In reading church history, I came across the question in early Puritan writings, “have you closed with Jesus?”

I think it’s a useful phrase for today because it gives us a practical description of what actually needs to happen for a person to accept the good news of Jesus, to be “saved.”

Think of it in terms of closing on a house.

You can look at a house, admire it, know all about it, walk around it.

Think that you might like to own it.

Have the ability and resources to buy it.

You can even make an offer on it.

But until you CLOSE on the house, until you exchange something of value to you, until you sign your name, and take ownership, it isn’t yours.

That’s a great illustration of what it means to accept the gift of salvation in Jesus. [Read more…]