Cars & Christians

A while ago at the county jail we had an interesting discussion. One I've had many

times. It was,"How does one become a Christian?" Different folks had different answers

based on the different traditions from which they came. After they all had their say (and

believe me, they did!) I told them this story.

Four guys were having an argument on how one becomes a Christian. The first guy

said, “You must go to church. If you attend church regularly then you’re a Christian” The

second guy said, “You must be baptized. The Scripture says, “He that believes and is

baptized shall be saved.” While the third guy said, “Man has a free will and God

requires him to use it. You must make a decision to believe in Christ as your personal

savior.” Finally, the fourth guy said, "You are all wrong! If you go and stand in a garage,

does going into a garage make you a car? Of course not! If you walk through a car

wash, does that make you a car? It makes you all wet but it certainly doesn’t make you

a car. If, with your supposed free will, make a decision and tell the world that you are a

car does that make you a car? It may get you a ride to the local asylum but you are still

not a car. The only way a car can be a car is if the Manufacturer creates him or better

said, recreates him as a car. There is nothing the car can do! John 1:12-13 "But as

many as received Him, to them He gave them the right to become children of God, to

those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the

flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

I know my little story is not a perfect representation of the salvation only God can give

but the point is nevertheless true. If you are upset with me; I am sorry! I truly am and

believe me when I say I'm very used to apologizing.  May I humbly suggest you

read Ephesians 1 and 1 Peter 1. Both of these chapters are wonderful in showing us

how it isn't up to us, or a pastor, or some kind of act, (albeit beautiful in the proper

context) but always and only of the Lord. He had you, brother/sister, in mind from the

“get go!” Actually, he had you in mind from before the “get go” . So if you are, in fact,

a car (and you will know it!) go spend some time in a garage, get yourself a wash and a

wax. Then make a decision to go and tell all the other rusted heaps of scrap just what

the Manufacturer has done for you and can do for them! Sorry for the sermon....

In His Strength and For His Glory!

Scott M. Aussprung

Redemption in Christ

3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every

spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,  4  just as He chose us in Him before the

foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in

love,  5  having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according

to the good pleasure of His will,  6  to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He

made us accepted in the Beloved.

7  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the

riches of His grace  8  which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and

prudence,  9  having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good

pleasure which He purposed in Himself,  10  that in the dispensation of the fullness of the

times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both [a]  which are in heaven

and which are on earth—in Him.  11  In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being

predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the

counsel of His will,  12  that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His

glory.

13  In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your

salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of

promise,  14  who [b]  is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the

purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Ephesians 1:3-14