Have you ever found yourself in, or even simply witnessed, an argument with a nonbeliever on the credibility of Christianity? And has that argument ever ended in salvation at the time? More than likely, the answer is no. And here's why.
As most of us know, the Bible is mostly counterintuitive. It tells us things like the humble will be exalted and the givers will be rich. Likewise, it also tells us that we cannot understand Christ until we accept Him into our hearts.
Matthew 23:12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. (ESV)
Proverbs 11:24-25 Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. (NLT)
The Bible tells us that spiritual matters are foolishness to those who do not know God. The fact is, the only reason we know Christ is truth is because the Spirit that lives inside of us (since our rebirth in Jesus) testifies to the matter. It confirms within us that Jesus is real and alive. It tells us (if we will listen) when someone is telling us something that aligns with the truth or not. It is the Spirit inside of us, which is Jesus, that teaches us the things of the Spirit. Before we are born again, we do not have that Spirit alive in us and we are unable to understand.
1 Corinthians 2:12-16 We received the Spirit that is from God, not the spirit of the world. We received God’s Spirit so that we can know all that God has given us. When we say this, we don’t use words taught to us by human wisdom. We use words taught to us by the Spirit. We use the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. People who do not have God’s Spirit do not accept the things that come from his Spirit. They think these things are foolish. They cannot understand them, because they can only be understood with the Spirit’s help. We who have the Spirit are able to make judgments about all these things. But anyone without the Spirit is not able to make proper judgments about us. As the Scriptures say,“Who can know what is on the Lord’s mind? Who is able to give him advice?” But we have been given Christ’s way of thinking. (ERV)
The Bible also tells us that we are all born with an innate knowledge that there is a God. We have a hunger and a thirst for Him. But people often do not recognize this for what it is. They attempt to fill themselves with other pleasures of the world all while looking for Jesus. The word tells us that when we get involved with wickedness and sin, we suppress the voice telling us not to, otherwise known as our "conscience" or the Holy Spirit. Then we grow farther and farther away from any sense that there is a God until we have silenced the voice altogether.
Romans 1:18-22 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. (NIV)
As most of us know, the Bible is mostly counterintuitive. It tells us things like the humble will be exalted and the givers will be rich. Likewise, it also tells us that we cannot understand Christ until we accept Him into our hearts.
Matthew 23:12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. (ESV)
Proverbs 11:24-25 Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. (NLT)
The Bible tells us that spiritual matters are foolishness to those who do not know God. The fact is, the only reason we know Christ is truth is because the Spirit that lives inside of us (since our rebirth in Jesus) testifies to the matter. It confirms within us that Jesus is real and alive. It tells us (if we will listen) when someone is telling us something that aligns with the truth or not. It is the Spirit inside of us, which is Jesus, that teaches us the things of the Spirit. Before we are born again, we do not have that Spirit alive in us and we are unable to understand.
1 Corinthians 2:12-16 We received the Spirit that is from God, not the spirit of the world. We received God’s Spirit so that we can know all that God has given us. When we say this, we don’t use words taught to us by human wisdom. We use words taught to us by the Spirit. We use the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. People who do not have God’s Spirit do not accept the things that come from his Spirit. They think these things are foolish. They cannot understand them, because they can only be understood with the Spirit’s help. We who have the Spirit are able to make judgments about all these things. But anyone without the Spirit is not able to make proper judgments about us. As the Scriptures say,“Who can know what is on the Lord’s mind? Who is able to give him advice?” But we have been given Christ’s way of thinking. (ERV)
The Bible also tells us that we are all born with an innate knowledge that there is a God. We have a hunger and a thirst for Him. But people often do not recognize this for what it is. They attempt to fill themselves with other pleasures of the world all while looking for Jesus. The word tells us that when we get involved with wickedness and sin, we suppress the voice telling us not to, otherwise known as our "conscience" or the Holy Spirit. Then we grow farther and farther away from any sense that there is a God until we have silenced the voice altogether.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. (NIV)
So how does anyone come to know Christ? When we show someone the all-surpassing, unconditional love of Christ, their eyes can be opened to their great need for Jesus. They will recognize, by faith, that they want what we as believers have. We should be living our lives in joy and love that makes it clear to unbelievers that we are fulfilled and free. That is what we have access to through Christ and that is what is going to make others want to know Him. The voice that they have silenced will speak up and push them sweetly into their salvation. That is how Jesus works, not by foolishly arguing with those who have already made up their minds to prove you wrong, but by loving the desperate and hurting people around us like Jesus would.
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (ESV)
1 John 4:8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (ESV)
1 Peter 4:8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. (ESV)
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)
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