How to Accept Jesus Christ
How can we accept Jesus Christ and be certain that He lives in us?
Jesus makes a plain statement in John 14:23-24 that if we keep His words, His Father loves us, and He and His Father will come to us and make their abode with us. He also makes it abundantly clear that if we won’t or don’t put His words—which He received from the Father—into daily practice, we definitely do not love Him. It should be clear, then, that Jesus lives only in those who keep His words and put them into daily practice.
The words Jesus spoke are spiritual, and continually abiding in them—doing what He said—is the only way to assure that you have eternal life (John 15:6-7; Luke 6:45-48). “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life” (John 6:63). Jesus’ spiritual words are the directions to eternal life, as well as how to live a blessed life while here on earth (Acts 3:26).
Jesus said plainly that He could do nothing by Himself, unless it was something He saw the Father doing (John 5:19). No wonder we are to imitate Him daily (1 Cor. 11:1)! We are to be pleasing in God’s sight, just as Jesus was, by living the Way He gave us example to live (Jer. 27:5; Eph. 5:10).
If we were to write down all the things Jesus told those who follow Him to live, we would have the exact directions and requirements for eternal life. We would know exactly what is expected of us as true disciples of Jesus Christ.
Jesus says plainly, if we keep His words, by living them daily, we will never see spiritual death (John 8:51). Then, whatever Jesus did or said must be the Will of the Father, that we must imitate daily, if we are to abide forever. “The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the Will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17).
If we say we believe in Jesus and expect to never die, we must live the life that Jesus lived as our example. Jesus said, “Everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:26). Many do not. Many are taught they need do nothing to be saved.
The word “believe” means obey and adhere to the teachings of Jesus Christ (John 3:36). In order to accept Jesus Christ and be sure He is living in you, you must obey Him daily. You must live as He lived. It’s just that plain and simple!