Man’s Participation: Believe (by Repentance and Faith) -
Jesus throughout His earthly ministry invited people to follow Him as
His disciples. True disciples left their old life and followed Him
because they believed in Him, they put their hope in Him, and they
trusted Him by faith even to the point of death. The Holy Scriptures
command that those who want to know Jesus, belong to Jesus, and be
accepted by Jesus when He establishes His Kingdom to repent and believe
the Gospel of Jesus by faith (Mark 1:16, Acts 20:21).
True repentance is more than just a
one-time confession, it is more than an emotional sorrow over sin, it is
a complete turning away from one’s former lifestyle of sin. It is
admitting, renouncing, and leaving your former life of sin in order to
follow Christ as your new Lord (boss, owner, master).
True faith is turning to Christ and
following him in absolute trust, commitment, and belief in His life,
death, and resurrection. One way to test if you have truly repented or
have real faith is to test who or what you are living for. Are you
living for Self or your Savior? The proof is in how and for whom we are
living. The genuineness of your repentance and faith is shown by how and
who you are living for. If Jesus is truly your Lord it will show by the
power of the Holy Spirit working in and through your life to live a
holy and obedient life to the commands of your Lord/master.
So ask yourself - as evidence that
Jesus is truly my Lord - am I willing to obey all that the Lord Jesus
has commanded in the Bible for His followers to do? This is important,
because genuine repentance confesses (admits) that one is a sinner,
renounces all sin as serious transgressions against God deserving Hell,
stops practicing sin, and starts practicing righteousness by obeying
God’s will as revealed in the Bible.
Similarly, true faith is more than
just intellectual belief in Jesus, it is more than a one-time sinner’s
prayer, it is a complete certainty, hope, and trust in Jesus Christ to
forgive you, empower you to live a righteous life, and raise you from
the dead to spend eternity with Him in Heaven after you die.
The ultimate question is... are you
willing to completely turn from your former practice of sin and living
for self as the false god controlling your own life? Are you ready to
commit your life by faith to love God with all your heart, with all your
soul, and with all your might (Matthew 22:37)? Are you willing to make
Jesus Christ LORD (Master) of your life?
Another way to test if Jesus is
really your Lord, is to examine your life and see who’s really
controlling your life (Jesus or you), who’s will you’re obeying (Jesus
or your’s), and who’s glory you’re seeking (Jesus or yours). Man’s
Participation is to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and His offer to
forgive your sins and credit you His righteousness
Therefore, those seeking to be saved
must believe and follow Jesus by faith and repentance. True followers
of Jesus Christ are blessed in many ways and have everything to look
forward to, as all God’s promises will be fulfilled.
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