Open My Eyes Lord

When we are born into the world we may have physical sight, but, we are born blind spiritually. Until we are born again, we cannot see the Kingdom of God neither can we enter it.

How then can we be born again?  

We are born again when by the Grace of God, we believe in Jesus Christ for our salvation. In simple terms this means we come to realise that we are so far from God that only God himself can redeem us.

All attempts by human means ends in absolutely nothing accomplished.

When Jesus on the cross cried out "It is accomplished (finished)", he was declairing the way into God's presence, which had been lost through Adam's rebellion, had been opened up. It was as He breathed his last breath that the Veil in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. ( It is important to note that it was torn from top to bottom. For it speaks of the fact that the veil seperating the holy place from the Holy of Holies (that is seperating man from God) was torn in two from heaven.  That is, from and by God, and not from bottom to top or from man (or by man) to God.)  

Jesus is Emanuel - God with us. Through Jesus, his sacrifice and the shedding of his blood, we  may now enter into the very throne-room of God.

Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father.  Jesus becomes the second and last Adam who perfectly fulfils the demands of the Law. It is through Christ Jesus that we are born again and through him we enter into a new, living and intimate relationship of love with God. We are through Jesus reborn by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is something only God can do and until we submit to Him we will remain self centered and apart from God. Once we are born again through Baptism, (which in Greek means being immersed or saturateed or drowned) into Christ, we have the breath of God breathed into us (the Holy Spirit) and we become a child of God. A New Creation!

Now all this may sound very complex. But it isn't.

God has made a way home to Him that is both simple and yet profound. It relies upon Him alone and cannot be added to nor altered in any way by ourselves.

His way is Perfect. The Way is not by a self centred occupation, but through a Christ Centred reality. The truth is not found in the world of academia or in our cleverness, but in the person and mind of Christ. The Life which really matters is lived not by power or by might but by the Spirit, whom Jesus gives to all who believe.It is the life of love.

So how do you become a Child of God? How do you become a new creation? How do you become a Christian?

Is it through water baptism?

Yes and no.

Baptism in water as a sacrament, is a sign of our faith in Christ. Baptism shows we are immersed into God and is a sign of death. It is our sharing in the death of Christ, so we die and as Christ is risen, so we are born again into the new life of His resurrection. Once we believe we are instructed to be baptised!

Put in simple terms...

Put your faith in Jesus Christ. (The word Christ is from the Greek word Christos and means Anointed. The Hebrew word is Messiah. The name 'Jesus' comes from the Hebrew Yeshua and has a root meaning 'Salvation'. He is the Saviour or the one who saves! He saves us because He loves us).  

Trust Him. Believe and be baptised.

Some churches baptise baby's. Of course the baby has no capacity for belief as too young, but their parents have and can choose life for them. An infant can't feed itself, but the parents can feed them.  An infant can't clothe himself, but the parents can. So too when a child is born into a Christian family, the parent can for their child choose that they too are to be spiritually nourished and clothed in the robe of salvation until that day when they are of an age when of their own volition may say, 'I believe'.

 Jesus said, "suffer the little children to come unto me".

So you too..as a child of your heavenly Father, don't be put off from going to Him. If you were baptised as an infant, thank God, all you need do now is believe and leave the rest to God. You may want to confirm your faith either by a rite of Confirmation as  the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches do, or you may want to be baptised by full immersion as an adult?  You do have a choice, so choose as the Holy Spirit leads you.

Baptism is an outward sign commanded by God. The first letter of Peter chapter three speaks of water baptism, "In the Ark, a few persons, eight in all, were brought safely through the water. Water here stands for baptism, Baptism is not the removal of dirt from the body, but a promise made to God with a clear conscience. It saves you now through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

So, Be baptised. Put your trust in God.

What else?

You need to fellowship with believers. You cannot remain apart from other Christians. It is essential that you meet together with other believers during the week, so you and they will be built up and encouraged. Be loved and love.

Remember, where two or three are gathered together, Jesus said, he would be there with them in a special way. Attend the church services and partake in meeting together. Most churches and fellowships have home groups, join one and join a bible study group if possible. Take time out to pray. You don't need lots of words or special phrases. Be real before God. Open up your heart to him and take time out to listen to his voice. He does speak! When you get attuned to his voice you will know and love his presence and in His presence you will find love, peace and strength for your daily walk.

Is there a perfect church or fellowship?

No!

Don't ever think that the grass is greener over there... Although there are numerous fellowships and Church communions, remember that there is only one Church! All who are in Christ belong to Him. We don't all do the same things. We don't all sing the same songs or meet in the same way with the same words. What we do have is the same Lord and the same Spirit has been given to every born again child of God, who is now a new creation in Christ Jesus.  So remember, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all".

Don't look for kicks! Look for God! Don't just go to a church or fellowship because it entertains you or because you think the others are boring. Try to listen to the Spirit and follow His lead. Sadly you will find some churches who have all the outer form of religion but have little life. Others may have an exuberance but little reverence. We are not perfect. Remember that the speck we see in our brothers eye is often only a reflection of the plank in our own. In Church people will be at different points on the road they share with you. Remember God loves you where you are so you don't need to strive!

Is there anything else of importance?

Go to the Lord's table and receive communion. Sometime referred to as the Eucharist (from the Greek word for thanksgiving). Here you feed upon the Lord who gives himself to us under the form of bread and wine. "I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness, and are dead. "this is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him". (Taken from the Gospel of John Chapter 6)

Then at the last supper Jesus makes it clearer. " And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, 'Take, eat, this is my body." Then he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying,"Drink from it all of you. For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Taken from the Gospel of Matthew chapter 26)

Paul in his first letter to the Corinthian church says, "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "Take, eat, this is my body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me. "In the same manner he also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till he comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord". (Taken from From 1 Corinthians, chapter 11)

It's a serious matter and yet a wonderful Gift!  Receive and Be thankful!

Leave your past to His mercy; the future to His providence; Now, today rejoice and be thankful, for this is the day that the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it!

 

A Prayer.

Almighty God and  Father, I come to you through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, desiring to walk always in the light of your presence. I want to be a Christian a true follower of Jesus the Messiah. Search me Lord and help me to open up all those closed and dark areas of my life to the cleansing of your Word. Wash me with water and I will be clean;  fill me, I pray, with your Holy Spirit, that I may now enter in to your presence with joy, overflowing with praise and thanksgiving.  Father may I receive your love and live in it always. I ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit; One God, forever. Amen