In the book of John it says that those who recived Christ were the ones who were given the right to become the sons of God. Such people it says, are born of God; They have the life of God in them, and have the right to call themselves God's children. But at the same time it also tells us how we are not made children of God. It is not by blood relationship, it is not a matter of natural birth. No one is born a Christian, you are not a Christian because your father or mother is, or because you were born into a Christian family, or in a Christian country. It does not come by natural birth, it is something more than that. Jesus told a leading religious man of His day, who had been born into the most religious race on earth, that he needed a second birth!
It is not by self-effort. no one can make himself a Christian however hard he tries! You don't become a Christian by doing the best you can, by trying to keep the commandments, by doing kind acts, or by going to church every sunday. All these things are good in there place, but they are not going to make you a Christian. If you have been thinking that you are a Christian because of the good things and religious things you have done, you are making a big mistake. No one can become a Christian by there own efforts.
It is not by the efforts of anyone else either. Thank God for the people who have taught us how we may become Christians, but no person can make another person a Christian. No clergyman, minister, preist or pope can make another person a Christian. If you are thinking you are a Christian because of some rite or ceremony performed on you, it might be wiser to think about it again. No man has power to make any other man a Christian.
Only God can make you a Christian, and he dose it when you "recive Jesus" for yourself. This is a matter of the heart, not of the head. It is a matter of something inward, not something outward. So What does it mean to recive Jesus for yourself ? If you realise that only Jesus can give you what you need, forgiveness for your sins, and the right to become a child of God; if you are willing to give up your own efforts to make yourself a Christian, and put your trust in the One who in dying for you, "opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers" then you are ready to recive Him. And if you are ready to recive Jesus, He is more than ready to come into your life.
In the last book of the Bible Jesus is pictured as standing outside the door of a house, knocking and waiting and asking to come in. He is saying, "If anyone listens to My voice, and opens the door, I will come in." That house can be your life, your heart. Jesus is asking to come in. He is not asking to improve the house, to clean it up, to make it more religious. All that can come later. He is asking you to recive Him. He is waiting to come in and live in you by His Spirit, to give you His life, to make you a child of God. If you are willing, He is willing. If you will give him the opportunity, He will take it. You can trust Him to keep His word. Your part then is to express your willingness in the best way you know how; to ask Jesus into your life.
If this is the first time you have asked Jesus to come into your life, then please let us know or let another Christian Know so they can point you in the right direction.
It is not by self-effort. no one can make himself a Christian however hard he tries! You don't become a Christian by doing the best you can, by trying to keep the commandments, by doing kind acts, or by going to church every sunday. All these things are good in there place, but they are not going to make you a Christian. If you have been thinking that you are a Christian because of the good things and religious things you have done, you are making a big mistake. No one can become a Christian by there own efforts.
It is not by the efforts of anyone else either. Thank God for the people who have taught us how we may become Christians, but no person can make another person a Christian. No clergyman, minister, preist or pope can make another person a Christian. If you are thinking you are a Christian because of some rite or ceremony performed on you, it might be wiser to think about it again. No man has power to make any other man a Christian.
Only God can make you a Christian, and he dose it when you "recive Jesus" for yourself. This is a matter of the heart, not of the head. It is a matter of something inward, not something outward. So What does it mean to recive Jesus for yourself ? If you realise that only Jesus can give you what you need, forgiveness for your sins, and the right to become a child of God; if you are willing to give up your own efforts to make yourself a Christian, and put your trust in the One who in dying for you, "opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers" then you are ready to recive Him. And if you are ready to recive Jesus, He is more than ready to come into your life.
In the last book of the Bible Jesus is pictured as standing outside the door of a house, knocking and waiting and asking to come in. He is saying, "If anyone listens to My voice, and opens the door, I will come in." That house can be your life, your heart. Jesus is asking to come in. He is not asking to improve the house, to clean it up, to make it more religious. All that can come later. He is asking you to recive Him. He is waiting to come in and live in you by His Spirit, to give you His life, to make you a child of God. If you are willing, He is willing. If you will give him the opportunity, He will take it. You can trust Him to keep His word. Your part then is to express your willingness in the best way you know how; to ask Jesus into your life.
If this is the first time you have asked Jesus to come into your life, then please let us know or let another Christian Know so they can point you in the right direction.
God bless you
Paul.
Paul.
