The Council Speaks - religion and you - Brief Article

Question: My brother came back after being away for several years. He is really different. He says that he gave his life over to Jesus and Jesus changed his life. I, too, would like to experience change in my life, but I don't think I can. I don't think I have the power to change. And to be really honest, I'm afraid to change. Please tell me if I can get the power.

Answers to questions Native People are asking.

Answers: I am glad you want the same kind of change you have seen in your brother's life. The problem you have is, you really can't change yourself and you do not have the power to change your life as you have seen in your brother. Jesus changed his life. For you to experience the same kind of change you need to let Jesus change your life. Only He can give you the power to change.

The way Jesus changes you is by giving your life to Him. The apostle Paul was a man who really needed to change. He imprisoned people who followed Jesus Christ and even gave his consent to the murder of a follower of Jesus. Jesus met Paul and changed him radically. Before Jesus came into Paul's life Paul fought against His followers. After Jesus came into Paul's life Paul became the most radical of Jesus' followers. Read his story in Acts 8:1, 9:1-31 in the Bible.

You are afraid of changing also. We are all afraid of change because we are afraid of the unknown. What I think you want, is to be changed into someone who is like Jesus. This is what you see in your brother. You don't have to be afraid of becoming more like Jesus. Ask Him to come into your life. Ask Him to take over your life and to make you like Him. Jesus will give you the Holy Spirit Who has the power to change your life.

Adrian Jacobs

SALVATION IS A SIMPLE ACT; it has a life-changing effect. Just as a single person stands to say his wedding vows and by that simple act his whole lifestyle and direction changes, so simple acceptance of Jesus is totally life changing. Paul, the apostle, says we are "new creatures" once we have taken that step of faith. (2 Corinthians 5:17).

We must understand that salvation is much more than just repeating the words of a vow, however sincere those words may be. The simple truth is that salvation is a divine thing. What man cannot do for himself, God does through the washing away of our sins by the blood of the Lamb. He regenerates us by the Holy Spirit.

Salvation is actually being "born again" (John 3:5-8). God wipes the slates of our lives clean by the blood of Jesus, and lets us start all over again. This is why those who love Jesus lift their voices in worship and praise to the One who saved them (Revelation 5:9).

How to accept Jesus? "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will besaved" (Romans10:9). The Bible not only points to our need of salvation, but tells us how we can accept Jesus.

Salvation is a FREE gift to you. (Ephesians 2:8,9).

We must come as a humble child to God, not a proud and arrogant "know it all" (1Corinthians 1:21).

It is not enough just to say, "I love you, Jesus." We must move on to "believing in our hearts." That is, obeying the commandments of our Christ and allowing Him to take control of our lives.

COPYRIGHT 2001 Intertribal Christian Communications
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group