Pastor Herk continues: The transformation that Jesus brings takes us from futility to fullness, ignorance to knowledge, and deceit to truth. Christ takes us from separation to intimacy, from deterioration to building up, from immaturity to maturity, from instability to steadfastness, from sensuality to sensitivity, and from greed to contentment. Only Jesus can do this in us, because He is the Way, the Truth and the Life alone.
How do we allow the Truth to transform our lives? The person of truth transforms their life as they respond to God’s revelation. You have read the living Word of God and heard the truth preached and expounded upon. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 the Apostle Paul writes that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The Holy Bible gives us the truth because when we read the Bible, we have Jesus revealed to us and we hear His Word. In order for a person to hear Jesus in His Word and be transformed, they have to respond properly to the revelation that they receive from God’s holy Word.
Jesus (the Good Shepherd) said in John 10:27, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” To be a “disciple” is defined as being a learner; a scholar; one who receives or professes to receive instruction from another; as the disciples of Jesus Christ. The Lord is a teacher that never stops teaching us. But, also a follower; an adherent to the doctrines of another. Hence the constant attendants of Christ are called His disciples; and hence all Christians are called his disciples, as they profess to learn and receive his doctrines and precepts and follow Him by living them out daily as a way of life.
Obviously, not everyone who hers the Gospel message of truth is willing to make the choice to be a committed disciple of Jesus Christ; to believe in Him, to learn from Him and devotedly take up their Cross and follow Him daily. In reality, there comes a time in our lives when Jesus, the Savior of the world and the Lord of lords, is revealed to us through His Word, through His Creation, through His believing Followers, and through the Holy Spirit revelation, then we have the most important decision in our lives to make; accept or reject, Savior or Judge, forgiven or condemned, life or death, eternal life or eternal damnation, family of God or natural man, turn or burn, Heaven or Hell … and no decision defaults to remaining the latter. John 3:16-18 proclaims, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
The born-again Believer is then transformed continuously through life as they obey the Lord teachings , having been taught in Him. The gifted evangelist, pastors and teachers of the church body, who take the Word of God and Gospel truth continually to the Followers of Jesus Christ for growth, maturity, building up and encouragement for spiritual knowledge, discernment and profitable application in our lives. Jesus makes it clear that if we want to know the truth and be set free from a futile life of bondage to sin, then we must not only hear the Lord Jesus, but also obey Him. To say “no Lord” is an oxymoron … we must obey the Lord and be obedient servants in the Kingdom of Christ.
Some come to Christ’s church out of heartfelt religious obligation, but that will not transform their life. Some come to Christ’s church for great Christian fellowship between Believers, but fellowship alone will not change their life. Some come to Christ’s church to learn the meaning of the Bible, but having an intellectual understanding of the Bible is not going to transform their life. If you come to Christs church to hear Jesus, not just hear of Him, and as a true disciple want to be taught by Him so that you can obey and put truth into practice in your life, then the Bible promises that the Truth, Jesus, will transform your life. May the Truth that transforms change your life for the better daily.
In Christ, Brian
No comments:
Post a Comment