Please let me ask you this: What on earth are you doing for Heaven's sake? I wish you could seriously answer this question. How do the things of God affect your life? The Bible clearly tells us about the purpose of life and creation in general: "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created?" Revelation 4:11. Is pleasing God the driving force in your life? "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for him that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6. By faith in Jesus Christ, you can be saved from sin and be born again as a child of God. Children of God please their heavenly Father through obedience. "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." 1. John 3:22. I hope you and I are truly concerned about the things that please God. Only that is the basis for fellowship with God and Christian brothers and sisters (1. John 1:3). That fellowship with God is more important that Sunday-morning Christianity. It is about you getting yourself a walk with God. The spirit of God draws sinners to Christ and indwells and leads believers to follow, please, praise and serve Christ. I want to make known the mystery of the gospel, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Col. 1:27.In one of my favorite scriptures God shows us that mystery of the gospel. Many times, I have preached on this verse out on street corners in cities. I hope I can open up the scriptures to you, so you can understand.
Titus 2:11-14"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men [that includes you, so insert your name], Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; [Be prepared for Christ's coming at any time.]Who gave himself for us [Christ on the cross], that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, [the body of Christ] zealous of good works [Christians are workers!]."
Doesn't that verse tell us how we can be saved? By God's grace, by Christ's sacrifice on the cross, by His work of redemption. Doesn't that verse tell us what the Christian life is about? What we need to choose and what we need to refuse or deny. What we need to do and how we ought to do it? That this life is pure. Doesn't that verse tell us that in the Christian life we not only look back to the time when we got saved, but also forward to Christ's return and our resurrection? I rejoice that Christ can redeem me from all iniquity. Do not be opposed to the idea of sinless perfection! It is going to come true. When we get rid of those bodies of flesh and in the resurrection get a new incorruptible body that is like to Christ's glorified body, then we will be sinlessly perfect. Read the resurrection and rapture chapters of the Bible: 1. Corinthians 15 and 1. Thessalonians 4! God offers salvation for spirit, soul and body. The spirit is to be justified of sin's penalty. The soul is to be sanctified of sin's power. The body is to be glorified and thus free from sin's presence! My friend, salvation is more than just "making a decision" or "making up your mind" or "accepting Christ" mentally only. In salvation, you put off your old nature and you get a new nature, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:24. Yes, if you believe in being born again, then you have to be a creationist. Salvation is nothing but a creative act of God. 2. Cor. 5:17 confirms that. You do not evolve from sinner to saint. Saints are created by God. If you are born again, then you can rejoice about the fact that Jesus Christ dwells within you through the Holy Spirit. In addition, when that Spirit that is within you is holy, then should not all of our life radiate that holiness? Through faith in Christ, we are justified from sin. God imputes His righteousness to us. In the Christian life, the inward righteousness should be visible through outward holiness. Phil. 2:12, 1. Pe. 1:14-16.
