Pretty soon there will be a "Dummies" book on "How to be a Christian". There probably already is one.
"Follow these 5 steps"
How about this one step?
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
The Spirit of God will not lead you contrary to God's Word.
But we don't want to be led by the Spirit of God. It's too hard. Takes too much effort (prayer,submission,dying to self). We want a King. Like the people of Israel wanted Saul. Yes, we want a man to lead us and tell us what to do and tell us we are good and holy. Itching ears.
It is easier to walk by sight and follow men than walk by faith and please God. It's easier to perform outward works and receive the praise of men rather than to embrace the cross and let God purify our hearts.
The inward works, love from a pure heart, patience, tenderness, longsuffering, forbearance, goodness, kindness, holiness. This is what pleases God.
Yes, follow this one step. Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Because the Spirit of God will lead you to put to death the works of the flesh. He will not lead you to make a name for yourself, build monuments to men, receive the praise of men and He will not lead you into selfish ambition.
He will lead you to die to self, to embrace the cross, to purify your heart by obeying the truth and He will lead you to love, have patience, show kindness, be tenderhearted, extend mercy, demonstrate forbearance and longsuffering.
These are all inward heart issues. He could care less about your outward works if your heart is a dwelling place of demons.
If He has your heart, your outward works will be authored and wrought in God.
If we don't come to the Lord with our whole heart, we are just going to have a religious experience and dress up the outside, while the inside is filthy.
1Ki 22:7 And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him? 1Ki 22:8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. 1Ki 22:8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
400 prophets would tell lies but only one prophet would speak the truth as he heard it from God. |