Having reflected on the lives of one’s who went before us, we ought to have a better sense of the business of conversion. I agree with Michelle, who argues that conviction precedes conversion, although some didn’t convert to the Way. For more clarity about conversion, I invite us consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
Romans 10:9 AMP
[9] because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
It’s Easy as A, B, C
Have you ever heard of the ABCs of salvation before? Accept, Believe, and Confess? That was one of the first formulas introduced to me during candidates’ classes. Some of you may know it as Enquirers’ Class or Catechism … I’m referring to the time spent learning more about the faith we seek, prior to baptism or a public reception as a member of a congregation. It was one of those mnemonics that stuck with me, especially since our Nougat accompanied it. Those concepts are all there.
Self-Check
Can you remember what connected to you when you were learning about this faith? Why did it stick? Are you living by it today?
Application
Paul (aka Saul), a Jewish convert to the Way, was a teacher on the Faith. In this epistle to the Romans, he offered several practical concepts about living faithfully. [There are also some abstract bits, but we digress]. In this section, he offered words of encouragement to those who seek to be faithful: Acknowledge (Accept and Believe) and Confess Y’shua Jesus.
It sounds simple enough, but there are many – not only those who claim faith in other gods – who are not open to this possibility. In their logic, God doesn’t exist. Thus, they don’t believe in, nor can they accept, the Lordship of Jesus. And they definitely wouldn’t confess Him as their Saviour. From their perspectives, placing faith in any being is challenging, given the complexities of life around us.
Hence, the age of the earth points them away from Creationism and, by extension, away from God. Others are unable to accept God as ‘all-omni’. If God isn’t omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent, then the argument for Y’shua is also nullified. For how can a finite man become all those things after his death? It doesn’t add up. There are also others who dismiss Christ’s resurrection.
For me, it boils down to faith. I can’t imagine a world without One Who conceived the idea and brought them to fruition. While I might sometimes grumble about God ignoring me, I still believe in the all-omni God. I’ve proven God in all three on multiple occasions. Christ’s resurrection was a little harder to wrap around when I thought about it. But that’s a faith posture, so I’m accepting it on faith, just as I accepted that an aeroplane will get me to where I’m going as i travel this world.
Point to Ponder
What do we believe about Y’shua? Can we articulate the reasons why?
If you’re still wavering, you’re welcome to ask God for a revelation of Y’shua as the Christ.
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May all we seek be found in Christ
