As Easy As A B C . . .

Our newer generations may not remember wooden blocks, but many of us actually teethed on these. They were fun to play with as well as being an introduction to education as our moms used them to spell words for us. Simple words for new learners.

Pastor used A, B, and C, as examples in his sermon Sunday – the ABCs for how to become a Christian. It is truly as easy as in the following:

A – admit our sinfulness.
B – believe on Jesus as Savior.
C – confess that openly.

All of that is confirmed through scripture. Although Jesus didn’t put the concept in specific words, He often spoke of sins and that sins were forgiven by His words. We all have them, as Paul put into words:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23 KJV)

Yes, I have. You have, too. We probably will again – sooner than we want to and probably unplanned. God knew that from creation. That knowledge was included from the beginning:

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Timothy 1:9 KJV)

The bolding is mine – you won’t find that verse in bold font in the Bible. I want it to stand out as part of learning about God. It’s hard for us to relate to the fact that God exists outside of what we know as “time.” For us, this world – and universe – has a beginning and an end. Science spends a lot of time attempting to explain that. Until Einstein, the concept that time was relative was only a concept in a few minds. As a Christian, it should not be considered a limitation for God.

Believing in God, and Jesus as savior, is a necessity for a Christian:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18 KJV)

Yes, without this belief, please do not call yourself a Christian. Those without believing fall into verse 18. Not my words, but specific to the Bible.

Confessing our belief is next:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9 KJV)
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13 KJV)

As easy as A B C . . . but that is very limiting if that’s all you know about Christianity. Christ himself asks us to learn more:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV)

We can’t simply stop after we admit, believe, and confess. We’ve only learned a small part from a few verses. There is much more and He asks that we “learn of me”, get to know God’s word and see the plans He has for mankind threaded through, from Genesis through Revelation.

What I write has no meaning without studying each verse in context for understanding. Studying with a purpose, even if it is to prove me – or God – without merit. I always welcome the opportunity to follow Peter’s admonition to Christians:

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15 KJV)