How do people become Christians? Is it a decision for Christ? A belief in Jesus? Repentance of sin? Heaven forbid! It is not. It is 100% the work of God through Christ.
It is not a decision, belief or repentance that makes someone a Christian and as a result right with God. These actions are the evidence of something else. As Oswald Chambers wrote:
“I am made right with God because,
prior to all of that Christ died.”¹
Why is it important to understand this; to make this distinction? The following verses from the Bible explain:
“When the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to His mercy He saved us,
through the washing of regeneration and
renewing of the Holy Spirit,
whom He poured out on us abundantly
through Jesus Christ our Savior.”
Titus 3:4-6 (NKJV)
If salvation is by works; a decision, a belief, or repentance, than my salvation is all of me and none of Christ.
“Sinful men and women can be changed into new creations,
not through their repentance or their belief,
but through the wonderful work of God in Christ Jesus
which preceded all of our experience.”²
Alright then, what about growth in Christ? Is it obedience, consecration or dedication that makes one grow in Christ?³ Praise God, No!
“The unconquerable safety of justification and sanctification
is God Himself.
We do not have to accomplish these things ourselves –
they have been accomplished through the atonement
of the Cross of Christ.Ӡ
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
Be Ye Glad!
What questions does this bring to mind?
Copyright © 2020
Lena Rae
All Rights Reserved
¹Chambers, Oswald; My Utmost for His Highest; “Justification by Faith,” October 28; Dodd, Mead & Co., 1992.
²Ibid.
³Ibid.
†Ibid.
Be Ye Glad! 
that is the good news, but I also ask myself – if it is nothing to do even with my acceptance and belief in Jesus, nor my choosing to follow him, then what makes us Christians? Or have I misunderstood you?
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Great question! Ours is to believe and even that is the gift of God. See Ephesians 2:8-9 💗
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Because we choose to ‘believe’ that Jesus is the son of God (and God Himself) and that He died for our sins and rose three days later we’re given the gift of salvation from God and that makes us Christians is how I always interpret it. Do you agree that’s it comes down to our belief in Him right?
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Yes, it does come down to our faith but this is also the gift of God. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 8:8-9 💗
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Ya that makes sense because ultimately our salvation (and everything really) is for His glory
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Amen! 💗💗
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