Voice of Bhakti: Text and Context in Dialogue

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Text and Context in Dialogue

How can I be a bhakta of Jesus Christ?

A bhakta of Jesus Christ is a person who has wholeheartedly committed his life in devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. The God who created this universe and all that is in it, desires that all his creatures worship him and love him. We men and women have been created like God and have the ability to reason, to love, and communicate. But by nature we are cut off from God. The Bible tells us that we are all sinners, that is that we have offended our Creator by not loving him as we should and giving our devotion to others or to ourselves. We cannot be made right with God by doing good works because these acts do not deal with our spiritual problem. In fact, there is nothing we can do to make God pleased with us.

God knows our situation. Though he hates evil he loves his creatures and has made a path by which we can become his faithful bhaktas. For thousands of years he told people through his prophets to look out for his Anointed One (that is what the Greek word Christ means). Finally, he sent his Son, Jesus to become a man 2,000 years ago in western Asia. Jesus Christ grew up without offending his Father. He never committed sin (pap). But evil men hated his life and teaching, because it showed that they were evil. So they put him to death. Yet God had a purpose in it. He was planning all along that Jesus' death should be a sacrifice for us. By his death Jesus has made atonement (prayascitta) for our sin.

This story is written for us in the Bible (Dharma shastra). When we read the Bible God helps us to understand that the words are true and draws us to him to be his bhaktas. We confess our sin and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. We commit ourselves to him, understanding that without him we would not be able to know God or be forgiven. Then we begin a life of true bhakti.

The Lord said:

Behold, I stand at the door and knock;

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,

I will come into him.

I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you.

Because I live, you will live also.

If a man loves me, he will keep my word,

And my Father will love him,

And we will come to him and make our home with him.

In that day you will know that I am in my Father,

And you in me, and I in you.

If you want to know more of what it means to be a bhakta of Christ in the Hindu community or have any comments on this web site please feel free to write to the editor Mark Johnson at the following address:
info@bhaktivani.com

info@bhaktivani.com

. bhakti, nom. devotion, love, loyalty