Everything today is weighed, valued, studied, condemned if it does not match with "their" expectation.
So, to make this really easy for you - if you believe in any DENOMINATIONAL statement of faith, welcome to the false church of paganism. Too harsh? Nope. Got lists of laws you have to follow - written or unwritten - yup, you are there. Sure Christianity was your desired choice of salvation, but you ended up with a pagan religion called christianity, not Christianity - better known as The Way in the first century.
Luke 19:1 - 10
Compare your religious experience with Zacchaeus ... and commitment ...
He Sought Jesus
He wanted to see Jesus.
He wanted to hear Jesus.
He climbed a tree in order to try and do both.
He was curious, I would guess that the Holy Spirit had been working on him sufficiently long enough to push him to be there that day and to climb a tree where Jesus would ultimately see him! Though I doubt his thought was, "I want Jesus to see ME". If the Holy Spirit was convicting him, he knew he had done wrong and he knew he needed salvation.
He Obeyed Jesus
Jesus stopped under Zacchaeus' fig tree.
Jesus called him down.
Jesus told him that he would be hosting him that night.
And Zacchaeus came down from the tree.
He did as requested. He had no reason to. He came to listen out of curiosity at the least. And now this Rabbi, this Jesus was talking to him!
He Served Jesus
We are told that Zacchaeus stood up, so perhaps he had prostrated himself before Jesus?
He declared he would make his thefts as a tax collector right.
Jesus declares that this son of Abraham has found salvation.
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So what does this tale tell us of Conversion?
Something: curiosity, opportunity or the Holy Spirit provides the desire to search out this Jesus.
You respond and do what you have to, to learn about this man.
He (God) will respond to your response and provide you the opportunity to obey Him.
You will have the opportunity to serve.
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Hmmm, you and God in a transaction to come to salvation.
I have no doubt that there were those whom had told him of Jesus (witnessing).
I have no doubt he was told where Jesus would be (invitation).
And then it was all up to God.
Notice how there were no requirements for exhibit any gifts or fruits, how he was unbaptized, etc! And yet declared to be saved.
It does not get any easier than this!
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Interestingly Zacchaeus climbed a fig tree we are told. The fig tree was always the symbol of Israel in Jesus' examples. Was this a picture of Jesus calling His people out of Israel?
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Points to remember about Conversion:
- There is no magic place
- There are no magic words
- Your calling upon Jesus for help is all there is
- You are expected make your sins right
- You are expected to read and obey
- You are expected to pray and obey
- You are expected to fellowship as a Christian (not as a Southern Baptist or whatever!)
- You are expected to observe communion
- You are expected to grow and to teach others
- You are expected to fail, pick yourself up, start over as needed
Pretty simple huh?
See how denominations are created? Man's desire to put in rules and regulations on what each of those bullet points are and really mean ... and yet, Jesus already told us what they meant to Him, and well, He ought to know.
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