What about if you were born into a Christian family, does that make you a Christian? No. How about if you were born into a Buddhist family? Also no. Oh. Well, then, how does that work?
Each individual must do it his or herself. However, this 'doing it yourself' has a different connotation to a Christian and a Buddhist.
For the one who wishes to become a Christian, yes, the person must decide to become one of their own volition, and to accept God's offer of salvation on their own volition. However to attain salvation by earning it oneself, is not possible. You see, it is a gift from God and one's action is to just reach out and take it. No need to earn it.
No one can force another into this. In this way only, does one "do it them self".
Thus being born into a Christian family does not make one a Christian; or as I prefer to say, a follower of Jesus Christ. No doubt being born into such a family would help one be more aware of ones' need for salvation as being born into a Buddhist family would presumably predispose the children to become Buddhist. Neither scenario, however, would make an instant Christian or a Buddhist out of anyone.
Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda illustrates this idea in his book What Buddhists Believe (Pages 241, 242). He says that if a doctor gives one medicine, the person will not be made well by someone else taking said medicine or detailing all the benefits one can get if one does swallow that liquid or tablet. No, the sick one must be the one to take the meds. So too, each person must accept Jesus Christ as Savior for him or herself. Do not have confidence in oneself, no self-reliance in this but put confidence in God and His Word and His Son Jesus.
He is the Great Physician. Go to Him. He will perfect you.
By contrast, for the Buddhist who "does it his or her self" the meaning is vastly different. On page 242 of Sri Dhammananda's book, we are told,
This is where the Buddhist will turn to the Buddha and his teachings, the Dharma, and to the Sangha. Meditation on these Three Gems is their refuge which aids and abets them in their determination to eradicate all desire.
To become a Christian is also not merely to pray nor is it to beg for salvation. It is from understanding their need of salvation that comes from outside their self. With willing hearts, they accept, by faith, Jesus and His gift of salvation.
It is only then that there is need for renewal of our minds via God's Work and Word (Romans 12:2 NIV) and we must take captive every thought to God (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV). Another good verse to take note of is 2 Timothy 1:9 NIV, which reads,
I like another couple of verses that are found in Titus 2:11-12 NIV...
These are the two sides of the same coin "justification and sanctification"' God's sovereignty and mankind's responsibility respectively, aiming for God's standard of holiness and perfection. When we have accepted, of our own choice, Jesus Christ as Savior, that is justification. God has made the individual righteous in His sight. Once we are justified, then comes the progressive sanctification that is mankind's responsibility. This is a process of making Jesus, Lord of our life.
This is lived out, not religiously, nor blindly or mindlessly, rather it is walking in step with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26) and the "new heart" we've been given. The potential, if you will, is now in our DNA, to honor God in these ways and to do so out of gratitude and love for Him.
This should preclude continuing to sin and making bad choices. Just because we belong to Jesus and have that promise of forgiveness of sins and eternal life and a ceasing of all suffering (in time to come), it doesn't mean we continue to do as we wish fulfilling all our own desires. No!
God's Word tells us that,
We need to make Jesus, Lord as well as Savior. Abide by His will and ways as found in God's word and as the Holy Spirit convicts. You can check this out further by clicking on the link for Making Jesus Lord. In following the Lord Jesus Christ, our desires should then be to obey Him and making His desires, ours. In so doing, our lives will become ever more holy and others will begin to see Christ in us; His righteousness in our character and conduct.
We need to understand ourselves and examine ourselves to see where we are amiss. The measuring rod is God's Word, the Holy Spirit and other brothers and sisters-in-Christ who hopefully are also guided by God's Word and the Holy Spirit enabling them to gently show us where we can do better. When we allow all to 'teach' us and we humbly accept the teaching, there will be further growth in our spiritual life and relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Sri Dhammananda concurs to a point in this as he tells us on Page 242...
Actually,
However, it is true we have to understand ourselves; understand we are sinners and that we cannot save ourselves; that there is a God who offers that salvation plan through His son Jesus Christ. We must understand we must accept Jesus's work of atonement and the taking of the penalty for our sins and the consequences of our wrong choices; that Jesus paid for them once and for all for all mankind.
We have to absorb this knowledge and realize that the punishment was laid on Jesus and with His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5) from all the wrong and unwholesome thoughts and actions and the consequences: sicknesses and infirmities and as Buddhists believe, the birth-death-rebirth* continuum. Our end is not to become extinct, nor for our desires to become extinct (some desires are actually good and God-given), but to have a life with Christ in Heaven for all eternity. There we will live in righteous perfection, not because we have "done it ourself" but because Christ has done it all for us.
~ERC June 2018~
Note:
* I do not subscribe to the birth-death-rebirth belief.
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved" (Acts 4: 12 NIV)
"...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved..." (Acts 16:31 NIV).
"The salvation of righteousness comes from the Lord..." (Psalm 37:39 NIV).
No one can force another into this. In this way only, does one "do it them self".
Thus being born into a Christian family does not make one a Christian; or as I prefer to say, a follower of Jesus Christ. No doubt being born into such a family would help one be more aware of ones' need for salvation as being born into a Buddhist family would presumably predispose the children to become Buddhist. Neither scenario, however, would make an instant Christian or a Buddhist out of anyone.
Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda illustrates this idea in his book What Buddhists Believe (Pages 241, 242). He says that if a doctor gives one medicine, the person will not be made well by someone else taking said medicine or detailing all the benefits one can get if one does swallow that liquid or tablet. No, the sick one must be the one to take the meds. So too, each person must accept Jesus Christ as Savior for him or herself. Do not have confidence in oneself, no self-reliance in this but put confidence in God and His Word and His Son Jesus.
He is the Great Physician. Go to Him. He will perfect you.
By contrast, for the Buddhist who "does it his or her self" the meaning is vastly different. On page 242 of Sri Dhammananda's book, we are told,
"Buddhism is not a religion where people attain salvation by mere prayers and begging to be saved. They must strive hard by controlling their minds to eradicate their selfish desires and emotions in order to attain perfection."
This is where the Buddhist will turn to the Buddha and his teachings, the Dharma, and to the Sangha. Meditation on these Three Gems is their refuge which aids and abets them in their determination to eradicate all desire.
To become a Christian is also not merely to pray nor is it to beg for salvation. It is from understanding their need of salvation that comes from outside their self. With willing hearts, they accept, by faith, Jesus and His gift of salvation.
It is only then that there is need for renewal of our minds via God's Work and Word (Romans 12:2 NIV) and we must take captive every thought to God (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV). Another good verse to take note of is 2 Timothy 1:9 NIV, which reads,
"He has saved us and called us to a holy life..."
I like another couple of verses that are found in Titus 2:11-12 NIV...
"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age."
These are the two sides of the same coin "justification and sanctification"' God's sovereignty and mankind's responsibility respectively, aiming for God's standard of holiness and perfection. When we have accepted, of our own choice, Jesus Christ as Savior, that is justification. God has made the individual righteous in His sight. Once we are justified, then comes the progressive sanctification that is mankind's responsibility. This is a process of making Jesus, Lord of our life.
This is lived out, not religiously, nor blindly or mindlessly, rather it is walking in step with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26) and the "new heart" we've been given. The potential, if you will, is now in our DNA, to honor God in these ways and to do so out of gratitude and love for Him.
This should preclude continuing to sin and making bad choices. Just because we belong to Jesus and have that promise of forgiveness of sins and eternal life and a ceasing of all suffering (in time to come), it doesn't mean we continue to do as we wish fulfilling all our own desires. No!
God's Word tells us that,
"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation..." (2 Corinthians 5:17).
We need to make Jesus, Lord as well as Savior. Abide by His will and ways as found in God's word and as the Holy Spirit convicts. You can check this out further by clicking on the link for Making Jesus Lord. In following the Lord Jesus Christ, our desires should then be to obey Him and making His desires, ours. In so doing, our lives will become ever more holy and others will begin to see Christ in us; His righteousness in our character and conduct.
We need to understand ourselves and examine ourselves to see where we are amiss. The measuring rod is God's Word, the Holy Spirit and other brothers and sisters-in-Christ who hopefully are also guided by God's Word and the Holy Spirit enabling them to gently show us where we can do better. When we allow all to 'teach' us and we humbly accept the teaching, there will be further growth in our spiritual life and relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Sri Dhammananda concurs to a point in this as he tells us on Page 242...
"To understand yourself is the beginning of wisdom."
Actually,
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10 NIV).
However, it is true we have to understand ourselves; understand we are sinners and that we cannot save ourselves; that there is a God who offers that salvation plan through His son Jesus Christ. We must understand we must accept Jesus's work of atonement and the taking of the penalty for our sins and the consequences of our wrong choices; that Jesus paid for them once and for all for all mankind.
We have to absorb this knowledge and realize that the punishment was laid on Jesus and with His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5) from all the wrong and unwholesome thoughts and actions and the consequences: sicknesses and infirmities and as Buddhists believe, the birth-death-rebirth* continuum. Our end is not to become extinct, nor for our desires to become extinct (some desires are actually good and God-given), but to have a life with Christ in Heaven for all eternity. There we will live in righteous perfection, not because we have "done it ourself" but because Christ has done it all for us.
~ERC June 2018~
Note:
* I do not subscribe to the birth-death-rebirth belief.
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