I prayed to accept Christ as Savior today

Rob,
Many times we come across those who have opened their heart to Jesus Christ....the thought. It is many times the seed of opportunity, waiting for the true soldier of Christ to lead into the right path.

As ambassadors we have no battleships or armies to command. Our only weapons are words and opportunities.

God give you direction to seize the opportunity to minister the gospel of Christ, and may the Holy Spirit pave the road before you.

Cheers, and God bless,

Jim

 

Rob,

Its possible that he did enter into a relationship with Christ that day, but for some reason was hesitant to mention it after the service or in the susequent couple of hours or so. There could be any number of reasons. Maybe he had some catholics with him and felt uncomfortable sharing at that time what had happened.

I know I was ready to start my "rooftop shouting" ministry right after I was born again, and I was brought out of catholicism. But people are different.

Paul mentioned that he did not immedietly confer with the church authorities after he was born of the spirit, but rather he went out into the desert for a while.

My prayer is that God...who knows this young mans heart, will speak through you and gave you wisdom when you meet with him.

God bless,

Mike

 

I am glad that Joshua recieved Christ as His savior.
The angels rejoice when this happens.
I am glad that there will be follow up. how is a new convert suppose to know the theological stuff that gets argued on this board?
The only credentials that matter is a hungry heart that God will recieve.

 

I was a Catholic once. Josh sounds as if he has been seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. In his heart, he has made that commitment, but he will need encouragement. If he is anything like I was, he is so hungry for God's Word, but hardly knows where to begin.

In my own situation, once I had accepted Christ, I needed to talk with a more mature Christian about what to do next. I remember writing a letter to my father-in-law (a wonderful Christian man), telling him of my decision. That made my decisioin more real and solid to me. Josh may not be used to talking openly about spiritual things; in my own Catholic family, faith was a private thing.

Can you write Joshua a letter telling him that you are happy about his commitment to Christ, and would like to arrange a time to visit with him? I'll bet it would mean a lot to him.

God Bless!

 

I think it is a good thing. A Catholic is going to view the invitation to accept Christ just like a Baptist when hearing a sermon and praying directly to God. They are not going to say to themselves "yes but I AM a Catholic and THIS changes everything" any more than a Baptist would say that.

Don't get me wrong - I think some people DO realize deeper implications when they accept Christ if they came from that background -- but the fact remains that there are saved - born-again saints living in Catholic congregations.

In Christ,

Bob

 

It sounds like he is searching, and maybe there was a point in the service where the Holy Spirit may have touched his heart and compelled him to call on Jesus.

I would definatley write to him, he may be a little unsure of where he stands, but rest assured the Holy Spirit will guide you in what to say.

 

Greetings,

Catholic are taught to make a morning offering of themselves to God every morning. Every day I offer myself to God and Welcome God into my life. At every mass we welcome Christ as our savior in our midsts. Josh, when I checked, "I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior today", he was probably very sincere because he probably accepts Jesus as his Lord every day, and did not see this as any different. The theology of one time 'accepting' and remembering the date and time, etc is foriegn to catholic. They make it a regular part of their spiritual life to accept Jesus as Lord and savior.

Here is a way to test this theory. Next time Josh comes, see if he accepts Christ as his Lord and savior again.

peace

 

TP:

That certainly is not what I was taught when I was growing up Catholic.

PA

 

Priscilla Ann,

TP said...

And you said...

Me neither. 12 years of catholic parochial school, religion class, catechism, training classes, mass every sunday, etc.

But when someone shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with me, when I was in my early 20's, I had never heard it before.

We were never told that by means of a one time personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, embracing Him by grace alone, through faith alone, we could be confident beyond the shadow of doubt that heaven is our destination...and also become partakers of the goodness of Christ living His supernatural life through us until our homecoming.

We were told that if we were diligent in "being good", keep Gods commandments, be ever faithful to "Holy Mother Church", obey the Pope, ask "Queen of the Universe" Mary for her to remember us at our hour of death, go forward to eat Jesus each Sunday, etc etc etc...we might go to heaven, but we would probably go to purgatory to be punished for a while to make up for whatever sins were not taken care of in this life.

Thank God some faithful christian brothers and sisters loved me enough to tell me the truth.

TP,

You said...

I know it is...but that is Gods saving gospel. Dont you think Paul remembered that damascus road experience, and everyone there on the day of pentecost, those of Cornelius's household, the woman at the well, and so many others remembered the time they were born again and indwelt by Gods Holy Spirit? I know I will never forget that blessed time in my life.

If someone is accepting Jesus as Lord over and over again they probably have never recieved Him at all. I can remember the exact moment when I was "sealed" by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ. What we do all the time in our lives is to surrender ourselves more fully to Him to use as He desires, and seek to allow Him to take over more and more of our lives and being.

God bless,

Mike

 

Mike:

Thanks for an excellent post. Your experience was very much like mine. I, too, will never forget that precious time in my life when I was born again!

God Bless!

PA

 

Rob,

One of the very best books available on the gospel for new converts is:

The Fight; The Christian Struggle by Dr. John A. White, InterVarsity Press (about $9.00US). I used to give a copy to every convert under my ministry and all new Christians who entered the church.

Cheers, and thank you for being faithful,

Jim

 

Rob:

Another suggesion...it might be helpful to pick up a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It would help you to understand what Josh has been taught up to this point. (I believe Amazon.com has the Catechism of the Catholic Church if you are unable to buy it at your local bookstore.)

I will keep Josh in my prayers.

PA

 

Do not be so sure. I may have been the first time hearing the gospel. I was the same way. As for me it was much of a process getting past the skepticism of what I saw in others who called themselves Christians and also what I began to read in the Bible and just soaking in so much so fast. It took me about one year to get past all the things. But when that happened it was like a fire let loose.

God is not so interested in where we have come from but where we are going.

Most people who have some kind of religious training and background making a decison that is a process and not always a point in time.

The important thing is following Jesus not a particular point in time.

A few years ago a man came to me and said that he would like to get baptized. There was never a point in time when he made a decison for Christ. But there was no doubt he was a believer. Today he is a music minister leading the people in worship and evangelism. He came from a similar backgreound as yopu describe.

 

gb,
That is so true. I grew up in Anglican Church and schools and quietly realized Christ as Saviour at my confirmation. Never did have a cataclysmic experience, but steadily grew in faith.

Cheers,

Jim

This is the thing I find with Billy Graham crusades; it is only a beginning and up to believers to lead the confessors onward.

 

Deacon,

Well, thats disappointing. I was being optimistic...hoping for the best...when assuming he had been born again that day when he filled out the card. Obviously, you were right when you said you didnt think he had recieved Christ.

All things considered thats not surprising at all. Actually, thats similar to the confusion that existed in my mind as a result of the RCC. I had certain facts right about Christ, but the truth is mixed with so much error, contradictions, traditions of men, and superstitions that when I 1st heard the clear simplicity of the biblical gospel, it was like cool cool water to a very thirsty man.

The "gospel" of the Catholic Church is a convoluted mess...

"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent decieved Eve by his craftiness, so you minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if one comes who preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you recieve a different spirit wich you have not recieved, or a different gospel which you have not accepted...you may well put up with it!"

Sound like a good thing to give him. I'm going to put his name on some prayer chains.

God bless,

Mike

 

</font>[/QUOTE]Deacon,

Your church's communication card is horrible. It creates doubt in the mind of a person who has heard the gospel that he has truly received Christ. The Holy Spirit is efficacious through the preaching of the Word not through our prayers. Faith is a gift not a work less anyone should boast.