There is a question that distinguishes the Believer and the pretender, the one who overcomes and the one who turns back. We are imperfect and make many mistakes, choose selfish ways and succumb to the enemy’s lies and snares, yet we have believed and when asked whether we would leave, respond, “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68) He is our Hope and Salvation and there is none other. This means we look to Him and rely on His provision and care.
To Believe in Yeshua Messiah is to be Born Again as Yeshua told Nicodemus, though he struggled to understand with human reasoning. Yet, every Believer understands how the old person is put to death and we become a new creation in our Messiah. The new birth is being born in the Spirit, as we receive the indwelling Holy Spirit. He is God’s presence in our innermost being and our guarantee of eternal life. (2 Cor. 5:5; 1:22; Eph. 1:13-14)
Yeshua was often misunderstood by those who heard his teaching for at least three reasons, 1) His words were about spiritual matters, which are totally different than physical things. Both Nicodemus and the woman at the well struggled to grasp what Yeshua was saying when they applied physical terms to spiritual realities. (John 3:1-21; 4:1-26), 2) Yeshua intentionally taught with Parables, so that people without faith would hear, but not understand. Later, He explained the meaning of the parables to His disciples because they were chosen. (Matt. 13:10-11) and, 3) Those with preconceived notions about prophecy related to the Messiah’s coming and/or primarily concerned with their own personal interests were blinded and deaf to Yeshua fulfilling prophecy, His miraculous signs, and His supernatural revelation of God’s nature and character. The Pharisees, Religious leaders and legal experts illustrate this category. (John 9:13-41)
For Believers our confrontation with and acceptance of Yeshua as Lord, Savior, Friend, God, Spirit, Redeemer, Deliverer, Healer, King, and everything is comparable with Paul’s Damascus road experience albeit perhaps less dramatic and visual. The resurrection to spiritual life may be similar to Lazarus’ emergence from the tomb. Our acquisition of faith with accompanying righteousness is equivalent to that which Abraham received. The amazing grace which overwhelms our understanding and ability to express or describe in words is universally known throughout the congregation of Believers, world wide. Finally and most importantly, the personal relationship with Yeshua is growing to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Messiah, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge being filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:18-19)
The Conservative Christian Apologist 