And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.” 1 John 2:3-5 NLT
Claiming to be a Christian and living as one are two distinctly different things. Anyone can claim to be something. The evidence is in their actions. We aren’t Christians simply because our grandparents were, dad and mom were, we have a Bible laying on the coffee table in the living room, or even attend church. All of these things are incapable of saving us. Each of us must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That relationship should evidence itself in the manner in which we live. Our moral conduct cannot save us, but it certainly can demonstrate our respect and honor for the One we claim to be in love with. How can we say that we truly have a marriage relationship with the God of Creation and consistently live contrary to His character? If you have invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your life, He will begin renovation. The old you will be transformed into a new you (2 Corinthians 5:17). This doesn’t mean that you will no longer be tempted to sin or even give in to that temptation. What it does mean is that, when we do sin, we will have the presence of the Holy Spirit to make us conscious of the sin, convict us of the sin, and call us to repentance. We must proclaim the clarion call of salvation. I’m not speaking of an association. I am speaking of a transformation!! An intellectual understanding of who He is, and what He has done, is not sufficient. He must be Lord!!! When Jesus comes into our lives a metamorphosis takes place. Just like a worm transforms into a beautiful butterfly, we transform from a lost child of sin into a redeemed child of God! Jesus said it like this: ““So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?” Luke 6:46 NLT
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![]() Rev. Curtis Norris Archives
March 2020
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