Yield Your Life to God and The Christ
When we trust or yield ourselves to Christ, there is a true commitment just like in a healthy marriage. This really is a big step, to give up sin and give ourselves as an offering to God! But the freedom of mind it brings and the change in your life after the decision is made, can bring you more freedom and happiness than you’ve ever known!
For some people “Commitment” is a dangerous word. They fear making a real commitment about anything! How tragic that many marriages are dysfunctional and are a poor example of long lasting commitments.
Jesus made an eternal commitment to us (Rom. 8:38-39). In response to His love we are called upon to pledge ourselves to him.
We love Him because He first loved us (1 Jn. 4:19).
The apostle Paul used the marriage relationship to illustrate our relationship with Christ (Eph. 5:22ff). “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (v. 25).
Just like in the vows of a wedding we can express our faith to Christ who died for us, demonstrating His great love for us. We love Him because He first loved us.
One of the best illustrations of this commitment I have ever read was by C. H. Spurgeon. He said Christ Jesus vows to us: “I, Jesus, take you [your name ], to be my wedded spouse; and I do promise and covenant before God the Father and these witnesses gathered here, to be your loving and faithful Savior and Bridegroom: in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, in this life and for all eternity.”
With a true conversion experience we vow to Him in a similar manner.
It is God the Father who then blesses the marriage, and the believer belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ forever. Our commitment to Christ is a simple act of faith that has eternal significances (Rev. 19:7; John 17:3-5; 1 John 5:13).
The disciple Thomas made such a commitment when he declared, “My Lord, and my God!” (Jn. 20:28). The apostle Paul wrote, “I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day” (2 Tim. 1:12).
The writer of Hebrews describes our Lord’s commitment and our response to Him in these words, “‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’ so that we confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?’” (Heb. 13:5-6).
The LORD God made a great covenant when He sent His Son to go to the cross and die for our sins that He could save us by grace through faith in Christ (Matt. 26:26-29; Heb. 9:11-16, 23-28). “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13). That is exactly what Jesus did for us; only He died for those who were His enemies so that we could become His friends (Rom. 5:6, 8).
The ABC’s of salvation express the same conviction. We must Accept Jesus Christ and the truths concerning His life, death and resurrection. The apostle Paul said “the gospel which I preached to you . . . that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared . . . to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of who remain until now . . .” (1 Cor. 15:3-6). Those are basic facts we must accept regarding Jesus Christ. They are well attested to in history. Jesus Christ is believable.
We must Believe on Jesus Christ personally (rely on, cling to, trust in Him.) I believe that Jesus died for my sins. He died as my substitute in my place paying my penalty for sin (Rom. 5:6, 8; 2 Cor. 5:21). I believe He is the only way for me to go to heaven and enjoy eternal life with Him (Acts 4:12). It is a personal relationship with Him.
We must Commit ourselves to Jesus Christ. This is the moment when He becomes “my Lord and my God” (Jn. 20:28). I receive You, Jesus Christ, as my Lord and Savior. We are saved by the grace of God that is received by simple faith in Jesus Christ alone (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 10:9-10, 13).
Have you made that commitment to Him? Have you asked Him to be your Savior? Have you believed on Him? Have you made a commitment of yourself to Him? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved . . .” (Acts 16:31)
Published using notes from www.abideinchrist.com 4.10.2018
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