Yesterday Kevin Weatherby wrote in his post “What is all this Christianity stuff about?”
Christianity is a person. God gave all his power and authority and everything in between to his Son. Christianity is ONLY Christ Jesus. Jesus said, “If you knew me, you would know my Father.”
His statement really resonated with me and what God has been teaching me lately. I commented on his post by saying,
I was preaching Sunday from 1 John 5:11-12. “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” Here is one way I explained it: Kathy and I were married over 25 years ago in Colorado Springs. On that day I forgot to bring something very important to the ceremony, the marriage license. So we did not get it signed ‘til the next day. Even though we had take the vows and wore each other’s rings Kathy’s dad almost didn’t let me take her with me. Thank God it all worked out okay.
Somewhere in our records we have a copy of that Marriage certificate, although I have not able to find it for the last few years (is there a trend here?). But we have more proof than a piece of paper that we are married, that proof is found in our relationship. Many Christians doubt their salvation because all they have is a record. “I was baptized on this day;” or “I joined the church on this day.” But they don’t have a close personal relationship with Jesus that they live out every day. So they have no assurance.
I know for sure that I am married because I have a record at the El Paso County courthouse. However, if the only thing your marriage consists of is a certificate, you have a pretty miserable marriage.
The relationship gives life to the record. “He who has the Son has life.”
How is your relationship with Jesus?
Is it more than just a record?
Posts
My relationship with Jesus is growing. I am slowly learning to just get out of His way and let him take the wheel to my truck. Actually, I got that part right a while back, but I sat in the passenger seat and stuck my leg over onto the gas pedal to try to make Him drive faster.
ReplyDeleteI am now climbing into the bed of the truck and just enjoying the ride. If I need to talk to Him, all I have to do is slide the back window thingy open and there he is.
Man, do I need a pick-up truck! --Richard
ReplyDeleteGood post Richard. As a pastor, I've found what you bring up to be true. It's more than a membership record or a baptism certificate. It is a relationship that truly matters. I love it when someone "gets it". I enjoy seeing the changes that manifest in their lives.
ReplyDeleteRonnie, Thanks. Wouldn't it be cool to have a whole church full of people who "get it"?
ReplyDeleteAnd then God reminds me that sometimes I am slow to get it too.
--Richard
Hi Richard,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment on my post that added another facet of the Lord's scrubbing in our lives. I just read your post and I like the comparison of just a piece of paper to a relationship. The marriage certificate would mean nothing without the relationship. Good analogy to our relationship with Jesus.
Thanks, too, for the help on the sidebar.
In Him,
Janis
Janis, Like Kevin said, I think yesterday's was one of your best posts. --Richard
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