What is Christianity

Standing Firm in Our Commitment to God

Submitted By: Steve Childers | Word Count: 625 | Views: 428

 

 

 

  It is clear salvation is a free gift of God because as sinful beings, there is nothing we can do to obtain it on our own. All we have to do is accept it and do as He commands, standing firm in our commitment to the Lord through out our lives. Christ came to earth, born of the Virgin Mary, died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for our sins, and for our part we are called to believe in our hearts and confess with our lips before man that Christ is Lord. By doing so, we are making a commitment to God and receive power over sin, to change our lives. By devoting our life to Him, we are born again, a new creation; and our eyes are opened to His ways, which is opposite to the ways of the world.
As His Word is revealed to us, and our eyes are opened to the truth, we have the option as creatures of free will to either follow His commandments or turn back to the ways of the world. God is asking us not only to believe in Him, but also to show our commitment to Him by changing our lives. First we are told to turn from sin. Then Christ tells us the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul, which is done by serving the less fortunate. God promises that the cross we are given to carry or the work He has for us will not be a burden and having the Spirit of the Lord with us, we have the ability to do as He asks.
To make this change from following the ways of the world to following the ways of the Lord is a choice we have to make on a daily basis. It is not a one-time decision we make, but is a journey that lasts until we die. It is a process, and the Lord is patient, but He wants to see the intention of our hearts during this process. It all sounds so simple; we accept salvation, make a commitment to the Lord, turn from sin and do the works He has for us to do. Well it is not as simple as it sounds because life happens.
Our Christian journey is one of maturing faith or in other words, the more we see the wonders of the Lord, the greater our faith becomes in Him. Even though we believe in our hearts and confess with our lips that Christ is Lord, it is still tough to follow His Word through service to others and turning from sin. It takes time to understand that His ways are superior to the ways of the world. Sure we all say we understand this concept, but when confronted with life’s problems and society’s morals we do not automatically do the right thing. We will never get it right all the time, but as I repeat myself, God looks at the intentions of our hearts and the progress we are making to live the life He commands us to.
Standing firm during the process of our maturing faith is essential to our salvation. In 1Corinthians 15:2 Paul says, “By this gospel you are saved, IF you hold firmly to the Word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.” Other verses that talk about standing firm in your commitment are, Mark 9:50, Matthew 24:12-13, and Colossians 1:22-23. As Christians, we are blessed beyond anything we can imagine, but are told we must do our part through the many choices we make daily to stand firm in our commitment to the Lord. As you grow in faith, the easier it becomes.

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Experience True Prosperity

Submitted By: Bill Tyler | Word Count: 878 | Views: 190



Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. – 3 John 2

You may have read this passage in John many times, but today, make an effort to really focus on what prospering means to you. Make it personal. Think about as you read these words, what prosperity, true prosperity, looks like or would like in your life. Get a mental picture of this and hold onto it. Don’t wait, do it right now. If you are truly prosperous, how to you act, who is around you, what do you have, where do you live, and most importantly why are you prosperous.

It’s Okay to Prosper

If you had a difficult time imagining prosperity in your life, you may need to renew your mind to what God has really said about prospering you. The best way to do this is to consider passages from the Bible. As Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Now, don’t let the scripture you are about to read just sink into your intellect, take hold of it and let it be absorbed into your heart. Then, as soon as you possibly can, act on the Word that you read.

Even though 3 John 2 clearly says it’s God’s will to prosper you, you may still be stuck on a familiar saying, which is “money is the root of all evil”. This is from the Bible but it is missing three critical words. Read the scripture directly from the Bible from 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Notice, that it says, the love of money. It doesn’t matter how much money you have, you can fall into the trap of loving it.

Quick Tip: Start thinking of money as a tool. If you use a tool in the right way, you can do amazing things. For example, if you use a hammer appropriately, you can build a house. However, there are many people who have used a hammer very inappropriate ways, even to commit murder.

God’s desire is for you to prosper. See, how the Psalmist states it in Psalm 35:27, “Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.” Think about that for a second, God gets pleasure when His servant prospers. You can make God happy by doing well. That is so awesome!

Prosperity Is More Than Money

When you envisioned what your life would look like if you were truly prosperous, did you see more than things money can buy? Did you see happiness and love? If you did, that is very good because prosperity includes every area of your life. You should experience prosperity in your relationships, in your emotional well-being, in your spiritual development, in your knowledge and wisdom, in your finances, and every other area of your life.

You have no doubt seen or know someone with lots of money who is miserable. If this is the case, then, you know that just having money is not really experiencing prosperity. In fact, with the exception of money, some of those people are experiencing lack in one or more of the other areas in their life. What good is money if you don’t have people around you who love you? What good is money if you are too sick to enjoy it? What good is money if it causes you so much stress that you have no joy in your life?

Use Your Prosperity to Bless Others

Instead of being a reservoir, which collects water, consider becoming a river, which channels water. When we are prospered, it is not only for us to enjoy the fruits, but it is also to share and help others.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:

“He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.- 2 Corinthians 9:6-11

We are called to help those in need as Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” When you live in prosperity, which God wants you to do, then you will have the means necessary to help others. What a wonderful place that is to be.

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The Uniqueness of Christianity

The Promises of Christ in the Bible

Submitted By: Pete Stockton | Word Count: 510 | Views: 288

 

We all make promises. We promise our parents to be home at a certain hour, we promise our brother or sister to help him or her with homework, we promise ourselves we'll do better next time on our exams. We also promise God, as Christians, that we'll do our best to do things according to his wishes, that we grow up to be responsible citizens with fear of the Lord.
But we also had another person make us a promise. He told us he would come again and show us his Father's kingdom. That "person" is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. God gave us His son so we could be free from our own sins. Jesus lived a simple life, was punished and died on the cross. But before Jesus' death, he promised us, Man, many things that could be found in the Bible. These promises are a testament that no matter what, God loves us and will save us from damnation and welcome us to His kingdom in heaven, in due time.
"The Son of Man is come to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10
One of the things Jesus promised us is that he shall be the way to his Father's kingdom. You can look up this verse on the Bible. "In my Fathers house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you," John 14:2. So Jesus is preparing a place for all of us in his Father's kingdom. It is not ready now, but it will be in due time. Then the following verses talks about Jesus leaving, but he won't be away permanently. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, will come back to lead us to this place he's been preparing for a long time. Through this, Jesus promised us that he will come back as our Savior to take us with him to God's kingdom in heaven.
During the Last Supper, Jesus Christ left his twelve apostles with another promise: that God will send a Comforter to abide with them forever. Our Savior was leaving, but God didn't want us, His Creations, to be left wandering around like orphans. So He left us with a great teacher and guide that would wait with us until the second coming of our Savior Jesus Christ.
"...the Kingdom of God is among you." Luke 17:20
Last but not the least, the resurrection of Christ is also a sign of God fulfilling His promise. He said He would send us His only Son to save us from sin. We were saved when Jesus died on the cross. When Jesus rose up from the dead, it proved that he is indeed the Messiah that God had promised us.
God made promises to His creations and He fulfilled each one of them without fail. So as His creation that was created to His likeness, you should try to keep your promises. Being faithful to your promises is how Christ lived back then and it is how us Christians should live now.

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The Significance of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ

Submitted By: Pete Stockton | Word Count: 530 | Views: 338

 

 

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son." John 3:16 Jesus Christ died on the cross. Since birth from the Virgin Mary, Jesus lived the way God wanted us to live. Jesus showed that as a man if he could act in a way that would save mankind, then surely he could save himself from his sins. There's a reason why Jesus, the Son of God, was given to us to live the life of a simple carpenter.
The crucifixion was a gradual event. It didn't happen overnight. First the Son of God, Jesus, was betrayed by Judas for a bag of coins. Then Jesus was arrested. He was tried, convicted guilty, and then punished and tortured. He was made to carry the cross to the top of the hill where he was tied down, nailed to the cross, and left to die in front of his loved ones.
Jesus saw all of this coming. None of these was a surprise to him. He knew what was coming and what God asked of him, and he fulfilled it all for the sake of mankind. He entrusted his life into the hands of God, our Creator. Jesus Christ, by dying on the cross, saved us.
"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God." Luke 23:46
It's ironic how the story of the life and death of Jesus Christ mirrored another event in the Bible: the saving of the Israelites from the plague. If you remember that story, God sent the plague to claim the life of all first born sons. But the Israelites can save themselves by killing a lamb and offering its blood. The story parallels Jesus' life and death. When Jesus was crucified on top of the mountain, he became the lamb that needed to be sacrificed in order to save the human race. No one else could bear the weight of the sins of man. Only the Son of God, Jesus Christ, could do it. God loved us so much He had to give us His only Son to us from ourselves.
Then Jesus resurrected on the third day, a huge celebration for Christianity, and the rest is history.
Jesus proved to us that you don't have to be the Son of God to be a son of God. Technically, we are all sons of God. He's our Creator, isn't He? But why can't we all be like Jesus Christ who lived according to God's wishes? We must remember that it is a matter of choice. Jesus knew what was coming and he chose to live and die according to God's plan. Ask yourself. You know what is right and what is wrong. Do you live according to what is right and avoid doing what is wrong?
"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."" John 11:25-26

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Baptism - The Purpose of Getting Baptized

Submitted By: J. Highland | Word Count: 566 | Views: 200

 

 

Christianity is practiced by many people and baptism plays an important role to every Christian. It is a public declaration of faith through blessing or baptizing with water. This is usually administered by a priest, pastor or minister and witnessed by many people of the same faith and belief. But, do all of us understand the meaning or purpose of getting baptized?
What is the purpose of Baptism?
There are many Christians today who go to church and to them, church family is the lifeblood. People want to take their next step with their walk with God. The first step is getting saved and that heartfelt gift is irreplaceable. Once saved, you are considered a new member of faith of Christ’s body.
The next leap of faith is through baptism. Most Christian churches describe baptism as a step Christians need to take once saved because it is a way that they will show how much they love God. It is like a wedding ring which we know is a symbol of our promise to our loved one. In the same way, this is our promise of love to God.
What are the types of Baptism?
There are various types of baptism. First is “baptism of repentance”, which requires confession of sins and completely turning away from an evil living to a Godly life.
Second is “baptism into the body of Christ” which means that the person came to terms with the bible or scripture. This person is called a born again. It also illustrates “one baptism” which means that no matter what we are and where we come from, we are all the same in the eyes of God.
Third is “baptism in water” which means that when a person has accepted Christ as his/her personal savior, then this kind of baptism is a symbol of a Christian’s declaration of faith through immersion in water.
Fourth is “baptism into the Holy Spirit” which is required for a new believer who desires a triumphant spiritual life in order to empower him/her to live a Godly life. Last is “baptism with fire” which is not a literal kind of fire but the spiritual kind of fire which is the outcome of his faith in God. This is showed by their strong beliefs that don’t waiver in times of sufferings or trials.
Are all Christians baptized with the same method?
Different Christian churches practice different kinds of ways on baptism. Some baptize their babies which is usually called christening. The priest administers the blessing to the baby and the family and relatives surround and witness the christening of a new Christian. The priest sprinkles water on the baby’s head and prays for the baby and the whole family. Other churches baptize the person when they are already grown up and go to the beach or swimming pool and do total immersion in the water as an illustration of baptism. This is usually done by a reverend or pastor.
What are the gifts for newly baptized Christians?
Members of the church normally give gifts to the new Christians. For babies it usually include: angel cookies, baptism gown cookies, cross-designed candle, marshmallows, photo frames and cross necklaces. For grown-ups, some gifts can include: cross designed photo frame, cross key chains, bibles, bible boxes, cross necklaces, cross design bookmarks, holy cross letter openers and many more.

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