Being God’s People According to the Bible

​A person can find a church on what seems to be every corner within our region in the Bible Belt.  At first thought, this is an amazing testimony to have such access to places established to worship God.  On the other hand, how many different doctrines are going forth from so many places of worship?  How many churches have substituted the power of God for pleasing people (2 Timothy 4:3-4)?  Being a Christian for years and now a pastor in this region, I’ve learned that the best source to do anything from is the Word of God, also known as the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Romans 15:4).  When some people read the Bible there are verses they choose to omit or not use because those verses bring conviction or a sense of being uncomfortable for either themselves or the people around them.  The Bible even warns readers to not change what it says (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6; 2 Timothy 2:15).  With this type of mindset the Word of God is diluted to not have the power of God needed to change people’s hearts and lives (2 Timothy 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:13).  Christians should be God’s people according to what He describes in the Bible.  If Christians add modern culture, modern definitions, or other ideas to the practice of Christianity, this mingles the unholy with the holy (Leviticus 10:10; Leviticus 20:23-26; Mark 7:14-19: 1 John 2:15-17).  The new product of this mingling is a form of religion that no longer has the same definition as biblical Christianity (Isaiah 40:8; John 17:17; Matthew 24:35).  How many parts of the Word of God does a person have to pull out before that person is no longer a Christian?  Much like a game of stacking small wooden blocks into a tower and slowly pulling out one piece at a time from the middle or bottom.  How long will this tower last before the right piece is taken out creating its destruction (Proverbs 16:18)?  If people are going to declare themselves to be people of God they must conduct their lives according to His Word or they void the credentials of their declaration (Romans 1:28).  Christians cannot change the Bible to suit their lifestyle or how they desire to believe, but they must adapt themselves to the whole Word of God and its instructions for living a holy, clean, and repentant life unto God.  This is by no means the easiest life to live with such a holy standard but with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26) especially with His mercy and grace covering those who repent (Hebrews 4:16) making them spotless before Him (2 Peter 3:14).  God does not change (Malachi 3:6), and Jesus does not change (Hebrews 13:8), so why do so many people change the Word of God or the image of God to fit what they desire (Romans 1:25)?  The answer will vary depending on the sin that person does not desire to give up to be completely submitted to God, but the overall answer is pride.  Pride in thinking they are the exception to the rule (Proverbs 16:5; Psalm 10:4).  Pride in living how they desire for God and not allow God to lead them by His Word or His Spirit (Galatians 6:3; Obadiah 1:3).  Sadly, this seems to be what most people label as Christianity but true Christianity is being a living sacrifice unto God and being the temple of God (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 3:19-20).  May Christians everywhere be God’s people according to the Bible.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church visit agcsparta.org.