The Amish Voice 6
Something else to consider: Once married,
we do not
do, do, do
in order to become
more married. We
do, do, do
because we are
married.
The question then is, are you
doing, doing,
doing
in order to become a Christian, or are
you
doing, doing, doing
because you are
already a Christian?
If your answer is I
do, do, do
because I am
already
a Christian, than my question to you
is, “when did you become a Christian?” And
yes, just like marriage is an
event
, so the
conversion (new birth) is an
event
. It hap-
pens on a certain day, certain time and a cer-
tain place.
2 Corinthians 6:2
…behold,
now
is the accepted time;
behold,
now
is the day of salvation.
In order to better understand the rest of my
article, let’s understand that
doing, doing,
doing
is something that happens over a pro-
cess of time
,
where as, a spiritual conversion
is a one-time event.
Salvation: Event vs. Process
Several weeks ago, I had an opportunity to
discuss the second birth with a husband and
wife. First I quoted John 3:3 and 5, where it
says,
"Except a man is born again, he cannot
see or enter God's kingdom".
Then I asked
the couple, "have you been born again?"
Their reply to me was, "Joe, we believe that
new birth is a
lifelong process
."
As this couple continued to share their be-
liefs about the second birth, the following
thought came to mind: They have the life-
long
process
mixed up with the one-time
event
!
Let me explain:
Is it not true, dear reader, that in order for a
human being to enter and exist in our physi-
cal world, there FIRST had to be an
event
take place, which we call the first birth? In
fact, we have a birth certificate proving that
such an
event
took place at so and so place,
time and location. It's all right there in black
and white. No one even questions the fact
that it was not an
event
. I might even add; we
celebrate that
event
every year by baking
birthday cakes and giving gifts.
Is it not also true that until the
event
takes
place, the
process
of growing and maturing
the physical mind and body could not begin?
Unlike the birth
event
, growing and maturing
is a (lifelong)
process.
So, let’s please under-
stand that
process
can only happen after the
event
and should never be considered as one
and the same.
Having said that, let me remind us again that
in John 3:3, Jesus clearly told Nicodemus,
“except a second birth/event takes place in
our life, s/he can never see or enter God’s
kingdom.”
1. The first birth
event
allowed you and
me access into the physical world.
2. The second birth
event
allows you and
me access into the spiritual world.
And…
3. Before you and I could begin the pro-
cess of growing and maturing in the
physical world
, there had to be a birth
event
.
4. Before you and I can begin the process
of growing and maturing in the
spiritu-
al world
, there has to be a birth
event
again.
Oh, we can fake it alright, and many are do-
ing just that. They
do, do, do
by going to
church, giving money to the poor, reading
their Bible, praying daily and doing many
wonderful works, however, they have never
experienced a spiritual conversion.
Luke 13:2-3
And Jesus answering said unto them,
Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were
sinners above all the Galilaeans, be-
cause they suffered such things? I tell
you, Nay: but, except ye repent,
ye
shall all likewise perish.
Repent from what?
Answer:
Repent from
doing, doing, doing
in order to become a Christian and have your
sins forgiven.
Salvation is
a gift!
Jesus Christ did
not pay for part of your sins and then hand
you a payment plan, asking that you keep up
the rest of the payments. He paid it all! All to
Him I owe!
In fact, the prophet Isaiah points out so clear-
ly, in chapter 64, that even our good works
are as
filthy rags
.
Isaiah 64:6
But we are all as an unclean thing, and
all our righteousnesses are as filthy
rags…
We cannot possibly
do, do, do
enough to pay
our own way to God. If we could have paid
our own way, Jesus would not have had to
come and die on the cross. His death on the
cross is what it took to pay your and my
way! Will you cast your sin upon Jesus and
be born again, today?
Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we
must be saved.
Please don't wait another day, another hour,
another minute. The time to be
born again
is
now. Some day it will be too late. The Bible
says:
Revelation 6:17
For the great day of His wrath is come;
and
who shall be able to stand?
The answer is, no one will be able to stand.
Will you let Jesus stand for you and in your
place? He took God’s wrath upon Himself,
when He died that horrible death on the
cross, 2,000 years ago.
Romans 10:8-9
But what saith it?
The word is nigh thee,
even in thy mouth, and in thy heart:
that is, the word of faith, which we
preach; That if thou shalt confess with
thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt be-
lieve in thine heart that God hath raised
him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
If you have never been born again, would
you consider praying these words from your
heart and according to God, be saved?
Dear Lord, today, I call upon your name
for my salvation. I believe in my heart
that God the Father raised Jesus from
the dead in order that I might have ever-
lasting life. I now declare Him to be the
Lord of my life. I forsake any effort on
my part to save myself, and I reject all
the charges of Satan that would rob me
of my full assurance of eternal life. I
have been transferred out of the kingdom
of darkness and into the Kingdom of His
beloved Son. I declare myself to be a
child of God from this day forth, because
of the finished work of Christ. —Amen
If you contact our ministry, I would be over-
joyed to send you some reading and Bible
study materials that will help you become a
strong and mature Christian.
—Joe Keim
—Continued from previous page—