Living the Christian Life

Conversion is absolutely necessary to salvation, but being a Christian does not stop there. Actually, this is where Christianity really starts. The truly converted person will not stay the same. He will grow in a knowledge of Christ and will reflect His perfect character more and more as he spends time with the Saviour. This growing up in Christ is called sanctification. This process fits Christ's followers to live with Him.

The Christian hope is in Christ's return. He will return to Earth in glory very soon. This is described in Matthew chaper 24. No one will miss His coming because it says that every eye will see Him. See Matt. 24:27, Mark 13:26, Luke 21:27, and Rev. 1:7 It's our responsibility to be ready for His coming. Mark 13:35-37 tells us to watch so that we will not be found sleeping at the Lord's return. Don't think that it He will come on this date or that date, because we are plainly told that He will return as a thief in the night. See 2 Peter 3:10, Rev, 16:15.

How are we then to prepare for Christ's soon return? We can do nothing by ourselves. It is only through Christ's righteousness, through the gift freely offered that we may turn away from sin & put on the righteousness of God. We can no more repent from sin than we can be cleansed by ourselves. Repentence & forgiveness are both gifts of God. We should then come to him just as we are and accept the cleansing & peace that He offers.

When we have been cleansed & forgiven, we will want to have no part of the evil we once delighted in. It is thus that the disciple of Christ will do the will of the Father, for Christ said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15). It is the continued renewing work of Christ's righteosness in our lives that leads us to hate evil & desire to follow Christ in all that we do. In such a situation, the law becomes to us an expression of the lovely character of our precious Jesus. As such, we will delight in its precepts as David did (Psalm 1:1-3, Psalm 40:8).

Are we then being legalistic to esteem the law of God? God forbid. The sacrifice of Christ upholds the law. Through Christ, the law does not condemn any who accept the gift of His righteousness. Rather, the law shows us the character & will of God.