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NASB | Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
Bible Question:
There are two (at least) words that I find are used in ways which seem to me to be non-functional? They are heart and love. Dealing with the heart (save love for another day)....how can one really "accept Jesus into their heart?" The heart is only a member of the total family of human organs, designed for specific functions geared toward staying alive. Yet some must envision it as a "door" that can be opened and shut, allowing all manner of "visitors", etc. The terms "I love you with all my heart, accept Jesus into your heart, pray with all my heart, forgive you with all my heart," I believe would cause some to shy away from accepting Jesus "into their lives" because of this use of the word heart. The heart is inside your body...accepting Jesus into your heart would mean that any changes would be internal, and not showing through...accepting Him into your life would show a lifestyle change, and ways that He is working in your life. What happens when someone has a bypass operation and they are stitched up...is the "door" to the heart sealed? Does the doctor and attendants see all the "visitors" that you have "allowed into your heart?" Why not just simply say "I have invited Jesus" into my life," and then show it by your actions, not just words? Thanks for your patience. Centurian |
Bible Answer: Hi Centurion, As you know, in the Western world the 'heart' is refered to as the seat of the soul - intellect, will, emotions. It is a figure of speech. In Old Testament times, this 'seat of the soul' was the bowels. For obvious reasons, in Western culture we don't say "I love you with all my bowels." It loses something in the translation. But the Bible does allow for figures of speech, metaphors, similes, etc. The 'good news' brought forth is the New Testament is not necessarily that we 'accept Jesus into our heart' or even that we accept Him 'into our lives.' The good news - gospel - is that, as Christians, we are 'in Christ' and Christ is 'in us.' This is a matter of both physical dwelling - 1 Cor 3:16 "you are a temple of God and that the Holy Spirit dwells in you." and of identification - 2 Cor 5:17 - "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature..." In fact, the New Testament refers to believers being 'in Christ' ten times more than it does our being 'in Him.' If you email me, I'll be happy to send you a list (as it's too lengthy to post here). Salvation is being saved from the wages of sin - death, by the gift of God - eternal life in Christ Jesus. He said He came to give us life - His life, eternal life. See 1 John 5:11 - And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 1 John 5:12 - He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. 1 John 5:13 - These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. We are not saved by the words we say. We are saved by faith in Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection. God sees our (here we go) 'heart' - the essence of what we believe and the Holy Spirit baptizes us into Christ. This is a spiritual union. We are then identified with, one with Him. And this is where that divine life is received. Paul said in Galatians - "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." This is the essence of the Christian life. God once again taking up residence in His creation as the source of life. I hope this helps. God bless. |