What Saith the Scripture?
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How to Succeed in Your Christian Life

by Tom Stewart

3-28-04
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Preface

Many people today talk of being a Christian; however, few people live the Christian life. "And why call ye Me, LORD, LORD, and do not the things which I say?"
(Luke 6:46). Some are probably deceived about the true nature of Christianity, while others have never been properly taught what it is to be a Christian. "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things" (1Corinthians 13:11).


What is Christianity?

Christianity is a Total Commitment to the LORD Jesus Christ. "I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing"
(John 15:5). The Christian walk is the picture of a man walking with God. "Noah was a Just man and Perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God" (Genesis 6:9). When a man begins to walk with the LORD Jesus Christ, he has passed from Death to Life, i.e., "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath Everlasting Life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from Death unto Life" (John 5:24), from rebellion to submission, i.e., "19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it" (Isaiah 1:19-20), from mere head to heart trust, i.e., "17 Even so Faith, if it hath not Works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast Faith, and I have Works: shew me thy Faith without thy Works, and I will shew thee my Faith by my Works" (James 2:17-18), from self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness, i.e., "Not My will, but Thine, be done" (Luke 22:42), from Darkness to Light, i.e., "I am the Light of the World: he that followeth Me shall not walk in Darkness, but shall have the Light of Life" (John 8:12). The change is as radical as the difference between Heaven and Hell. "The wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all the nations that forget God" (Psalm 9:17). "2 In My Father's House are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:2-3).


How Can a Man Know That He is a Christian?

Your own consciousness testifies to your body and brain of your existence as a human being. The Word of God testifies to our spirit that we truly are a child of God. We are told that we may know that we presently possess Eternal Life. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have Eternal Life"
(1John 5:13). The Word of God is to the Christian's soul what your consciousness is to your body and brain. "But whoso keepeth His Word, in him verily is the Love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him" (1John 2:5).

Because of the dominant importance of the Word of God to the Christian, it is essential to the Christian's existence and growth that he feed on God's Word as certainly as his physical body feeds on physical food. "Grow in Grace, and in the Knowledge of our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ"
(2Peter 3:18).


What is the Importance of Continuing the Christian Walk?

To continue the Christian walk is as important as beginning the Christian walk. "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be Saved"
(Matthew 24:13). If you will not continue to walk with Christ, your claim to be a Christian has no foundation. "He that is not with Me is against Me: and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth" (Luke 11:23). Only a liar will claim to walk with Christ while disobeying Christ. "He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His Commandments, is a liar, and the Truth is not in him" (1John 2:4). Liars have NO part of Christ-- only Eternal Destruction. "All liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the Second Death" (Revelation 21:8).


How to Succeed in Your Christian Life: CONTINUE

To continue is more than a good idea-- it is essential to all who would call themselves by the name of Christ, i.e., Christian. "For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end"
(Hebrews 3:14). For this reason, the following instructions are given as a suggested guide to succeed in the Christian life.


"CONTINUE thou in the things which thou hast learned"
(2Timothy 3:14).

C: Confess Christ to others-- tell others about your Saviour.

O: Obey God's commands.

N: Navigate through God's Word-- read, study, meditate, memorize, listen to the Bible.

T: Typify Christ's Death, Resurrection, Return-- demonstrate your commitment to Christ by being baptized and receiving the LORD's Supper.

I: Increase God's kingdom-- faithfully serve Christ.

N: Nullify sin through confessing and forgetting it-- cancel out the effect of sin.

U: Unite with God's people-- participate in a good church, even if it's only an informal gathering of Christians.

E: Entreat God through prayer-- earnestly ask God for all that you need in your Christian walk.

Remember, Jesus said, "If ye CONTINUE in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed" (John 8:31).


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