Why become a Christian yet? - 11th May 2007

Why do we want our friends to become Christians? Is it just so that they get to heaven, or that they avoid the horrors of Hell?

Jesus promises life in abundance. What does that mean?

Life free from fear – we can trust God to look after our future, even if our short term position doesn’t look too good.
Life free from slavery to sin – we are allowed to stop sinning, even if we relapse we are allowed to try again
Life free from guilt – the past is past and is paid for. No dwelling on the past can change the future; simply “go, and sin no more”.

But of course it’s not quite that easy in practice is it. We have to work at it, as there is a devil who is trying to undermine us. He is there so that we can be clear in our choice between good and evil, so that we can choose God because we know the alternative.

So, why do we want our friends to know Jesus today? Because we want to liberate them from:
· Worry (what will happen if….)
· Guilt (if only I hadn’t ….)
· Greed (Everyone’s got a new car, and this is such a cheap loan…)
· Slavery (I’ve got to keep working to pay off these debts…)
· Lust (Why shouldn’t I watch this film, it’s not as if I’m doing it…. why can’t my wife be that sexy)
· Etc etc.

That’s why we want them to become Christians today, and not on their deathbed!

Who are you demonstrating that liberation to today? Who are we telling about it? Have we grasped that liberty ourselves?

God bless