Saturday, October 1, 2016

DO YOU BELIEVE JESUS IS LORD?

Jesus "came unto His own (the Jewish people), and His own received Him not.  But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:  who were born (again), not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (Jn. 1:11-13). 
 
What does it mean to be "born again?"  John wrote in John 3:3-8:
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born when he is old?   Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water (physical birth) and of the Spirit (spiritual birth), he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh (physical birth); and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (spiritual birth).  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  The wind bloweth where it listeth (wills to go), and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit." 

The work of the Spirit the conviction of an individual of his sin (Rom. 3:23), of Christ's righteousness (Heb. 4:15), and of the certain judgment (Jn. 16:7-11; Rev. 20:12-15).  This is accomplished by an individual  hearing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17), specifically the Gospel (the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation - Rom. 1:16).  The Gospel states:  "...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures...that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." (This same Jesus was seen alive by more than 500 witnesses (1 Cor. 15:1-6)!

The Gospel of John uses the word "believe" in forty-six verses, and "believeth" in fourteen verses!  For those who respond to the question, "Do you believe in Jesus Christ?" with an answer other than "Yes!" might not be saved!  Many who went to Vacation Bible School, or to Sunday School Class, or joined a church, will answer the question in the past tense.  They do not understand that the word "believe" is a present tense verb!  The question is not "Did you ever believe in Jesus"; it is "DO YOU BELIEVE NOW?"

Those who truly receive Jesus, receive Him as Lord!  The Apostle Paul wrote: 
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Rom. 10:9-10).
 
IS JESUS CHRIST YOUR LORD NOW? 

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