About repentance
Birth again
Last Updated on Thursday, 13 January 2011 09:26
“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures”(James 1,18)
On the island of Pacific ocean the Christian missionary worked among natives. Many people listened to his hot evangelical sermon, and some of them accepted it by heart. One of the savages who have believed in Jesus Christ, more others penetrating into the new doctrine, wanted to have a talk with the missionary alone and came to his home.
«Whether you can explain to me, – he has told, – why I have now absolutely other thoughts and feelings, than before? After all you know, how I willingly listen to your sermons; but all the same before attracted me to habitual sinful life; now – all was changed. Nothing attracts me to a sin, and now with a great pleasure I read the Scripture. When my former companions try to entice me and to force to forget everything I learned from you, it isn't possible to them.
–«Tell, how do you explain yourself such changes?» – missionary has asked him.
–«I think, – but hardly I dare to state it, – that the Holy Spirit makes in me this change, averting my heart from a sin and involving in God».
His words breathed deep belief, and all his being, appear, has been got by awe. The new born Christian was right, as we see from the Bible: “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people” (Heb. 8,10).
The birth again is a merge of divine life to human soul. This change, or penetration, a divine nature in a human soul does us by children of God. The birth again is a new birth, and it informs us the new nature of Holy Spirit. Therefore we never can begin new life, we will not be born again, yet we will not accept the new nature. The Christianity is a divine life in heart of the person who was born again.
P.Shatrov
The Christ died for our sins
Last Updated on Thursday, 13 January 2011 09:27
“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures”(1 Cor. 15:3)
In one small city an old woman lived. Her heart burned with fire of love to the Lord and people, and she wanted very much to tell to people about love of God, but she was weak and sick, her feet swelled up, so she hardly moved from one place to another. She was absolutely lonely, and very few people knew her, but her window sill knew all people: it always was decorated with flowers.
The old woman decided to use the window in glory of God and on advantage to people. She found a piece of a cardboard and asked to write on it large color letters of a word: “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” (Jn. 3,16). The old woman has put this cardboard among colors and began to observe of the passing people.
One of them went indifferently, others stopped and read Bible words. An elderly Christian woman prayed for each of them to the Lord that these words have sunk down in their hearts.
Once her attention has been involved by the girl who some times came back to a window, again and again reading the written words. The old woman began to pray for her even more. In two days she heard a knock at a door. This girl entered and asked the old woman: «Really is it the truth, what God loves me? Really He can forgive me?»
Elderly christian explained to the girl that these words are taken from the Bible, are undoubtedly they are true, and woman suggested the girl to pray together with her. The heart of the girl was full of a sin and grief, but now she found a consolation in Jesus Christ, Who has died for her sins.
In death of Christ God has made some things for the person, which he was unable make for himself. Without death of Jesus Christ there could not be a pardon of sins and, hence, rescue. The Christ has died for us, that is instead of us. Go to Him!
P.Shatrov
Open your heart to the Lord
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me” (Mt. 15,8)
One soldier stayed on a post at the entrance to military unit. Suddenly he hears: there is a car, he looked and saw that there has arrived the person on duty, severe enough captain. The soldier has become straight and has risen on a rack "quietly". The captain looked at him and told: «Listen, the good fellow, your honor isn't necessary to me, open to me a collar that I could drive on military unit territory». The soldier ran to open gate.
So many people, calling the Christians, do the same with Jesus Christ. They salute Him in the different ways, but their hearts are closed for Him. They pray to Him, glorify Him, sing to Him, but the doors of their hearts are closed for Him. What for are our honors to Jesus Christ if we don't give Him a due place in our hearts?
In the Jewish language a word meaning "heart" not quite coincides with its value in modern European languages. The physiological meaning is, of course, identical. But other values are rather excellent. A word "heart" causes representation in us only about feelings. In the Jewish language a word "heart" designates «internal essence of the person» in very wide sense. The word "heart" includes not only feelings (Ps. 21,2), but also memoirs and thoughts, intentions and decisions. God gave a heart to people to think. Psalms tell about «thoughts of hearts» of God: “The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations” (Ps. 32,11). Width of heart (1 King 4,29) means width of knowledge, «give your heart to me» (Prov. 23,26) can mean «be attentive to my words and enter your heart for Me », and «fierce heart» speaks about a dull brain.
Jesus Christ wants, we give Him a due place in our hearts. He speaks: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3,20).
P.Shatrov
Give your heart to me
“My son, give me thine heart” (Prov. 23,26)
Roland Gill preached in one of big cities of England. During his sermon madam Anna Erskin entered into a hall, she wasto known to all city as the riches and beauty the woman. She was the welcome guest everywhere, but very rare guest in church.
Suddenly Roland Gill interrupted the sermon, gave a hand forward and told: «Here there is madam Anna Erskin, welcome!» Also he loudly asked the gathered people: «Who wants to buy a soul of madam Erskin?»
After a strange question, a few having kept silent, he continued:
- «I see many buyers, each of which wants to possess it. The world, what you will give?»
– «I will give magnificence, glory, respect and many good days».
– «Is it more than anything? And what about eternal life?»
– «I don’t have it!»
– «Then your price is too low for me. The world, you won't receive it! What sense to our madam if she receives the whole world, but her soul will damage?»
– «well, a Satan, what you will give to us?»
– «I will give the provided life. She can execute all her desires and live how it is pleasant to her».
– «Also what you demand for it?»
– «Her soul. She should become my property».
– «Your price is too high, a devil. You won't receive her. You are the murderer from the beginning, the deceiver and the father of lie».
– «And now Jesus Christ, what do You give?»
– «I have given the life for this madam. I have spilled the Blood for her on a cross. I want to give to her soul the world, rest and pleasure. And when she will finish the earthly way, I promise to take her to Myself to the Heavens».
– «Also what do You demand for all these gifts?»
– «Her sins, her vicious conscience, everything that presses and weighs her, I demand from her».
– «You will receive her, Jesus Christ, she is Yours and should belong to You eternally. Madam Erskin, are you happy?»
– «Yes!» – she has answered with a loud and firm voice. And Anna Erskin has kept the word. She devoted all further life to service to the Lord, Which has pulled out her and us from a death and sin ditch.
P. Shatrov
Turn to the Lord
“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in” (Act. 26,18)
The soldier-Christian in conversation with the officer told him about importance to turn to God. The officer couldn't understand in any way that means “to turn". Then the soldier rose to him a back, then he made a full turn, rose to him and told: «We stood a back to God and went from God, going to a hell, and He urges to turn Him and to begin to go to the sky».
The word "to turn" means «to change sights, to turn back or to come back». This word often speaks as «to repent, revive, receive favor, to get confidence». The person following on the way, that leads from God, suddenly turns, looks in the opposite direction and starts to go towards God.
Repentance is leaving from a Satan. To turn to God is to give life to God. Repentance is refusal of old life. To turn to God is to accept a new life. The repentance opens our sinful ulcers. To turn to God is to accept the good fortune curing these ulcers. To repent – means to stop on a wide way which we went. To turn to God is to go a new, «a narrow way» to rescue.
To receive salvation and to become a member of the Christ's Body, there is no other way, except to turn to the Christ and accept Him by faith (Jn. 5,24). When we turn to the Lord, our sin is transferred on the Christ (Is. 53,5), and His righteousness and holiness – on us.
P.Shatrov
