Graham
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1).
What is a Christian? Christians are just sinners saved by grace. It isn’t how we behave, or how many times we attend church services in a week, or how many good deeds we do that determines our salvation.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
We may look at someone who attends worship services or is just a very nice person and think they are a Christian, but if they haven’t accepted Christ for salvation, they are a lost sinner. Christians know that we sin, but we have faith that Jesus died to take our sin away. We still live in this fallen world and face challenges and troubles in life, but Jesus shares our troubles and guides us through.
The difference between us and the unsaved is Jesus. We have faith that He entered His creation to forgive the sins of everyone who believes in Him. Christians know that the only way to eternal life is through Jesus. When we accept His free gift of salvation, we don’t stop sinning, but we recognize when we sin and turn to Him for forgiveness. We become righteous in God’s eyes only because He sees us through the blood of Jesus. When we truly accept Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, we have assurance that our sins are forgiven and that we will spend eternity with Him.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).
Christ died for everyone, but you must accept His gift in order to receive eternal life. Once you accept it, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit; God lives in you. Let Him shine through you.
Do you fail in your walk with Christ? We all do. Sometimes we fail in spectacular ways, but more often than not, we fail in many little ways. Does God write us off when we sin? No, He doesn’t. He still loves us and will help us to draw nearer to Him.
I should have an easy time not sinning, because I’m by myself most of the time. Still, my thoughts get me in trouble. I think back to times when people have hurt me, and immediately, my mind thinks of all sorts of non-Christian thoughts. Jesus said that thinking those thoughts is as bad as acting on them. That’s when I need to pray for those people and ask God to forgive my evil thoughts.
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
That isn’t always easy. When you pray for your enemies, you take them before the throne of God. You can see how much they need to know Jesus and how much you need His mercy. When you ask God to forgive your own wicked thoughts, you’ll see yourself as a sinner saved by grace, and it will humble you before Jesus.
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you: That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:44-45).
www.raptureready.com
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1).
What is a Christian? Christians are just sinners saved by grace. It isn’t how we behave, or how many times we attend church services in a week, or how many good deeds we do that determines our salvation.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
We may look at someone who attends worship services or is just a very nice person and think they are a Christian, but if they haven’t accepted Christ for salvation, they are a lost sinner. Christians know that we sin, but we have faith that Jesus died to take our sin away. We still live in this fallen world and face challenges and troubles in life, but Jesus shares our troubles and guides us through.
The difference between us and the unsaved is Jesus. We have faith that He entered His creation to forgive the sins of everyone who believes in Him. Christians know that the only way to eternal life is through Jesus. When we accept His free gift of salvation, we don’t stop sinning, but we recognize when we sin and turn to Him for forgiveness. We become righteous in God’s eyes only because He sees us through the blood of Jesus. When we truly accept Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, we have assurance that our sins are forgiven and that we will spend eternity with Him.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).
Christ died for everyone, but you must accept His gift in order to receive eternal life. Once you accept it, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit; God lives in you. Let Him shine through you.
Do you fail in your walk with Christ? We all do. Sometimes we fail in spectacular ways, but more often than not, we fail in many little ways. Does God write us off when we sin? No, He doesn’t. He still loves us and will help us to draw nearer to Him.
I should have an easy time not sinning, because I’m by myself most of the time. Still, my thoughts get me in trouble. I think back to times when people have hurt me, and immediately, my mind thinks of all sorts of non-Christian thoughts. Jesus said that thinking those thoughts is as bad as acting on them. That’s when I need to pray for those people and ask God to forgive my evil thoughts.
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
That isn’t always easy. When you pray for your enemies, you take them before the throne of God. You can see how much they need to know Jesus and how much you need His mercy. When you ask God to forgive your own wicked thoughts, you’ll see yourself as a sinner saved by grace, and it will humble you before Jesus.
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you: That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:44-45).
Christians, Faith, and Prophecy :: By Nathele Graham
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1). What is a Christian? Christians are just sinners saved by grace. It
www.raptureready.com
