Commitment to Christ
When we trust or yield
ourselves to Christ, there is a true commitment just
like in a healthy marriage.
How tragic that many marriages
are dysfunctional and are a poor example of long
lasting commitments.
Jesus made an eternal
commitment to us (Rom. 8:38-39). In response to His
love we are called upon to pledge ourselves to him.
We love Him because He first
loved us (1 Jn. 4:19).
The apostle Paul used the
marriage relationship to illustrate our relationship
with Christ (Eph. 5:22ff). "Husbands, love your
wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave
Himself up for her" (v. 25).
Just like in the vows of a
wedding we can express our faith to Christ who died
for us, demonstrating His great love for us. We love
Him because He first loved us.
One of the best illustrations
of this commitment I have ever read was by C. H.
Spurgeon. He said Christ Jesus vows to us: “I,
Jesus, take you [whoever you may be; put your own
name in the space], to be my wedded wife; and I do
promise and covenant before God the Father and these
witnesses gathered here, to be your loving and
faithful Savior and Bridegroom: in plenty and in
want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in
health, in this life and for all eternity.”
With a true conversion
experience we vow to Him in a similar manner: “I,
[whoever you are; add your own name], take You,
Jesus, to be my loving Savior and Lord; and I do
promise and covenant, before God the Father and
these assembled witnesses, to be your loving and
faithful wife: in plenty and in want, in joy and in
sorrow, in sickness and in health, for this life and
for all eternity.”
It is God the Father who then
blesses the marriage, and the believer belongs to
the Lord Jesus Christ forever. Our commitment to
Christ is a simple act of faith that has eternal
significances (Rev. 19:7; John 17:3-5; 1 John 5:13).
The disciple Thomas made such a
commitment when he declared, “My Lord, and my God!”
(Jn. 20:28). The apostle Paul wrote, “I know whom I
have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to
guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day”
(2 Tim. 1:12). The writer of Hebrews describes our
Lord’s commitment and our response to Him in these
words, “‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever
forsake you,' so that we confidently say, 'The Lord
is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do
to me?'” (Heb. 13:5-6).
The LORD God made a great
covenant when He sent His Son to go to the cross and
die for our sins that He could save us by grace
through faith in Christ (Matt. 26:26-29; Heb.
9:11-16, 23-28). “Greater love has no one than this,
that one lay down his life for his friends” (Jn.
15:13). That is exactly what Jesus did for us; only
He died for those who were His enemies so that we
could become His friends (Rom. 5:6, 8).
The ABC’s of salvation express
the same conviction. We must Accept Jesus Christ and
the truths concerning His life, death and
resurrection. The apostle Paul said “the gospel
which I preached to you . . .
that Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was
raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
and that He appeared . . . to more than five hundred
brethren at one time, most of who remain until now .
. .” (1 Cor. 15:3-6). Those are basic facts we must
accept regarding Jesus Christ. They are well
attested to in history. Jesus Christ is believable.
We must Believe on Jesus Christ
personally. I believe that Jesus died for my sins.
He died as my substitute in my place paying my
penalty for sin (Rom. 5:6, 8; 2 Cor. 5:21). I
believe He is the only way for me to go to heaven
and enjoy eternal life with Him (Acts 4:12). It is a
personal relationship with Him.
We must Commit ourselves to
Jesus Christ. This is the moment when He becomes "my
Lord and my God" (Jn. 20:28). I take You, Jesus
Christ, as my Lord and Savior. We are saved by the
grace of God that is received by simple faith in
Jesus Christ alone (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 10:9-10, 13).
Have you made that commitment
to Him? Have you asked Him to be your Savior? Have
you believed on Him? Have you made a commitment of
yourself to Him? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
and you shall be saved . . .” (Acts 16:31).
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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