[Alan] said:
I see, But I have not gone to any church? The only people that know I believe are Sally and a few other friends also Christians. I didnt know it was ok to use the Christian icon.
For using the faith icons your believes must match the icon For using the Christian icon you have to be born again.
Step one is to be transformed from a sinner into a believer. (This is like conception.)
Anyone who wishes to approach God must believe that He exists and cares enough to respond to those who seek Him.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for
he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarded of those who diligently seek Him
To become a believer is to consider our ways, to be willing to make a change. To come to a point where you have to make a choice and to know that what you choose will bring forth changes.
The change of the mind calls for a change of the way. There is a great deal to be done, to make way for Christ into our souls, and nothing is more needful than
the discovery of sin, and a assurance that we cannot
be saved by our own righteousness
. The way of sin and Satan is a crooked way; but to prepare a way for Christ, the paths must be made straight; its a life of self-denial, and contempt of the world.
Joh 3:15 so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The new believer needs to read the bible and seeking answers. This is the same as with a new embryo, it needs to grow. If new believer honesty seeks God, they will be convinced by the Holy Spirit and will feel great sorrow; this will lead them to repentance
Repentance is to acknowledge that you are a sinner and need the blood of Christ to cleanse you. Turn to God in a way of responsibility, and He will, through Christ, return unto us in a way of mercy.
Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Acts 2:38. Then Peter said unto them;
Repent, and
be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Real repentance is to TURN AROUND, to move in the opposite direction.
Its a gift of Gods grace godly grief, based on love for God and the people that we sinned against. There have to be remorse for the wounding that was caused. Repentance accepts the truth when confronted and makes no excuses. Repentance also takes responsibility for own actions. A person with true repentance is willing to change and allow God to change them.
After true repentance we receive Christ as our Saviour, our spirit, which was motionless, through the curse that Adam brought upon mankind, starts to live inside us.
To be born-again is to be a person whose spirit is new (re-born). He still has the same body and the same soul. Nothing visible happened to him, he did not turn instantly into an angle he is still going to sin.
God bless you dear friend.
