Michael Harrison
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Member # 6801
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posted
Does anything happen apart from faith? That is the very foundation of our relationship without which there is nothing.
I wrote the other day that there are those who hear the gospel preached, who mentally assent to it, that it 'is' true. Thereby upon hearing, some elect themselves to be in the category of the saved based on agreeing with the fact that Jesus lived and died. But because one 'agrees' that Jesus died on the Cross does not mean a thing unless the believer submits his or her will to the will of God.
One cannot 'elect' himself based on the finished works of Christ! One cannot agree that it is true, and feel that therefore they are saved. One must be willing to be buried with Christ that they may be raised with Him from the dead. This doesn't happen unless one surrenders his or her will to the supreme, all powerful, all knowing God. For one must offer their will, in surrender to His. For this to happen, HE must necessarily be accesable, and necessarily be in relationship with those who follow Him.
God is the doer, not the believer. The believer is the receiver of His life, and works. It is known as 'salvation', and God is manifest in and through the life of the 'believer' here on earth.
Yet for some, Christianity may as well be a mythological fantasy, surrounded with mystery as to how it works out, accompanied by a work of literature from which one is to derive inspiration (of sorts). It seems that Jesus is a historical fact to these; nothing more. Out of this they derive that there is a place reserved for them in heaven. In the mean time, Jesus apparently came to earth, made a legacy for himself, and died. Thereafter He was nowhere to be found; that is at least, until we see Him in Heaven.
Jesus performed many miracles while HE was here. He performed more still through the Apostles after HE left. Moreover, HE intended that what HE did in those days to continue until HE returns again, that many may have the benefit of the encouragment that HE is real. But for some, HE appeared, and disappeared, leaving only written witness of Himself.
So the question today, as it ever was, is, "Is Jesus real?" What do you believe?
Posts: 3273 | From: Charlotte N.C. | Registered: Sep 2007
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