It Takes More Than You Think To Be A Christian! By Steve Kearney (Reprinted from Focus Magazine, http://www.focusmagazine.org/)
An Upsetting Question
Would you be upset if I said, "You are not a Christian?"
Of course you would! But have you ever thought why? Is it because
of your family tradition? Or is it because you were christened?
Or is it that you basically see yourself as a good person? In
truth, would any of these reasons automatically make you a genuine
Christian?
People will say to Jesus on the last day, "Lord, Lord, did
we not prophesy in your name and in your name cast out demons
and in your name perform many miracles," on this basis would
you consider these people Christian? Well, the Lord didn't, He
replied, "I never knew you, depart from Me you who practice
lawlessness," (Matt.7:21-23). From this we learn you are
not a Christian simply because you think you are a Christian.
The Lord tells you in His Holy Word what you need to do to be
a Christian. Examine the evidence. See for yourself!
Trusting Faith
It says of Moses, "By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the
wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is unseen,"
(Heb.11:27). In your faith do you see Him who is unseen? What
I am talking about is not a mere acknowledgement of His existence.
True faith is much more than mental assent, as Proverbs 3:5-7
shows, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not
lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight." Notice the huge element
of trust! Do you trust God Almighty in this way? Jesus said, "Believe
in God, believe also in me," (Jn.14:1). In another place
it says, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved,"
(Acts 16:30-31). Do you really believe Jesus is the Son of God?
I do not mean some half-hearted faith that lives by convenience,
but rather a faith that lives by conviction.
"What shall I do Lord?" is the first response of biblical
faith. "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,"
is its objective. Is this your faith? Real faith lives for Jesus
(Gal.2:20), and it costs. We can see what it cost the believers
of the New Testament period. A flogging did not break their faith.
They rejoiced because they were "considered worthy to suffer
shame for His name," (Acts 5:41). Even in the face of death
the apostle Paul affirmed with conviction, "for I am ready
to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus," (Acts
21:13).
So much of what is called faith today is nothing more than a mummified
form of the faith of our fathers. Genuine faith is personal and
vital; it gives us someone to live for and something to die for.
The words of a hymn by Will L. Thompson captures the mood of this
trusting faith, "Jesus is all the world to me, my life my
joy, my all; He is my strength from day to day, without Him I
would fall." Does this describe your faith in Jesus? Family
tradition does not determine such faith, because biblical faith
"comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ,"
(Rom.10:17). Does your faith measure up to biblical faith?
Life-changing Repentance
Repentance is no flippant New Years resolution; nor is it akin
to giving up cigarettes for Lent. Repentance is a genuine resolve
to seek God, do good and live like Christ, all your life. But
before repentance can take place we must see ourselves as we really
are. Peter in the presence of Jesus felt compelled to say, "Go
away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man O Lord," (Luke 5:8).
The tax collector in the temple would not even lift up his eyes
to God, but beating his breast said, "God, be merciful to
me the sinner!" (Luke 18:13). David admitted in his prayer,
"Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil
in Your sight. So that you are justified when You speak and blameless
when You judge," (Ps. 51:4). Are Peter and David the only
sinners? Since "All have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God," (Rom. 3:23), each one of us should be beating our
breasts and crying, "God to be merciful to me the sinner!"
is no flippant New Years resolution; nor is it akin to giving
up cigarettes for Lent. Repentance is a genuine resolve to seek
God, do good and live like Christ, all your life. But before repentance
can take place we must see ourselves as we really are. Peter in
the presence of Jesus felt compelled to say, "Go away from
me Lord, for I am a sinful man O Lord," (Luke 5:8). The tax
collector in the temple would not even lift up his eyes to God,
but beating his breast said, "God, be merciful to me the
sinner!" (Luke 18:13). David admitted in his prayer, "Against
You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight.
So that you are justified when You speak and blameless when You
judge," (Ps. 51:4). Are Peter and David the only sinners?
Since "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
(Rom. 3:23), each one of us should be beating our breasts and
crying, "God to be merciful to me the sinner!"
Few realize that their sins have continually provoked a loving
God to indignation and wrath. "God," we are told, "is
a righteous God who has indignation every day," (Ps. 7:11).
The reason God is angry is because He takes no pleasure in wickedness;
no evil dwells with Him (Ps. 5:4). My sins put Jesus on the cross.
The Scripture says, "Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and
our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken
smitten of God and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our
transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening
for our well-being fell on Him, and by His scourging we are healed,"
(Isa.53:4-6). Along with crucifying the Savior my sins and your
sins are the cause of many of the pressures, stresses, and strains
in life. Intentionally or unintentionally our sins cause hurts,
illnesses and even deaths. Such is the horrifying reality of our
condition before God.
It is not too difficult then to see why God demands repentance:
"But God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere
should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge
the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed,
having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead,"
(Acts17:30-31). Before that day I must accept that I am guilty.
I must feel the full weight of my sins. When I do, help is at
hand, "The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves those
who are crushed in spirit," (Ps.34:18). Repentance truly
is life changing. When the thief repents he stops stealing. The
liar stops lying. The immoral man stops being promiscuous. And
it is not just giving things up either. The repentant thief will
then work for a living (Eph.4:28). The repentant liar will speak
the truth in love (Eph.4:15). The immoral person will restrict
all sexual activity to the marriage bed (Heb.13:4).
Repentance is a blessing not a curse, "For you first, God
raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every
one of you from your wicked ways," (Acts 3: 26). Repentance
brings forgiveness of sins (Lk.24:48). How can you be a good person
without repentance? Repentance gives life, and becomes a way of
life. Are you truly repentant?
Courageous Confession
Paul wrote to Timothy, "Fight the good fight of faith; take
hold of eternal life to which you were called, and made the good
confession in the presence of many witnesses," (1Tim.6:12).
Timothy made the good confession among many witnesses. Notice
his confession was not a whisper in the corner of a dark room
where no one could hear; rather it was a bold confession, among
many witnesses. What was the good confession? "I believe
that Jesus Christ is the Son of God," (Acts 8:36) This confession
was unto salvation, "that if you confess with your mouth
Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from
the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes,
resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting
in salvation," (Rom.10:9-10).
Once uttered, the public confession of the name of Jesus Christ
should compel you to take up your cross daily and follow Jesus.
Even when life and limb are at risk you will unashamedly confess
the name of Jesus again and again. Jesus promises to reward such
loyalty, "If you confess Me before men I will also confess
you before My Father who is in heaven. If you deny me before men,
I will also deny you before My Father in heaven" (Mt.10:32-33).
Are you ashamed of the gospel and of the Name that is above every
other name? When you say, "Jesus," is it to swear or
to praise? "He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white
garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life,
and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels,"
(Rev.3:5). Could you have made this courageous confession when
you were christened as an infant?
Life Renewing Baptism
Believer's baptism is a burial in water after the likeness of
the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the point
at which trusting faith, life changing repentance and the courageous
confession all converge. "Having being buried with Him in
baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith
in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead," (Col.2:12).
Notice baptism is a burial in water not just a sprinkling. The
raising up out of the water signifies a resurrection to a new
spiritual life (Rom.6:3-4). The water is not magical it does not
wash away sins. Hebrews 10:22 describes what happens, "having
our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience (by the blood
of Christ) and our bodies washed with pure water (in baptism).
Baptism works because of our "faith in God who raised Jesus
from the dead." Baptism is the gospel in water. It is inextricably
linked with the cross. Through the death burial and resurrection
of Jesus Christ forgiveness of sins is made possible. When you
identify with that death burial and resurrection in baptism, God
forgives your sins. "Peter said to them, 'Repent, and each
of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness
of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,'"
(Acts 2:38).
Do Not Delay
You are not a Christian simply because you think you are a Christian.
You have examined the evidence. You have seen for yourself. The
Lord accepts only those who have trusting faith, show a life-changing
repentance, make a courageous confession and receive the life-renewing
baptism. So, by God's standard are you a Christian? Well, what
are you going to do about it? I know you do not want to be among
those to whom Jesus will declare, 'I never knew you, depart from
Me you who practice lawlessness,'" (Matt.7:22-23). So friend,
do not delay become a Christian today!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Our weekly services are held at 1318 Griffin Road, Leesburg, Florida
34748.
Phone: (352) 365-9946 for times of services.
Web site: http://www.careydillinger.com/cocbs/cocbshp.htm
MONTHLY BIBLE READING: Jesus' teaching on morals and ethics - The Gospels
GOSPEL MEETING: Our winter meeting will be held during the week of February 15-20, 2004. Sunday night through Friday night. Services will be held at 6:00 PM on Sunday and 7:30 PM each weekday evening. It will once again be our pleasure to have Robert Harkrider as our guest speaker each evening. Bro. Harkrider is the full-time evangelist for the South Bumby congregation in Orlando, Florida.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
BIBLE INSIGHT is published for the members of, and
visitors to, the Church of Christ at Beverly Shores, Leesburg,
Florida, USA.
Carey Dillinger is the editor. He can be reached at the church
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