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 Accept
Jesus, Or Obey Him?
by Michael Garrison
We often hear supposed "Christian" teachers say that in order for a
lost person to be saved, all they need do is "accept Jesus as your
personal Savior.” When asked where Jesus or His apostles ever taught
this, they are at a loss. It is a popular doctrine, but one not
taught by God's inspiration.
WHAT IS TAUGHT?
The God inspired New Testament teaches that lost people must become
acceptable to the Lord.
The apostle Peter taught the first Gentiles the gospel, he no where
told them to accept Christ as their personal Savior. Peter did teach
them, "of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons;
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness,
is accepted with him" (Acts 10:34-35). 'Feareth' means "to show
reverential fear...of God" (W. E. Vine Expository Dictionary). 'Worketh'
signifies "to work something, produce, perform..." (Ibid.) The word
'righteousness' "is the character or quality of being right or just"
and "is found in the sayings of the Lord Jesus, (a) of whatever
conforms to the revealed will of God, Matt. 5:6,10,20; John 16:8,10,
(b) whatever has been appointed by God to be acknowledged and obeyed
by man, Matt. 3:15; 21:32; (c) the sum total of the requirements of
God, Matt. 6:33; (d) religious duties, Matt. 6:1... "In the
preaching of the Apostles recorded in Acts the word has the same
general meaning..." (Ibid.)
So, the idea taught is obedience to God's will. We see man is
active, not passive, in his own salvation. The one who does what God
demands is acceptable to God - but if one does not DO what God
requires, he is NOT acceptable to Him. It is so easy to say "I
accept Jesus as my personal Savior", but the Lord will NOT accept
this person until and unless obedience to His will is carried out.
IS THAT ALL?
But, once one has been accepted of God, what? He must keep on being
acceptable! Hear apostle Paul: "Wherefore we labour, that whether
present or absent, we may be accepted of him" (2 Cor. 5:9).
The word 'labour' here means "to seek after honour, and hence, to be
ambitious, is translated "we labour," marg., "endeavor" (R.V., "we
make it our aim," marg., "are ambitious")..." (Ibid.) The word
'accepted' means "well-pleasing" (Ibid) We should be able to see
that if an apostle of Christ had the ambition to be well-pleasing to
the Lord, we should also! And it should encourage us to "fear him
and work righteousness.”
WE MUST OBEY CHRIST!
This brings us to the fact that we must OBEY Christ!
The inspired word of God instructs us that "though he (Jesus) were a
Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And
being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto
all them that obey him..." (Hebrews 5:8-9).
[Note: we point out that nowhere do we read Jesus is the author of
salvation to those who "accept him as their personal savior," or
"who only believe.” Nor do we learn we are saved "by grace or faith
only.” Such ideas are not found in the Word of Truth God has given
to us.]
Let us be content with just what the Scripture says!
Before returning to heaven, Jesus sent His apostles into all the
world to preach the saving gospel to every creature. He said "He
that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:15-16). Will
you believe what the Bible says, or will you fight it and seek
salvation on your own terms and not the Lord's?
The decision is yours; why not obey the Lord and be acceptable to
Him? ~
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 What
I Know About the Holy SpiritBy A.C. Grider
This article would be too long if I were to try to tell you what I
do not know about the Holy Spirit. Besides, I can not tell you what
I do not know about it; for I do not know what all I do not know. So
I am setting forth a few things that I do know concerning the Holy
Spirit.
I know that the Holy Spirit is not an "it" or "an influence" or "the
mind of God" or "the New Testament." Rather, the New Testament, and
the Old Testament as well, plainly set forth that the Holy Spirit is
a person. Attributes ascribed to the Holy Spirit belong only to a
person or persons. For instance, the Holy Spirit has knowledge. This
is declared in 1 Corinthians 2:10-11. The Holy Spirit knows the mind
of God. But the Holy Spirit wills to do certain things (1 Cor.
12:11). And the Holy Spirit has a mind (Romans 8:27). Persons know,
and will, and have a mind. Hence the Holy Spirit is a person.
The actions of the Holy Spirit declare in no uncertain terms that He
is a person. The Holy Spirit hears (John 16:13); He speaks (1
Timothy 4:1); and He makes intercession (Romans 8:26-27). But a
person can hear and speak and make intercession. So, I repeat, the
Holy Spirit is a person.
I know that the Holy Spirit has a sword and that this sword is the
Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). It is evident, therefore, that the
Spirit works through the word.
I know that to be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 6:18-19) is the same
as letting the word dwell in us (Colossians 3:16). These are
parallel passages, as everyone can plainly see.
I know that God dwells in us. The Bible tells me so (1 John 4:13,
15). But I also know that Christ dwells in us (Eph. 3:17). The Bible
tells me that the Holy Spirit also dwells in us (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor.
3:16).
I know that Christ dwells in our hearts by faith (Eph. 3:17). In the
absence of any teaching to the contrary, I know that the Holy
Spirit, as well as God, also dwells in our hearts by faith.
I know the Holy Spirit testifies (John 15:26), but that He testifies
through the word (John 5:39). I know the Holy Spirit saves (Titus
3:5), but that He saves through the Word (James 1:21). I know the
Holy Spirit teaches (1 Cor. 2:13), but that He teaches through the
word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). I know the Holy Spirit comforts (Acts
9:31), but that He comforts through the word (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
I know that I could go on and on showing that whatever the Holy
Spirit does, He does it through the Word. I know, therefore, that
while the Holy Spirit works, He works only through the word of God.
And I know that while the Holy Spirit dwells in us, He does so only
through the word of God.
I know that a lot of people are doing a lot of speculating about the
Holy Spirit and His words and His deeds. But I know that we had
better confine our teaching concerning the Holy Spirit to just what
the Bible says on the subject and give more heed to what we should
do to obey our Heavenly Father than what He (the Holy Spirit) has
done, is doing, or shall do.
Let us all strive to be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:19), to be
led of the Spirit (Galatians 5:18), and to walk after the Spirit
(Romans 8:1). But let us be reminded that we can accomplish this if
we will follow the teachings of the New Testament.
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