Has Jesus accepted you into His life?
Habakkuk 3:2 “O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.”
Isa 66:2“ But on this one will I look:On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.”
There is much talk these days of people ‘accepting Jesus into their life’, this is understood to be the common means of ‘Christian initiation’. The amazing thing is that the terminology is completely unbiblical and alien to New Testament Christianity. The Gospel call of the New Testament is a call to repentance, faith and obedience. It is a call from rebellion towards God to obedience to Him. Faith and repentance would be expressed through baptism. Baptism speaks of being washed clean, being buried to the old way of living and being raised to a new life of obedience. Earlier disciples understood the cost. They understood that they were sinners who were saved by grace and called to a new life in Jesus.
The sign of God’s approval (or acceptance) is not that we claim to have ‘accepted Jesus’, but rather we prove his acceptence (or election) of us through obedience to his word. The mark of God’s acceptance of an individual will be demonstrated by their attitude to His Word. Our attitude to God’s Word is our attitude to God himself. Jeremiah spoke the Word of the Lord concerning the false prophets ‘you pervert the words of the living God’. I find it amazing today that so many who claim to have ‘accepted Jesus’ pervert his Word. Rather than allowing the Word to judge them, they in turn judge the Word. Or they speak of their own visions and dreams and use scripture to justify their own imaginations. They fail to realise that the terms and conditions of God’s approval is based on our response to his Word.
Not every one ‘hears’ the Word of God, even though they may came within the sound of it. Those who hear the Word of God are those who hear the voice of the Lord speaking to them as it is spoken. When the Lord speaks sinful man ought to tremble.
Does your attitude to God’s word reflect one who fears it and trembles and seeks His help to obey it? Or do you have an ignorant and casual approach to the Holy scriptures all the while proffessing Christ? If so, you could in fact be decieved.
February 2nd, 2008 at 3:14 am
God has given me a new love and respect for his word. I’ve never liked the term “Accepting Jesus.” God chose us and we must acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior…we need to bow the knee!