Come and Believe With The Innocence of Children
You never know when, so repent and receive The Holy Spirit now!
In a small community a pastor invited listeners who would believe on Jesus Christ as their Savior to come to the alter. A seventy-year-old man came running down the aisle. He had put his faith in Jesus Christ and stated so publicly, as scripture implies we should.
Several months later that older man went to his final resting place.
Through much of his life the old man had lived across the street from a beautiful large church.
On Sunday mornings he and his little brother would sit on the steps of their house and watched the people enter the building. They wanted to go to church so badly that they cried, but they had been told by their parents they did not have good enough clothes.
In Mark 10:13-16 we see, “They were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, ‘Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.’ And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them” (Mark 10:13-16).
The essence of saving faith is to rest yourself for eternal salvation on the atoning death and perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ.
It is to trust in what Jesus Christ did for you in dying for your salvation. If you are to be saved you must believe in Jesus Christ. Put your faith in no one else, and in nothing else, but Christ. Only Jesus Christ will save you.
How do persons come to Christ? They come by simple humble faith in Christ Jesus. Faith is the way to Christ. It is not faith plus baptism. It is not faith plus good works. It is not faith plus obedience. It is not faith plus church attendance.
It is faith in the saving grace of God in Christ Jesus alone.
If you are baptized after you have come to Christ, well and good, but do not lift your baptism to a saving ordinance or a sacrament for salvation.
We never know when our last moment comes, when the clock spring will wind down and we shall breathe no more. Come to Jesus Christ by laying hold of Him with the hand of faith today, even NOW!
Jesus did not say the kingdom belonged to grownups, or to those who have proven their study with a Barmitsva ceremony including and proof they can read Torah. It is not only for the well-educated, middle class, or whatever social or class label you put on people. It belongs to the kids!
Some churches use the AWANA children and youth program and it proves very successful. Wednesday night attendance quickly grows and attendance year after year remains high.
Children listen, comprehend the Gospel message and put their faith in Christ. Jesus said, “Permit the children to come to Me.” They can understand the good news in Christ and they do believe. They are humble enough to know what sin is, to confess to God they are sinners and to believe that Christ died for them on the cross.
Please do not ever hinder anyone from seeking salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. To every individual who is awakened to the reality of personal sin in their lives and to the saving truth in Jesus Christ we need to plead for them to trust in Christ alone for salvation. Come to Jesus Christ, put your trust in Him and be saved.
The absolutely amazing thing is that the very way in which a child enters the kingdom, is the way in which every individual must enter. Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it at all” (v. 15). Jesus then took the children into His arms and blessed them (v. 16).
The mind that is capable of understanding the simple truths of the gospel is also capable of believing in Christ. Children are capable of receiving the grace of God when the Holy Spirit imparts it.
How does a child enter into the kingdom of God? It is very simple faith. It is not something sophisticated. The child takes God at His word. S/he believes what is told. There are no prejudices and preconceived ideas. They simply take John 3:16 for what it plainly says. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Place your name in that verse and claim its promise for yourself. “For God so loved (me) that he gave His only begotten Son that if I believe on Him I will not perish, but have eternal life.” I believe that with all my heart. I am willing to die for that truth.
Our time is running out, hour by hour. Take this minute to accept and believe on Him, too. There is salvation in no one else. There is no other name that you can call upon and be saved. None, but Jesus can rescue the helpless sinner.
God wants to save you today. He is willing to receive you today and lay His hands on you and bless you. Jesus is displeased with anyone who would hold you back from putting your faith in Christ alone and being saved today. If you will come to Him He will in no way cast you out.
You don’t need a church or a pastor or beautiful clothing. You need to desire God, to want to know Him, seek his face, hear his voice, follow his Good Ways and wish to Believe upon, trust in, cling to, and rely upon his promises. If you will do this and confess aloud that you know you are a sinner, because you have not kept all the law perfectly, and that you want to be rescued for eternal life in God, you SHALL be saved! And you can pray and do it RIGHT NOW.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.” “Permit the children to come to Me,” He said, and anyone else who will come in childlike faith.
Published using notes from www.abideinchrist.com 4.5.2018
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