Dare to Imagine Christ In You

By James Altmaier

This short book outlines basic truths of Spiritual growth in Christ. It traces the origin of man's dilemma from the Garden of Eden to our lives today. It reveals the Biblical response and action for our lives today. It is meant to supply what may be missing in a Christian's understanding today, and to propel a Christian onto maturity in Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 7, 2018
• ISBN: 9781387719204

Book preview

Dare to Imagine Christ In You

DARE TO IMAGINE CHRIST IN YOU

By James M Altmaier

Additional copies may be obtained at the following website: www.lulu.com

You can contact the author at:                         [e-mail]

Other books by the author:

God's Table Has Four Legs

Transformation

Christian Guidebook for TMers

ISBN 978-1-387-71920-4

Copyright: 2017 James M Altmaier

Quoted Scripture is from the New American Standard Bible, by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

I want to thank:

New Life Community Church in Fairfield, Iowa and my wonderful wife, Joanie.

COMING TO CHRIST

We are told in Scripture that no one come to Jesus unless the Father draws him (John 6:44).

We are told in Scripture that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).

We are told in Scripture that we are given faith by God (Romans 12:3).

We are told in Scripture we do not choose Christ but that He chooses us (John 15:16).

We are told in Scripture that it is God who saves and God who sanctifies (John 3:6, Leviticus 20:8 respectfully).

And we are told that God wants no one to perish but all to have eternal life (II Peter 3:9).

So the question is, since all the above are true - it is God who saves, it is God who sanctifies, God draws, God chooses, God gives faith, and God wants no one to perish - then why doesn't God just save everyone? It would seem to be His choice and His doing. It is all about God and all in the hands of God and in the power of God. What is our role? Or do we have a role?

Haven't you ever wondered why you have been saved? I have. And for me, It is certainly not because I am special nor am I worthy. But the fact remains that God saves some. And those He saves is not based upon who is righteous in their behavior and who isn't. In fact, Jesus makes it very clear in Matthew 7:13-14 that only a few people will be saved and many people will perish. And no one is righteous in their own efforts (Rom 3:10). So God saves the unrighteous. But that puts us right back at the start. Why are some chosen and others are not?

The Bible does give us some insight into this quandary. In Luke 11:10 and Mathew 7:8, Jesus tells us that if a person seeks, then he will find. We must seek a relationship with God. It must be our desire. And when we seek intently enough to actually knock on the door, then the door will be opened. It is our seeking and desiring to know God that begins the process. God draws seekers to His Son.

In Matthew, Jesus delivers a long sermon to a crowd of people. It is called The Sermon on the Mount. It begins in chapter 5 with a series of statements usually referred to as the beatitudes (verses 3-11). A dear friend and brother in Christ, John Van Weelden, pointed out to me that these statements outline the changes or attitudes that we experience as we seek Christ, come to Jesus, and grow into maturity.

The first one says, Blessed are the poor in spirit. This is rather a strange statement. What is Jesus saying? I believe He is giving us the attitude of a seeker of God. We begin turning our hearts to God when we accept the reality of our own spiritual poverty. Life is not all about me. I need to begin seeking something of greater importance than myself.

The second statement says, Blessed are those who mourn. Here Jesus is telling us that when we begin to seek, we recognize our need for a Savior because of my sin against God. Mourning is an expression of sorrow. I have come to see my sins and my need for forgiveness. I have opposed the God of Creation, whether knowingly or unknowingly in the past. But now I see the truth of me following my own agenda instead of following God. It produces a soul in mourning and brings us to repentance.

These are the attitudes of a seeker. I have begun seeking a new order and structure to my life. It is at this point where a seeker can knock on the door and God will open it. We can be born again, spiritually. How do we make this leap?

Later in the Sermon of the Mount, Jesus teaches us how to pray. We call it the Lord's Prayer and many people know it by heart. So what is so special about this prayer? Another friend and brother in Christ, Rex Hall, explained to our Sunday School class that this prayer is Jesus' version of the sinner's prayer. It is a prayer asking God to open the door and allow Jesus to be the Lord of my life.

It begins with, Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. In our initial seeking, we come to realize that God is a personal God, not merely some creative force, not merely a disinterested creator. He is our Father, very personal, very interested in us, very much involved in our lives. He is above us and greater