Christ Plus Nothing
Apr 25, 2019 09:41:08 #
We must have all our armor on now more than ever.
Some years ago I was invited to present the gospel to a group of actors and actresses at a Hollywood hotel. That was a different environment for me, but I was thankful for the opportunity to represent Christ to them. I talked for about forty-five minutes, then challenged the people to trust Christ for salvation.
Afterward a young man came up to me and shook my hand. He was a very handsome young actor from India, who had come to Hollywood seeking stardom. He said to me, “Your speech was fascinating and compelling. I want Jesus Christ in my life.” I was thrilled and suggested we go into a little side room where we would have privacy to talk together and pray.
We made our way to the room and sat down. Then he said, “I’m a Muslim. I’ve been a Muslim all my life. Now I want to have Christ.” I was somewhat overwhelmed because I had never led a Muslim to Christ, and I didn’t expect one to respond so easily to the gospel. I explained in more detail what it meant to open one’s heart to Christ, then suggested we pray together.
As we knelt, he prayed to receive Christ. Then I prayed for him, and we stood up. I was excited, and he was smiling as he shook my hand firmly. But then he made a tragic and revealing statement: “Isn’t it wonderful? Now I have two religions, Christianity and Islam.”
Saddened by his obvious misunderstanding of the gospel, I carefully explained to him that Christianity doesn’t work that way. Jesus isn’t someone you simply add to whatever other religion you choose. You must turn from error to embrace Him as Lord alone (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Jesus Himself said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other” (Matthew 6:24). You give up every other master to gain Christ, who is the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:44–46). He takes all of you, and you receive all of Him (Matthew 16:24–26).
But like the rich young ruler who rejected Christ for the sake of holding on to his riches (Luke 18:18–23), that young actor was unwilling to exchange his false religion for the only One who could save his soul. He walked away without Christ.
We must hold fast to Christ’s sufficiency—never adding to it or taking from it. In Him are “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). “In Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9). We have “been made complete” in Him (Colossians 2:10). And nothing can ever separate us from Him (Romans 8:35–39). What more do we need?
Are you resting and trusting in the sufficiency of Christ? Is Christ everything to you? If so, thank Him for His fullness. If not, perhaps you’ve been trusting in failing, deceptive, inept human wisdom; meaningless religious rituals; or some kind of mystical experience formed in your own mind and unrelated to reality. Maybe you’ve been thinking that your own self-denial or self-imposed pain will somehow gain favor with God. If that’s the case, put it all aside, and in simple childlike faith embrace the risen Christ as your Lord and Savior. He will give you complete salvation, complete forgiveness, and complete victory. All you need in the spiritual dimension for time and eternity is found in Him. Repent of your sin and submit your life to Him!
https://www.gty.org/library/blog/B190424
Some years ago I was invited to present the gospel to a group of actors and actresses at a Hollywood hotel. That was a different environment for me, but I was thankful for the opportunity to represent Christ to them. I talked for about forty-five minutes, then challenged the people to trust Christ for salvation.
Afterward a young man came up to me and shook my hand. He was a very handsome young actor from India, who had come to Hollywood seeking stardom. He said to me, “Your speech was fascinating and compelling. I want Jesus Christ in my life.” I was thrilled and suggested we go into a little side room where we would have privacy to talk together and pray.
We made our way to the room and sat down. Then he said, “I’m a Muslim. I’ve been a Muslim all my life. Now I want to have Christ.” I was somewhat overwhelmed because I had never led a Muslim to Christ, and I didn’t expect one to respond so easily to the gospel. I explained in more detail what it meant to open one’s heart to Christ, then suggested we pray together.
As we knelt, he prayed to receive Christ. Then I prayed for him, and we stood up. I was excited, and he was smiling as he shook my hand firmly. But then he made a tragic and revealing statement: “Isn’t it wonderful? Now I have two religions, Christianity and Islam.”
Saddened by his obvious misunderstanding of the gospel, I carefully explained to him that Christianity doesn’t work that way. Jesus isn’t someone you simply add to whatever other religion you choose. You must turn from error to embrace Him as Lord alone (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Jesus Himself said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other” (Matthew 6:24). You give up every other master to gain Christ, who is the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:44–46). He takes all of you, and you receive all of Him (Matthew 16:24–26).
But like the rich young ruler who rejected Christ for the sake of holding on to his riches (Luke 18:18–23), that young actor was unwilling to exchange his false religion for the only One who could save his soul. He walked away without Christ.
We must hold fast to Christ’s sufficiency—never adding to it or taking from it. In Him are “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). “In Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9). We have “been made complete” in Him (Colossians 2:10). And nothing can ever separate us from Him (Romans 8:35–39). What more do we need?
Are you resting and trusting in the sufficiency of Christ? Is Christ everything to you? If so, thank Him for His fullness. If not, perhaps you’ve been trusting in failing, deceptive, inept human wisdom; meaningless religious rituals; or some kind of mystical experience formed in your own mind and unrelated to reality. Maybe you’ve been thinking that your own self-denial or self-imposed pain will somehow gain favor with God. If that’s the case, put it all aside, and in simple childlike faith embrace the risen Christ as your Lord and Savior. He will give you complete salvation, complete forgiveness, and complete victory. All you need in the spiritual dimension for time and eternity is found in Him. Repent of your sin and submit your life to Him!
https://www.gty.org/library/blog/B190424
Apr 25, 2019 09:51:34 #
Rose42 wrote:
We must have all our armor on now more than ever. ... (show quote)
Excellent Rose hopefully this message will reach others here on OPP that think that they have received Christ and those that want to receive Christ as well. After reading this they will know what it takes and what it means to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
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