Folks need to fully understand that in becoming a member of God's church, in becoming a Christian, they are assuming a definite obligation. It is a lifetime commitment. As a Christian one's thinking is transformed. Once a child of God, a man or woman's speech is restyled. In behavior, the Christian is reborn. Paul said of this process of growth and development, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17). The Christian is a new creature -- a new person. It is by the Gospel that we are transformed into the image of Christ.
Obeying the Gospel is not something that one does just once in a lifetime. There is no road of ease from then on. Obeying the Gospel is the mere beginning of a life long commitment. Christianity is a way of life, not a once a week, twice a week, or even a three times a week affair. It's a path that must be traveled until death. The Lord warned the brethren at Smyrna, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Rev. 2:10).
"Let us hold fast our profession," the Hebrew writer exclaimed (Heb. 4:14). "Let us go on unto perfection" (Heb. 6:1) The Lord concluded, "And whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after Me, cannot be My disciple" (Lk. 14:27). Are you committed to the Lord for life?
By Michael W. McLemore via Gospel Power, Vol. 13, No. 33, Aug. 13, 2006.
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