Followers of Jesus

[Christsfreeservant]

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.” John 6:35-36 ESV​

The things of this world are not to be what we seek after. They are not to be our gods, what we worship and bow down to. God – Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit – is to be our only God. He is to be the One we long for, who we desire above all else – the one we look to to satisfy the longings of our hearts.

But, many people, even though they know this, and even though they have professed faith in Jesus Christ, perhaps for many years, are still hungering and thirsting for what will satisfy their fleshly lusts. And, so they are going after what will give them pleasure, in a worldly sense, rather than trusting Jesus Christ with their lives, to have him satisfy all their needs.

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:37-40 ESV​

When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, to be Lord and Savior of our lives, this faith has a definite beginning point, but that is not the end all. For, we come to faith in Jesus Christ, but then it is whoever is coming to Him who will not be cast out. It has to do with present tense, and it has to do with continuous action that persists, that perseveres, and which endures to the end of time.

And, this is consistent all throughout the New Testament. It is not the one who makes a profession of faith in Jesus Christ who has the promise of eternal life with God, but it is those who are coming to him, who are walking according to the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh (Rom. 8:1-17).

The righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled, not in those who make a profession of faith, but who walk (in lifestyle) in agreement with the Spirit of God and not according to our flesh. It is those who walk in the light, as Jesus is in the light, who have fellowship with God, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses them from every sin (Rom. 8:1-17; 1 Jn. 1:5-9).

It is those who make righteousness their practice and not those who make a practice of sin, who have eternal life with God. For, Jesus died that we might die with him to sin and live to him and to his righteousness (Rom. 6:1-23; Rom. 8:1-17; 1 Jn. 1:5-9; Gal. 5:16-21; 1 Pet. 2:24; Eph. 4:17-24).

For to look on the Son is not superficial, and it is not a one-time event, either, for the word “look” is present and active tense, not past tense. And, it is the same with “believes,” it is “believing,” and it is present and active, not past tense. We don’t just come to faith in Jesus Christ, and that is all done, but we keep coming, and we keep believing on Him.

And, believing in him is not some emotional thing we do, either. For, belief is divinely persuaded and God-given, and if so, then it submits to Christ as Lord. It leaves lifestyles of sin in the dust, and it walks with Christ in holiness and righteousness in the power of God within us.

Jesus said: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.” John 6:51-57 ESV​

To eat is to partake of, or to participate in something. Jesus’ flesh and his blood were symbols of his death on a cross and of his blood that was shed for the remission of sins. In his death he put sin to death, on our behalf, in order that we might die with him to sin and live with him to righteousness. So, to drink of his blood and to eat of his flesh is to participate with him in his death to sin and in his resurrection in which he rose victorious over sin.

If we do not die with him to sin, and live with him to him, and to his righteousness, and if we choose to keep walking (in practice) according to our sinful flesh, and not according to the Spirit of God, then we don’t have the life of God within us. And, we are not filled with the Spirit of God.

And, again, our salvation from sin, and our relationship with Jesus Christ, has a definite beginning, so we have to have eaten of his flesh and we have to have drunk of his blood, but we also must be eating and drinking of him if we want to have eternal life with God (vv. 53-54). We have to daily be dying with Christ to sin and living with him to his righteousness (Lu. 9:23-25).

What is Being Taught

Yet, many people today are not teaching this. They are teaching a one-time event in which one professes faith in Jesus Christ which then assures them eternal life with God regardless of how they choose to live their lives from that point forward.

Not only that, but many are teaching that you don’t have to repent of your sins, you don’t have to obey Christ’s commandments, and that you don’t have to surrender your life to Christ but that heaven is still guaranteed you based on a profession of faith in Christ. But, that is a lie from hell!

And, so there are people who think they are saved from their sins and bound for heaven who are still lost in their sins and headed for hell, because they believed the lie that says sin can still be what they practice, and that heaven is still guaranteed them. So, we need to be those who are exposing this lie, and who are telling people the truth, for many are being deceived.

And, then there are those who know better, and who even espouse the true gospel, but by their practices, which they try to keep hidden, they reveal that they truly are putting their trust in the cheap grace, not in God’s grace.

For, His grace instructs us to say “No!” to ungodliness and fleshly lusts and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives while we wait for Christ’s return (Tit. 2:11-14). So, theirs is a false-righteousness, not based on legalism, but on a desire to appear righteous while they sin in secret.

True Faith

But, true faith in Jesus Christ submits to Jesus Christ as Lord. True faith in Jesus desires him, and wants to follow him in obedience. A true follower of Jesus will want to hear what Jesus has to say, and he or she will follow Jesus in obedience to his will and to his ways.

It doesn’t mean they will live in sinless perfection, but that sin will no longer be what masters them. Christ is now their Lord, and they want to please him. For, they are very thankful that he set them free from their bondage to sin and that he has given them a new purpose for living, which is to do his will.

If they do sin, they repent of the sin. Daily they are putting sin to death, by the Spirit, and they are living to God and to his righteousness. Sin is no longer what they practice, but they are now followers of Christ. And, daily they are enjoying sweet fellowship with him.

You Loved Me

An Original Work / December 3, 2019
A song based off the poem by the same name

When I was lonely and afflicted,
You were there to pick me up.
You took me in Your arms,
And You held me tenderly.

Your love embraced me.
Your grace sustained me.

When my heart cried out to You
In my fear and my despair,
You never turned away,
But You let me know You loved me.

Your grace forgave me.
You did not shame me.

Then, when I answered the call,
“Here, Lord, send me.”
You sent me to where I must be.
Your mercy held me, did not fail me.
All this, You had planned, to use me.

And, when all trials and scorn
Came to test me.
You gave me all that I would need.
You strengthened me so I’d not fail You.
Your kindness blessed me, it touched me.

And, when I needed the church
To lift up me,
To hearten me so I’d not fail,
You blessed me with folks who would love me.
Their presence with me, Your praise hailed!

And, when I walked through the valley
Of the shadow of the death,
And tears overflowed from my eyes,
You cared for me.

Your touch, it healed me.
For I believed You.

When now I think about the ways,
Of the many, many ways
That You in Your great love
Showed You cared for me,
You blessed me,

My heart, it thanks You,
And gladness fills me, fills me.

*Song not yet recorded with vocals

 

[Guojing]

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.” John 6:35-36 ESV​

The things of this world are not to be what we seek after. They are not to be our gods, what we worship and bow down to. God – Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit – is to be our only God. He is to be the One we long for, who we desire above all else – the one we look to to satisfy the longings of our hearts.

But, many people, even though they know this, and even though they have professed faith in Jesus Christ, perhaps for many years, are still hungering and thirsting for what will satisfy their fleshly lusts. And, so they are going after what will give them pleasure, in a worldly sense, rather than trusting Jesus Christ with their lives, to have him satisfy all their needs.

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:37-40 ESV​

When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, to be Lord and Savior of our lives, this faith has a definite beginning point, but that is not the end all. For, we come to faith in Jesus Christ, but then it is whoever is coming to Him who will not be cast out. It has to do with present tense, and it has to do with continuous action that persists, that perseveres, and which endures to the end of time.

And, this is consistent all throughout the New Testament. It is not the one who makes a profession of faith in Jesus Christ who has the promise of eternal life with God, but it is those who are coming to him, who are walking according to the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh (Rom. 8:1-17).

The righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled, not in those who make a profession of faith, but who walk (in lifestyle) in agreement with the Spirit of God and not according to our flesh. It is those who walk in the light, as Jesus is in the light, who have fellowship with God, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses them from every sin (Rom. 8:1-17; 1 Jn. 1:5-9).

It is those who make righteousness their practice and not those who make a practice of sin, who have eternal life with God. For, Jesus died that we might die with him to sin and live to him and to his righteousness (Rom. 6:1-23; Rom. 8:1-17; 1 Jn. 1:5-9; Gal. 5:16-21; 1 Pet. 2:24; Eph. 4:17-24).

For to look on the Son is not superficial, and it is not a one-time event, either, for the word “look” is present and active tense, not past tense. And, it is the same with “believes,” it is “believing,” and it is present and active, not past tense. We don’t just come to faith in Jesus Christ, and that is all done, but we keep coming, and we keep believing on Him.

And, believing in him is not some emotional thing we do, either. For, belief is divinely persuaded and God-given, and if so, then it submits to Christ as Lord. It leaves lifestyles of sin in the dust, and it walks with Christ in holiness and righteousness in the power of God within us.

Jesus said: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.” John 6:51-57 ESV​

To eat is to partake of, or to participate in something. Jesus’ flesh and his blood were symbols of his death on a cross and of his blood that was shed for the remission of sins. In his death he put sin to death, on our behalf, in order that we might die with him to sin and live with him to righteousness. So, to drink of his blood and to eat of his flesh is to participate with him in his death to sin and in his resurrection in which he rose victorious over sin.

If we do not die with him to sin, and live with him to him, and to his righteousness, and if we choose to keep walking (in practice) according to our sinful flesh, and not according to the Spirit of God, then we don’t have the life of God within us. And, we are not filled with the Spirit of God.

And, again, our salvation from sin, and our relationship with Jesus Christ, has a definite beginning, so we have to have eaten of his flesh and we have to have drunk of his blood, but we also must be eating and drinking of him if we want to have eternal life with God (vv. 53-54). We have to daily be dying with Christ to sin and living with him to his righteousness (Lu. 9:23-25).

What is Being Taught

Yet, many people today are not teaching this. They are teaching a one-time event in which one professes faith in Jesus Christ which then assures them eternal life with God regardless of how they choose to live their lives from that point forward.

Not only that, but many are teaching that you don’t have to repent of your sins, you don’t have to obey Christ’s commandments, and that you don’t have to surrender your life to Christ but that heaven is still guaranteed you based on a profession of faith in Christ. But, that is a lie from hell!

And, so there are people who think they are saved from their sins and bound for heaven who are still lost in their sins and headed for hell, because they believed the lie that says sin can still be what they practice, and that heaven is still guaranteed them. So, we need to be those who are exposing this lie, and who are telling people the truth, for many are being deceived.

And, then there are those who know better, and who even espouse the true gospel, but by their practices, which they try to keep hidden, they reveal that they truly are putting their trust in the cheap grace, not in God’s grace.

For, His grace instructs us to say “No!” to ungodliness and fleshly lusts and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives while we wait for Christ’s return (Tit. 2:11-14). So, theirs is a false-righteousness, not based on legalism, but on a desire to appear righteous while they sin in secret.

True Faith

But, true faith in Jesus Christ submits to Jesus Christ as Lord. True faith in Jesus desires him, and wants to follow him in obedience. A true follower of Jesus will want to hear what Jesus has to say, and he or she will follow Jesus in obedience to his will and to his ways.

It doesn’t mean they will live in sinless perfection, but that sin will no longer be what masters them. Christ is now their Lord, and they want to please him. For, they are very thankful that he set them free from their bondage to sin and that he has given them a new purpose for living, which is to do his will.

If they do sin, they repent of the sin. Daily they are putting sin to death, by the Spirit, and they are living to God and to his righteousness. Sin is no longer what they practice, but they are now followers of Christ. And, daily they are enjoying sweet fellowship with him.

You Loved Me

An Original Work / December 3, 2019
A song based off the poem by the same name

When I was lonely and afflicted,
You were there to pick me up.
You took me in Your arms,
And You held me tenderly.

Your love embraced me.
Your grace sustained me.

When my heart cried out to You
In my fear and my despair,
You never turned away,
But You let me know You loved me.

Your grace forgave me.
You did not shame me.

Then, when I answered the call,
“Here, Lord, send me.”
You sent me to where I must be.
Your mercy held me, did not fail me.
All this, You had planned, to use me.

And, when all trials and scorn
Came to test me.
You gave me all that I would need.
You strengthened me so I’d not fail You.
Your kindness blessed me, it touched me.

And, when I needed the church
To lift up me,
To hearten me so I’d not fail,
You blessed me with folks who would love me.
Their presence with me, Your praise hailed!

And, when I walked through the valley
Of the shadow of the death,
And tears overflowed from my eyes,
You cared for me.

Your touch, it healed me.
For I believed You.

When now I think about the ways,
Of the many, many ways
That You in Your great love
Showed You cared for me,
You blessed me,

My heart, it thanks You,
And gladness fills me, fills me.

*Song not yet recorded with vocals

So to you, are good works also required, together with believing, for salvation?

 

[Christsfreeservant]

So to you, are good works also required, together with believing, for salvation?

What I think is neither here nor there. It is not what I think that matters. What matters is what the scriptures teach, which is what I just shared. I believe the scriptures, but the whole counsel of God, not just some of the scriptures about salvation and eternal life with God. The scriptures must be taught in context, and with an understanding of what the words mean based largely on how they are used, in context, and consistently within the same types of context. The scriptures make it real clear that "believing" in Jesus is not just a one-time event that takes place in our lives, but that it has to do with walking (in practice) according to the Spirit of God and no longer according to the flesh. This is not my opinion. This is taught throughout the New Testament. This is New Covenant teaching.

 

[Guojing]

What I think is neither here nor there. It is not what I think that matters. What matters is what the scriptures teach, which is what I just shared. I believe the scriptures, but the whole counsel of God, not just some of the scriptures about salvation and eternal life with God. The scriptures must be taught in context, and with an understanding of what the words mean based largely on how they are used, in context, and consistently within the same types of context. The scriptures make it real clear that "believing" in Jesus is not just a one-time event that takes place in our lives, but that it has to do with walking (in practice) according to the Spirit of God and no longer according to the flesh. This is not my opinion. This is taught throughout the New Testament. This is New Covenant teaching.

So if an unbeliever ask you, "What must I do to be saved", how would you reply him?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

So to you, are good works also required, together with believing, for salvation?

I think what God Says in Scripture is more important.

Does God say a body without breath is alive, or dead ?

The same thing for faith without works. : namely > dead.

 

[Guojing]

I think what God Says in Scripture is more important.

Does God say a body without breath is alive, or dead ?

The same thing for faith without works. : namely > dead.

But people who believe that tend to deny they are also implying salvation is faith plus works.

All of us interpret Scripture. Asking such a question will really reveal how you interpret the Scripture that God gave us.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

But people who believe that tend to deny they are also implying salvation is faith plus works.

So what if people tend to imply something ? Do not go by the implications of people if it opposes Scripture like this (below ) does >>

All of us interpret Scripture. Asking such a question will really reveal how you interpret the Scripture that God gave us.

 

[Christsfreeservant]

So if an unbeliever ask you, "What must I do to be saved", how would you reply him?

I would reply with scripture:

1 Peter 2:24: He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

2 Corinthians 5:15, 21: And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 8:3-4: For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Ephesians 4:17-24: Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

This is saying what it means to believe in Christ. So many people say "believe" but they don't explain what belief is or what it isn't. And, I don't know where you live, but here in America the idea of belief in Jesus has been watered down to nothing more than an acknowledgment of him, but with no requirements to die to sin, to submit to his Lordship, or to live to his righteousness. But, the scriptures make it real clear that we aren't truly saved from our sins, and we aren't destined to heaven if we are still walking according to our flesh. So, we need to tell people they need to believe in Jesus, but we need to explain to them what that means, which is what the book of James does, and it is what Paul does consistently throughout his writings.

 

[Christsfreeservant]

So if an unbeliever ask you, "What must I do to be saved", how would you reply him?

Luke 9:23-26: And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

 

[jahel]

Fundamentalism seems to be all the rage these days, and rightly so.
" the scriptures make it real clear that we aren't truly saved from our sins, and we aren't destined to heaven if we are still walking according to our flesh.” Saved from sin nature isn’t the same as being saved from sins. On the basic level we are saved, fully. That doesn’t mean that loss of rewards don’t happen.

 

[Guojing]

Luke 9:23-26: And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

If you do use that Luke passage there, you are preaching Faith AND works for salvation.

 

[Guojing]

Fundamentalism seems to be all the rage these days, and rightly so.
" the scriptures make it real clear that we aren't truly saved from our sins, and we aren't destined to heaven if we are still walking according to our flesh.” Saved from sin nature isn’t the same as being saved from sins. On the basic level we are saved, fully. That doesn’t mean that loss of rewards don’t happen.

I suspect they don't understand what Paul was actually explaining in Romans 5:12-19 and other passages.

It was not our individual sins (verb) that caused us to be separated from God. It was the sinful nature (noun) that we inherited from Adam's disobedience that automatically make whatever good deeds we do to be sinful (verb).

When we accept Christ's work on the cross, we died to sin (noun) God gave us his righteousness.

Thus sin is a noun in Paul's explanation and not a verb.

 

[jahel]

I suspect they don't understand what Paul was actually explaining in Romans 5:12-19 and other passages.

It was not our individual sins (verb) that caused us to be separated from God. It was the sinful nature (noun) that we inherited from Adam's disobedience that automatically make whatever good deeds we do to be sinful (verb).

When we accept Christ's work on the cross, we died to sin (noun) God gave us his righteousness.

Thus sin is a noun in Paul's explanation and not a verb.

Nothing about the pre-re-generated condition can make any deeds of worth. But natural talents that have been heartfully consecrated can be. His righteousness is the heart covering. But we only have His word as a weapon.

 

[Halbhh]

So if an unbeliever ask you, "What must I do to be saved", how would you reply him?

For someone that had never been Christian, and is coming for the first time, the good answer is Acts 2:38.
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.


------------
Another, different situation we often see -- more often here at this site:

Someone that had been Christian but had gone off into worldly living in sin so far, and for so long, that they feel so guilty and so hopeless -- they often cry and believe they are lost forever, that they cannot be forgiven.

For this person, we can tell the story of the prodigal son, because often what we see in that situation is someone believing they've been so sinful that they cannot be forgiven -- they believe just what the prodigal son believed: that they are beyond hope.

Beyond hope.

For them, and it's been at least a dozen here, it is good to go to Luke chapter 15 and to 1rst John chapter 1, where we can learn that we can be forgiven.

 

[Halbhh]

Fundamentalism seems to be all the rage these days, and rightly so.
" the scriptures make it real clear that we aren't truly saved from our sins, and we aren't destined to heaven if we are still walking according to our flesh.” Saved from sin nature isn’t the same as being saved from sins. On the basic level we are saved, fully. That doesn’t mean that loss of rewards don’t happen.

Initially. But Paul (and all other epistle writers) tell us we need to 'run the race' and 'strive to take hold of that for which Christ has taken hold of me' and many other such clear sayings.

Christ taught in a way more fully in Matthew chapter 7 --

We learn in this chapter it is possible to believe and then to build on sand, and then to fail to endure, to lose faith, because they did not put His words into action. verses 24-27

And, even before they lose faith, if they die first in that 'lawlessness' (disobedience to His commands to "love one another"), it's that picture He paints for us in Matthew chapter 7, verses 21-23. Unless we do as He says, He won't know us.

Every Christian that really believes will want to hear what Christ says, and will gradually learn what He says.

Will they listen? Will they follow? Will they take up their cross? Will they build on rock, as He said? Or will they be like those in verses 21-23?

 

[Halbhh]

So if I believe in God all my works are good?

The wonderful answer is in John chapter 15 verses 1-17, and I can help later if you didn't understand it.

 

[Hammster]

ADVISOR HAT ON


I did a clean up after banning the troll.


ADVISOR HAT OFF

 

[jahel]

Initially. But Paul (and all other epistle writers) tell us we need to 'run the race' and 'strive to take hold of that for which Christ has taken hold of me' and many other such clear sayings.

I would think that having an aim at not losing rewards would be that of striving to run the race etc

Christ taught in a way more fully in Matthew chapter 7 --

We learn in this chapter it is possible to believe and then to build on sand, and then to fail to endure, to lose faith, because they did not put His words into action. verses 24-27

Scripture says elsewhere to be careful of what one allows the conscience.

And, even before they lose faith, if they die first in that 'lawlessness' (disobedience to His commands to "love one another"), it's that picture He paints for us in Matthew chapter 7, verses 21-23. Unless we do as He says, He won't know us.

But really what else could that be but failure to observe the protocol of mediatorship. Imo that is the essence of building on sand.

Every Christian that really believes will want to hear what Christ says, and will gradually learn what He says.

Will they listen? Will they follow? Will they take up their cross? Will they build on rock, as He said? Or will they be like those in verses 21-23?

Hopefully all our feet are on the rock and our names are on the roll.

 

[Guojing]

For someone that had never been Christian, and is coming for the first time, the good answer is Acts 2:38.
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.


------------
Another, different situation we often see -- more often here at this site:

Someone that had been Christian but had gone off into worldly living in sin so far, and for so long, that they feel so guilty and so hopeless -- they often cry and believe they are lost forever, that they cannot be forgiven.

For this person, we can tell the story of the prodigal son, because often what we see in that situation is someone believing they've been so sinful that they cannot be forgiven -- they believe just what the prodigal son believed: that they are beyond hope.

Beyond hope.

For them, and it's been at least a dozen here, it is good to go to Luke chapter 15 and to 1rst John chapter 1, where we can learn that we can be forgiven.

Are you aware that Peter in Acts 2 was preaching only to the Jews (Acts 2:22) and was accusing them of murdering Jesus (Acts 2:36), that was why he urged them to repent?

 

[jahel]

Are you aware that Peter in Acts 2 was preaching only to the Jews (Acts 2:22) and was accusing them of murdering Jesus (Acts 2:36), that was why he urged them to repent?

That’s just weird.