Romans 5:1-11 – “Therefore, having been made righteous by trusting, we have shalom with God through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 2 Through Him we also have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand and boast in the hope of God’s glory. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in suffering—knowing that suffering produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Ruach ha-Kodesh who was given to us. 6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Messiah died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will anyone die for a righteous man—though perhaps for a good man someone might even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us. 9 How much more then, having now been set right by His blood, shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him. 10 For if, while we were yet enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” TLV
I recently saw a meme that read: “Everybody’s a Christian until it gets biblical.” I thought, wow! That speaks to the mentality of many in today’s world and church. That reminds me of a conversation in a movie some thirty years ago. A bumbling inept desk-jockey FBI agent told another FBI agent that he was working undercover. The 2nd agent asked, “Who made you undercover?” The 1st said, “I did.” The 2nd said, “It doesn’t work that way! You can’t make yourself undercover!”
What’s my point? That seems to be the logic employed by too many in the church today or in the world today. That is particularly true regarding entertainers and politicians, but it is not exclusive to them. It is far more pervasive than I am comfortable acknowledging.
For many, in today’s world, being a Christian has nothing to do with the Blood of Jesus Christ. To them, it is simply a confession and a measure of repentance but has virtually nothing to do with Jesus Himself and His work on the Cross. They resemble the FBI agent in many ways. I remember hearing a person, when asked how they became a Christian say, “I was born that way.” They did not say, ‘born again’ but ‘born.’ Meaning they had always been a Christian because it was a family heritage. Basically, they made themselves a Christian apart from the atoning work of Jesus.
People following that mindset make themselves out to be their own god. They establish their own form of righteousness and their own definition for the requirements for entry into heaven. Sadly, everybody is not going to heaven.
I have talked to people who like the idea of being a Christian, but they have zero interest in living in any semblance of obedience to the Word of God or living in faith. They do not want to change. When I received Jesus, He changed my heart and the want to was taken away. Couple that with my desire to please Him and learning that it was incumbent on me to walk in obedience, I changed! But none of that would have happened without the shed Blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross in atonement for my sins.
Being a Christian is not something you become based on your personal standards regardless of how morally right they may be. Being a Christian begins with the belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He is God.
Being a Christian is confessing our sins. It is acknowledging our inability to present a sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of our sins. Being a Christian is repenting of our evil godless ways. Being a Christian means we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior. Becoming a Christian is through faith alone. It is not by works. It is not by second party sacerdotal intervention nor infant baptism. It is an absolute lie of hell that a person can be born a Christian. We are born again but when we are born naturally, we are not Christians.
We are not okay just because we deem ourselves as good as the next person. Being a Christian is not something we decide we are for convenience sake it is having our sins forgiven and living in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. What I have presented is not an exhaustive look at salvation but it such be sufficient to reveal that Nothing, but The Blood of Jesus can cleanse us from our Sins.
God bless you as you enjoy this day in Him!
Roy's Covenant Corner 