Just The Facts

There is a question that all of us must ask ourselves. Has there been a time in my life when I trusted Jesus Christ with my life as my savior?  Personally responding and acknowledging him as Lord of life now and for eternity?

1st John 5:12 tell’s us, “He who has the son has life, he who does not have the son of God does not have life.”

In answering yes, I trust you have been able to tell others and you are confident and able to claim the words found in 2nd Timothy 1:2.

“For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded, that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day.”

If the answer is no, or if you have uncertainty and lingering doubts, the CPA wants to share with you the facts. The truth of how you can be certain, and live with peace of mind that you can be forgiven and that when life ends as we know it, the experience of eternity in heaven is real and absolute.

Realize that the assurance we seek can never be found in and of ourselves. We cannot do enough good works to somehow earn God’s favor and obtain heaven as a condition of our good behavior.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God.”   Ephesians 2:8-9.

“But when the kindness and love of God our savior appeared he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.”  Titus 3:4

Nor can any other promoted religion, cult or practices offer the methods or actions in which to find acceptance by God.

John 14:6 states, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except by me.”

1st Timothy 2:5 tells us, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men.”

It is important to know that God’s plan from the beginning has been for us a life lived through Him. But, with man’s first rebellious action, known as sin, immediate consequences were realized for not trusting God. From that disobedient moment on we would inherit a life filled with hardships, disappointments and an overall feeling of un-fulfillment as a total whole complete person. Ultimately we would struggle to pinpoint our emptiness. This is explained as our feeling of separation from a creator God.

However God in His wisdom set into motion a plan to redeem people and restore our broken lives. John 3:16 assures us of this fact.

“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life”.

And these words, from Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”

And the following references are some truths from scripture for us to consider as well.

1st John 5:12-13 promises that whoever has God’s son has life. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

The Bible also assures us in John 10:27-29 with this fact. “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them from my hand.”

And in 1st Peter 3:18, “For Christ died for sins, once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”

However, the problem is in our defiance of our relationship with God. And God is not an automatic given. Because of the inherited nature for all of us we resist the internal sense of being complete. Instead we desire to remain separated from God and who he wants us to be and ignore the knowledge of how we are to get there.

The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 that.”All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Yet God’s solution provided for healing the broken relationship between us and God. The Bible clearly lets us know that Jesus personally carried the load of our sins upon himself when he died on the cross.

1st  Peter 2:24 explains, “He Himself bore our sins in his body on a tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness, by His wounds you have been healed” .

And again from Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were yet sinners Christ died for us”.

Also Romans 8:11, “And if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through the spirit, who lives in you.”

Scripture also tells us in 2nd Corinthians 5:19 that God is about the work of changed relationships and offers forgiveness. “Reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them”.

And from Hebrews 8:12 we are assured of God’s forgiveness. “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

So what do we need to do with this life changing information? Again the Bible tells us.

In Matthew 11:28 we read,  ”Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

In John 1:12 we read, “But as many who received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believed in His name.”

And Acts 16:30-31, “He then brought them out and asked. “Sir’s what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved”.

Now in order to fulfill God’s original plan in our life and restore us to a desired relationship with God, now and for eternity, we need to experience some basic steps of acknowledgment, confession and repentance.

Through the privilege of prayer, speaking to God as a child would a father, share that you;

Believe that only Jesus Christ was sent by God, lived life, died and ascended to heaven again to secure this opportunity for us.

Admit our separation from God, our own sinfulness and our spiritual need for Jesus. Our first step in repentance is admitting our sinfulness against God. “For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight.”  Psalm 51:3-3.

Ask Jesus Christ into your life through the power of his spirit to give you a newborn spirit and provide the hope we so desperately need.

Out of gratitude for what God has done be willing to walk away from old behaviors. Avoid sinful actions, determine to resist previous sinful attitudes, reject harmful choices and turn away from tempting situations.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you.”  1 Peter 1:3.

When we take these steps of faith, pray and commit our life to God through Jesus, what does the Bible tell us has happened?  Can such a decision be confirmed?

The book of Revelation 3:20 confirms for us,“Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in.”

Also Romans 10:9, “That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Likewise, Romans 10:13 assuring us that, “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”

And from Titus 3:7, “So that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

Also Ephesians 1:13-14, “And you were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of His glory.

The result of these steps and desiring a renewed fellowship with God is committing to a changed lifestyle known as being a “Christian” or more fitting a “follower of Jesus Christ.”

The truth is, the outside influences that tempt us, the lusts of the flesh, influences of the world and the devil are going to war against your Christian life and internal spirit. A lapse in character and backsliding resulting in guilt and a loss of fellowship with the Lord and a growing indifference to spiritual matters is a very real and absolute danger. This conflict represents a life- long battle we cannot master on our own.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33.

Our spiritual responsibility is reading Gods word, Bible study, prayer and fellowship for greater character development and maturity in the faith.

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than Christ.”  Colossians 2:6-8.

From Titus 3:8; “And I want to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.”

As we surrender more and more to the Lord ask Him to search our hearts and show us all that is displeasing. Continuing to realize we will want to deal with unwanted compulsive and negative behaviors that inhibit Christian growth and needlessly offend others.

“If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door, it desires to have you, but you must master it.”  Genesis 4:7

Consider this prayer in Psalm 139:23-24, Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way of everlasting.”

Continue to determine to deal with any known sin in your life. Proverbs 28:13 warns us,” He who covers His sins will not prosper. But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”

The Bible also tells us in Johm1:7, “But we walk in the light as He is the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son, purifies us from all sin.”

Our goal for the commitment made and all of life is found in Acts 24:6, “I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.”

We make this commitment trusting Jesus in both good times and bad. We are encouraged with these words found in Colossians 3:13, “Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above not earthly things.”

And Philippians 3:13-14 is an encouragement to us having been forgiven in Christ. “Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

And continue with the confidence of this promise as well from Philippians 1:6, “He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

If you have made this commitment for the first time, recommitted your life to Christ, are interested in any of the ministries listed on our CPA-USA.org website, or if we can help you in your faith journey and spiritual development in any way please let us know.

Remember;

Thank God for this new relationship. Read and study God’s word. Talk to God in prayer; keeping your sins confessed. Fellowship with other believers and become involved in a church where Christ is preached. Begin to tell others about Jesus and your personal experience.