More practically, how is Jesus going to be the answer?
"For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
having a form of godliness but denying its power." 2 Tim 3:2-4
It is easy to look like a Christian. Go to church every Sunday, sing the songs, listen to the sermon, pray, say that we believe in Jesus. But the Bible warns about having the "form" or image, but actually not having the power of Christ in our lives. Having a superficial spirituality that only demonstrates itself on Sundays. If we are so, then Jesus will certainly not be the answer for our lives.
Contrast the above passage with this one:
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." Titus 2:11-14
Salvation brings transformation. The above passage makes that clear. Jesus died for us to take away our sins, but I pray that we do not think that it ends there! Because of that we may enter into fellowship with Him, and being in fellowship with Him means that He willteach us the way to live. Soberly, righteously, and godly, redeemed from every lawless deed and zealous for good works. It is inevitable; there is no way that we can know Jesus, the righteous God, and at the same time continue guiltlessly in sin.If we really knew Jesus, we would understand that He wants to come into our lives and show us how to live. To show us what to seek for in life, how to react to situations and problems that come our way, how to treat other people, how to shine for Him... the list goes on and on. I think it is very sad when Christians think that their Christianity just ends at the forgiveness of sins. Okay, I am forgiven, I am going to heaven, that's all I have to do. It ends there. That is one of the greatest lies that Satan has concocted.
This is why Jesus is the answer for the world today. He has answered our most fundamental need, the need to be forgiven from sin; and once that has been done, He can now teach us the way to live. One thing is clear- we will never be perfect, not in this life. Christians will still sin; we are all still sinful in nature. And because of this sinfulness and imperfection of man, this world will never be a perfect place either. But Jesus can transform us in ways that we have never imagined, if we will open ourselves to Him. Jesus will make a tremendous difference in our lives, and at the same time He can use us to make a difference in the world we live in.
"For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
having a form of godliness but denying its power." 2 Tim 3:2-4
It is easy to look like a Christian. Go to church every Sunday, sing the songs, listen to the sermon, pray, say that we believe in Jesus. But the Bible warns about having the "form" or image, but actually not having the power of Christ in our lives. Having a superficial spirituality that only demonstrates itself on Sundays. If we are so, then Jesus will certainly not be the answer for our lives.
Contrast the above passage with this one:
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." Titus 2:11-14
Salvation brings transformation. The above passage makes that clear. Jesus died for us to take away our sins, but I pray that we do not think that it ends there! Because of that we may enter into fellowship with Him, and being in fellowship with Him means that He willteach us the way to live. Soberly, righteously, and godly, redeemed from every lawless deed and zealous for good works. It is inevitable; there is no way that we can know Jesus, the righteous God, and at the same time continue guiltlessly in sin.If we really knew Jesus, we would understand that He wants to come into our lives and show us how to live. To show us what to seek for in life, how to react to situations and problems that come our way, how to treat other people, how to shine for Him... the list goes on and on. I think it is very sad when Christians think that their Christianity just ends at the forgiveness of sins. Okay, I am forgiven, I am going to heaven, that's all I have to do. It ends there. That is one of the greatest lies that Satan has concocted.
This is why Jesus is the answer for the world today. He has answered our most fundamental need, the need to be forgiven from sin; and once that has been done, He can now teach us the way to live. One thing is clear- we will never be perfect, not in this life. Christians will still sin; we are all still sinful in nature. And because of this sinfulness and imperfection of man, this world will never be a perfect place either. But Jesus can transform us in ways that we have never imagined, if we will open ourselves to Him. Jesus will make a tremendous difference in our lives, and at the same time He can use us to make a difference in the world we live in.
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