There are many religions in the world. Some are based on ancestor worship, some on philosophy, some on fabricated stories arising out of human imagination. God’s religion is based on his revealed word. A Christian’s source book is the Bible. A sad fact, though, is that many who profess Christianity do not use the Bible rightly, and some do not use it at all.
A statement made to ancient Israel thousands of years ago could well apply to the U.S.A. today:
This is the nation that hath not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah their God, nor received instruction: truth is perished, and cut off from their mouth. (Jeremiah 7:28).
If you use God’s word to change your life, you will have to do the following:
Let God’s Word Make You A Christian
There is no telling how many millions of people there are right here in our own country who own a Bible and yet have not become Christians. The Bible will not make someone a Christian just by having one on a book shelf or tucked away in a drawer. It has to be read and acted on. Jesus told his disciples, “Already you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you” (John 15:3). Peter said, “You have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth” (1 Peter 1:22). A proper acceptance of God’s word will lead one to the waters of baptism so that he might be cleansed “by the washing of water with the word” (Ephesians 5:26) and truly become a child of God. Friend, has your Bible caused you to become a Christian?
Let God’s Word Get Sin Out of Your Life
There are those who at some point had their souls purified but who never had their lives purified. Their past sins were washed away by the blood of Christ, but their daily lives have not changed at all. There has been no improvement in character, disposition or morals. Worldly ways still linger on, and friends cannot see any difference in the person now than before his supposed “conversion.”
In the New Testament, conversions changed people’s lives. James and John wanted to burn down a Samaritan village (Luke 9:54). They had such volatile dispositions that they were called “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17). But Christianity changed them. James was martyred for the faith (Acts 12) and John became known as the apostle of love (see 1 John 4). Fickle and cowardly Simon Peter denied that he knew Jesus at his trial (Matthew 26:69-75). But, Christianity changed him into the bold figure who stood before thousands of Jews and charged them with the murder of Jesus (Acts 2:23). Saul of Tarsus was a notorious persecutor of Christians (Acts 22:4; 1 Corinthians 15:9; 1 Timothy 1:13). But Christianity changed him into the great apostle Paul who went to his death in order to be faithful to Jesus (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
Make a Decision
Jesus didn’t come to earth to frustrate people or trick them into just thinking their lives can be changed. People can (and must) change! Jesus came “to save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). This means saving them not only from the guilt of sin but also from the power of sin. But it requires a willingness on our part to make it happen. We have to decide to be done with sin and tum ourselves over to God (Romans 6:12-13). Then we must live lives of constant devotion. Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth (lives) in me” (Galatians 2:20).
If you find yourself wanting to be a Christian but living a defeated life, this is a sure sign that something is wrong. Perhaps you have only an imitation of real Christianity. If your religion can’t change you, you need to change your religion! If we can be of assistance to you in doing this, let us hear from you.
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