Paradoxical Christianity

We are in the world but not of the world.

We are separated, called out, but yet, we are united in Christ.

Someone once said,

That to be low is to be high That the broken heart is the healed heart That the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit That the repenting soul is the victorious soul That to have nothing is to possess all That to bear the cross is to wear the crown That to give is to receive That the valley is the place of vision

Let me find Your light in my darkness Your life in my death Your joy in my sorrow Your grace in my sin Your riches in my poverty Your glory in my valley Thank you, LORD, for granting me so great a salvation.

The paradox, between having or belonging to a religion and having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, is the fact that salvation, the reconciliation between you and God, is not earned but given. Jesus offers the gift of salvation. He doesn’t say you can earn it.

Jesus replies to Nicodemus in John 3:3 when he asked Jesus about eternal life this way, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born from above, or, born again, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.

What is He saying to Nicodemus? “Nicodemus, you’re working really hard to get into the Kingdom of God. But I want to tell you something. You don’t get in there from here, it comes from above. If you’re going to be regenerated, it has to come down from above. You can’t achieve it.”

This is a divine miracle that comes down from heaven. This is not something you can generate. This is not something you can produce. This is not something you can manufacture. This is a spiritual thing, a work of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit comes to whom He will when He wills. That’s such a powerful answer. You’re talking about a divine miracle that comes down from above.

Has that miracle happened to you? Are you born again? It’s the only way to heaven. Not my words but Jesus’ words.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
(Romans 1:16,17 ESV)

The righteousness from God and not from man is revealed in the gospel. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone. You can NEVER earn your way to heaven. The bible describes our works as filthy rags. Nothing “good” that we do earns us any points. Salvation is a gift to all who believe.

It’s as simple as ABC:

• A  - Admit to God that you’re sinner and repent and turn away from your sins.
• B  - Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and accept His gift of forgiveness.
• C -  Confess your faith in Jesus as your Savior and your Lord forevermore.

Read the Gospel of John!