN WHAT? HEART! We must let GOD into our hearts so HE can change our hearts!!
Ephesians 3:17
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
l love this article.
I really needed to read this today. Thank you