When a genuine encounter with God opens the heart and mind of a person to the realities of who He is, that person begins to see themselves for who they really are – a sinner in need of a Savior. This revelation from the Holy Spirit of God can lead to several responses.
Rejecting
Fear, doubt, selfishness, greed, ego, perversion, hardheartedness, etc. (all based in pride) lead to the rejection of the truth about God. Rejecting God is the natural response of depraved man and leaves him in an unreconciled relationship with God. If not dealt with, rejection of God ultimately leads to eternal separation from Him in Hell.
- Romans 1:18-19 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
Renovating
When the truth about God is misunderstood or misapplied, and someone believes that they can earn God’s favor and forgiveness, they begin to renovate their lives. Many people, many religions, literally work themselves to death for something that can only be obtained by grace (which is unmerited favor). The forgiveness and favor of God is only found through faith in Christ.
- Romans 4:4-5 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,
Receiving
When the truth about God is received in humility, and the good news about salvation in Jesus Christ is believed, God performs a supernatural work of reconciliation that results in eternal life for those who surrender all they are to Jesus. Those reconciled with Father God in and through Jesus spend eternity in Heaven with God.
- Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
The Word of God, The Holy Bible, has a very clear message for all of humanity:
Faith in Jesus is the only way
to peace with Father God!
- Isaiah 53:5-6 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
- John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
- John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
- Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
- 1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Whether you are a Rejecter, Renovator or a Receiver, there is something you need to know about Father God. He does not want anyone to perish – He desires for all people to be reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ!
- Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’
- 1 Timothy 2:3-4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
- 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
The fact of the matter is, He loves us so much, that while we were still sinners, He sent Jesus Christ (the human incarnation of God) to die for us.
- Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
The Sovereign Lord of the universe does not require you to clean yourself up, learn the entire Bible, perform just the right number of good works, or anything else that could be equated to you earning a right standing with Him. All that He asks, the one thing He demands, is that you believe with a life-changing faith that Jesus Christ died on a Roman cross to pay the debt for your sins.
- John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Prayer
Father God, not much else really matters until we understand that because You love us so much, and because we desperately need a Savior, You came to earth as the fully God fully man, Jesus, lived a sinless life, died to pay our sin debt, rose from the grave, and ascended back to Heaven. Once we understand this, and you give us the faith to believe, we must decide to receive this truth. When we do, all of our sins are forgiven and you send Your Holy Spirit to live in us – we become a new creation and begin a new life as Your children. Our new lives are meant to honor You as we share Your truth and love with others and seek to obey You in all things. Father, bring these truths into many lives by the truth and power of Your Word and Your Spirit. I pray all these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
