Christian Community Networking

   Bro. Frank McElveen

What is a Christian? Part 2 of 2

IV. The Responsibilities of a Christian—To be a Christian is a great and wonderful privilege, but it also carries with it definite obligations. Peter writes: “As newborn babes, desires the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby” (I Peter 2:2). The privilege of the Christian is relationship; his great responsibility is growth. Not very many are willing to pay the price of spiritual growth as demanded in II Peter 1:4-9. Everybody loves children, but no one in his right mind wants them to stay in the nursery. The tragedy, however, is that many Christians never grow up. The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote: “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are becomes such as have need of milk and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe (Hebrews 5:12, 13).

                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                            

There are several spheres in which Christians are meant to grow. The first us understanding; when we begin the Christian life most of us understand very little. Now we must increase in the knowledge of God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul said, “That ye might worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in very good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Cor. 1:10) Peter declared, “But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, etc. (II Peter 3:18a)

Second, we must also grown in holiness of life. The abundant life Christ brings is rich, full and demanding. “We must live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.” (Titus 2:12)

                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                      

Thirdly, we must grow in faith. Paul writes, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith growth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth” (II Thess. 1:3).

V. The Christian’s Devotional Life—First of all, church attendance should be of great concern to every Christian. If there was a hundred dollar in the pew for each person, instead of a falling off, there would be an increase in the number of Christian workers. I am inclined to believe that there is a lessening of appreciation of the church. I do not like to believe that, but in no small measure, it is true. It is not because the church is lacking in the knowledge of her duty, but we have many hearers and few doers of the word. James writes, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22). When Christians come to understand that God must come first in their lives, there will be a different atmosphere in the church of Christ. There will be a new inspiration in Christian fellowship and a new joy in Christ’s service.

(a) Examples:

1. Christ: “And he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up: and he entered, as his custom was, into the synagogue on the Sabbath Day and stood up to read” (Luke 4:16). He had formed the custom of attending Jewish services on the Sabbath Day. What is your custom? The services at the synagogue were far from being ideal and a long way from Christ’s conception if true worship, but that did not keep him from attending. And, today it is better to attend church and worship with the hypocrites than to go to hell with them. As corrupt as was the church in Sardis, these words were penned: “Thou has a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy” (Revelation 3:4).

                                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                                          

2. The Early Christians continued their visitations to the place of worship. They were whipped, imprisoned, and commanded to cease to teach in Christ’s name, but without avail. Love for God was in their hearts. In I John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous.”

                                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                             

Following the account in Acts, we find that after the ascension of Christ, they met in an upper room in Jerusalem and “there they continued with one accord in prayer and supplication to God.” (Acts 1:14a) Notice, they were in one place and of one accord; that is, they were of one mind, of one heart, and one purpose. They were there to worship God and to put themselves in readiness to do His work. Their work was a success, not because of special advantages, but because of their intense devotion and consecration. Christians that will follow their example today will be a growing power in the church of our Lord. In Acts the second chapter, the first three thousand souls “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship in breaking bread and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). Allow me to use a supposition here. What do you suppose would be the result if every member of every local congregation would be in sympathetic touch with and in constant attendance at all church services? There is no way of knowing, but we do know there will be surprising growth in grace and knowledge. Every Christian must come to realize that one of his highest privileges in the Christian life is to attend the worship and enjoy the wonderful fellowship with God’s people.

 

 

By Frank McElveen