July 14, 2007
Add me to the list of bazillions of bloggers in the world! Then look out...I'll probably say something you don't agree with, but at least I'm saying something! The folks who know me best know that it's not a stretch for me to say something...it seems that's what I do best! Or at least that's what I do most.
By way of introduction, my name is June Anderson and I am a Christian...a born-again Christian, not an I-must-be-a-Christian-because-I'm-not-anything-else Christian. That wouldn't be a Christian at all. Okay, so maybe you don't know what a Christian is. Well, here ya go:
To become a Christian you first realize that we are all sinners. (I KNOW it's not a popular word...and I KNOW you're not comfortable with that, but bear with me.)
First you realize that we're all sinners and that separates us from God, then you realize that in order to become right with God again, we must accept His provision for reconciling us to Himself...the fact that He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for our sins. So you confess to God that you are a sinner and ask His forgiveness for your sins. Then ask Jesus to come into your life and give you a "clean slate"...in other words, take all your sins away and make you clean again.
Now you can do all that and just be trying to fool God, but He knows if you're sincere or not. He will honor what you've said if you're true about it. Otherwise, it's just jibberish that He recognizes immediately. All this can be backed up with scripture from the Bible. Now, if you don't believe in God (the real God...not the made-up ones by folks who don't like the real One) and you don't believe in The Holy Bible, then you have to ask yourself one question: Am I willing to bet my life on the belief that God and the Bible don't exist? That's not my call or God's...that's yours. He gives you the freedom to decide for yourself. Here's the clincher: Whatever you believe, you can't change the truth; so if you choose not to believe in God, Jesus Christ, or His Holy Spirit, that's your decision...but you can't change the truth, and the truth is that God, Jesus Christ, and His Holy Spirit are real. The three-in-one God. I can't explain Him, but I know He's real. (I can't explain air either, but I know it's real.) I'll never be the same again (thankfully!) since I chose to become a Christian about 23 years ago.
So here are the scriptures that bear out all of the above:
Romans 3:23--for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Acts 26:18--...to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me (Jesus)
Romans 6:23--For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:8--But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Ephesians 2:8-9--For it is by grace you have been saved, though faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.
John 1:12-13--Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, not of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
1 John 5:12-13--He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
John 3:16-18--For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the Name of God's one and only Son.
Now if you're ready to make this decision and are at a loss for words, here is a prayer that you can pray to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior from your sins and start a new life:
Heavenly Father, I know I’m a sinner. I confess my sins to You and ask You to forgive me. Thank You for your forgiveness. I know that the only way I can be saved from my sins and come to Heaven to be with You one day is to accept Jesus into my life because He died for me for this reason. Right now I accept Him. Jesus, please come into my heart and my life and make me Your child. Thank You that You love me enough to do this. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
If you have decided to do this, it will be the most important decision of your life...more important than getting married, having children, going to school, buying a house, taking a trip around the world...well, you fill in the blank...it'll be the most important, life-changing thing you ever have done or will do...ever.
Now if there is good (God), then there must be evil (Satan.) Another thing you can believe or not, but it's true. My husband likens the old scientific principle to God and Satan: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. God is good, Satan is evil.
Satan does not like God or His kids, so he wants to cause us trouble. Not to worry...when Satan tries to give you a hard time, submit to God and tell Satan, in the Name of Jesus, to leave you alone! The Bible says that he has to. James 4:7
Gotta run...stay tuned!
