Build Your Foundation on the Rock of Salvation
"He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great." -Luke 6:48-49
"The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation." -2 Samuel 22:47
"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." -John 8:32
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." -John 14:6 |
The terms "Christian" and "personal relationship with Jesus Christ" have been bantered around so much, that for many people, they have lost their original savor. What is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Is it going to church? Is it being a "good person?" Is it via doing certain rituals, or following certain traditions? No, it is so much simpler than that.
Jesus says:
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." -Revelation 3:20
Let Jesus into your heart and life. Put your faith and trust in Him, and in Him alone.
Why did Jesus Christ come to this earth? He came to pay for our sins. Have you ever broken any of the Ten Commandments? Did you know that Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that just looking at someone with lust in your heart is the same thing as committing adultery in your heart?
Many people will say I'm a good person. Sure, I've stolen a few paper clips in my time, and I've told some lies, but I've never killed anyone, so I'm good enough for heaven. Don't be so sure. Have you ever felt hatred toward someone? If so, then you are guilty of committing murder in your heart:
"Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." -1 John 3:15
If you have stolen, lied, lusted after someone, hated someone, loved someone or something more than God, etc., then you have broken at least 5 of the Ten Commandments. Do you really think you'd make it to heaven? Not according to God's Word:
"Know ye not that the unrighteous {sinful} shall not inherit the kingdom of God {or go to heaven when they die}? Be not deceived: neither fornicators {sex outside of marriage, or pre-marital sex}, nor idolaters {loving something or someone more than you love God}, nor adulterers {physically, or in the heart}, nor effeminate {cross dressing}, nor abusers of themselves with mankind {homosexuality}, Nor thieves {even stealing a pen or paper clip makes you a thief}, nor covetous {inordinately desiring wealth or things}, nor drunkards, nor revilers {one who assails with abusive language}, nor extortioners {blackmail, or wresting anything from anyone via force}, shall inherit the kingdom of God." -1 Corinthians 6:9-10 {words in curly brackets are my notes}
But there is good news:
"And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." -1 Corinthians 6:11
We are all sinners:
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" -Romans 3:23
Even Mary, the woman chosen by God to be a vessel that would carry Jesus in her womb, was a sinner, and in need of a Saviour:
"And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." - Mary said this in Luke 1:47. Only sinners need a Saviour, and Mary also accepted Jesus Christ as her Saviour.
We are all imperfect, fallible sinners:
"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." -1 John 1:5-8
The blood of Jesus Christ is what cleanses us from all sins. Jesus came to this earth to die to pay for our sins. You see, Leviticus tells us that 'the life is in the blood,' and that it takes spilt blood to atone for sin.
When we choose to truly believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, and to live our lives for Christ, then Christ's spilt blood cleanses us from our sins:
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." -Isaiah 1:18
Jesus tells us this:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." - Jesus said this, in John 3:16-18
Paul gives us a simple "step by step process" on how to be saved:
"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. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." -Romans 10:9-11
Jesus is our one and only mediator:
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" -1 Timothy 2:5
Jesus is our High Priest:
"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." -Hebrews 4:14-15
We are to follow the Lord and the Bible, not traditions of man:
"But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?" -Matthew 15:3
Jesus is God:
"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." -1 Timothy 3:16
If Jesus isn't the Lord of your life, then I hope that you will let Him into your heart and life this very moment.
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." -Romans 5:8
Have you built your foundation on the Rock of Salvation?
Jesus is the way. If you would like to receive Jesus into your heart and life, then let Him know. Pray to the Lord, telling Him that you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, and that you believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the death penalty for your sins. Tell this to God in your own words, from your heart.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." -Romans 6:23
Believe, and Receive:
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" -Ephesians 1:13
When you believe on Jesus Christ, you receive the Holy Spirit. You are sealed as a child of God.
If you have accepted Jesus Christ into your heart and life as your Lord and Saviour, and you believe that Jesus died on the cross in your place, to pay the death penalty for your sins, and that Christ rose from the dead three days later, and you are ready to let Him lead your life, and you will live for Him, then you are saved, and born again.
You are now a saved Child of God, with the Holy Spirit living within you. Dedicate your life to the Lord, and live for Him. Please get a King James Bible and turn to the Gospel of John. That is the fourth book in the New Testament. If you don't have a King James Bible, then you can read it for free, online - here.
After you've read the Gospel of John, go on to read Acts, and then Romans. These three books will bring you through the Gospel, the early church, and basic Christian doctrine. After you've read these three, then turn to the beginning of the New Testament, and read it all the way through. After that, read both the Old and New Testaments.
You should also follow the Lord and get baptized in water. A Believer's Baptism doesn't save you. Only faith in Christ saves you. A Believer's Baptism is an outward showing of your salvation. It symbolizes you being born again. When you are lowered under the water, it shows you dying to your old self, and when you are raised up out of the water, it symbolizes you being born again, as a new creature in Christ. This is called a Believer's Baptism, because, according to the Bible, a person is supposed to get baptized after they have believed on Christ. Anyone who was "baptized" before having faith in Christ just got wet - nothing more. You don't need to find a church to get baptized in. Any born again Christian can baptize you in any acceptable body of water - even a public swimming pool.
Find or start a good home church. Here is more information on Home Church, and why you should home church, or find one to join - HouseChurch.org.
If you can't find or start a home church in your area, then look for a Family Integrated Church, an Independent Baptist church, or look in your phonebook for a nearby Baptist church.
Immerse yourself in the Bible. The Bible is God's love letter to you. It is also your Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.
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