Crazy In Love With God by Ben Fronczek

http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?p=409

Crazy In Love With God

Cornelius: The God-Fearing Gentile  (Part 1)
Acts 10
One of my favorite conversion stories in the Book of Acts is that of Cornelius.
But most of the time when we study Acts chapter 10 we seem to focused more on
Peter than on Cornelius. I thought it is quite interesting how God chose to use
Peter to be the first one to take the Gospel to the gentiles. But before he
could do that God had to help him overcome his ethnic and spiritual prejudices
so that he would accept Cornelius’ family and friends into the fellowship of
the Church.
Over the next couple of weeks
I would like to bring you a few lessons centered around this man. I would like to
talk more about Cornelius because he is truly an extraordinary man. He is a man
that is worthy of our admiration, and should be imitated in so many ways.
Read: Acts 10   (Click on the link to read)
So what is so special about Cornelius?
Even though he is a Roman and a gentile, we see that he is a Courageous man of Faith.
At first glance, one may not recognize this or even the many details that are provided here about Cornelius and his background. But in all reality, we can glean quite a bit of information from the facts presented in the very first few verses of Chapter 10.
First of all, his name – Cornelius – it tells us that he was Italian. This was a very common Italian name.  Secondly, we are told that he was a Roman soldier. Not only was Cornelius a soldier, he was a fairly high-ranking officer. He was a Centurion. #3 According to Roman custom, this tells us that he was over thirty years old because it took 12 to 16 years of military service to be eligible for promotion to such a rank. Furthermore, being a Centurion we know that Cornelius must have been somewhat intelligent ; a man who had to have shown administrative skills along with combat leadership.
Even with the rank of centurion, scholars tell us that there were many grades or levels.  Most centurions commanded about 100 men, but senior centurions commanded cohorts, or took senior staff roles in their legion.  (just like we have 1-5 star generals)
Many scholars believe that Cornelius was on the higher end of the ranking system of Centurions. I believe that the Scriptures lend support to that being the case in two ways: First, Cornelius had the authority, as we shall see in this passage, to dispatch a soldier on an obvious personal errand. A low ranking Centurion would never have had such authority. Secondly, Cornelius also enjoyed the presence of his family, in what appeared to be a really big house, a privilege granted only to those of the upper ranks.
Another thing we learn is that Cornelius was stationed at Caesarea, a coastal city about 60 miles Northwest of Jerusalem. Caesarea was the seat of Roman government in Palestine and Syria- a very important place. This is where the Roman governor was head-quartered. Some theorize that Cornelius’ Regiment – being entirely Italian – was responsible in part for the Roman governor’s security. At this time, Marcellus – Pontius Pilate’s successor – was governor.
We need to remember that Rome conquered the territories the New Testament calls Judea, Galilee and Samaria 60 years before the birth of Christ. The Jews therefore had a very negative opinion of the Romans.  Likewise their Roman masters, the Roman troops, did not particularly love their captives either, the Jews . So it is obvious that there is some real bad feeling between the Jews and the Romans; something the Peter and the early church had to overcome.
Because they were the conquerors, many Romans thought they were the superior civilization. They believed that they ruled the world because they alone were wise and powerful. They viewed most other people and their cultures as being inferior.
Many Roman soldiers and their officers shared that contempt for the peoples they conquered. Though officially prohibited, it was not uncommon for Roman troops to oppress the people they conquered and ruled over. There were cases where Roman soldiers were guilty of assaults and robberies. And in many cases, their officers, if they were not doing the same, would just turn a blind eye to such misdeeds.
But, what an amazing contrast we see here in Cornelius.
Cornelius seems devoid of this prejudice. It is evident that he did not look-down on the Jewish people. Rather than having ill feelings toward the Jewish race and their customs, he showed them courtesy and respect. As we shall see, he demonstrated this in many ways. However, his lack of arrogance and prejudice is most clearly apparent in him adopting the God of the conquered Jews.
We read that Cornelius was a believer and worshipper of the God of the Jews. He not only believe in Him, the text says he and his whole family were devout believers. He had obviously abandoned the gods of Rome and turned to the Lord, as the one true God.  I believe it is hard for us to totally appreciate Cornelius’ decision here.
All but the most educated Romans believed in many gods and goddesses. Serving and appeasing their multiple deities was a major element of Roman life. However, this was a bit of an obsession within the Roman military. Not honoring the gods, especially their god Mars, who was their god of war, was tantamount to treason. If they did not pay homage to Mars and if the other gods were not honored, they thought it would mean a defeat in battle.
Anywhere and everywhere the Roman Army went, they carried with them portable pagan shrines for worship and sacrifice. The Army’s religious rituals were extensive. And who do you suppose was responsible for ensuring that the troops were observing the necessary rites and ritual? The centurion.
Cornelius obviously rejected his cultural background. He courageously bucked the system by renouncing paganism and accepting the true Faith of the true God. That is impressive to me! Some of us have in a way done the same thing when we turned to the truth of the Gospel and away from traditional family religious beliefs. Sometimes it can cause some real problems.
Legend has it that a wealthy merchant traveling through the Mediterranean world was looking for the Pharisee and Apostle, Paul. He eventually met up with Timothy, who arranged a visit. Paul was, at the time, a prisoner in Rome. Entering the cell, the merchant was surprised to find a rather old man, physically frail, but whose serenity and magnetism challenged the visitor. They talked for hours. Finally the merchant left with Paul’s blessing. Outside the prison, the concerned man inquired, “What is the secret of this man’s power? I have never seen anything like it before.” “Did you not guess?” replied Timothy. “Paul is in love.” The merchant looked bewildered. “In love?” “Yes,” the merchant answered, “Paul is in love with Jesus Christ.” The merchant looked even more bewildered. “Is that all?” Smiling, Timothy replied, “Sir, that is everything!”
What man wouldn’t rush to his lover’s side if she were surrounded by thugs? What parent wouldn’t try to protect their children whom they love.  Our Love is a powerful ally, giving us strength when nothing else can. I believe Paul’s love for Jesus is what gave him the strength to do all that he did.
And I also believe that even though he was a gentile, Cornelius had somehow learned about our God and fell in love with Him. I am sure it changed his life in ways he never expected. The man that was trained to kill and conquer and protect the concerns of the Roman Empire in the name of his deified Caesar, and in the name of the Roman Gods was now acting more like a Christian than a Roman.
Did Cornelius understand the potential consequence of his actions, his change of loyalty? Of giving up his pagan Roman gods?   I cannot help but believe so.  Even though the great persecution of the church  by the Romans hadn’t begun yet, his change of loyalties I’m sure would have not set well with Rome.
So what lesson from all this can we take from this today?  It is simple yet powerful one: The more you love Jesus, the more you love God, and the closer the relationship you have with Him, and the more you commune with Him, the more He will change your life. And the more strength you will have. When it comes to doing things for God, you will be more courageous, more assertive, more accepting, less prejudice, even more generous.
Our increasing love for God will prompt us to do things we never thought possible. That’s what happened in this man, and God took notice of it and sends an angel to him with a message letting him know that God was pleased with him.
If you really, really love God, you will love….. the things of God; His people, His word, His way, His will, and He will begin to shine and work through you.
I don’t know how many times I’ve said it before, but Christianity is not just being religious; about going to church, and following a bunch of rules of what you can do and what you can’t do. I believe the very heart  of Christianity is having that close and intimate relationship with God,
with Jesus.
Maybe this all seems dull and uninteresting to you… going to church every week, doing the same things week after week, feeling obligated to pray and read the Bible…
Let me ask you this, do you think you have a relationship with God like Cornelius had?  It said that he was devoted, he prayed regularity, he went out of his was to show mercy and generosity even to his enemy.  And he wasn’t even a Christian…yet.  I believe he didn’t feel obligated, rather he was in love with our Lord!
My encouragement is this, first and foremost, do whatever it takes to fall in love with our Lord. Maybe you never did. Maybe you became a Christian because you wanted to go to heaven and not hell. Maybe you just felt obligated because you knew it was the right thing to do. I don’t think that’s enough.  And I think that’s why so many of us are weak, insecure, half committed, and sometimes afraid to step out on faith. It is because we are doing it for the wrong reason. Rather than doing something because we are crazy in love with God, we do it for a hundred other reasons.
You just may need to spend more time alone with Him, and talk to Him, or read from His word and about the things He did with other people. Realize that He wants to have that close relationship with you.  Listen to music and lessons on the radio or on your computer that moves your heart closer to Him. And it just may surprise you what will happen in your life.    

Will the Rich Get to Heaven?

https://biblicalproof.wordpress.com/2010/04/

Will the Rich Get to Heaven?

An interesting title for a very eye opening subject. Will the rich actually get to heaven or are they destined for hell. The rich dominate everything this world has to offer. They get the best health care. They get the best houses. They get the best automobiles. They get the best food. They have the world’s power in their hands. They even have the best seats in every church. They have whatever their souls desire. So, do they also get heaven as well?
There are quite a few scriptures that deal with wealth which do not give credence that the rich will ever enter in through heaven’s gates easily. Let us take a look at them, and let the bible tell us what riches will do for and to you. Solomon wrote about riches by saying this: Work not to be rich. (Prov. 23:4). Solomon was verily rich, but he didn’t work to get rich or did he ask to be rich. Abraham was rich, but he did not work to be rich. Riches were a gift to both these men. (Eccl. 5:19) Solomon later wrote that he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished. (Prov. 28:20). Consider these warnings about riches. (Prov. 1:19; Prov. 20:21; Prov. 28:11). Solomon prayed that he would not be rich or poor, but somewhere in between. He said feed me with food that is convenient for me. If I am poor I will steal, and if I am rich I will deny God. (Prov. 30:7-9).
The psalmist David wrote the the little a righteous man had was better than the riches of many wicked. (Ps 37:16)  In fact, the word rich and righteous have little in common. The rich man seeks only to gain more riches while a righteous man seeks only the righteousness of God. Later the same writer spoke on this vain when he said for us not to trust in riches if riches should come upon us. (Ps. 62:10) How often do people judge themselves so much better than the poor all because of their wealth. It is hard to resist such a thought or act.
In the new covenant Jesus comes warning very strongly about riches. Jesus said, how hardly will the rich enter into heaven. Camels will go through a needle’s eye before a rich man enters into heaven. (Mt. 19:24) The rich have their consolation right here on earth (Lk. 6:24) In the parable of the sower, Jesus explaining his parable to his disciples said that riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. (Mt. 13:21). Jesus told the rich ruler to give all his riches to the poor, and to take up his burden (cross) and follow him. That would be hard to do for any man, but Jesus required it of this rich man.  (Lk 18:20-22).
Jesus said quite a lot about rich people, but none more clearer and frightening was his story about the rich man and Lazarus. (luke 16:19-31) The rich man had only good things happen to him, and the righteous man was poor, sickly and of all things was a beggar. The rich man was sent directly to hell and the righteous man was sent to Abraham’s bosom (a waiting place for the righteous). The rich man begged for one drop of water, and  that Lazarus would be sent back to teach his brethren because they were destined to follow the rich man into hell. Abraham gave him neither water or messengers but a stern reprimand when he said, they have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them. That even a risen dead man would not convince them otherwise. If this was not a wake-up call for the rich men and women of the world then nothing would be. Today, false messengers of God scoff at this as only a fable with not an ounce of truth to verify it. In other words, they are calling the Son of God, Jesus Christ an unmitigated liar.
The apostle Paul warned a young preacher named Timothy about riches affecting preachers. (1 timothy 6:3-9) How prophetic was this message for this day in time. How many preachers preach just for money. They seek the fortunes of this world, and not the world to come. Paul tells Timothy that preachers who preach for money will strive over words, and using misleading arguments to get lots of money in their own pockets. These preachers think that riches are godliness, and for true Christians to withdraw themselves from them. He tells Timothy that preachers having food and raiment should be contented because the rich fall into temptations and lusts that lead to their destruction. That the love of money is the root of all evil that causes a preacher to error from the faith, and not only preachers, but all men.
It was a lesson in preaching that Paul wrote to the Corinthians when he was speaking of the paying of preachers. Paul stated that though a preacher was worthy of hire, that he found it to be a hindrance to the preaching of the gospel. He stated that he preached the gospel without any charge of money. (1 Cor. 9:18)  A statement that most preachers will dare not utter from the pulpit or even in private. It was not that Paul condemned money being payed to preachers (1 Cor. 9:14), but rather that money can get in the way in the preaching of the gospel. A lesson that he also stated to the Thessalonians when he said that he worked night and day that he would not be an expense to any of them. (2 Thess. 3:8).
Such was the message that Jeremiah the prophet warned against when he said that the priests were ruling with their money and prophesying falsely. (Jer. 5:30-31). Such warning was even clearer, if that is possible, by Micah the prophet when he said their leaders, priests and prophets were using their abilities for money. (Mic. 3:11)
Greed and teaching God’s word do not go hand in hand. Jesus said of John the Baptist, what came you out to see? A man in expensive clothes? You see this in kings houses. (Lk 7:24-25) Elders were prohibited from leading if they were greedy for money. (1 Tim. 3:3) Peter warned that there would be false teachers out of greed who would exploit you and mislead you. (2 Pet 2:2-3)
James gave one of the most damning observations of riches when he told them to weep and howl for the miseries that were soon to come upon them. Riches that were gained by giving little to their workers. Wages that were due to the worker, but never given so that the rich would get even richer. A practice that led the poor to an early grave though the poor man does not resist them. (james 5:1-5). Do not rich men oppress you James wrote, yet you give them places in high regard in your worship services and poor men lowly places. (james 2:3-7).
The book of Revelations speaks of the kind of rich that doesn’t even know how poor they truly are. Not only poor are they, but wretched and blind and naked. (Rev. 3:17). The bible compared the word of God to gold and silver that is tried with fire seven times. (Ps 12:6) It compared a righteous man in the same manner. (Ps 66:10; Isa. 48:10; 1 Peter 1:7) ) There is a land of promise that was given to all the blessed saints of God that is rich in gold and silver and precious stones. A city of Gold where God is the light and one lives and abides forever. My hope is, and my desire to God would be, that you seek for that heavenly place that only comes by losing your life in this world and winning everlasting life with God Almighty. (Matt. 16:24-26) In the words of the Lord Jesus, you can not serve God and wealth. (Matt. 6:24)

What must we do to be saved? by Roy Davison

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/whatmustido.html

 

What must we do to be saved?

People at Capernaum asked Jesus: “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” (John 6:28). A lawyer asked Him: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25). A rich young ruler asked Him: “What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). On Pentecost the people asked: “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). The Philippian jailor asked: “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30).

What answers did these people receive from Jesus and His apostles?

A popular answer today, given by evangelicals, is: You do not have to do anything! I found the following quotations on the Internet: (1) “Salvation does not depend on what you do or don’t do”; (2) “Your salvation does not depend on what you do.”

Did Jesus teach that one does not have to do anything to be saved?

Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall” (Matthew 7:24-27).

Thus, to enter God’s kingdom we must do the will of the Father. We must do what Jesus says.

Evangelicals contradict Jesus when they claim that salvation is not dependent on what one does.

What answers were receive when people asked: “What must I do?”

At Capernaum people asked: “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” (John 6:28). Jesus replied: “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent” (John 6:29).

The first thing one must do to be saved is to believe in Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Jesus then explains that believing or not-believing is related to what one does: “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:19-21).

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Only through Christ can sinful man be saved: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11). Christ “died for all” (2 Corinthians 5:15). He “gave Himself a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:6). “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:2).

Through the sacrifice of his Son, God has made salvation available to everyone. Whether one is saved or not depends on how one responds to God’s offer of salvation.

The first reply to “What must we do” is “Believe in Him whom He sent” (John 6:29).

This faith must be confessed. Jesus said: “Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32, 33).

And the lawyer then, what answer did he get when he asked Jesus: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25). When Jesus asked him to answer his own question, he said: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself’” (Luke 10:27). Jesus then said: “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live” (Luke 10:28). When the lawyer tried to excuse himself by asking, “And who is my neighbor?”, Jesus gave the example of the Good Samaritan and said, “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:29-37).

What must we do to inherit eternal life? Faith is the first requirement, but faith without love is worthless: “Though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2).

What did Jesus reply to the rich young ruler when he asked, “What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17).

First He said: “If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17). To be saved, we must keep God’s commandments. This was true under the Old Covenant, and this is true under the New Covenant.

Jesus said: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” (John 14:21). “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:10).

But keeping commandments is not enough. When the rich young ruler told Jesus he had kept the commandments, Jesus replied: “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Luke 18:22).

Although he kept the ten commandments, he lacked something. He had to repent and follow Jesus. Without repentance, no one can be saved.

Referring to people who had died because of their sins, Jesus said: “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:2, 3). And referring to others who had died in an accident, He said: “Do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:4, 5).

To be saved we must discard everything that separates us from God, and follow Christ. Jesus says: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

Is there something else that one must do? After Jesus died and rose, He told His followers: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15, 16).

In addition to faith, confession and repentance, one must also be baptized to be saved. That is what Jesus says.

Paul clarifies that baptism itself is a gift of God’s grace through which He gives us salvation. “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7). Through what does God save us? “Through the washing of regeneration.”

There is something wrong with the faith of those who teach: “Your salvation does not depend on what you do or don’t do.” They reject God’s gift of saving grace in baptism. They are unbelievers in the sense that they do not believe what Jesus says about salvation. They claim one can be saved by faith only, whereas Jesus says, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). Nor do they believe the Holy Spirit speaking through James: “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20); “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:24). People who believe in salvation by faith only do not have a saving faith.

The apostles preached the same gospel Jesus preached.

When the Philippian jailor asked, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30), he was told: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household. Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household” (Acts 15:31-34).

Paul wrote: “With the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10).

And what was Peter’s reply on the Day of Pentecost when the people asked, “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

When the apostles were asked: “What must we do to be saved?” their reply was the same as that of Jesus. To be saved people must believe in Jesus, confess their faith, repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. To follow Christ they must deny themselves and learn to observe all things that He has commanded them (Matthew 28:20).

God loves you so much that He sent His Son to die on the cross to suffer the penalty for your sins. He offers you salvation as a free gift of His grace. Whether you are saved or not depends on your response. You can be saved if you believe in Christ, confess His name, repent of your sins and are baptized. This is the good news preached by Jesus and His apostles.

Roy Davison

The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers.
Permission for reference use has been granted.

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

How near is God? by Gary Rose

The man who baptized me, Max T. Neel, used to say that: "God is closer than hands or feet and nearer than breathing." For a long time, I wondered where he got this from, then I finally realized that it was embedded in Paul's sermon on Mars hill...

Acts, Chapter 17 (World English Bible)

  ²²  Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus, and said, “You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things.  ²³ For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I announce to you.  ²⁴ The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands,  ²⁵ neither is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath, and all things.  ²⁶ He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings,  ²⁷ that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  ²⁸ ‘For in him we live, and move, and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’ (emphasis added, vss. 27f.)   ²⁹ Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man. ³⁰ The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,  ³¹ because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.” 

  ³²  Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, “We want to hear you again concerning this.” 

  ³³  Thus Paul went out from among them.  ³⁴ But certain men joined with him, and believed, among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.  

From the above passage and the picture a question naturally occurs to me: 

How does one move from God?

2 Corinthians, Chapter 4 (WEB)
 ³ Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who perish;  ⁴ in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.   (emphasis added vs. 4)  ⁵ For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake;  ⁶ seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The answer is.. 

the god of this world (a.k.a. Satan) has blinded their minds.

The result is...

While everyone is "not far" from God, Christians are very close to HIM. So close in fact, that they are described as being "in Christ".....

 Ephesians, Chapter 1 (WEB)

 ³  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ; ⁴ even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love;  ⁵ having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,  ⁶ to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely bestowed favor on us in the Beloved,  ⁷ in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,  ⁸ which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,  ⁹ making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him  ¹⁰ to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, in him;  ¹¹ in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will; ¹² to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ:  ¹³ in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,  ¹⁴ who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory. 

 

So, how do we get "into Christ"?

Galatians, Chapter 3 (WEB)

²¹ Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.  ²² But the Scriptures imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.  ²³ But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed.  ²⁴ So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  ²⁶ For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.  ²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  (Emphasis added 27f.) ²⁹ If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to promise. 

and

Romans, Chapter 6 (WEB)

 ³ Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  ⁴ We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.  ⁵ For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection;  ⁶ knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.  ⁷ For he who has died has been freed from sin.  ⁸ But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him;  ⁹ knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him!  ¹⁰ For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God.  ¹¹ Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I like how the apostle James puts it...

James, Chapter 4 (WEB)

 ⁶ But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  ⁷ Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  ⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  ⁹ Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom.  ¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Be humble, submit to God in baptism, get into Christ- and stay very, very close to God!! And whatever you do- don't move!!!