Wow! This morning I read something that I would like to share. I am so enjoying being a part of BSF (Bible Study Fellowship). I LOVE studying the lessons, reading the Scripture and taking the time to think through to answer the questions. And I love our lecturer, Julie. Everyone was always raving about her, and now I know why. Such a terrific speaker and she does such a wonderful job of bringing the Word to life.
And then there are the Notes on the Scripture we've studied. There is always so much really good wisdom and interesting information in the Notes. I love it!!! And this weeks Notes are no different. In fact, what I want to share with you comes from this week's Notes. We are currently studying the Book of James and the topic of what I want to share with you is the nature of true faith.
First of all, true faith requires content, which is described as the "intellectual knowledge" of the "basic teaching of Christianity." The truths that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who became a man and died on the cross for our salvation.
In my own life, I was raised in the church. My earliest memories are of being in church. In one such memory, I am holding my dad's hand as we stand in the hall of the church while he is talking to other believers. Another memory is of being on a stage and singing 'Away in a Manger' for a Christmas pageant. Being raised in church, I was taught the basic truths of Christianity. I heard over and over again, the stories of the Bible and the truth that Jesus Christ, God's Son, came to die for the salvation of sinners. I knew it.
Secondly, true faith requires assent to that content. You must personally respond to what God has done, recognizing that He did it 'ME' and agreeing with that truth.
I think that as I grew, the truth of what Jesus had done, became more personal. I began to realize that not only had He come to die, but that He died for ME. And beyond knowing it, I believed it. I believed I NEEDED a Savior and that Jesus was that Savior.
And thirdly, true faith makes a personal commitment, trusts. There must be a personal commitment to follow Jesus Christ, to be His disciple. And I think this is the key element that I previously could not quite grasp. Not that I didn't know there was something more than just intellectual assent or agreement with the truth, but I just couldn't put my finger on what that 'something' was. Now I can.
When I was 8-years-old, a missionary visited out church and spoke in one of our services. There was something about what she said, though I cannot remember it, that made me realize that although I knew the truth and agreed with it, I also needed to take a step of faith to commit my life to the Lord Jesus Christ. I remember kneeling there on the floor to ask Jesus into my life, a step of committing myself to Him, to follow Him, to live for Him, to be His!
In the years following, there have been times when I have been distracted and left off following Him to chase after something of the world. But I have never felt that I wasn't His, I never felt that the relationship was severed or that God gave up on me. My commitment was for life.
So, I ask you, do you know the truth about Jesus Christ? Have you examined that truth and found it to be true, recognizing and agreeing that He died for YOU? And, so very importantly, have you decided to follow Jesus? Have you committed yourself to Him? Have you entrusted your life to Him?
Praise God for His grace and mercy and love which has done such GREAT things for us!!!
Love in Christ Jesus,
Ev
And then there are the Notes on the Scripture we've studied. There is always so much really good wisdom and interesting information in the Notes. I love it!!! And this weeks Notes are no different. In fact, what I want to share with you comes from this week's Notes. We are currently studying the Book of James and the topic of what I want to share with you is the nature of true faith.
First of all, true faith requires content, which is described as the "intellectual knowledge" of the "basic teaching of Christianity." The truths that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who became a man and died on the cross for our salvation.
In my own life, I was raised in the church. My earliest memories are of being in church. In one such memory, I am holding my dad's hand as we stand in the hall of the church while he is talking to other believers. Another memory is of being on a stage and singing 'Away in a Manger' for a Christmas pageant. Being raised in church, I was taught the basic truths of Christianity. I heard over and over again, the stories of the Bible and the truth that Jesus Christ, God's Son, came to die for the salvation of sinners. I knew it.
Secondly, true faith requires assent to that content. You must personally respond to what God has done, recognizing that He did it 'ME' and agreeing with that truth.
I think that as I grew, the truth of what Jesus had done, became more personal. I began to realize that not only had He come to die, but that He died for ME. And beyond knowing it, I believed it. I believed I NEEDED a Savior and that Jesus was that Savior.
And thirdly, true faith makes a personal commitment, trusts. There must be a personal commitment to follow Jesus Christ, to be His disciple. And I think this is the key element that I previously could not quite grasp. Not that I didn't know there was something more than just intellectual assent or agreement with the truth, but I just couldn't put my finger on what that 'something' was. Now I can.
When I was 8-years-old, a missionary visited out church and spoke in one of our services. There was something about what she said, though I cannot remember it, that made me realize that although I knew the truth and agreed with it, I also needed to take a step of faith to commit my life to the Lord Jesus Christ. I remember kneeling there on the floor to ask Jesus into my life, a step of committing myself to Him, to follow Him, to live for Him, to be His!
In the years following, there have been times when I have been distracted and left off following Him to chase after something of the world. But I have never felt that I wasn't His, I never felt that the relationship was severed or that God gave up on me. My commitment was for life.
So, I ask you, do you know the truth about Jesus Christ? Have you examined that truth and found it to be true, recognizing and agreeing that He died for YOU? And, so very importantly, have you decided to follow Jesus? Have you committed yourself to Him? Have you entrusted your life to Him?
Praise God for His grace and mercy and love which has done such GREAT things for us!!!
Love in Christ Jesus,
Ev
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