(This is an essay written by myself. Please read it when you have some time to spare.)
There are more than 400 sects and denominations calling themselves "Christian." They all have somewhat different beliefs and practices. Even so, every one of them is named after Jesus Christ. Partly due to this, many non-Christians scoff at the idea that Christianity is directly inspired by God.
True Christians can see the Holy Spirit inside another true Christian. True Christians can see Christ living inside other true Christians. This is not only an honour, but it is the perfect sign of God's love and will. It is not enough having read the Bible, preaching every word and showing how knowledgeable you are if it isn't applied to your own life. If your current actions and personal history tell a story of bad decisions, hurt, pain, cheating and lies, yet you preach the word of God, can you call yourself a true Christian? Christ is to be living inside a true Christian, so would your dark and deceptive actions be that of Christ? Highly unlikely.
A true Christian, will have God's love flowing through him like "rivers of living water" (John 7:38-39). As he/she deeply studies the Bible and feeds on it, and as he fervently prays to God every day on his knees for the spiritual strength, faith, guidance and love he/she needs, the true Christian grows spiritually.
It is obvious that millions of professing Christians never change! They may have "grown up" in a particular Church or they may have "accepted Jesus" in some evangelistic meeting. But in most cases, the "Christ" they have accepted is not the true Christ of the Bible! In most cases, the "Gospel" they have been taught is not the Gospel of the Bible! Far too often, it is just an incomplete message about the person of Jesus Christ – teaching that the only thing we need to do is "believe" that He died for our sins.
These people, in most cases, unwitting victims of Satan's deception, are not told that Christ must live in the same kind of life within them that He lived as a human being almost 2000 years ago. Paul was inspired to warn us about false Christianity, which was already beginning in his day: "For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you may well put up with it." (2 Corinthians 11:4)
Sadly, most of us have "put up" with the kind of empty version of the gospel, because it lets us feel comfortable in our sins. It is a kind of "cheap grace" (as Bonhoffer put it) that by neglecting God's Law tempts its adherents to "crucify again for themselves the Son of God" (Hebrew 6:6).
But the true Gospel tells Christians to grow and change, to develop the very character of God (1 Peter 1:15-16). The true Gospel tells us we are to be Kings and Priests in the soon coming Kingdom of God (Luke 19:11-19).
Grow and change? This is the application of God's word to ones own life here on Earth. In simple terms, do not make the same mistakes over and over again without realising why it is happening. Do not bring trouble into your lives without understanding who is responsible. If you know the true Christ, the true Gospel, it will be applied to your life and your experiences will be much more positive.
As we actively surrender to allow God, through His Spirit, to build His very character within us, we should genuinely become better, kinder, more loving neighbours. We should become better, wiser, more dedicated workers of professional people. We should become more thoughtful, loving and patient fathers and mothers, husbands and wives. We should become more zealous bond slaves of Jesus Christ in the great work of His true Church, proclaiming the Truth to all.
Therefore, knowing the 'real' Christ, living as a 'true' Christian, means we should be kind and loving to one another, respectful and honest, not as the world teaches deception and lies. For if you claim you know Christ, this would mean you do not deceive or lie to people, it would mean you take responsibility for your actions and 'grow' as a human being.
Paul wrote: "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). That is what true Christianity is all about, not merely believing in Christ, but having the living Jesus Christ living within us by the power of the Holy Spirit! That is what gives us the spiritual strength and love to live by God's law. It is not our strength, it is Christ's strength, His power and His spiritual love placed within us by the Holy Spirit!
For Christ lives within the true Christian. That is the key!
Step by step, each of us must "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18 ). It is not accepted by God if you call yourself a Christian yet you are not growing as a person. If your life has been the same over the past 12months or 3 years and have been attending Church and reading the Bible, but have not bettered your life, I would be asking myself some serious questions.
Through God's help and His Spirit in us, we are to surrender ourselves daily to let Jesus Christ live His life in us. Since Jesus Christ bought and paid for each of us by shedding His own blood, true Christians need to realise their responsibility to seek God's will daily in everything they think, say and do.
Of course we will all stumble at times, falling short of the goal of letting Christ live in us. One must not be discouraged by this. When we slip up and repeat old mistakes, or make new ones, if we are truly repentant and confess these sins to God, He will forgive us. Further, as John stated (1 John 1:8-9), God will cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Overcoming, then, takes time. It does not happen all at once. That is why we must never get discouraged and give up.
JI - 28/01/07
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There are more than 400 sects and denominations calling themselves "Christian." They all have somewhat different beliefs and practices. Even so, every one of them is named after Jesus Christ. Partly due to this, many non-Christians scoff at the idea that Christianity is directly inspired by God.
True Christians can see the Holy Spirit inside another true Christian. True Christians can see Christ living inside other true Christians. This is not only an honour, but it is the perfect sign of God's love and will. It is not enough having read the Bible, preaching every word and showing how knowledgeable you are if it isn't applied to your own life. If your current actions and personal history tell a story of bad decisions, hurt, pain, cheating and lies, yet you preach the word of God, can you call yourself a true Christian? Christ is to be living inside a true Christian, so would your dark and deceptive actions be that of Christ? Highly unlikely.
A true Christian, will have God's love flowing through him like "rivers of living water" (John 7:38-39). As he/she deeply studies the Bible and feeds on it, and as he fervently prays to God every day on his knees for the spiritual strength, faith, guidance and love he/she needs, the true Christian grows spiritually.
It is obvious that millions of professing Christians never change! They may have "grown up" in a particular Church or they may have "accepted Jesus" in some evangelistic meeting. But in most cases, the "Christ" they have accepted is not the true Christ of the Bible! In most cases, the "Gospel" they have been taught is not the Gospel of the Bible! Far too often, it is just an incomplete message about the person of Jesus Christ – teaching that the only thing we need to do is "believe" that He died for our sins.
These people, in most cases, unwitting victims of Satan's deception, are not told that Christ must live in the same kind of life within them that He lived as a human being almost 2000 years ago. Paul was inspired to warn us about false Christianity, which was already beginning in his day: "For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you may well put up with it." (2 Corinthians 11:4)
Sadly, most of us have "put up" with the kind of empty version of the gospel, because it lets us feel comfortable in our sins. It is a kind of "cheap grace" (as Bonhoffer put it) that by neglecting God's Law tempts its adherents to "crucify again for themselves the Son of God" (Hebrew 6:6).
But the true Gospel tells Christians to grow and change, to develop the very character of God (1 Peter 1:15-16). The true Gospel tells us we are to be Kings and Priests in the soon coming Kingdom of God (Luke 19:11-19).
Grow and change? This is the application of God's word to ones own life here on Earth. In simple terms, do not make the same mistakes over and over again without realising why it is happening. Do not bring trouble into your lives without understanding who is responsible. If you know the true Christ, the true Gospel, it will be applied to your life and your experiences will be much more positive.
As we actively surrender to allow God, through His Spirit, to build His very character within us, we should genuinely become better, kinder, more loving neighbours. We should become better, wiser, more dedicated workers of professional people. We should become more thoughtful, loving and patient fathers and mothers, husbands and wives. We should become more zealous bond slaves of Jesus Christ in the great work of His true Church, proclaiming the Truth to all.
Therefore, knowing the 'real' Christ, living as a 'true' Christian, means we should be kind and loving to one another, respectful and honest, not as the world teaches deception and lies. For if you claim you know Christ, this would mean you do not deceive or lie to people, it would mean you take responsibility for your actions and 'grow' as a human being.
Paul wrote: "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). That is what true Christianity is all about, not merely believing in Christ, but having the living Jesus Christ living within us by the power of the Holy Spirit! That is what gives us the spiritual strength and love to live by God's law. It is not our strength, it is Christ's strength, His power and His spiritual love placed within us by the Holy Spirit!
For Christ lives within the true Christian. That is the key!
Step by step, each of us must "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18 ). It is not accepted by God if you call yourself a Christian yet you are not growing as a person. If your life has been the same over the past 12months or 3 years and have been attending Church and reading the Bible, but have not bettered your life, I would be asking myself some serious questions.
Through God's help and His Spirit in us, we are to surrender ourselves daily to let Jesus Christ live His life in us. Since Jesus Christ bought and paid for each of us by shedding His own blood, true Christians need to realise their responsibility to seek God's will daily in everything they think, say and do.
Of course we will all stumble at times, falling short of the goal of letting Christ live in us. One must not be discouraged by this. When we slip up and repeat old mistakes, or make new ones, if we are truly repentant and confess these sins to God, He will forgive us. Further, as John stated (1 John 1:8-9), God will cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Overcoming, then, takes time. It does not happen all at once. That is why we must never get discouraged and give up.
JI - 28/01/07
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