Christianity may at times be systematic, at times institutionalised and also very organised, yet true Bible based Christianity is, at heart, none of the above. It is, at its heart, a relationship with a person, Jesus Christ. We can be even more specific, in fact we have to be because of the simple fact that His name is used by others and they do not refer to the Jesus Christ who was born in Bethlehem, spent a short time in Egypt and grew up in Nazareth and lived and preached in the land of Israel, was crucified, rose from the dead was seen by over 500 people at just one time and finally ascended to that place exterior to the created universe that the Bible refers to as the Heaven of God’s throne. There, this Jesus Christ that true Christians worship, sat down at the right hand of the Father in the place of supreme power and authority where He reigns over absolutely everything. He Himself put it this way, “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3 ESV (English Standard Version). Every Bible believing follower of this Lord Jesus Christ lives in daily fellowship with Him and with the Father. A fellowship that is facilited and helped and made real by the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit. He knows and has experienced what the Bible calls, justification. This means the believer has received the gift, unearned by his or her own efforts, a full and free pardon for every selfish, evil and unrighteous act they have ever committed. These evil acts are called ‘sin’ in the Bible. Sin means simply, the breaking of God’s laws. God’s laws are His standard of good and right behaviour. A believer acknowledges that Gods standards are much higher than his own. Believers know that however good he or she may try to be, their best efforts will always be like a dull grey when seen beside His pure and spotless white. Therefore, they have placed their absolute trust and confidence in His offer to exchange their best efforts for His perfect righteousness. This simple act of faith, without the need to try to earn His approval by working hard at being good is what has made them true Christians. They have experienced Ephesians 2: 8-9, ‘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.’ KJV (Emphasis mine). From that point on they live with one thought in mind, to please Him. ‘…so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.’ Colossians 1:10 ESV. They are not earning their salvation, they are proving it in daily life by the way they live, exactly as that last verse says, they seek to ‘walk in a manner worthy of the Lord’, and to please Him to the very best of their ability knowing that to do that they need His help every minute of every day. That means that they live for Him in the same way they came to know Him, by faith. They know that the only thing that will please God is sincere faith and trust in Him and in His help and provision. It never has one tiny little thing to do with how well they may or may not do. That’s why the ultimate reward of the believer is summed up by the Lord Himself in these words, ”Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ Matthew 25:23 ESV. Note that the reward is for ‘good’ and ‘faithful’ service. Not how much, or how great. Note also, the ‘goodness’ of the faithfulness is based on the fact that it is faithfulness that is the important thing. We could say the believer is good because he’s faithful and he’s faithful because he’s good. The one flows from the other. Where does the goodness come from? Answer, from the Lord. It is always His goodness and His merit. It’s never ours in any way shape or form. That’s why it is ‘by grace through faith’. That’s why the believer cannot help but rejoice in the Lord all the time.
Now I’d like to add a wonderful meditation from a brother in Christ, Kirk Cameron whose devotionals always bless me and this one I felt to take the liberty of quoting.
“Christianity has not only a circumference, it has a center. It has not only a system, but a person. It has not only a redemption, but a Redeemer. What a difference between casting ourselves on a system, however beautiful, and on a tender, loving, compassionate Saviour! What a difference between a system of divine principles, and a throbbing bosom on which we may lean, and feel every burden lightened, every pressure relieved, every sorrow softened! This is what man needs. This is what he will need above everything, when the hour of sorrow, or the hour of death, draws near. Oh, what are systems then, however beautiful, in comparison with the calm consciousness that the arm of Omnipotent Love is thrown around us! They are all but as the small dust of the balance–the foam, the dust, the shadow, the air!”
~ F. Whitfield
When I come to die, don’t give me systems, doctrines, leaky promises, or lucky rabbits’ feet. Give me Jesus and nothing else. He is all I need.
~ Kirk
Thank you, Kirk. That’s just great.
