Tag: Christianity

Put On Jesus

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Are you putting on Jesus? (or just pretending to be a Chrisitan?)

 

Do you get up every morning and “put on Jesus”?

“… put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (Romans 13:14)
 
Some people pursue Christianity just so they will know the secret password to get into heaven someday. Some people say the sinner’s prayer and then continue on with their sinful life assuming they are all set. Some folks adopt selected Christian rules and rituals where they are convenient and fit into their current life. All those folks are missing the primary expectation of true Christians, to become “Christ-like”; To live your life differently now as an investment for glorious returns to come in heaven. Folks not pursuing transformation in this life will be more than a little disappointed in where and how they end up spending eternity.
 
When we are serious about it and “Put On Jesus” every day, People should be able to see Jesus operating in us and through us:
1) Subordinate your self-centered interest and focus your energy on God and His Kingdom
2) See others as valuable children of God and help them pursue their divine purpose
3) Be a bright light in an otherwise dark world through our consistent behavior and attitude
4) Don’t let sin against you become sin inside you
 
As this starts to happen you will begin to see God’s will being done on earth as it already is in Heaven.

Supporting scripture points:

We are all born as sinners into a fallen world.
“… all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)
We all face the death penalty for our sins.
“… the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23)
Jesus paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross.
“… he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
He purchased our debt, the least we can do is give Him our life, the life he paid for.
“…you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:20)
He is merciful and will gladly forgive that debt if we truly repent of our sins and follow Him.
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
In return for following Him, He promises a better life now in this world and even greater glories in heaven.
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you (the choice of) life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)
You are promised eternal life (Salvation) if you confess your sins and genuinely accept Jesus as your Lord.
“…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)
You are saved by God’s grace based through you position in faith (belief and commitment to action), not by any specific things you have done or results of your efforts.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Faith is built by acting on your beliefs; do you just talk about believing, or do you actually walk the talk. If you are not actually living according to Christian beliefs (loving God with all your heart, subordinating your self-centered interests, loving others more than yourself, actively repenting and turning from sin, seeking ways to use your gifts to serve others) your faith is dead.
“For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” (James 2:26)
How you live your life really matters. You will be held accountable for every word you speak, and every thing you do.  So make good choices.
“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.”(Matthew 12:36)
“You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:24)
We as believers are called to use the Holy Spirit inside us to live a life transformed.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind….” (Romans 12:2)
We are part of the body of Christ; We are His arms and legs on earth.
“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27)
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
We are commissioned to continue His work here on earth.
“… As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:21)
 
We are asked to “put on” Jesus Christ – embrace Him, be like Him, imitate Him
“… put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (Romans 13:14)
“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked”. (1 John 2:6)

My prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for loving me and never giving up on me. Jesus, I thank you for the work you did for me through the cross; you are the author and finisher of my faith. I am committed to follow you and pick up where you left off. Jesus, I thank you for my water baptism, I went down with you and all my sins, and came up in you washed clean and born again. Lord I thank you for establishing a direct connection with me via your Holy Spirit; He teaches me, guides me, and convicts me as I work to follow you. I thank you for helping me as I transform my mind and begin to see things the way you see them. I thank you for helping me transform my heart by rooting out all the self-centered agendas I got from this fallen world. I am committed to truly loving you with all my heart, and loving others as myself. I ask for your continued help as I strive to imitate you, to cloth myself with you as I get up every day, and become your Love in action for others. Guide me to live my life as a shining light in the darkness, and to act in ways that serve as a beacon for your kingdom, to bring glory to you and to the Father. I ask this in Jesus Holy name. AMEN.

Why are you a Christian?

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Where will you spend eternity? Are you sure? 

 

Eternity is a long time. Where will you spend it:  Heaven or hell? Are you sure? 

Are you saved?  Is it enough to just believe in Jesus resurrection and say a prayer of confession ala Romans 10:9?

Have you been baptized? in water?  in the spirit? under who’s name?  Does it matter?

Have you sinned?  Do you still sin? Does it matter?

Do you belong to a church? Do you go to church? Does it matter?

Have you lived a good life? Do good things for people? Does it matter? 

Why are you a Christian?  Is it so you can get into heaven someday?  OR is it so you can help bring heaven to earth now for all of God’s children? If both, which is more important to you personally?…be honest. 

I believe the last question is the most important and may turn out to be the only one that really matters. 

Over the centuries, Man has built different religious doctrines and entire church empires on the different ways to answer various doctrine questions. I have come to appreciate that most of it is a work of the devil to distract us and divide us and keep us from uniting agaisnt him.  

Many people become Christians just so they can get into heaven when it is time.  This is encouraged by a common sales pitch:

You’re a sinner..you are going to hell…say this prayer and be saved…do it now…you may die tonight in your sleep and you need to be ready!

There is nothing wrong with wanting to go to heaven, and that may be an awesome first step, but if that remains the main reason we are Christians we have missed the mark. What is the true motivation of this person to sign up to become a Christian. It is a desire to save themself from an undesirable future. It is actually selfish at its root when you think about it. It is all about ME. One thing I have learned about God and His Kingdom is it is never just about ME, it is all about HIM and His Kingdom.

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-29)

If folks only have the one initial motivation, and never work through the transformation to actually Love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself we have a problem. 

He needs you to become focused on Him and to put His love into action for others.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).

You can begin to see how we can have people who believe they are Christians because they said a prayer, or because they believe in Jesus.  They often behave poorly,  just going through the motions on Sunday to claim forgiveness for their inappropriate actions every other day, or sometimes even worse they attack each other with their version of doctrine and righteous indignation.

The reason HE wants us to be a Christians is so we can be a good example for others, to model his principles in action, to flow the love he has invested in each of us to others.

“My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18).

Why is this important?  Because He needs his followers to become bright beacons for Him and the kingdom. If all Christians are not good role models, it gets hard to attract others to the message.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

These reasons are all about living life HERE and NOW, not having the special code to get into heaven some day in the future.

But what about Romans 10:9? The heart and the mouth are a big deal. What you hold dear in your heart is the root of your motivation; It is the WHY you do things.  Your WHY begins to become evident in WHAT you choose to express in speech or through actions.  Subtle nuances of the WHY can be sensed in HOW you express yourself. For example: You can often tell if someone is genuine as soon as they start to speak, or in their attitude as they do things.

So what is in your heart? Why are you a Chrisitian?

Are you DOing Christianinty… going through the motions? Practicing the rituals?  Or have you become a committed Christian and submitted yourself to Him to be of service to others?  

Can people see God when they look at you? How you speak?  How do you choose to spend your time? What do you choose to do? How do oyu choose to it?

A couple of tests:

The last time someone cut you off in traffic: Did you get upset and mad at that person? Or did you pause and consider they may be having a bad day..and ask God to help them get through it and for His help to get them home safely.

The last time you were feeling stressed and in a hurry in a store: Were you terse and short with the clerk? Or did you greet them with a positive attitude and wish them a great day,  knowing they have probably been dealing with upset people all day, or that they might be stressing about something at home.

The last time you saw someone living out life in a way you believe is not desirable or correct: Did you think less of them and condemn them? Or did you think of them as one of Gods children who is lost, and pray that God helps them find the truth and His love.  Did you offer yourself to God to help in any way?   

He wants us to transform during this life. To stop being self-centered and selfish the way the world teaches you to be.

“…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).

Eternity is not just about calling out the name of Jesus in prayer.  How you choose to live your life on this earth will determine how you live eternity! 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)

Get to know the will of God.  Get to know Jesus. Jesus is the model.

“He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15).

“If you had known Me (Jesus), you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him” (John 14:7)

Be like Jesus; Be God’s love in action! That is how you will have confidence in your final destination.

“God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:16-17)

Have a great day. I’m happy to discuss any and all of these points.