Open the door and invite Jesus in

Colossian 2.6 is rather comforting to me, but if the truth be told,

I probably like the second part:

so walk in him, 

more than the first:

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord…

I am more of a “therefore walk” guy, than a “receive.”

I know we evangelicals tend to sum up the salvation experience

with the single word, “receive.”

But I am not sold on that.

I see Jesus taking residence in us as a by-product of salvation,

as a result of having experienced salvation.

What JohnB told those gathered by the river,

what Jesus said to the crowds,

what the disciples went out to preach was “repent.”

Repentance bring Jesus in.

Perhaps I am just playing semantic games

and a rose is a rose is a rose and still smells sweet.

But at any rate I do find solace in Paul’s statement

that the believers have received Christ, just as John wrote in John 1.12.

So, I agree that we receive Christ,

but I question if we receive Him by “receiving” or “inviting” or “accepting” Him,

or does reception happen as a result of us repenting and believing?

Part two of this little heresy has more umph to it.

But I will leave well enough alone for today.