I have heard this preached many times in my walk with the Lord over the past several years: “you must have a relationship with the Lord Jesus in order to be saved.” Where does it say that in the Bible? This word does not even appear in the KJV Bible! What does this word relationship even mean?
Mr. Webster defines it as: “ the state or character of being related or interrelated. Kinship.” That is pretty plain English that if you believe on Jesus as your personal savior and your name is written in the Lambs Book of Life, you are saved, And if you are saved, then you become part of Gods family as His child: John 1:12, Romans 8:16, Galatians 3:26.
Your relationship will depend upon how much time you spend with Him. It’s easy to spend time with God when you are first saved, but when normal life resumes, it has a way of pulling you back into the world, and you get busy with everyday life again. Your relationship is still there but it is different somehow.
This is just like any family here on earth that you spend time with. The ones you are with the most, your relationship grows and you bond together. If you are away from each other for long periods of time, your relationship is put on hold, but the next time you are together you pick up right where you left off.
If this is true here on earth, then it stands to reason it will be so in our heavenly relationship too. So is it perfect? No, it’s not! What you do about it is critical to a close relationship with your Heavenly Father. We should daily make it our goal to be with Jesus as much as we can be. When we believe on Jesus we became part of God’s family.
Let me give a word of caution to those well meaning believers that use the word “relationship “ as a tool of evangelism. This word does not even appear in the New Testament at all. The gospel of John does not use anything even close to it, and his book was written to explain how to be saved. Why should we not use it?
In our modern day world, how many people can relate to a loving relationship? Not many! Families broken by divorce, bad choices by people, making relationship’s full of disappointment and pain. This is not the message of the word of God. When you use this terminology it is in effect detrimental to the real gospel message.
What is this message? That eternal life is a free gift given by God to those who believe on His Son Jesus, and God will never take any of His gifts back: Romans 6:23. In Romans 11:29 it plainly tells us that the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, they are permanent! This means He never regrets or takes back any of His promises to us.
When you use this term “relationship” you are in effect telling others that it takes effort and time, or in other words, work. Salvation is a free gift to those who believe. You never have to work out your own salvation. I know Paul said that in Philippians 2:12. God has given us a lot of things we are to do and they will be the work he wrote about .
We are the ones who just obey and follow Him, as he is the author and finisher of our faith: Hebrews 12:2. We are the ones that have the responsibility to keep the old man in the grave by the renewing of our minds (work). Ephesians 4:22-32, tells us some things we are supposed to do, and this is the work that Paul was talking about in my opinion.
Who will we listen to? Jesus words or the enemies words? Remember the real battle is in your mind. Our relationship with Jesus is forever sealed the first day we believe in our heart, and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit: 2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 4:30. We are now and forever more in God’s family by our faith in Jesus Christ.
Just as on this earth those we are bonded to never loses its bond in us, especially when it comes to blood kin, our family. Years may pass as time goes by so quickly, but, that bond is renewed when we see that person again, and our love is rekindled once more as we see them. This is the way we should be with Jesus daily.
This does take effort on our part, and at times it can feel like work as God’s enemy tries to keep you from rekindling that love and relationship with Jesus. Our jobs here on this earth is to love God, Love our brethren, Enjoy the life we have been given so others will see Jesus through our lives daily. So smile and allow Jesus to complete his work.
I hope I have shed some light on what my opening paragraph said; “you must have a personal relationship with Jesus in order to be saved.” That is totally poppy cock nonsense. All you need to do is believe that Jesus died for you personally. That is all it takes. The relationship is then permanently sealed from that day forward.
God is not surprised when you don’t do everything right, He knew you would be difficult to mold into His plan and image, but He is more than able to finish the work in you that He started: Philippians 1:6. So my dear brethren just do your best, read the Bible daily, write in it, mark the things that grab your attention, learn to love it and enjoy it.
In closing just be very aware of how you use this complex word relationship in your telling someone about Jesus. The relationship comes with salvation, it’s not a condition of it. Become a true wordsmith and use them to encourage and inspire people with confidence in who they are in Christ Jesus.
Remember you will make it, just don’t give up. I love you all, and I will try to write more often as we study God’s word together. Smile often, as smiles are contagious and someone needs yours.
In His Service As Kilted Priest
The Kilted Priest 