Meeting

So...you've stopped in to meet Jesus. Many people don't bother since the people they know who claim to be "christian" don't show them Jesus at all, because they are only acquaintances. But having the desire to meet Jesus is the first step in actually knowing Him.

Being a Christian is not for the weak, or those unwilling to make a commitment. Choosing Christ is not an easy road. He requires faith in Him, and the putting down of our fleshly nature daily in our walk with Him. The reasoning for baptism in immersion is to help us to identify with Jesus. To die to oneself, and be raised a new man.

"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life"....Romans 6:4.

But many people fall short of these requirements, grasping only the first-- to believe that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. And even then, sometimes this belief is based on the desire to please others. When persecution of any kind appears, the belief is quickly renounced. By only professing belief, but no willingness to pursue any further, one will always be lukewarm, confessing belief when it is required, but living a fruitless worldly life. This kind of life is the most prevalent in the Christian world today. No wonder then, that people scoff and wonder why they need Jesus.

Why do you need Jesus? You need Him because He is the only one who TRULY loves you. God made us to dwell with Him. This was his plan and purpose. But, of course, God wanted us to choose to love Him. We have freedom of choice. When Adam and Eve made wrong choices, God set into motion His plan of redemption. The only way to redeem mankind was to do it Himself. So the Word and thoughts of God became flesh. And the Son of Man, Jesus, purchased the way with His blood. Blood had to be shed to cover sin.

"The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness....Hebrews 9:22."

God is holy, and sin cannot dwell in His presence. Sin had to be paid for.....blood had to be shed. This is why animals were sacrificed in the Old Testament. The animal took the place of the man. This sacrifice was done at the altar every year by the priests to cover the sins of the people for that year. But then Messiah Jesus, with freedom of choice, made himself the sacrifice, and we no longer need to shed an animals' blood every year to cover our sin. Jesus was the last and ultimate sacrificial lamb. Now you have the freedom to choose to come under His protective umbrella, and have His blood be your covering. When the Father looks at you, He sees His Son, the Word that became flesh, and not you and your sin any longer.

When you choose Jesus, you choose a life of excitement! This is because you will learn to die to yourself, and let Jesus be in the driver's seat. Your life will never be dull if you submit yourself to Jesus and the working of the Holy Spirit. Would you like to know more?

"If you acknowledge publicly with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and trust in your heart that God (the Father) raised Him from the dead, you will be delivered." Romans 10:9 JNT

God gave you the grace to believe Him, if you do not harden your heart toward Him. When you accept Jesus, you will receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, as a seal.

"He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come" 2 Corin. 1:21,22

It is important however, that you make some kind of public acknowledgement that you believe Jesus to be the Lord of your life, and that you have put your trust in Him. This is so the devil may not tromp on you, making you doubt your salvation. He will use every trick in the book to make you feel like a sub-standard Christian. So, if you meet Jesus in private, be sure to shout it to the world. And get yourself into a church that will immerse you in water and in the Word of God, the Bible.