Believe and Receive

October 23, 2020

He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me (Matthew 10:40).

Not everyone has or will believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not everyone has or will receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Jesus said (Matthew 7:13-14), Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

To ‘receive’ (dechomai) is ‘to accept, take hold of, embrace, or to make one’s own’. It is different from the word ‘believe’ (pisteuo), which means ‘to think to be true, to be persuaded of, or to place one’s confidence in’. It is necessary to know the difference. Why? Because a person must believe the Gospel and receive Jesus Christ in order to be saved.

A person can mentally assent to or agree with something which is true. A person can mentally assent to or agree with something that is said to be true, but is not true. Just because a person believes something to be true doesn’t mean he/she commits to it even if it is proven to be true. You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder (James 2:19). Many people believe in the facts and even the reality of Jesus Christ, but that doesn’t mean they are saved. Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’ (Matthew 7:21-23).

To receive Jesus Christ is to commit one’s life to Him as Lord and Savior. Salvation is not only believing the Gospel to be true, it is receiving Jesus Christ into one’s life by an act of faith. It is obeying the Gospel by willingly trusting in Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation God has provided. I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me (John 14:6).

When a person believes the Gospel and receives Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior, he/she also receives God the Father who sent Jesus Christ. This then is genuine salvation. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent (John 17:3).

“Father in heaven, thank You for Jesus whom You have sent to be the only provision of salvation for the lost soul. Thank You for opening my eyes to His Gospel and to Him personally. Without Your intervention in my life through Your Holy Spirit, I would not enjoy salvation and eternal life that come from You through Your Son, Jesus. To the praise and glory of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit I pray, Amen.”

Pastor

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