What does it mean to be led to Christ?

Text:

- What does it mean to be led to Christ?

John 1:12 KJV 1900

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Why this Text from Theresa's Bible

#1 - This passage implies that all are not the children of God.

To not be a child of God is more serious than most people think:

(i) He is the Creator

(ii) He is all that is Truth

(iii) He is all that is Light

(iv) There is accountability ()

John 1:10 KJV 1900

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

#2 - This passage teaches that it is possible to be a child of God.

#3 - This passage teaches how to become a child of God.

What the context is teaching

Gives to us the purpose of the book.

John 20:31 KJV 1900

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

(i) Believing who Jesus is, as the Son of God, is the way we have life.

(ii) What is life? Life is knowing God.

John 17:3 KJV 1900

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

(iii) Only those who are true children of God actually know God.

(iv) So, God (the Father) sent Jesus, the Son of God, to make us sons of God.

Why this teaching is important

(1) It important because not everyone is a child of God (already covered)

(2) It is important because there are people who think they are children of God but they are NOT - IN THERESA'S BIBLE she had the page with & 10 marked and it said "ON THIS PAGE STATES THAT JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN"

Illustration 397

Suing Himself

Topics: Blame; Consequences; Faults; Honesty; Human Nature; Self-deception; Sin

References: ; ;

In March 2006, a city dump truck backed into Curtis Gokey’s car. The car was damaged badly, so Gokey sued the city of Lodi, California, for $3,600.

The catch? Curtis Gokey was driving the city dump truck that crunched his personal car. He even admitted the accident was his fault. The city dropped the lawsuit, stating that Gokey could not sue himself.

Like Gokey, we are often our own worst enemies. Rather than shifting the blame for the damage we do, we would do well to acknowledge our fault and humbly accept the consequences.

—Lee Eclov, “Man Tries to Sue Himself,” PreachingToday.com

Larson, C. B., & Ten Elshof, P. (2008). 1001 illustrations that connect (p. 225). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

What this meant to Theresa?

shows us people that think they SEE but they are really blind.

John 9:41 KJV 1900

Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

(i) Blindness comes because of religious tradition - you do not become a child of God by sacraments

(ii) Blindness comes because we see ourselves as people who are good and really don't need the salvation that others might need - you do not become a child of God unless you see how blind (sinful) you really are.

What is means for you (the hearer)

#1 - Means that if you think you are a child of God because you have gone to church your whole life, you are not really a child of God

#2 - Means that if you think you are a child of God because you have kept the sacraments, you are not really a child of God.

#3 - Means that if you think you are a child of God because you've never really done any very bad things, you are not a child of God.

BUT

#4 - Means that if you have realized that you have offended your Creator, you've realized that Jesus Christ suffered a cruel death for your sin against God, was buried, and rose again & you have believed upon HIM ALONE as the full payment for your sin - you are a true child of God.

How you can respond (the hearer)

There are only a few responses you could possible have:

(i) I have never taken time to believe on Jesus Christ, but I want to do so...

(ii) I don't fully understand what you are saying about Jesus, but I want to know more...

(iii) I don't believe anything you are saying, and I don't want to be a child of God...

(iv) I have believed on Jesus Christ and am a child of God...

When you should respond (the hearer)

teaches that those who've believed on the son of God have everlasting life. This means they immediately come into relationship where they know God and are known of God.

John 3:36 KJV 1900

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

ill:

8. The Man Who Laughed When He Was Warned

A man ventured to walk out amid high rocks that jutted out into the sea. He was not aware of any danger, but another man was and called, “Hello there! The tide is rising and you have passed the last place through which you can escape. You had better turn back now.”

The man laughed at the warning and walked on. After a while he thought it was time to turn back, but when he neared the place where he had been warned, his escape was cut off. He tried to climb up upon rocks but they were too high and wet. He was trapped. The tide of water kept rising until it reached his chin, and finally, with a wild shriek for help, he perished.

“Fool he was,” you say. Yes, but friend, the tides of eternity are rising. Those only will be saved who get on the Rock of Ages, the Lord Jesus Christ, before it is too late. Now is the time to turn to God. Don’t venture another hour. Heed God’s tender and urgent appeal and warning:

“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” (Ezek. 33:11).

If you do not respond, what sensible and reasonable answer can you give? The answer is “None.” Won’t you say, “Realizing that I am a sinner, lost and far from God, I believe that Jesus Christ died for sinners, hence he died for me and rose from the dead to be my Saviour and Lord. Therefore, I, here and now, receive Him into my heart by faith to be my Saviour and risen Lord. By sincerely so doing, I believe He has saved me and I am now a child of God.”

—The Radio Family Chat

Apostolon, B. (1972). Fifty-Two Invitation Illustrations (pp. 14–15). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

A man ventured to walk out amid high rocks that jutted out into the sea. He was not aware of any danger, but another man was and called, “Hello there! The tide is rising and you have passed the last place through which you can escape. You had better turn back now.”

The man laughed at the warning and walked on. After a while he thought it was time to turn back, but when he neared the place where he had been warned, his escape was cut off. He tried to climb up upon rocks but they were too high and wet. He was trapped. The tide of water kept rising until it reached his chin, and finally, with a wild shriek for help, he perished.

“Fool he was,” you say. Yes, but friend, the tides of eternity are rising. Those only will be saved who get on the Rock of Ages, the Lord Jesus Christ, before it is too late. Now is the time to turn to God. Don’t venture another hour. Heed God’s tender and urgent appeal and warning:

“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” (Ezek. 33:11).

If you do not respond, what sensible and reasonable answer can you give? The answer is “None.” Won’t you say, “Realizing that I am a sinner, lost and far from God, I believe that Jesus Christ died for sinners, hence he died for me and rose from the dead to be my Saviour and Lord. Therefore, I, here and now, receive Him into my heart by faith to be my Saviour and risen Lord. By sincerely so doing, I believe He has saved me and I am now a child of God.”

—The Radio Family Chat

Apostolon, B. (1972). Fifty-Two Invitation Illustrations (pp. 14–15). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.