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