[We are looking at the 3rd segment in the above diagram.]
Becoming a Christian means more than simply believing a number of Christian truths. It is about a Person to be received into one’s life.
It involves coming into a personal relationship with Jesus through “receiving” Him and believing or trusting inHim.
This experience of becoming a Christian is described in many ways.
being converted
being born again,
committing oneself to Jesus,
giving oneself to Him,
surrendering one’s life to Him
letting Him come into our lives,
opening the door of our hearts to Him
seeing the light
It is helpful to memorise a few scripture verses that show the need for commitment.
This table shows:-
what God has done for us in His Son. His initiatives.
what are the choices we have. Human choices.
What are the results of our choices. Results.
JOHN 3:16.
JOHN 5:39-40
God’s initiative
1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
John 5:13 I write these things to you
Human choice
12 Whoever has the Son has life
who believe in the name of the Son of God
Results of human choices
whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life
So that you may know that you have eternal life
•A true story of a drunk in a mission hall. When a call to commit one’s life to the Lord was given, this drunk staggered to the front and gave his life to the Lord. The preacher was chuffed. So he asked the man, “What part of my message was it that made you want to give your life to the Lord? He was humbled when the man replied, “It wasn’t anything you said guv’nor. It was the words on the wall behind you, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but may have etenal life.” [John 3:16]As St Paul wrote, it is the word of God that produces faith, Rom 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.“
•A rich young man visiting a museum. During his Grand Tour Count Zinzendorf visited an art museum in Dusseldorf where he saw a Domenico Feti painting titled Ecce Homo, “Behold the Man.” It portrayed the crucified Christ with the legend, “This have I done for you. Now what will you do for me?” He was deeply moved, feeling as if Christ himself was speaking those words to his heart. He vowed that day to dedicate his life to service to Christ. His influence with the Moravians began a prayer and missionary movement that would transform the lives of thousands.
•Augustine overhearing a child at play. “ I heard the voice as of a boy or girl, I know not which, coming from a neighbouring house and oft repeating, ‘Take up and read, take up and read.’ Immediately my countenance was changed, and I began most earnestly to consider whether it was usual for children in any kind of game to sing such words, nor could I remember ever to have heard the like. So, restraining the torrent of my tears’ I rose up, interpreting it no other way than as a command to me from Heaven to open the book, and to read the first chapter I should light upon. . . . I grasped, opened, and in silence read that paragraph on which my eyes first fell … ‘Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying, but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.’ (Romans 13:13-14). He vowed that day to dedicate his life to service to Christ. [St Augustine of Hippo].
The words of Revelation 3:20 were symbolised by Holman Hunt in the painting, “The Light of the World”a copy of which hangs in St Paul’s Cathedral, London.“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Christ wants to come into our lives to begin a life of never-ending fellowship with Him.
The OT Prophecies about His person and His role before He came
Ps 22:1, 7-8, 12-18. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Isa 53:4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. (See the fulfilment in Mat 8:16-17)
Mat 8:16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”
The preparation by John the Baptist for the coming of the Messiah [the Christ]
Mark 1:4 “And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. …”
7 ‘And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”‘
• Mat 11:28-29 “Come to me, ….29 Take my yoke
I will give you rest …You will find rest for your souls
• Mark 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
• John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me
and whoever comes to me I will never drive away
• John 6:44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him
and I will raise him up at the last day
• John 7:37-39 “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive
38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.“
•Mat 9:13 …”For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
•John 6:29) Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
•John 10:9 “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.“
•John 12:44 ‘Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. John 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”‘
•John 14:23 ‘Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”‘
•Acts 2:38, Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
•(Acts 3:19) “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
•Acts 8:15-17, “Samaria, … Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.“
•15:11, “Paul, We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
•19:4-6, Paul in Ephesus, Paul, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them.”
Gal 3:14, 3:22, 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. 22 …so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
Col 2:6, ..just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him,
2 Pet 3:9, The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance
•If they have prayed a prayer asking Jesus into their lives ask them a question such as “Did Jesus come into your life?”
•If they say, “I’m not sure”, then remind them it was Jesus the Son of God who made that promise and that He doesn’t lie. If they invited Him in, then He has accepted the invitation and has come in whether they feel anything or not
•Faith is based on facts (God’s promises and truth). It is not based on feelings, though feelings may follow a genuine step of faith.
•Encourage them to affirm that He has come into their lives to stay and will never leave them
• Encourage the person to tell a trusted Christian friend that they have asked the Lord into their lives
•The Word, He existed from the beginning. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.” John 1:1-2.
•Creator, He made everythingand is the Sustainer of the universe. “But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, Hebrews 1:2-3.
•Son of God, He was eternally with the Father.
•Messiah (Christ), He fulfilled Messiah’s role. Jesus read the words of Isaiah 61:1 and said He had come to fulfil them, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” Luke 4:18-19.
•Redeemer, He set us free by His death. St Paul wrote of Jesus, “who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Titus 2:14.
•Lord, He was and is Lord of all, “As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all).” Acts 10:36.
•Sustainer, He upholds the universe, “and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” Heb 1:3
•Prince of Peace, He brought peace with God and brings the peace of God to human hearts.
•Judge, He will be judge of all, “ I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom.” 2 Tim 4:1.
•Etc, etc
•You can’t do it for them but you can help them
•Responding to the grace of God means receiving from Him, in whom “all things” are to be found
•In receiving Him we are able to take hold of all we have in Him. Forgiveness, eternal life, every spiritual blessing etc. Eph 1:3, 7, 1 Jn 5:11-12
•Until we are converted, He is outside our lives
•Thus we need to ask Him to come into our lives
•The picture of Rev 3:20 has helped many to pray to Him to ask Him into their lives
•But be flexible with where people are in terms of wanting to commit their lives to Jesus
•There are many roads to Jesus but He is the only one to the Father
[This was the prayer I personally prayed on New Year’s Eve 1958 when I gave my life to the Lord.]
•A. Admit I am a sinner in God’s eyes. Rom 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.“
•
•B. Believe Christ died on the cross for me. I came to understand that if I had been the only person who ever lived and committed only one sin, Jesus would still have come and died for me.
•
•C. Consider the cost of becoming a Christian. Salvation is a free gift to me but it cost God the life of His beloved Son.
•
•D. Do something about it. Ask the Jesus who is knocking on the door of your life, into your life as you open the door to Him. Rev 3:20. Thank Him for coming into your life.
•If they have prayed a prayer asking Jesus into their lives ask them a question such as “Did Jesus come into your life?”
•If they say, “I’m not sure”, then remind them it was Jesus the Son of God who made that promise and that He doesn’t lie. If they invited Him in, then He has accepted the invitation and has come in whether they feel anything or not
•Faith is based on facts (God’s promises and truth). It is not based on feelings
•Encourage them to affirm that He has come in to stay and will never leave them
• Encourage the person to tell a trusted Christian friend that they have asked the Lord into their lives
Romans 10:9-10 “That is 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. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.“
Many people have found that when they did ask Christ into their lives to be their Lord and Saviour they only began to grow as believers once they had begun to confess with their lips, Jesus as Lord.
Confessing Jesus as Lord is necessary and is a sign that we belong to God, “and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.” 1 John 4:3.
Once an Industrial Chemist working for the Queensland Government but later an Anglican minister in Brisbane, Armidale and Sydney. Last position for eighteen years before retirement in 2006 was as the Leader of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew's Cathedral Sydney.
holbeck 
461. HELPING PEOPLE RECEIVE CHRIST AS SAVIOUR. [Core Teaching Stage 5 Topic 3].
It is helpful to memorise a few scripture verses that show the need for commitment.
This table shows:-
JOHN 3:16.
JOHN 5:39-40
John 5:13 I write these things to you
who believe in the name of the Son of God
So that you may know that you have eternal life
•A true story of a drunk in a mission hall. When a call to commit one’s life to the Lord was given, this drunk staggered to the front and gave his life to the Lord. The preacher was chuffed. So he asked the man, “What part of my message was it that made you want to give your life to the Lord? He was humbled when the man replied, “It wasn’t anything you said guv’nor. It was the words on the wall behind you, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but may have etenal life.” [John 3:16] As St Paul wrote, it is the word of God that produces faith, Rom 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.“
•A rich young man visiting a museum. During his Grand Tour Count Zinzendorf visited an art museum in Dusseldorf where he saw a Domenico Feti painting titled Ecce Homo, “Behold the Man.” It portrayed the crucified Christ with the legend, “This have I done for you. Now what will you do for me?” He was deeply moved, feeling as if Christ himself was speaking those words to his heart. He vowed that day to dedicate his life to service to Christ. His influence with the Moravians began a prayer and missionary movement that would transform the lives of thousands.
•Augustine overhearing a child at play. “ I heard the voice as of a boy or girl, I know not which, coming from a neighbouring house and oft repeating, ‘Take up and read, take up and read.’ Immediately my countenance was changed, and I began most earnestly to consider whether it was usual for children in any kind of game to sing such words, nor could I remember ever to have heard the like. So, restraining the torrent of my tears’ I rose up, interpreting it no other way than as a command to me from Heaven to open the book, and to read the first chapter I should light upon. . . . I grasped, opened, and in silence read that paragraph on which my eyes first fell … ‘Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying, but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.’ (Romans 13:13-14). He vowed that day to dedicate his life to service to Christ. [St Augustine of Hippo].
The words of Revelation 3:20 were symbolised by Holman Hunt in the painting, “The Light of the World”a copy of which hangs in St Paul’s Cathedral, London. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Christ wants to come into our lives to begin a life of never-ending fellowship with Him.
The preparation by John the Baptist for the coming of the Messiah [the Christ]
the Father who sent me draws him
•Mat 9:13 …”For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
•John 6:29) Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
•John 10:9 “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.“
•John 12:44 ‘Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. John 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”‘
•John 14:23 ‘Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”‘
•Acts 2:38, Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
•(Acts 3:19) “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
•Acts 8:15-17, “Samaria, … Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.“
•15:11, “Paul, We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
•19:4-6, Paul in Ephesus, Paul, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them.”
•If they have prayed a prayer asking Jesus into their lives ask them a question such as “Did Jesus come into your life?”
•If they say, “I’m not sure”, then remind them it was Jesus the Son of God who made that promise and that He doesn’t lie. If they invited Him in, then He has accepted the invitation and has come in whether they feel anything or not
•Faith is based on facts (God’s promises and truth). It is not based on feelings, though feelings may follow a genuine step of faith.
•Encourage them to affirm that He has come into their lives to stay and will never leave them
• Encourage the person to tell a trusted Christian friend that they have asked the Lord into their lives
•The Word, He existed from the beginning. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.” John 1:1-2.
•Creator, He made everything and is the Sustainer of the universe. “But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, Hebrews 1:2-3.
•Son of God, He was eternally with the Father.
•Messiah (Christ), He fulfilled Messiah’s role. Jesus read the words of Isaiah 61:1 and said He had come to fulfil them, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” Luke 4:18-19.
•Redeemer, He set us free by His death. St Paul wrote of Jesus, “who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Titus 2:14.
•Lord, He was and is Lord of all, “As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all).” Acts 10:36.
•Sustainer, He upholds the universe, “and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” Heb 1:3
•Prince of Peace, He brought peace with God and brings the peace of God to human hearts.
•Judge, He will be judge of all, “ I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom.” 2 Tim 4:1.
•Etc, etc
•You can’t do it for them but you can help them
•Responding to the grace of God means receiving from Him, in whom “all things” are to be found
•In receiving Him we are able to take hold of all we have in Him. Forgiveness, eternal life, every spiritual blessing etc. Eph 1:3, 7, 1 Jn 5:11-12
•Until we are converted, He is outside our lives
•Thus we need to ask Him to come into our lives
•The picture of Rev 3:20 has helped many to pray to Him to ask Him into their lives
•But be flexible with where people are in terms of wanting to commit their lives to Jesus
•There are many roads to Jesus but He is the only one to the Father
[This was the prayer I personally prayed on New Year’s Eve 1958 when I gave my life to the Lord.]
•A. Admit I am a sinner in God’s eyes. Rom 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.“
•
•B. Believe Christ died on the cross for me. I came to understand that if I had been the only person who ever lived and committed only one sin, Jesus would still have come and died for me.
•
•C. Consider the cost of becoming a Christian. Salvation is a free gift to me but it cost God the life of His beloved Son.
•
•D. Do something about it. Ask the Jesus who is knocking on the door of your life, into your life as you open the door to Him. Rev 3:20. Thank Him for coming into your life.
•If they have prayed a prayer asking Jesus into their lives ask them a question such as “Did Jesus come into your life?”
•If they say, “I’m not sure”, then remind them it was Jesus the Son of God who made that promise and that He doesn’t lie. If they invited Him in, then He has accepted the invitation and has come in whether they feel anything or not
•Faith is based on facts (God’s promises and truth). It is not based on feelings
•Encourage them to affirm that He has come in to stay and will never leave them
• Encourage the person to tell a trusted Christian friend that they have asked the Lord into their lives
Romans 10:9-10 “That is 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.
10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.“
Many people have found that when they did ask Christ into their lives to be their Lord and Saviour they only began to grow as believers once they had begun to confess with their lips, Jesus as Lord.
Confessing Jesus as Lord is necessary and is a sign that we belong to God, “and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.” 1 John 4:3.
Blog No.461 posted on Monday 23 January 2023.
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About Jim Holbeck
Once an Industrial Chemist working for the Queensland Government but later an Anglican minister in Brisbane, Armidale and Sydney. Last position for eighteen years before retirement in 2006 was as the Leader of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew's Cathedral Sydney.