Do I Have to Believe in the Bible to Accept Jesus?

A common misconception among Christians and non-Christians alike, is that one must accept the entire Bible as true and reliable before one is able to accept Jesus Christ as Savior. And, since I personally uphold the Bible as fully reliable, I would like to start there to find the answer to this question. What are the "requirements" for salvation?

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

AND

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

There is only one way to God and that is through Jesus Christ. The Bible also makes it perfectly clear that acts of service or works cannot be used as tickets into Heaven or as payment for God's love or favor.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

The process of "being saved" is not nearly so complicated as we try to make it. It is a recognition of who Jesus is and what He has done on my behalf. It is meeting Him as a Person--a Being--not merely a belief. It is a falling in love with Him. It is a commitment to a love relationship with Jesus. That is salvation, because all of the "work" was already done by Jesus on our behalf. The rest that we do--obedience, Scripture study and belief, acts of service--comes later. For though these things are pleasing to God if offered to Him from a loving heart, none of them can get you into Heaven. Only Jesus Christ can do that. (See: How Do I Accept Jesus?)

Once you have begun on that journey of getting to know Jesus, then take a look at how He used and relied on Scripture. As you allow Him to be your guide in life, allow Him to be your guide in your attitudes toward Scripture. It may be a long process. The key is to keep moving forward with Christ as your Guide.

Would God Forgive a Sinner Like Me?

Have you struggled with the fear that you are already too far down the wrong road to ever turn back? Have you doubted that God would be willing to save you after all the wrong you have done?

Paul, the writer of most of the New Testament, wrote:
"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." (I Timothy 1:15-16)

And Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:17)

As He said, Jesus did not come for perfect people, but for flawed people. He does not expect us to clean ourselves up first, because that would be impossible. For how can we be made clean unless we have the Cleaner? Jesus is the Cleaner and His forgiveness is available to anyone who will believe in Him and accept that forgiveness. Jesus will take us just as we are, but He will not leave us that way. God takes a very dim view of sin. (See this post.) Accepting Christ's forgiveness is not simply a claim to fire insurance, it is entering into a relationship with God--a relationship that will change and grow over time.

So, no matter who you are or what you've done, forgiveness is yours for the taking and the Bible promises, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." (Isaiah 1:18)

Need a little help with that first step? Go to this post: How Do I Accept Jesus?

Then, the next time such things worry you, consider this passage:

This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. (I John 3:19-20)

Is There a Hell?

Do people still really believe in Hell?
Is there really a place where damned souls will go? Is life really some ambiguous test to see who’s good and who’s bad? People throughout history have disagreed about the nature of hell, its existence and its purpose. However, in this post, I will deal with the biblical explanation and illuminate some of the misconceptions, both within secular society and Christian tradition.

What is the biblical origination of hell?
The first time Hell is mentioned in the (KJV) Bible is in Deuteronomy 32:22. The Hebrew word is “lwaX” and its English equivalent is “sheol”, meaning, “sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit, Sheol - the OT designation for the abode of the dead: place of no return, without praise of God, wicked sent there for punishment, righteous not abandoned to it, of the place of exile, of extreme degradation in sin” (Strong’s).

In the New Testament, Jesus used the Greek word, “gevenna” when speaking of spiritual hell; however, the word also referred to an actual place on earth. Gehenna is the English transliteration of the Greek form of an Aramaic word, which, in turn, is derived from the Hebrew phrase “the Valley of [the son(s) of] Hinnom”. (Baker Ency. Of the Bible, v.1) Strong’s tells us: “Hell is the place of the future punishment call "Gehenna" or "Gehenna of fire". This was originally the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the filth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned; a fit symbol of the wicked and their future destruction.” Additionally, the Valley of Hinnom was used for ritual infant sacrifice to the pagan god, Molech. Later, after King Josiah rid the region of such practices, the valley was used, as Strong’s tells us, for burning of refuse and dead animals. Interestingly, it was also used as a place to burn the dead bodies of criminals.

Unfortunately, both terms—sheol and gehenna—have been mistakenly considered to be synonymous with “hell” and are translated the same in some English versions of the Bible—hence, the confusion among Christians as to their real meaning. It is important to note that “sheol” in the Old Testament refers to a temporary abode of the lost between death and their final resurrection unto judgment. “Gehenna” is the place of ultimate and everlasting punishment where Satan, his demons and the wicked will be cast (Matthew 10:28). Additionally, “Tartarus” (used only once in 2 Peter 2:4) designates the place where the angels who fell during the original satanic revolt are imprisoned.

What is Hell like?
Hell (Gehenna) is described by Jesus as “a fire that shall never be quenched” in Mark 9:43 & 45, which seems to be a reference to Isaiah 66:24. Other terms associated with Hell include “eternal punishment” (Matthew 25:46), “torments” (Luke 16:23), “…kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” (Revelations 6:8), “Lake of Fire” & “second death” (Revelations 20:14), “burning brimstone” (Revelations 19:20), “…tormented day and night forever” (Revelations 20:10), and “outer darkness” and “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12, 22:13 & 25:30). Pretty much, this isn’t somewhere you want to go, and if you believe that going to hell is inevitable for you, you are believing a lie.

Did God create Hell?
I don’t think the Bible is especially clear on this subject. We know that it was “prepared” (Matthew 25:41), but it does not specifically state who created it or how Hell was created. It is certainly possible that it was prepared by God; however, one idea is that Hell is not so much a place as it is a state of being (which would make sense given the fact that souls exist in a spiritual rather than physical form). This state of being is eternal separation from God, which by its very definition could be a place of torment. In other words, it is possible that Hell is not so much a created place as it is a place/state from which God has removed His presence, His protection and His glory (all things which both the lost and the saved alike enjoy here on earth). Could it be that when God leaves, hell is simply the natural result? This concept, I believe, is more in line with the nature of God as I see it described in the Bible. God desires that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9) and neither does He delight even in the destruction of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:23), but instead desires that all would live (John 3:16,17).

Who is Hell for?
Matthew 25:41 specifically states that hell was “prepared for the devil and his angels”. God has absolutely no desire that any man or woman go to Hell. He did not prepare Hell for us, but for Satan and his followers. In fact the Bible says, 1Thessalonians 5:9 - "For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." God has only ever wanted us to spend eternity with Him in heaven. God has chosen us for paradise; however, He is not going to force us to choose Him. To be with God means to be reconciled to God, made pure and brought into a love relationship with Him. He offers this freely, but He will not force it on us. We must love Him back—and love demanded is no love at all.

Does God send people to Hell?
Matthew 25:31-46 seems to be the best description of the way in which people end up in Hell. When Christ “sends” people to Hell in this passage, it’s not so much “sending” as it is directing souls toward the only available alternative for those who can not enter into Heaven. It’s either-or, not both, and there’s no middle ground or third option. Either you get into Heaven through Christ’s payment or you don’t because you have rejected His sacrifice on your behalf. The choice, then, is entirely ours. In that sense, Christ does not “send” anyone to Hell. However, we might choose to send ourselves. This passage shows how the decision had been made long before these people stood before Christ—a decision made only by them.

Who will go to Hell?
Revelations 20:15 Though God desires that no human man or woman go to Hell, the Bible is clear that some will end up there. This verse shows that only those whose name is not found in the Book of Life, will go to Hell. The Book of Life is a record of all those who have accepted Christ’s substitutional payment for sin. If your name is written in this book, then you have nothing to worry about.

How can I escape Hell?
I’m not big on selling Christ as a form of fire insurance; however, neither can I deny that escaping Hell is a big bonus to getting to know the only One who holds the keys to Heaven. The fact is Jesus Christ—fully God, fully man, a member of the Triune God—came to earth in human form so that He might live a perfect life and die in our place. Only a perfect sacrifice can negate the hold Satan has on our souls. By rights, we belong to Satan, thanks to our long legacy of being in sin; however, if a payment is made on our behalf—the blood of a perfect sacrifice—we have the right to accept that payment and enter into God’s presence in Heaven. Through that payment our sin is covered, our guilt is released and our righteousness in God’s eyes secured. We are made “perfect” as Christ is perfect. (That is not to say that we will never again sin, but that our souls have been purchased by God through Jesus Christ and we now belong to Him and are freed from our bondage to Satan.)

Now, that’s the math, so to speak, but here’s the heart of the issue: Jesus longs for us to be present in Heaven with Him one day, yes—but more importantly, He longs for our love. He wants to enter into a harmonious, intimate love relationship with Him. He wants to be present in our lives from this moment until we draw our dying breath. He wants to be our strength and our joy and our confidence in times of trouble. And, when hard times come we know that we have nothing to fear, for God is true to His promises and once we are in His loving hands, nothing can snatch us out of His grasp. Psalm 49:15, 16 & John 10:28 See also How Do I Accept Jesus?

Will I Feel Differently When I Accept Jesus?

When some people accept Christ's forgiveness for their sin and enter into a relationship with Him for the first time, they experience a rush of emotion. Some weep for joy at what God has done for them. But what if there is no rush of emotion? What if you feel pretty much the same afterwards? Does that mean your conversion "didn't take"?

No. God's promises remain true regardless of any emotion we may or may not feel. God's truth is not reliant on any feelings we may experience and our salvation is not reliant upon an emotional response. Think of it like this: some people meet, fall in love and get married. At the time of their wedding they are often consumed with emotion--love, excitement and joy. Other people enter into arranged marriages. They may experience very different emotions, or possibly very few. They are simply making a decision to make a commitment to a relationship that they, as of yet, may know little about. Now, which of these couples is more married? Neither, of course. They are both just as married and both have a good chance of it being a successful, loving relationship. So, even though the experiences were very different, both marriages are equally valid.

No matter what our emotional response may be, we need to realize that accepting Christ's offer of salvation is not simply saying a prayer. We are entering into a lifelong relationship with God. We are recognizing that God Himself, as Jesus Christ, paid the penalty for our sinfulness by His death. We are recognizing that He did this willingly—a sacrifice made so that we would not have to die for our own sins and, thereby, never be able to have a relationship with a perfect God. We are recognizing our need, His payment and our new identity in Christ, as a child of God.

The Bible says,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17)

And,

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." (John 1:12-13)

How Do I Accept Jesus?

So, you've discovered Jesus's offer of forgiveness! You've realized He is the most amazing person who ever lived! You believe He was Who He said He was (God), died in your place, and came back to life, and now you're ready to ask Him to extend that payment over your life and take the lead!

How do you go about that? You tell Him that you commit your heart, your life, and your trust to Him. Basically, you do this the same way you would enter a marriage. You fall in love, you declare your love, and you commit yourself and your future to the One you love--in this case, Jesus.

The Bible says, "...if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)

Remember, you can talk to God at any time and in any way. He, being all-knowing, can hear your most secret thoughts. You don't have to say anything aloud or stand on your roof and shout. He hears you. In fact, He can read your heart even when you can't come up with the words. In this case, however, it's important that you make a conscious decision and tell Him that you are accepting Him into your heart and your life. Remember, this isn't a magical formula. Your conversation and relationship with God is a private, intimate communication between the two of you, and if you really want Him to be your Savior, Lord, and Friend, you're not going to botch it by saying the wrong thing. If, however, you aren't sure how to start or what to say, I have written a prayer below:

Dearest Lord Jesus,

Thank you so much for loving me and coming to die on the cross for my sins. I know I have sinned and that my sin has separated me from having an intimate relationship with You. I no longer want to face my future alone. Please come into my heart and into my life. I accept Your sacrifice and Your forgiveness from this moment forward. Please teach me to know You, love You, trust You, and follow You. Draw me into a close love relationship with You. I love you, Jesus, and I thank you.

Amen

Welcome to God's family! If you entered into a relationship with Jesus today, I would certainly LOVE to hear from you! I would love to celebrate with you and encourage you and answer any questions you might have.

In the meantime, here are some verses to encourage you in your new life in Christ Jesus:

John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (See Context.)

John 1:12-13 “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (See Context.)

Ephesians 1:13-14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Psalm 118:6 “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

Jeremiah 31:3 "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness."

Psalm 55:22 "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall."

Isaiah 43:1b "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine."

Can I Convert You?

Recently I have been dealing with a misconception that I think is circulating in both Christian and non-Christian circles. (That Christians have the power to convert people to their belief system.) It was brought to mind poignantly by a recent question addressed to me by one of my blog visitors. He asked, "...how do you know that you could tell them [unbelievers] the one thing that would bring them closer to God?"

There are three problems here: 1, I never said I could do such a thing, 2, I don't beleive I could ever do such a thing, and 3, that was never the purpose of my "spritual thought" entries or for anything else I've said on this blog.

As a Christian, I study and believe the Bible as the Word of God--His message to men (and women). So, here's how I back up my stance on this particular issue: The Bible states, "Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will perish." (Isaiah 29:14, NIV)

I Corinthians 1:18 through chapter 2 also has a lot to say about this concept--the idea that spiritual wisdom is from God, not from man. It is very clear to point out that what we consider to be a wise, eloquent or convincing arguements have absolutely no power unless the Spirit of God reveals Truth to the individual whose heart is seeking.

I Corinthians 2:10-11 states, "...The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of man except the spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God."

If there is something in what I write that touches you, speaks to your heart, makes you curious to learn more about God or, even, convicts you--PLEASE MAKE NO MISTAKE--It has absolutely nothing to do with me! I know this fully. That is God speaking to you, trying to get your attention. My words are fallible, God's spirit is not. My words are, of themselves, powerless, God's Spirit is all-powerful. My words, left on their own, are foolishness, but God's Spirit reveals wisdom.

So, what is my purpose for drumming up spiritual thoughts to chew on? My purpose is three-fold: 1, to obey God--to do what I believe He wants me to do as He told me through the Scriptures (spread the gospel of Christ-Matthew 28:18-20 & John 4:35), 2, use my writing for what I believe God's purpose was for giving me the talent and, 3, give you something to think about, wonder about & discuss. Since the Bible tells us that those who seek will find (Matthew 7:7-8), if I can help you to actually start seeking, God will lead you through the rest of the process.

So, can I covert you?
Absolutely not! Conversion is a change of heart. I can't change hearts, no matter how much I might wish I could sometimes. If there's any converting, changing, learning, gowing, etc. to be done, that's between you and God.

So, please don't assume that I expect to convert you or even change your mind on a particular issue just because I speak in a confident voice about what I believe. Be secure in the fact that I don't expect you to change your mind just because I told you to. If you read something here that softens your heart or opens your eyes to a new spiritual truth, please blame God for that, not me. Don't accuse me of such a thing; go take it up with Him.