CHRISTIAN EVIDENCES

Know “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32

The“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Truth “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4

This Month's Theme: 

“Transmitter and Receiver”

•  Conversion.

To be converted is to undergo a change of direction. This is the essential core of all the scriptural patterns surrounding conversion in the Bible. While the term itself is rarely used in the Bible, stories of conversion are prominent, especially in the New Testament.

The common denominator in all the Biblical references to conversion is that the individual recognizes his or her need for the one true God and rejects all other alternatives.

•  Source.

Since conversion is a change of route, there is the necessary recognition of the direction an individual is headed. How does one realize his place in life? How does one gain the knowledge to discern what path to take?

As mentioned in the opening, the Bible relates the answers to these questions. The Bible is “ the word ”, specifically the word of God. Its self implication is that it exists through the medium of language, whether oral or written. It is further implied that this word is communication, inasmuch as the purpose of the words is to convey meaning to the understanding of the listener or reader.

In this effort, God acts as a transmitter, sending out His message to man. The desired effect is that man acts as a receiver, gaining the knowledge necessary to know his purpose towards the Creator.

•  Man's Purpose and Necessity.

The Bible reveals that man was created with a certain nobility and dignity in comparison to the rest of creation, note:

Genesis 1:26-28 “Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

In addition, it reveals that man was created with a specific purpose, note:

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all.

14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.”

However, even with this great nobility and purpose, man additionally had it within himself to reject his special place and purpose by replacing it with his own desires and base interests. This self seeking rejection of the purpose of the Creator has alienated him from God. God is light, life and truth, but man has found darkness and death.

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Out of necessity, man being separated from God by choosing the base things of life (sin) has created for himself the need to be reconciled back to God (a change of direction!).

This is the message of the Bible; the great message of salvation from our sin and reconciliation back to God.

•  The Transmission.

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

The good news concerning God's great plan of salvation revolves around a central figure, the Christ!

Romans 1:1-5 “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,”

It is within this Gospel concerning the Christ that God has transmitted His message of salvation to all men.

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

•  The Receiver.

The purpose for the transmission of God is to restore man to his original relationship with God and once again establish his noble creation and purpose. Since God has painstakingly created the transmission; there are certain expectations needed from the receivers:

 I. That they hear the transmission .

Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing , and hearing by the word of God .”

 II. That they believe .

Acts 8:12 “But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.”

 III. That they repent (The first step in the turning process ).

Acts 17:30 “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,”

 IV. That they confess the name of Jesus .

Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Philippians 2:10-11 “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

 V. That they be baptized into Christ's body for the remission of their sins .

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

 VI. That they walk according to the word of God .

1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Philippians 1:27 “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,”

This entire lesson has been a simplification of the great message of God for the salvation of man. However, sometimes the simple things are the greatest things!

1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption ”

Receive the Transmission!

We invite you to worship with us:

Sunday Morning Bible Study – 10 A.M. (Classes for all ages)

Sunday Morning Worship – 10:50 A.M. (Communion, Prayer, Singing, and a Sermon)

Sunday Evening Worship – 5 P.M. (Singing, Prayer, and another practical lesson)

Wednesday Evening Service – 7 P.M. (Singing, Prayer, and Bible Classes)

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