The Christian Conscience

It is says in scripture, “…The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart, that God has raised Him from the dead - you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.  For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (Romans 10:8-13)

What does it mean to confess Jesus as Lord?  The name Jesus is a translation of the Hebrew word Yeshua, which means savior.  The title, usually seen with Jesus, and which to us, looks like a last name, is Christ, a translation of a Hebrew word which means Messiah.

Many of the controversies recorded in the gospels centered around whether a person believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah, or not.  Those who believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah, and followed His teachings, were considered to be disciples, or believers.  Those who didn’t were considered unbelievers.  The word Lord, is a translation of a word, which means master, as one might think of a slave master.  Scripture frequently records that the writers considered themselves to be doulos (slaves which had been purchased).  They accepted that they had been purchased from being slaves of sin, by the blood which Jesus shed on the cross. 

Some teach that a person should accept Jesus as Savior.  That is not in line with scripture.  You will never find that in the Bible.  Others say that a person should accept Jesus as Lord.  That is much closer to the correct teaching.

John the Baptist, Jesus, and all of his followers and apostles, preached what they called the Kingdom of God.  You can find about 80 references, to the Kingdom of God, in the New Testament.  The Kingdom of God is the rule of God - God ruling in our hearts and lives.  That is what you should accept.  If you have willingly become part of God’s kingdom, (become born from above, or born of God) you have been truly born again, and are headed in the right direction.  Jesus said the gate is narrow, and the way difficult, but He will not abandon you, if you continue as one of His.

What does it mean to “believe?” In modern American English, the Greek word, pisteuo means to “trust.”  Have you trusted in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, and are you trusting Jesus now, as your Lord (Master) and Savior, and are you confessing Him as Lord (Master) and Savior?

I hear a lot of talk about “knowing Jesus”, and the term “my Jesus.”  The bottom line here is who owns whom?  You don’t own Jesus!  But, hopefully, you are owned by Him!  Do you belong to Him?  If Jesus is not your Lord and Master, you are headed in the wrong direction, and are soon to be very disappointed!

Questions or comments?  Send an e-mail to the address below.

At the Mexico Beach Christian Worship Center, we preach the Kingdom of God, just as Jesus and His disciples did.  At the MBCWC, we don’t pass an offering plate and plead for money, or twist your arm to join.  Plan to check us out this Sunday!  Our services begin, with a time of greeting and fellowship, at 9:30 a.m. CT on Sunday.  TJ leads us in real worship, which begins at 9:45 a.m.  After the service, we have Holy Communion, and invite prayer requests.  We meet at the Mexico Beach Civic Center on 105 N. 31st street, behind Parker Realty, and the Beach Walk gift shop, just off U.S. 98, in Mexico Beach.

God Bless,

Pastor Tim Morrill

Mexico Beach Christian Worship Center

pastor@mexicobeachcwc.com

http://www.mexicobeachcwc.com