Obeying the Gospel: How (and Why) to Become a Christian
Why would a person want to become a Christian? And what actually goes into making that commitment? For the non-Christian, the podcast talks about the commitment required of those who seek salvation in Christ, and for the Christian, it emphasizes the need for an ever-growing faithfulness to the commitment that was made in the past.
Responding Rightly to Grace (May 11)
Sin is the rebellion of our will against God's will. The gospel of Christ proposes to transform us back into people who submit to the will of their Creator. So obviously, there can be no rightful response to God’s grace without obedience (Luke 6:46). For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
The Scriptures (May 10)
We have to stretch our minds to accept that there could be books written in human language that ultimately came from God’s own spirit (2 Peter 1:21), but that is exactly the claim made for "the Scriptures." We dare not bandy them about carelessly! For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
Listen to Him (May 9)
What have we done with what we’ve heard, however much or little that may be? The real question is not whether we’ve heard, but whether we’ve listened. We’ve "heard" enough truth to save the world. But are we paying attention? Is the truth sinking in? For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
The Spacious Firmament on High (May 8)
The heavens declare the glory of God. Every part of the world is full of wonder, obviously, but isn't there something special about the sky? We need to admire it more -- and think more deeply about why it is that the sky moves our hearts as it does. For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
The Hand That Made Us Is Divine (May 7)
Paul argued that God’s “eternal power and divine nature” are clearly seen “in the things that have been made.” Many have agreed, including Joseph Addison, who was no fool when he wrote, “The Hand that made us is Divine.” The evidence tells us this! For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
Members of His Body, Nourished and Cherished (May 6)
As the head, Christ is deeply concerned about the body’s healthy functioning. He died to make the church possible, and having done that, there is nothing He wouldn’t do to provide for its ongoing needs. His nurturing of the church is without measure. For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
Christ Gave Himself Up for the Church (May 5)
It is sacrifice that shows the extent of love. Christ did more than speak words of love concerning us; He gave Himself up for us. So let’s celebrate Christ’s sacrifice. And let’s not be reluctant to celebrate the church which, by His love, became His bride. For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
Christ and the Church (May 4)
In its universal sense, the church consists of those who have been saved by Christ. Sometimes, however, the church forgets that it has been saved -- or even that it needed to be saved. Surely, we ought to sing more often the great hymn "Hallelujah! What a Savior!" For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
God’s Glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus (May 3)
God chose that Christ’s glory would be closely related to the glory of His people. These people -- broken and fallible, but forgiven and growing in holiness as they learn from their mistakes-- are the church, the people who “embody” Christ and glorify God the Father. For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
What God Has Graciously Revealed to Us (May 2)
If we are thinking rightly, we will drink in every bit of truth about Himself that God has shared with us, eagerly wanting not only to know it but to act on it, hoping always to respond to God with a more perfect blend of reverence and gratitude. For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
Ezra's Godly Sorrow (May 1)
As we see in Ezra, the godly sorrow that leads to repentance is critically important. It requires humility, certainly. But if we are willing to bow before God in the honest recognition of our sins’ seriousness, we may be sure that He is ready to help us and heal us. For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
The Gospel: Words and Power (April 30)
Even though the apostles are no longer preaching in person, the foundation has been laid and the record stands firm. The gospel, as preached and confirmed by the apostles, is just as powerful for us as it was for the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:5). For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
You Will Be My People, I Will Be Your God (April 29)
Here is the truth of the matter: we haven’t really been liberated or “saved” if, for all practical purposes, we continue to live in “Egypt.” God requires that we leave our chains behind, not only as a group, but also inwardly, privately, and individually. For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
Repentance from the Heart (April 28)
Theoretically, a person might change his ways for a number of reasons that have nothing to do with God. Repentance, however, is the reformation of one’s self because of godly sorrow. It has to do with God and it requires a certain kind of heart. For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
A Bag with Holes (April 27)
When mankind rebelled against Him, God subjected this world to “futility” (Romans 8:20,21), frequently preventing us from controlling everything we want to control. He lets us learn from the humbling experience of pouring our efforts into a bag with holes in it. For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
We Have To Be Taught What We Need (April 26)
The fact is, we have to be taught what our greatest needs are. We think we know what these are, but our priorities can become dangerously disordered. We have to be taught (sometimes the hard way) that it is by God’s word that we live, not by bread alone. For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
Do We Really Mean Our Nice-Sounding Words? (April 25)
Often our words serve the purpose of saying what we WANT to be true. Yet we need to be careful. Surrounded by other religious people, it’s easy to say nice things. But talk is cheap, as the saying goes. We need to mean every promise we make to God. For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
Setting Apart Christ as Lord in Our Hearts (April 24)
Converted to Christ, we set Him apart as our Lord. But living consistently under Christ’s lordship requires growth. We have to learn to yield our hearts completely to His direction. At our baptism, we’re just getting started in learning how to let Christ be our Lord. For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
With All Your Heart and Soul (April 23)
Jesus urged us to “count the cost” of discipleship (Luke 14:25-33). If we’re not willing to throw the doors open and give God access to EVERY room in our hearts (even the “secret” ones), it is doubtful that our intentions are as serious as they should be. For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
God Will Not Be Trifled With (April 22)
God must be TREATED as holy, with respect for His commandments, and He will also DISPLAY His holiness in His dealings with those who come near -- even if that means punishing those who play fast and loose with His instructions and “worship” Him presumptuously. For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
A Tragic Disregard for God’s Requirements (April 21)
Like it or not, there is a link between the CHARACTER of God and the COMMANDS of God. When God has given any instruction to regulate our behavior, we cannot disrespect His WORD without disrespecting HIM. There is no such thing as “reverent disobedience.” For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
The Return of Elijah (April 20)
The first thing that had to happen was for the people to repent of the sins for which they sought God’s forgiveness. So the only preaching that could have prepared them for the Messiah was the message that John the Baptist (and before him, Elijah) preached. For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
Baptism Is Immersion (April 19)
In practical terms, a person's burial and resurrection in baptism marks the beginning of a new life, so much so that it can be said that a new person has come into existence, one whose allegiance is now to Christ and not the world (Romans 6:3-5). For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
Faith and Trust (April 18)
We can deplore Israel's lack of trust when they backed away from God’s command, but do we do any better? When it comes to obeying the gospel of Christ, do we trust God enough to do what He has told us, confident that His wisdom is always best? For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
Faith and Reason (April 17)
If Jesus' tomb was empty, we have to decide whether its emptiness means that He was resurrected. And most importantly, we have to decide whether, if Jesus was resurrected, that means “God has made him both Lord and Christ.” Reason is required at each step. For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
The Lordship of David's Lord (April 16)
Psalm 110 is one of the most powerful prophecies of the Messiah -- every part of it meshes seamlessly with Jesus Christ. No wonder the New Testament writers saw in David's words clear references to Jesus, the Lord who is now seated at the right hand of God. For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
The Keys of the Kingdom (April 15)
The apostles played a pivotal role in the New Testament period. No one since then has possessed Christ’s authority as they did, and their teaching will always be the benchmark against which everything must be measured. We are not free to modify their teaching. For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
The King's Unpromising Birth (April 14)
If it is our pride that is the root of our sin, there can be no deliverance for us if we won’t humble ourselves before our King. But are we not beautifully moved to do so when we see the humility of the King Himself, even in the place of His birth? For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
A Child Is Born, A Son Is Given (April 13)
The messianic titles in Isaiah 9:6 -- “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” -- are epithets that could apply only to a divine ruler, a King worthy of receiving both the love and reverence that are reserved for God Himself. For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
Kingdom of Priests, Holy Nation (April 12)
Writing to Christians, Peter used all of the ideas in Exodus 19:5,6: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
God's Promise to Abraham (April 11)
Abraham is the prime example of how salvation works; he is the forefather of all who trust in God’s promises enough to actually walk by faith. And when the whole host of Abraham’s spiritual family gets together in heaven, what a reunion that’s going to be! For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
A New Prophet Like Moses (April 10)
“It is to [the coming Prophet] you shall listen” is what Moses had said in Deuteronomy 18:15. And when Jesus was transfigured and seen by His disciples talking to Moses and Elijah, God spoke from heaven and said, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him” (Mark 9:7). For more information, visit AreYouaChristian.com
