...what happens if I just demand it? Am I not the one to accept anyway?
2007-08-23 17:33:14 · 15 answers · asked by ccrider 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Red herrings already. But I'm not surprised.
2007-08-23 17:38:10 · update #1
Wait, you're telling me I have free will, but you back away when I say I can demand...
2007-08-26 05:13:28 · update #2
To clarify matters a bit, no one "accepts" Jesus, they receive him. And receiving him does not involve an act of a person's will (e.g., asking or demanding) as John 1:12-13 declares emphatically:
12But as many as RECEIVED him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, NOR OF THE WILL OF MAN, but of God. (empasis added)
We "receive Christ" by being the passive recipients of a divine "heart transplant" whereby the Holy Spirit removes our heart of stone and replaces it with a heart of flesh (see the passage below taken from Ezekiel 36):
25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
The metaphor of sprinkling "clean water" negates any idea of ACCEPTING the drops. You have no say when God decides to douse you. Your skin passively RECEIVES the drops. There is nowhere to run when God decides to shower his saving grace on you. His will is irresistible as Romans 9:19-21 clearly teaches:
19One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? FOR WHO RESISTS HIS WILL?" 20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' " 21Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? (emphasis added)
In no way do we "accept" (as if we were authorizing a transaction between two equal parties) what God sovereignly confers!
2007-08-24 16:08:10 · answer #1 · answered by Kidd! 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Ask and you shall recieve - But, you need to recieve Jesus with an open and willing heart. You cannot demand anything from God because God does not "work" that way.
2007-08-25 04:15:23 · answer #2 · answered by waeyeaw 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No Jesus is the one who helps you to accept Him if you believe Gods word
2007-08-24 19:17:33 · answer #3 · answered by cheri 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
+PAX
Would you demand of a King? I don't think so. God Almighty, whom St. Teresa de Avila called "His Majesty" does not respond to the "orders" of man.
He does respond to a humble person of a contrite heart who is heartily sorry for his sins.
"Ask and ye shall receive." But remember, God's answer is not always our answer. He knows what is best for us in the long run.
In His Love,
J
2007-08-23 17:42:44 · answer #4 · answered by teresa_benedicta_of_the_cross 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
you can demand it but do you have the knowledge and know the way that he wants you to follow, are you ready to be a footstep follower of his, are you ready to pick up your own cross and follow him, we ask that he comes into our heart and leads us to everlasting life and that takes knowledge of the true God.
2007-08-25 02:40:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus is always at the door of ur heart. Just open e door and he will enter ur life :)
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. - Luke 11:9 (NIV)
2007-08-23 21:58:08 · answer #6 · answered by Sharon 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Jesus is a gentlemen he stands at the door of your heart and knocks and if you open it he will come in. NB it's the best move you could ever make. I love my life.
2007-08-23 17:45:34 · answer #7 · answered by jom871 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You may be accepting Him as your savior but He is also accepting you as a son. There is no way to demand that.
2007-08-23 17:39:16 · answer #8 · answered by The U.P. 3 · 6⤊ 2⤋
If you accept Jesus into your heart make sure he doesn't get sucked into your pulmonary artery - you would be really screwed.
2007-08-23 17:40:43 · answer #9 · answered by Azure Z 6 · 1⤊ 4⤋
I don't think your statement is biblical anyway. Just believe in Him.
2007-08-23 17:39:00 · answer #10 · answered by expertless 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋