How Serious Are You In Living The Christian Life?

[Pariah]

Are you in a church that asks how serious you are about living the christian life?

I was in a church like that: in my high school years, my Sunday school teachers led me to believe that I had to make a commitment to follow Christ to say to men and to God that He is Lord of my life. It wasn't enough that I believed in Jesus Christ as My Saviour, I had to make a public confession of this commitment to follow Christ to say that He is Lord of my life as well.

I have to say that since that time, I became a religious christian, doing the best I can in following Jesus and failing. I was nominated and elected as deacon twice, but I resigned when I was having a difficult time in following Him to the point that I felt like a fraud.

I have gone to Urabana and responded several times to the altar call and other places as well, but no matter what, by that commitment is the knowledge of sin of not being able to follow Him.

Then one day, in 1994, after many years later and still going on a rollercoaster ride in following Jesus: I came across a pamphlet that convicted me of the words of my mouth because I had picked up the habit of cussing whenever nobody was around out at a warehouse I used to work at just to let off some steam. Anyway, I was led to make a covenant with my mouth not to cuss anymore but the very next day, I was worse than I ever was before. I was getting thoughts of "You are not His!! If you were His, He would have helped you keep your covenant!" I had stopped listening to the devil and being at my wits' end, I had asked the Lord why He was not helping me for surely He knew I did not want to do that sin anymore.

A small still voice said unto me: not audible, but I heard Him still: "You made the covenant. You said you were going to do it. I made the Covenant with you and I said I am going to do it. All I asked from you is to believe on Me."

I was humbled that day and the Lord knew that I would need scriptures to back up and confirm that supernatural expereince as coming from the Lord.

John 6:28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

2 Corinthians 11: 19For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. 20For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

Galatians 3: 1O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Galatians 5:1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Here: Jesus spoke against believers making any vows or promises that are His to keep and to finish.

Matthew 5: 33Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Philippians 1: 6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:.... 9And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. 11Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

So not only did Jesus set me free from my yoke of bondages of the covenant with my mouth not to cuss, but He has set me free from my commitment to follow Him.

I am by His grace, no longer a religious christian as I am now in a relationship based on trust: as I trust Him for my eternal life so I trust Him to help me live the christian life: thus the just shall live by faith in Him and all His promises to us. That is how I get to know Him when I stop looking to myself in doing the best I can to looking to Jesus Christ, the author and finsiher of my faith in helping me to lay aside every weight and sin that so easily besets me so I can run the race with Him well.

So I may make a decision to follow Jesus but there is no power in that decision. I am surrendering by denying myself as being able and looking to Jesus Christ as My Enabler in living the christian life.

Everyone would want some sign from the believer that he or she is serious, but that would be looking to the flesh and placing confidence in men. What we need to hear from others as well as from ourselves is knowing our faith in how Jesus Christ is committed to us in being Our Good Shepherd as well as Our Saviour.

This is the reality of our reconciled relationship with God.

John 1: 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

This is why not very many mighty men and nobles are called because the Good News are for the poor in spirit and the little children as they are readily able to receive the Good News openly whereas a religious man would not since it would require surrendering from what he can do to what God can do in order to be witnesses of the Son and His promises to us.

So I may make a decision in regards to following Jesus, but I am trusting Him to help me to follow Him because essentially, I have "given up" trying to do the best I can in keeping that commitment to follow Him to just simply taking Him at His word that He will lead me in living as His child.

That is why I no longer speak of my former commitment or anything wherein a man may boast in his flesh, but by His grace, I speak of my faith in Him so that sinners may see their hope in God and not look to themselves to do any of God's work in them as only God can do His work. May others see my faith in how much I know how serious God is in helping me live the christian life wherein I rest in Him.

[Pariah]

2 Corinthians 5: 6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight 8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

Philippians 1: 6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: ....9And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. 11Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

1 Corinthians 15:33Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

2 Timothy 2: 18Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 19Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Ephesians 5: 13But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Hebrews 12:1-2

There are times when I do not know what the Lord's will regarding aqn issue or situation, and so in those incidents, all I can do is trust the Lord to direct my footsteps because His word says that:

Proverbs 16:9 Proverbs 3:5-7 By His grace, I put my trust in the Lord to be My Good Shepherd.

[Lily]

Everyone would want some sign from the believer that he or she is serious, but that would be looking to the flesh and placing confidence in men.

I agree. Nonetheless, while I think it's vital that we are " known by our fruits ", I do happen to think that what we do in private is equally as vital. Actually, I think that may be even " more " vital.
If I can give an example. I left a church in Wales place of worship because I wasn't in total communion with some of the congregation. I had a thought recently about going back but, the people I am not in communion with, are still there. Now, I could go back, go through the motions with them in public, you know, the " Peace be with you " stuff, but then what would I be thinking in private ? and it's those thoughts in private, in my opinion, are what matter most. I also know that people from that congregation, have issues with others. I've seen and heard the " peace be with you " in public but also heard the " did you know what she/he did " in private.

Over the years here, I have gleaned more about the character of a person from what they have said to me in private, than I ever will from seeing what they have said on this board.

[Pariah]

I agree. Nonetheless, while I think it's vital that we are " known by our fruits ", I do happen to think that what we do in private is equally as vital. Actually, I think that may be even " more " vital.

Over the years here, I have gleaned more about the character of a person from what they have said to me in private, than I ever will from seeing what they have said on this board.

Sometimes believers say things in regards to themselves of how much they are doing for the Lord or how committed they are to Christ or how much they love Him, but it goes to their glory. Usually, they wind up judging others or others wind up judging them by a standard no one can keep.

When believers speak of what the Lord has done for them and how He is helping them to live the christian life: sinners see their hope in Christ in how much He loves them.

I believe that every believer in Jesus Christ is my brother and sister: even if they stopped believing in Him or living the wild life or deny Him whereas before they had not. 2 Timothy 2:10-26 proves this point as 2 Thessalonians 3:1-6 & 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 states no wayward believer is an enemy but still a brother. BUT to avoid becoming that vessel unto dishonour in God's House where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in need of a miracle of God to wipe the tears from their eyes to get over that loss... while the doors to the Marriage Supper is still open, every believer that name the name of Christ are to depart from iniquity by looking to the author and finisher of our faith to help us lay aside every weight and sin that so easily besets us....so we can obtain that eternal glory that comes with our salvation which is in Christ Jesus of being that vessel unto honour in God's House.

So yes: they will know us by our love for one another and our beliefs in Jesus Christ but the good fight is keeping the faith... and that can only be done vocally and on the board as well.

I trust Jesus Christ to be My Good Shepherd as well as My Saviour and that is the only way anyone can get to know Him when they trust Him to be their Good Shepherd as well as their Saviour.

No one that puts their trust in the Lord will be put to shame, but God calls every one of us to examine ourselves in the faith and in our walk with Him: so the call to take pause and go to Jesus in prayer is now.

[Jamesb1981]

I am totally serious in my Christian life and my walk with Jesus!

It is the most important factor of my Life!

My trust in the Lord is total!

He is the ruler of My Life, and it is thanks to Him that I live as it is Him that gave me life!

I often feel that it is not for another Human Being to actually determine how 'serious' another is in their Christian life. I suppose the exceptions would be in a romantic relationship or a job within the Church.

Fellow Christians can of course offer advice, rebuke and even scold when needed, but only God alone knows how serious I/We/You are in your Christian life.

But it's a feeling we get within ourselves as well.

I do in any case.

Do I get it right all the time?

You kidding?

I'm a Human Being, so of course I don't!

But my Life is His, my Heart is His, and His Spirit is Mine too!

Amen!

[canny]

Do I get it right all the time?

You kidding?

I'm a Human Being, so of course I don't!

But my Life is His, my Heart is His, and His Spirit is Mine too!

Amen!

Amen to that

[Lily]

Do I get it right all the time?

You kidding?

I'm a Human Being, so of course I don't!

You get a second Amen from me.

[Pariah]

1 John 3: 19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

Romans 8: 28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[Galaen]

If we could get things right on our own then we would have no need of Jesus. Every one of us need Him to be able to get to the Father but on a purely living each day senario it can be so much harder to trust God when we are able to do the things we are atepting than when we feel totally out of our depth. When we know we are capable we so often just get on with it but when we know it is more than we can do we have to turn to God and ask for help. It is impossible for us to like everyone we meet but Jesus gave us the ability to love everyone we meet so when we come across people we find it difficult to get along with we have to turn more to Jesus for the mechanisms to be able to love as He does. This may not be true for everyone else but so often I find that when I do not get on with people it is because I see so much of myself in them - sadly it is the things about myself which I do not like that I see in them which annoys me! It's a good job He knows what He is about isn't it?

[Lily]

This may not be true for everyone else but so often I find that when I do not get on with people it is because I see so much of myself in them

That's so true. I have always said this is usually one of the main reasons why we don't sometimes get on with people.