I dont have saving faith

[nyjujubeez]

If you did not have the Holy Spirit, you would not see sin for what it is. Apart from the Holy Spirit, you cannot see sin as such, much less care if you sin or not.

Rom 2:29 No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is
circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a
man's praise is not from men, but from God.

Rom15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.
17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in
me.18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want
to do--this I keep on doing.20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but
it is sin living in me that does it.21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there
with me.22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law;23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war
against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at
work within my members.
24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
25 Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in
my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the
law of sin.

HEB 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any
double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints
and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

HEB 2:10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their
salvation perfect through suffering.
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

1John10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

HOS 6:3 Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the
winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."

Thanks for replying Ann. The thing is I read my Bible faithfully every day for a couple of months but here is what I noticed...............the more I read the Gospels the more depressed I became, the more the world around me seemed to darken, I was suddenly noticing all of this sin all around me. Cuss words from friends started to stab me like a knife and know matter where I was even at home watching TV I suddenly noticed how much filth was on TV and I could not believe that I used to think those shows were okay.

So what is going on here? why is the world around me so dark now? why do I only notice sin now? Have I become a pharisee or something? I mean I should have joy in Christ but all I can see is this ugly ugly ugly sin!

I have no rest day nor night for my conscious is constantly bothered by all of this sin! Why cant I see the savior? why am I only having all of this condemnation?


Its like reading the Bible has exposed all this sin in the world to me but I have no relief from it!?

 

[annrobert]

Thanks for replying Ann. The thing is I read my Bible faithfully every day for a couple of months but here is what I noticed...............the more I read the Gospels the more depressed I became, the more the world around me seemed to darken, I was suddenly noticing all of this sin all around me. Cuss words from friends started to stab me like a knife and know matter where I was even at home watching TV I suddenly noticed how much filth was on TV and I could not believe that I used to think those shows were okay.

Wow Robert , sin is becoming more painful to you and you are beginning to see even more clearly how desperately we all need our Saviour Jesus.
yes sin hurts.Jesus will bring comfort and healing.
The only answer we have is to run to Jesus.


So what is going on here?

I think revelation of what sin is and how dark it is and how much suffering it causes and how much we all need our Saviour to save us from our sins.I think maybe you are seeing that our only hope and this worlds only hope is Jesus.

why is the world around me so dark now? why do I only notice sin now? Have I become a pharisee or something?

No Robert, not a pharasee at all.You know you need a Saviour and you want Jesus and you highly value the gift of salvation.You love and want Jesus.You know you need forgiveness, you want a relationship with Jesus and to follow and obey Him.You know you cannot do it on your own.That is not a pharasee attitude.Also you are not going around thinking you are better than others either.You know we all are in the same boat, needing our Saviour to wash away our sins and to teach us the Way and the Truth.That is not a pharasee attitude.We all need mercy and compassion and forgiveness, all of us..
Please do not get down on yourself,we will all spend our whole life learning more about Jesus and growing and maturing in Him and becoming more like Him and needing His forgiveness.One day we will receive our glorified body, until then we live in these earthen vessels that are tainted with a sinful nature.


I mean I should have joy in Christ but all I can see is this ugly ugly ugly sin!


Sin is ugly, however the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness.That is our hope.Jesus is our Redeemer and the hope of glory.Trusting in Jesus and receiving His forgiveness.Peace and joy will come.Healing will come.Sometimes we mourn , but joy will come.We can only wait and hope in Jesus.We can pray also that Jesus reveal Himself and show His mercy to others and heal them and protect them and draw them to Himself also.Jesus loves us all, every single person and has great love and mercy and compassion for every single person.Jesus died for all sin,that is the hope we all have in Jesus.His arms are open to everyone.The government will be upon His shoulders, the Mighty God, Wonderful Counsellor and Prince of Peace and all things will be made new.As far as the east is from the west so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

I have no rest day nor night for my conscious is constantly bothered by all of this sin! Why cant I see the savior? why am I only having all of this condemnation?


Jesus is the propitiation for our sins,the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.Our Saviour our Redeemer, our Healer, our God , our righteousness,our hope.
Merciful and compassionate.Loving and tenderhearted, meek and lowly in heart.Mighty to Save, having all power and authority, to heal and forgive sin and reign.The Rose of Sharon, beautiful and full of majesty.
Keep running to Jesus and crying out and ask Him to take away the fear and guilt and condemnation and to reveal His mercy and love and forgiveness to you.To reveal to you how Mighty and willing He is to save.He hears you cries Robert, His arms are open wide to you.He will answer.Never give up, just keep running to Him and not faint.He will never leave you or forsake you Robert, never never never.
Do not go by feelings, Jesus is Mighty to save and no feelings will change that.


Its like reading the Bible has exposed all this sin in the world to me but I have no relief from it!?

Relief will come Robert.

Jesus says come to Me all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.

Jesus is annointed to heal the broken hearted and to deliver the captive and to set at liberty the bruised.

He is Truth and He changes not.

a smoking flax He will not snuff out and a bruised reed He will not crush.

He is protecting you Robert and He is not going to leave you.

I hope this helps some.

blessings
ann


Jesus restores our soul.

 

[Jeshu]

Robert sin hurts not only this planet, people but above all God. Now when we see sin we can do different things in response.

One is to take on the misery of sin and carry it. All God's own have done and will do this at times. But as you can see sin is judged, so judgement rules in your heart! Jesus hasn't been revealed within you yet. So sin is what you eat and yes you get sick from that - such hurts a lot! (Just ask Jesus about that!)

However such thinking is devoid of what Christ has achieved. He died for us all, He paid for all our sin (once and for all) and prayed The Father to forgive even His murderers in The End. And so Christ's love conquered the judgement on sin.

Such inner love comes from The Spirit of Christ!

So a better way of dealing with your vision of understanding - the sin that you see and how you feel about it - is to share your pain with our Heavenly Father and Brother, understanding that you can find oneness with their pain. However the Way our God and His Son suffer is extraordinary - it brings out their grace - love and forgiveness.

So when you start to participate in their Life/Loving Truth, as to join forces with them, then Jesus will teach you how to hand out grace and forgiveness to fallen sinners - even you yourself - and curse all evil wickedness that continues to conquer all these unsuspecting victims with his misery.

Once Christ's Grace rules in your heart - thankfulness, Peace and Joy will follow your path - each Day anew forever and ever. (Rev 21-22)


That Jesus will provide much Grace for your troubled heart.

Gerry

Is 57:14-21

And it will be said:
"Build up, build up, prepare the road!
Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people." For this is what the high and lofty One says—
he who lives forever, whose name is holy:
"I live in a high and holy place,
but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
I will not accuse forever,
nor will I always be angry,
for then the spirit of man would grow faint before me—
the breath of man that I have created.
I was enraged by his sinful greed;
I punished him, and hid my face in anger,
yet he kept on in his willful ways.
I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will guide him and restore comfort to him,
creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel.
Peace, peace, to those far and near,"
says the LORD. "And I will heal them."
But the wicked are like the tossing sea,
which cannot rest,
whose waves cast up mire and mud.
"There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."

 

[Lindros09]

I can somehow relate to you too. Correct me if I'm wrong but you are saying that the closer you seem to get to God your environment gets worse or your feelings. Trust in him bro surrender to him everything you got.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

 

[RobertZ]

I can somehow relate to you too. Correct me if I'm wrong but you are saying that the closer you seem to get to God your environment gets worse or your feelings.

Yes thats right, I thought I was supposed to have joy in Christ if im saved but instead I get all of this deppression when seeking him.

 

[straywolf73]

And that would be satan and his evil ways trying to destroy your faith...He wants to make you give up...
Hon, I promise you, if you keep your eyes on God, the clouds /will/ disappear.

 

[Lindros09]

And that would be satan and his evil ways trying to destroy your faith...He wants to make you give up...
Hon, I promise you, if you keep your eyes on God, the clouds /will/ disappear.

That's exactly what I concluded with my situation. Your on the right path Robert just keep surrending to him and read the bible. Every time you get these thoughts also recite a verse theres no better weapon than the truth. I struggle with these feelings of doubt or if I'm truly saved once I started getting closer to God. Sometimes this actually makes us get closer to God and we must seek him with every bit of our strenght never give up because he never gave up on us. I also had these thoughts of suicide kinda ocdish but I just focused on the Lord and these things have subsided. Remember the enemy hits you where your more vulnerable. Ill pray for you man.

 

[annrobert]

Yes thats right, I thought I was supposed to have joy in Christ if im saved but instead I get all of this deppression when seeking him

Many christians have gone through similiar things and yes they were saved.
Sometimes christians suffer and go through depressions and trials and doubts and hard times.
I have heard some christians call it the dark night of the soul.
It does not mean they are not saved,
it does not mean that Jesus is not holding them in His hand and protecting them.
It does not mean that Jesus does not love them.
It does not mean Jesus has left them
Feelings though painful or powerfully intense are not dependable.
only jesus Word is.
Jesus is dependable and every promise He makes is Truth.

Keep hoping and keep crying out to Jesus Robert.
Jesus loves you and has not cast you out
and Jesus never will cast you out.

Jesus says come to Me all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.

Look what this prophet went through.


Lamentations 3


1I AM the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
2He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.
3Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.
4My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
5He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
6He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.
7He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.
8Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.
9He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.
10He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.
11He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.
12He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
13He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.
14I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.
15He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.
16He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.
17And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.
18And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:
19Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
20My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
21This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
27It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
28He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.
29He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.
30He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
31For the LORD will not cast off for ever:
32But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
33For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
34To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth.
35To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,
36To subvert a man in his cause, the LORD approveth not.
37Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
38Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
39Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
40Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
41Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
42We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.
43Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.
44Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.
45Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people.
46All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.
47Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.
48Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
49Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission.
50Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven.
51Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.
52Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.
53They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.
54Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.
55I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.
56Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.

57Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.
58O LORD, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.

59O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.
60Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.
61Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me;
62The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.
63Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.
64Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.
65Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them. 66Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD

 

[annrobert]

How are you doing Robert?

 

[ChildOfGod97]

That is whats wrong with me I think, some how growing up in church and being exposed to the gospel all of my 37 years on this earth I have missed the grace of God and now I do not know how to believe.

This whole stupid sinners prayer stuff and emotional alter calls of modern days have ruined what salvation is supposed to be. You will not find any of that stuff in the Bible in regards to salvation and I always was taught to believe that you just ask Jesus into your heart and its a done deal. Show me in the Bible where you ask Jesus into your heart?

Frankly, I agree and think the same thing. Some do this meaning well. Others do not. We receive the Spirit because we believe the word.

The Spirit remains in us if the Word remains in us. The life and teachings of Jesus. If the teachings of Jesus remain in us, the Spirit remains in us. If we put the teachings into practice everyday, then Jesus remains in us. If we do not put the teachings into practice, the teachings do not really remain in us.

People distract themselves from this basic, simple truth a lot. They use a lot of cunning methods to do this. That is them. This is you.

Your responsibility is to believe the word, the teachings of Jesus, and apply them.


If you do not really believe Jesus, then that is a matter you should focus on for yourself. As you think the same thing as I do there, I think you do.

 

[annrobert]

Romans 9
30What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

31But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
32Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

33As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

John 6:47
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.




Galatians 3

1O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
5He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

John 6
28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Acts 17:30
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

John 15
4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Yes thats right, I thought I was supposed to have joy in Christ if im saved but instead I get all of this deppression when seeking him.

When you seek Him His light shines in your darkness . if you are depressed . this is going to come out . sorrow lasts for the night but joy comes in the morning .. sometimes the night is longer for others . keep seeking .

 

[Jeshu]

When you seek Him His light shines in your darkness . if you are depressed . this is going to come out . sorrow lasts for the night but joy comes in the morning .. sometimes the night is longer for others . keep seeking .

Talking about darkness - once I was deeply depressed for 7 years long - more than 18 months of those suicidally depressed.

Then I also thought where are you Jesus?

But He came and rescued me after I finally let my doubt and unbelief tumbled down the bottomless pit and learned to look at Him, and not heed those 'voices' of darkness any longer.

I have grown a very long way away from that pit now and never want to entertain doubt or unbelief in my heart again - what a heart rendering cry godforsakenness is? Terrible!!!

Truly such gnashes its teeth when our Armageddon comes!

Praise Jesus He got me out!

 

[Norbert L]

Yes thats right, I thought I was supposed to have joy in Christ if im saved but instead I get all of this deppression when seeking him.

It wouldn't be the first time I heard that idea, frankly I'm somewhat in the same boat with a little difference. The first time I heard it was in a sermon. Sometimes finding the truth a person expects their problems to eventually disappear, instead they get worse. I know that one all too well. Or I've heard it compared to having your head stuck in a can full of garbage by God, the thing is over time your head gets stuck deeper and deeper into that garbage can. This one can be all too real.

The difference the way I see it, it's depression. Not that feeling sorrowful is in any way wrong, but to the degree it can grow to.

Remember what Paul wrote:

"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death." (2Co 7:10)

I also find these verses in Ecclasiates helpful.

"Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself?" (Ecc 7:16)

Not that this should be taken as an excuse for sin, as the next line begins to indicate.

"Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time?" (Ecc 7:17)

Because with the third verse, there is a road of escape.

"It is good that you grasp this, And also not remove your hand from the other; For he who fears God will escape them all." (Ecc 7:18)

Note that is "will escape" not already have escaped in the sense of "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me." (Php 3:12) As Jesus Christ promises, "But he who endures to the end shall be saved." (Mat 24:13)

 

[ezeric]

Dear brother RobertZ

You are already saved, because it based on HIM saving you (2000 years ago).

Really before time...

the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. Revelation 13:8

HE came to rescue you and all of us before we even knew what was
going on.

While we were still sinners, CHRIST died for us (Romans 5:8).
(not when we had it all together, or understood it).

All you have to 'do' to be saved is simply 2 things
(and when you realize how much HE loves you, they are super easy to do).

1) confess with your mouth
2) believe in your heart (Romans 10:9)

You see its all about love (as I've said before).

Here is the idea I'm trying to get at...

Ok, using me as an example, I love my wife and 2 boys very much
(like all of you do in your famillies too).

Because I love them, I talk about them and trust them.
(BTW I am talking about them now to you)

We only talk about what/who we love, because out of the abundance
of the heart - the mouth speaks. (see Luke 6:45)

You've already talked in your post that you love HIM and believe HIM.
And its NOT belief in what you've done -

NO!

Believe what HE has done!

You have already shown in your post that you agree with that.
So, your saved!

100% of every sin is forgiven (That is why we celibrate this time of year).
HE loves you and calls you HIS son.

What do you do next?

Well, what do I do as a father with my wife and children?
Try to earn the fact that I am a husband and father or simply
continue to rest in their love and love them back?

What does this dad want from his 2 boys?
Only their love - nothing else!

The Bible calls it rest or abide and it is really the highest form
of Faith because you trust the one that loves you.

Faith works out of love (Gal 5:6)

Love you brother, your in good hands - nail scarred hands!

-eric

 

[rachel22]

robert....i havent read thru all the posts, i just want to tell you about myself. i was taught from a young age that all i need to do is say the sinners prayer, so i said the sinners prayer and went on living in my sins because i did not understand about the need to follow the Lord in repentance and faith. i am so sad that the gospel has been so distorted by so many preachers....still waiting and praying on the rest of my family to be saved. anyways, i drifted away and became agnostic, and eventually very anti-christian until like, the last year i was in college. thru a video i was watching....the Lord convicted me of my sins because i became terrified of going to hell.
so i prayed then and there for the Lord to save my soul and agreed that i would walk in obedience to him for the rest of my life, as best i could, thru the power of Jesus. i struggled so much with believing i had done the "unforgivable sin" and believing i could not be saved and had already "trampled the son of God underfoot"). i read my bible and yet i felt that i just could not believe "good enough". so this is what i have learned.....over time, with prayer and bible reading, my faith has grown. i have learned that we can *ask* God for faith (matthew 7:11 "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"). so even if you feel you have no faith.....ask God for it. read your bible, live a life of obedience to God's commands (you can still make a choice of the will to follow God even if your feelings aren't agreeing), and pray each day to God for faith. i have confidence that that is a prayer he would be glad to answer. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. " - 2 peter 3:9. the Lord does not want you to perish.
what else have i learned....a good quote "the Lord does not ask me to have faith in my faith, but faith in him". i struggled believing my level of belief in Jesus was not "good enough" for him to save me......and i realized i just need to follow him......my faith has grown over time.
it looks like the Lord has been convicting you of your sins (you are afraid of not being right with the Lord).....thats how it started with me too. it is good to be afraid of not being right with the Lord, thats a healthy fear. i dont want you to believe you are beyond the reach of salvation, i pray that you will choose wisely and begin following the Lord Jesus today .

** i also want to tell you that altho i am a follower of God i have had and continue to have struggles with feeling depressed from time to time. you can have joy in the Lord even when life is depressing.....i mean i can be feeling so depressed about my life yet have joy that one day the Lord will make all things new.

**the fact that sins bother you....is great. when i see someone sinning it bothers me too, or when i sin it bothers my concience. the Lord hates sin, its good for us to hate sin as well.

 

[RobertZ]

i struggled so much with believing i had done the "unforgivable sin" and believing i could not be saved and had already "trampled the son of God underfoot")..

Yes, these are my biggest fears currently and no matter how hard I may try I cant seem to overcome them.

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

Join me today Robert in fasting to seek the Lord. I've never tried it before and am doing it to repent and draw closer to Jesus. I'm taking my Bible with me wherever I go, and when I hunger, I read more Scripture.

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

I am praying for you Robert, a prayer for you to receive the Holy Spirit. You are not beyond the powers of Jesus Christ to reach!