Last Sunday we had a wonderful church gathering. It was more like the way the people met during the beginning of Christianity. Everyone had wonderful things to add to the discussion that you do not get to hear during the traditional services. The discussion was over Matthew 25:31-46. In this Jesus tells the difference between being sheep, who will listen to his voice, or being a goat, one who goes his own way. The discussion was outstanding and I would like to try and expound on it.
Right now I am reading in Romans. Romans is a book of faith. So I would like to address the question of, "How do we know we have faith?" Abraham was declared right with God before he was circumcised. His faith is what saved him. So we are declared right with God because of our faith. But it was by Abraham's faith that he obeyed God. It was his faith that led him to be circumcised. It was by faith that he had a child in his old age. It was by faith that he offered his son to God. His faith led him to obey God. So it was in his obedience that we could see his faith. So when we truly believe God, we will have faith. In this faith we will obey God, and in His grace we will be saved, for we will never be able to act perfectly.
Romans 6:12-16, "Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires. Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead give yourselves completely to God since you have been given a new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you are no longer subject to the law, which enslaves you to sin. Instead, you are free by God's grace. So since God's grace has set us free from the law, does this mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don't you realize that what ever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval."
Obedience is the key to faith. So if you ever wonder what you believe, you just have to look at the way you are living your every day life. If you are continually living in sin, choosing to do something that you know is wrong, then who are you listening to, who is your master? If you are continually trying to live for God, doing what you know He wants you to do, even if it is not what you desire, then you are living by faith. Now this does not mean that we never sin. But there is a difference in walking or living in sin, and stumbling every once in a while on our walk with God. This is why His grace is so wonderful for when we do mess up, He picks us up and sets us back on the right path. If you are a sheep you will hear His voice calling you softly home and you will follow Him. If you are a goat you will hear His voice but go your own way. So what are you? Are you listening and following, or are you going your own way?
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