Belief
Karl Barth said, "In the church of Jesus Christ there can and should be no non-theologians."
There is no excuse for us to hide behind the dogma or teaching of another. Every single disciple must be strong enough to face the world's criticism and answer their questions. Every single disciple must test every one of their beliefs against the Word of God and allow God to correct us. Every single believer must have doctrinal integrity. We cannot afford to hide behind the creed of our church and the teaching of our Pastor. We each have to find the truth in God's Word for ourselves! We have to examine our own beliefs! I refuse to be spoon-fed - if I were to believe anything it has better have a significant and complete basis in God's Word.
Slight cynicism and criticism only helps us. What if Jesus were to confront us at Judgment Day for following along the wrong teaching and practices of others? Can we really hide behind the excuse,
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| "I was only following orders." |
Life
We cannot afford to be sloppy about our faith. "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" We are blind, ignorant, and unwise fools who do not consider the future if we not dilligently grow into maturity of faith.
One has to be serious about one's soul and about one's salvation. One cannot take anything for granted. One cannot just repeat catchwords and slogans and call oneself a Christian. Christian life is a treacherous uphill journey that weathers us body and soul. We have to be constantly on the guard and on the move. We have to examine ourselves with all soberness and vigilance. We have to work out salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that it is God who at work in us. We have to come to the realization that it is possible to be disqualified from the Kingdom, that it is possible, if we lose heart, to lose our first love for God and to be expelled. It is possible to be blotted out of the Book of Life.
We have to fear God and know what we do impacts eternity. The choices we make and the words we speak mean life and death eternally. There is hell, and there is eternal destruction. If we knew what the stakes were, we would be far less sloppy about our Christian Life, our daily living, for one soul is worth far more than the riches and culture of our entire world.
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
(2Pe 1:3-11 KJV)
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