[Biblemat] A) WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Friday morn-
ing to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.  Here
is an article from my files:

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN

     Do you remember some great challenge you had to face
like a formidable task of running three miles or swimming a
mile?  Didn't it seem overwhelming at first?  Being a Christian
is even a greater challenge, and has far, far more importance
in our lives.  To be a Christian as the Bible reveals should be
our goal.

     Being like Jesus describes what it means to be a Christ-
ian.  To be like Christ in love, mercy, compassion, and every
godly attribute, and then to speak as He spoke, to act as He
acted, and to teach as He taught, well defines the greatest
challenge we will ever undertake.  The apostle Paul wonder-
fully  explains, "I have been crucified with Christ, it is no long-
er I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now
live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave 
Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).

     We are reminded every day in our family surroundings that children 
follow in the footsteps of their parents.  To be a
Christian requires walking in the steps of Jesus.  The walk
that Jesus Christ so willingly took led to Calvary and death
on the cross.  After His death the Father raised Him to sit at
His right hand in heaven.  Being a Christian involves persecut-
ion and trials, it means taking up the cross of Jesus, and bear-
ing it willingly in service to Him.  Peter, the apostle, writes,
"For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for
us leaving us an example, that we should follow His steps"
1 Pet. 2:21).

     Disciples or apprentices are always learning.  Jesus is the
Master Teacher, and every child of God becomes His disciple
A follower of Jesus loves Him, and keeps His commandments.
He will follow Jesus, and sit at His feet as a disciple to learn
from Him, and be molded by Him according to the gospel.
Being a Christian means studying and meditating on God's
Word continually (2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16,17).

     What does it mean to be a Christian?  It means being like
Jesus Christ in every way: walking in His footsteps, bearing
His cross, ande very learning at His feet.  This is the challen-
ge of being a Christian that we all can accomplish because we
are saved by grace through faith, and raised up to walk in newness of life 
(Eph. 2:1-10).          -------- Ron Drumm.   </HTML>
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