While I was sitting around thinking about what may be helpful to a person in their journey with Jesus, an idea popped into my head. If a person had a series of simple questions to ponder and honestly answer regarding their beliefs, they could come to terms with what they believe.
So I sat down and wrote a bunch of questions I wished someone would have asked me before I surrendered to Jesus. I Hope this creates a lot of thought and an honest assessment of what you do and don’t believe.
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Do you believe there is a God who oversees and interacts with our material world?
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Do you believe this God is knowable?
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Do you believe a person can have a real relationship with this God?
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Do you believe your standing before God is based on your choices and actions in this life?
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Do you believe in life after death?
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Do you believe your life will be evaluated once you have departed this mortal body?
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Do you believe your behavior is honorable enough before God to be allowed into heaven?
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Are you scared of what may happen to you after you die?
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Do you believe in a literal heaven and a literal hell?
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Do you have regrets caused by your willful decisions to do something you knew was wrong?
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Do you pray? If so, who do you pray to?
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Do you believe in a historic Jesus, claiming to be God in the flesh, who was executed about 2000 years ago?
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Do you believe in the supernatural?
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Do you believe religion can get you to heaven without accepting Jesus’ sacrifice?
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Do you believe you can talk to God and be heard?
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Do you believe that God loves you without conditions?
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Do you believe that you can be changed by the power of God?
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Are you willing to be changed by the power of God?
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Are you ready to renounce your own wickedness?
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Are you willing to live a life that rejects the wickedness of this world?
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Are you willing to love and pray for those you hate and those who hate you?
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Are you willing to submit to God and the Scriptures where they contradict your feelings?
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Are you willing to dedicate time each day to prayer and reading the Bible?
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When someone asks you if you believe in Jesus, are you ready to say yes?
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Are you willing to take the time to study the Scriptures and learn the critical doctrines vital to you relationship with God?
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Are you willing to be publicly water baptized?
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Do you see the condition of the world and realize how screwed up people are?
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Do you believe that obeying those hard sayings of the Bible, like “love your enemies” is important not just for religious people but for everyone?
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Are you willing to ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit every time you are tempted to do or think of something wicked?
There are obviously a lot more questions pertaining to a person's faith. But taking the time to seriously contemplate where you stand on these and other questions about Jesus can really give you a good idea of where you are in your relationship with the Lord.
Don't be afraid to ask the hard questions and for those who have a relationship with Jesus but are having trouble believing the Scriptures or understanding why all the weird stuff is happening in the world today, take it to prayer and lay it out before the Lord. He will lead you if you are willing to follow Him and when we follow Him, He will often, but not always, clarify why things are the way they are.
And in those times when He is silent, walk in faith and don"t worry.
The more we study the Word of God, the more answers we find. So keep searching the scriptures daily.
Todd