[Biblemat] A) ADD AN EGG

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Wednesday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article written by one of my sons-in-law:

ADD AN EGG

     I have read that years ago, when the Betty Crocker com-
pany first began selling their cake mixes, they offered a pro-
duct which only needed water.  If you simply poured your mix
into a bowl and added the right amount of water, you could
enjoy a perfect cake.  They were sure that busy moms around
the country would love this easy way to make a cake.

     But it bombed.  Few bought the product, and the company
didn't know why.  A study provided a very surprising answer.
People were not buying the cake mix because it was just too
easy.  All their lives they had been puling out all the ingredien-
ts, mixing, stirring, and baking.  The new approach, however,
did not allow them to contribut to the process.

     So Betty Crocker made a simple change to the formula.
The newer mix would require an egg to be added in addition
to the water -- and it was an immediate success.

     It seems that many religious people have been making the
same kind of mistake when they are presenting the gospel.
Sometimes, Christianity is "packaged" with instructions that
make the path to eternal life as easy as possible.  The fear is
that people may not "buy" the way of Christ if it seems too
hard.

     What was necessary for a tasty cake?  Just add water.
What must I do to be saved?  Just believe.  This is what many
are told.  But where in the New Testament are sinners told to
"just believe"?  Believing in Christ (trusting in Him to save) is
the basis of salvation but not the only thing that is required
to enter the way of Christ.

     God wants more to be added to the mix.  We learn from
Acts 2:38 that He expects those who believe in Jesus to add
repentance and baptism in order to receive the forgiveness of
sins.  I am not adding to Christ's finished work at the cross.
I am simply sharing with you the way of salvation as revealed
in the Bible.  Jesus purchased our salvation; we receive it
through obedient faith.

     Once you are saved, you learn that being a Christian is not an easy life 
to live.  We have to work out our own salvat-
ion (Phil. 2:12).  And do note that once we take the steps to 
be saved and add our efforts of service, we still have not earn-
ed our way to heaven.  Salvation is free -- even as it requires
work on our part.  And the reward makes it all worthwhile!

     To make a cake from a mix, add an egg.  To walk in the way of the Lord, 
add obedience.   ------- Colin Stringer.   </HTML>
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