WHY BECOME A CHRISTIAN?
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Becoming a Christian
a) Becoming a Christian won't make your life easier. If you think so, we suggest you take a look at these common misconceptions about the Christian life. Most likely, you won't experience sea-parting miracles every day. Yet the Bible does present several very convincing reasons to become a Christian.
b) Here are six life-changing experiences worth considering becoming a Christian.
@1. Experience the Greatest of Loves
i) There is no greater demonstration of devotion, no greater sacrifice of love, than to lay down your life for another. John 10:11 says, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (NIV) The Christian faith is built upon this kind of love. Jesus gave his life for us: "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 NIV).
ii) In Romans 8:35-39 we see that once we've experienced Christ's radical, unconditional love, nothing can separate us from it. And just as we freely receive Christ's love, as his followers, we learn to love like him and spread this love to others.
@2. Experience Freedom
i) Similar to knowing God's love, absolutely nothing compares to the freedom a child of God experiences when released from the heaviness, guilt and shame caused by sin. Romans 8:2 says, "And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death." (NLT) At the moment of salvation, our sins are forgiven, or "washed away."
ii) As we read God's Word and allow his Holy Spirit to work in our hearts, we are increasingly set free from sin's power.
iii) And not only do we experience freedom through forgiveness of sin, and freedom from sin's power over us, we also begin to learn how to forgive others. As we let go of anger, bitterness and resentment, the chains that held us captive are broken through our own acts of forgiveness. Simply put, John 8:36 expresses it this way, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (NIV)
@3. Experience Lasting Joy & Peace
i) The freedom we experience in Christ gives birth to lasting joy and abiding peace. 1 Peter 1:8-9 says, "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (NIV)
ii) When we experience God's love and forgiveness, Christ becomes the center of our joy. It doesn't seem possible, but even in the midst of great trials, the joy of the Lord bubbles deep within us and his peace settles over us: "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7 NIV)
@4. Experience Relationship
i) God sent Jesus, his only Son, so that we could have relationship with him. 1 John 4:9 says, "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him." (NIV) God wants to connect with us in intimate friendship. He is ever present in our lives, to comfort us, to strengthen us, to listen and to teach. He speaks to us through his Word, he leads us by his Spirit. Jesus wants to be our closest friend.
@5. Experience Your True Potential & Purpose
i) We were created by God and for God. Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (NIV) We were created for worship. Louie Giglio, in his book, The Air I Breathe, writes, "Worship is the activity of the human soul." The deepest cry of our hearts is to know and worship God. As we develop our relationship with God, he transforms us through his Holy Spirit into the person we were created to be.
ii) And as we are changed through his Word, we begin to exercise and develop the gifts God has placed within us. We discover our fullest potential and true spiritual fulfillment as we walk in the purposes and plans that God not only designed for us, but designed us for. No earthly accomplishment compares to this experience.
@6. Experience Eternity with God
i) Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God has "set eternity in the hearts of men." I believe this is the reason we experience an inner longing, or emptiness, until our spirits are made alive in Christ. Then, as God's children, we receive eternal life as a gift (Romans 6:23). Eternity with God will far exceed any earthly expectation we can begin to imagine about heaven: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT)
The End ...
1. Becoming a Christiana) Becoming a Christian won't make your life easier. If you think so, we suggest you take a look at these common misconceptions about the Christian life. Most likely, you won't experience sea-parting miracles every day. Yet the Bible does present several very convincing reasons to become a Christian.
b) Here are six life-changing experiences worth considering becoming a Christian.
@1. Experience the Greatest of Loves
i) There is no greater demonstration of devotion, no greater sacrifice of love, than to lay down your life for another. John 10:11 says, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (NIV) The Christian faith is built upon this kind of love. Jesus gave his life for us: "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 NIV).
ii) In Romans 8:35-39 we see that once we've experienced Christ's radical, unconditional love, nothing can separate us from it. And just as we freely receive Christ's love, as his followers, we learn to love like him and spread this love to others.
@2. Experience Freedom
i) Similar to knowing God's love, absolutely nothing compares to the freedom a child of God experiences when released from the heaviness, guilt and shame caused by sin. Romans 8:2 says, "And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death." (NLT) At the moment of salvation, our sins are forgiven, or "washed away."
ii) As we read God's Word and allow his Holy Spirit to work in our hearts, we are increasingly set free from sin's power.
iii) And not only do we experience freedom through forgiveness of sin, and freedom from sin's power over us, we also begin to learn how to forgive others. As we let go of anger, bitterness and resentment, the chains that held us captive are broken through our own acts of forgiveness. Simply put, John 8:36 expresses it this way, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (NIV)
@3. Experience Lasting Joy & Peace
i) The freedom we experience in Christ gives birth to lasting joy and abiding peace. 1 Peter 1:8-9 says, "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (NIV)
ii) When we experience God's love and forgiveness, Christ becomes the center of our joy. It doesn't seem possible, but even in the midst of great trials, the joy of the Lord bubbles deep within us and his peace settles over us: "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7 NIV)
@4. Experience Relationship
i) God sent Jesus, his only Son, so that we could have relationship with him. 1 John 4:9 says, "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him." (NIV) God wants to connect with us in intimate friendship. He is ever present in our lives, to comfort us, to strengthen us, to listen and to teach. He speaks to us through his Word, he leads us by his Spirit. Jesus wants to be our closest friend.
@5. Experience Your True Potential & Purpose
i) We were created by God and for God. Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (NIV) We were created for worship. Louie Giglio, in his book, The Air I Breathe, writes, "Worship is the activity of the human soul." The deepest cry of our hearts is to know and worship God. As we develop our relationship with God, he transforms us through his Holy Spirit into the person we were created to be.
ii) And as we are changed through his Word, we begin to exercise and develop the gifts God has placed within us. We discover our fullest potential and true spiritual fulfillment as we walk in the purposes and plans that God not only designed for us, but designed us for. No earthly accomplishment compares to this experience.
@6. Experience Eternity with God
i) Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God has "set eternity in the hearts of men." I believe this is the reason we experience an inner longing, or emptiness, until our spirits are made alive in Christ. Then, as God's children, we receive eternal life as a gift (Romans 6:23). Eternity with God will far exceed any earthly expectation we can begin to imagine about heaven: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT)
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