An Intimate Relationship with Jesus---Salvation
In my last article, I left you with the need for everyone to have an Intimate Relationship with Jesus. What constitutes an Intimate Relationship and how do we go about getting into that relationship? It can be confusing with all the religions in the world telling us that their religion is the way to God. Well, they can't all be right! So, first and foremost, we must all admit that we are sinners and are in need of a Savior.
It is impossible to have an Intimate Relationship with Jesus and at the same time have unconfessed sin in our soul. Oswald Chambers in his book "My Utmost for His Highest", states it this way; "No one is ever united with Jesus Christ until he is willing to relinquish not sin only, but his whole way of looking at things.
To be born from above of the Spirit (See article Born Again) of God means that we must let go before we lay hold, and in the first stages it is the relinquishing of all pretense. What our Lord wants us to present to Him is not goodness, nor honesty, nor endeavor, but real solid sin." Does that mean that we will never sin again? By no means! Paul states it best in his letter to the Romans 7:13-25 (See text at end of article).
To have a closer relationship with anyone, we must get to know them. We can know Jesus through prayer, Bible study and fellowship with other Christians. Do you believe that the Bible is untrustworthy? If you do, please review the section titled "Scriptures". What is there about Jesus that would encourage us to know Him?
Let's start with John 1:1-3,14 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made"....."And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth". From these verses, we understand that Jesus is God and Creator of all things. It seems to me that we should listen to Him. So, where will you spend eternity?
The Bible tells us very simply what we must do in order to be saved. Romans 10:9-10 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." You see, you must believe in your heart. Only Jesus can see in the heart, no man has that capability. This is salvation by faith in Jesus, not by our works that we should boast.
We would not be able to do enough "work" to get to heaven. Jesus is the Savior of the world! Many folks want to believe that a good God would not send a "good" person to hell. What does it mean to be a "good" person? God tells us in Isa 64:6 "But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away." Say that again, "all our righteousness are like filthy rags". Those are pretty strong words, however, they came from our Creator. He should know. So, where will you spend eternity?
Some will say that it is God the Father who saves and not Jesus, God the Son. The Bible shows us that they are one and the same. Note, the following list of Old Testament verses refer to God the Father. In the New Testament verses, Jesus is the one who saves.
WHO SAVES US, GOD OR JESUS? OR ARE THEY ONE AND THE SAME?
Old Testament Isa 43:11 I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no Savior.
New Testament Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven (Jesus)
Old Testament Jonah 2:9 Salvation comes from the Lord
New Testament Titus 2:13 The glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Old Testament 2Sam 22:12 Exalted be God, the rock, my Savior.
New Testament John 4:42 And we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.
Old Testament Isa 12:2 Surely God is my Salvation
New Testament Heb 1:8 But about the Son He says, your throne, Oh God, will last for ever and ever,...
Old Testament Isa 45:22 Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other
New Testament Titus 3:4 And love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, ...through Jesus Christ our Savior
Old Testament Deut 1:17 For judgement belongs to God
New Testament John 5:22 All judgement to the Son
Old Testament Isa 55:3 Hear me that your soul may live
New Testament 1 John 5:20 In His Son Jesus Christ, He is the true God and eternal life
Old Testament Mal 3:6 I the Lord do not change
New Testament Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever
I like the verse in Mal 3:6 best: "I the Lord do not change". God the Father didn't change His mind sometime in history and give a mortal man the ability to "Save" another human being. That thinking is too illogical and irreverent. Jesus, God the Son, has always had the power to save humans beings.
So, where will you spend eternity? "But Jesus," you say, " what about all of my good works"? In John 6:29, Jesus' Apostles asked Him: "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." So you see, in Jesus words Himself, believing in Him is "doing the work".
What was so profound about what Jesus said and Why? Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no-one comes to the Father (God) except through me." This was not some casual statement or threat. Jesus said it as fact. Jesus is God incarnate! God the Son! If we want glorious eternal life, it comes through Jesus. (Through the Gospel, which is the power of God, for the salvation of everyone who believes!).
Because Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation, many think of Christians as intolerant. However, Jesus commanded His followers to spread His word to all nations. Jesus told us to love Him and to love others. Why did Jesus say these things? Jesus wants all to know the joy that is found in knowing Him. That pure "joy" is Why Christians share Jesus with friends and relatives.
Christians are called pushy for sharing information about Jesus. Many are even killed for telling people the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ. There is an article on this web site about hell, it's titled "Interceding for the Lost". Please take a moment to read it. Then ask yourself the question, "Am I willing to chance the eternal destiny of my soul to what I 'Think' the Creator should do"? The eternal welfare of your soul depends on how you answer that question.
Perhaps you don't believe that Jesus Christ is God the Son. Who do you believe that Jesus is? What is your source of information? The Holy Scriptures leaves no doubt the Jesus is the Holy God, Creator and Savior. You might want to look over the Creator's Training Manuel (The Bible). Christians declare to others what they know about Jesus because they want, as Jesus preached, that none be lost.
The Christian's assurance for everlasting life after death is based on the "faith" that Jesus Christ died for our sins and we will be with Him in heaven. Other religions require "works" in order to be "good enough". Within these two options lies a world of difference. Let's look into the difference.
Say, all other religions and cults are right and Christianity is wrong. It seems to me that if I, as a Christian, naturally do "good" for others and the community I will be "good enough" to go to heaven or where ever one goes after death. So, it appears I will be O.K. along with folks from other religions. However, if Jesus is God, and if Christ is the "Way the Truth and the Life" then the Christian is doing what God (Jesus) said to do and will be with Jesus, in heaven, after death. What about the person who has heard about Jesus and rejects Him? Can you say for certain what will happen to that person's soul?
So, where will you spend eternity?
Romans 7:13-25 " Has what is good, become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin."
