Afternoon Y'all! I pray this post encourages you and gives God glory! Got suggested topics you want me to write about? Please comment below or email me at info@mocatoday.com.
In an earlier post, we reviewed how salvation is a gift from God to those that make Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior. Reflecting on that truth, I'm 19 blog posts in, and the most important thing I pray you take away from my writings is that– Although Christianity is labeled as a religion, when it comes to our salvation, it's NOT about religion. It's about a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ!
Pursuing Intimacy with God (PIWG) Ministry does a great job of concisely explaining religion versus relationship with God:
Religion (Self-effort, works)
Goal: Reach out to God and try to work our way into heaven
Means: Diligent service and works, with hopes of a reward (heaven)
Power: Good, honest effort through self-determination
Control: Self-motivation and self-control
Results: Apathy, failure, chronic guilt, eternal separation from God
Personal Relationship (Faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior)
Goal: Trust fully in Jesus, then live to please Him
Means: Confess sins, repent, yield self to Jesus
Power: Holy Spirit does God’s work in and through us
Control: Allow the Holy Spirit to control and direct our lives
Results: Love, joy, peace, freedom, victory, power, eternal life in heaven
Many accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, but few make Him Lord over their lives.
Salvation requires Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior (Phil 3:20, 2 Peter).
Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. ~Matthew 7:21 (NLT)
Christ as our Lord is about:
Getting to know Jesus Christ personally. Pray, make time to study His Word, learn and apply His teachings, allow Holy Spirit to grow Christlike character in you, have a heart of repentance, serve, and share the Good News with others.
Submitting to His will. Being obedient to what Christ wills for your life, versus pursuing and being obedient to your own desires, apart from God.
Doing life with Him. Take Jesus Christ everywhere you go and seek His will in all areas of your life.
The above three things enable personal encounters with the Holy Spirit. Personal encounters lead to repentance, obedience, and a changed person that is pleasing to God. Moreover, we begin to see as Christ sees and do as He does.
So, how do we make Jesus Christ our Lord?
Answer:
It starts by growing a personal relationship with Him, NOT simply practicing religious activities. We discuss further how to do this in last week's post.
Quotes:
It is impossible for a believer, no matter what his experience, to keep right with God if he will not take the trouble to spend time with God. Spend plenty of time with Him; let other things go, but don’t neglect Him. ~Oswald Saunders
[A lot of people] think that Christianity is you doing all the righteous things you hate, and avoiding all the wicked things you love, in order to go to heaven. No, that’s a lost man with religion. A Christian is a person whose heart has been changed; they have new affections. ~Paul Washer
Most men, indeed, play at religion as they play at games. Religion itself, being of all games, the one most universally played. ~A. W. Tozer
Given everything shared above, how is your personal relationship with Jesus Christ? I pray this post stirs up a greater hunger to make Christ your Lord and pursue Him more intimately than you ever have before!
Trust me, you don't want Christ to say He never knew you.
And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ ~Matthew 7:23
So, choose now, to spend more time with Him and truly make Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior. It's the best decision you could ever make!
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Remember, it's all about progression, not perfection! God loves you! With Him, you got this! Until next post, may God give you His peace and blessings!
~Natasha
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