Are you convinced or converted?
Christ died for our sins; according to the Scriptures, ‘He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day. He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once…’
(1 Corinthians 15.4-6)
Notice that after His resurrection, the Lord Jesus did not appear to everyone. Apart from His apostles, there were only about 500 other people who saw Him.
One might ask, “Isn’t everybody entitled to His blessings?” Well, there is no doubt that the Lord Jesus’ death on the cross was for all mankind. However, it’s only those who persevere in the Gospel and keep the faith that can enjoy its benefits.
After His crucifixion, most people abandoned their faith, showing that they only believed in Jesus while they were problem free.
This is exactly what happens today! Many people like the church, they attend the meetings, clap their hands as they sing, and find the prayers very nice. They are with the Lord Jesus Christ, but only for as long as there are no obstacles.
These people have not converted to Christ; they are simply convinced of an untrue Faith.
The fact that we attend the church is not a sign of real conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ, nor can we treat Him as if we were ‘dating’ Him - meeting up with Him once in a while, during a special event in the church, and then going back to our own lives without conquering salvation. Such people are not strong in their faith and haven’t had a true encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ.
If you find yourself in this situation, my friend, I advise you to make a decision today. You cannot sway concerning your faith.
When we surrender all to the Lord Jesus, our worries about tomorrow cease, for we learn how to first seek the Kingdom of God, knowing that all things shall be added unto us. Nicodemus, one of the authorities in the synagogue, sought the Lord Jesus at night, so as not to compromise his position by being seen.
Unfortunately, there are still many people inside the church who act just like this. They come to church in hiding so as not to be criticised. However, look at the words of our Lord and Saviour,
“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10.32-33)
May God bless you all abundantly,
Bishop Edir Macedo
Pray for me
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