christian ministries Iowa

  • Have YOU accepted Jesus as your personal savior?
  • Are you more than a believer -- are you a disciple? Reflections







    Window To Christian Ministries
    Copyright 2001
    By Cathy Orrick Luders
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa
    All Rights Reserved


    NLT: Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW LIVING TRANSLATION Copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, IL 60188

    • K-A-T-O-P-T-R-I-Z-O . . .
    Greek word meaning "to reflect as in a mirror"
    For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face
    ... I Corinthians 13:12a


    Reflections on Jesus
    We are ALL God's people, but ALL do not follow the Lord God almighty. God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to be the propitiator for our sins -- Jesus took ALL our sins on himself; He was bruised, beaten, nailed to a cross for ALL of our sins. He died for ALL, everyone, you and me. But not all care or believe; many are wayward and follow a different set of rules -- their own. To follow the Lord, you must obey His commandments. Jesus died and after 3 days, He rose again. And after 40 days, He ascended into heaven, where he sits at the right hand of the Father, making intercessions for us always. The Lord God created the world and mankind (male and female) and ALL that is in it. If you follow a different god ... don't be surprised or bewildered when the Lord renders judgement against you.



    Have YOU accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?

    YES -- You are a Child of the King
    and will spend eternity in Heaven with Jesus.

    NO -- You are lost. Your life is in shambles
    and you will spend eternity in Hell without the Savior.

    I Don't Know -- Whether you answered no or I don't
    know, let me share with you the plan of salvation
    (see below)
    For an interactive flash presentation of the Gospel: www.thekristo.com
    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    God's Simple Plan for S-A-L-V-A-T-I-O-N

    A-D-M-I-T
    to God you are a sinner
    "As it is written there are none righteous, no not one."
    (Romans 3:10)
    All people need salvation. Each of us has a problem the Bible calls sin. Sin is a refusal to ackowledge God's authority over our lives. Everyone who does not live a life of perfect obedience to the Lord is guilty of sin. Since none of us are perfect, all of us are sinners.
    "For all have sinned and have come short of the Glory of God."
    (Romans 3:23)
    The result of sin is spiritual death. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
    (Romans 6:23)
    Spiritual death means eternal separation from God. By God's perfect standard everyone is guilty of sin and therefore subject to the punishment for sin, which is separation from God. Admitting you are a sinner and separated from God is the first step of repentance, which is turning from sin and self and turning toward God.

    B-E-L-I-E-V-E
    in Jesus Christ as God's Son
    and receive Jesus' gift of forgiveness from sin. Although we have done nothing to deserve His love and salvation, God wants to save us. In the death of Jesus on the cross, God provided salvation for all who would repent of their sins and believe in Jesus.
    "But God commanded His love toward us
    in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8).

    C-O-N-F-E-S-S
    your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord
    "That if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved, for with the heart Man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth, he confesses, resulting in salvation." (Romans 10:9-10)
    "For whosoever shall call upon the name
    of the Lord, shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)

    As you call upon God to save you, you may pray a prayer similar to this one:

    "Dear God,
    I know that You love me.
    I confess my sin and need of salvation.
    I turn away from my sin and place my faith in Jesus as my Savior and Lord.
    In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."

    After you have received Jesus Christ
    into your heart and life, share your decision
    with your pastor or a Christian friend.
    Ask for baptism by immersion
    as a public expression of your faith.
    And then "Tell The Good News"


    Believer vs. Disciple

    To believe is cheap, costs us nothing
    To follow Christ is costly and He asks us to consider
    the great cost

    Believers consider themselves first
    Disciples consider Christ first

    Believers produce no perfect fruit
    Disciples are known by their fruit

    Belief saves my soul
    Discipleship glorifies Christ

    Believers are not necessarily known as Christians
    Disciples are

    Believers go to heaven
    Disciples are greatly rewarded in heaven

    Believers have not grown in grace and spiritual knowledge
    Disciples are constantly experiencing a growth in grace and knowledge