A Personal Premise
"For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus." (1 Corinthians 3:11)
I want to begin by stating how the Christian life is to begin; and how everything else in regards to our worship and practice stems from this premise. The Christian life begins with a saving, and living, relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Peter made this statement in Acts 4:12, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." That name Peter is referring to is Jesus Christ.
And before we can experience God's abundant, eternal blessings, and participate in the practices, and work of the Kingdom of God, we must establish this premise. When asked by the people of Pentecost, in response to Peter's sermon concerning Jesus Christ, they asked:"men and brethren, what shall we do" then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38) This premise must be personal.
As the church, we must share the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul said: "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (Romans 10:17) When the gospel is received, it is a personal decision of each individual to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. No one else can do this for another. It is a commitment that must be made by each individual.
This premise must be in place before we pursue or practice anything in our Christian walk. To jump ahead of this premise, and try to pursue, or practice the things the Bible instructs, is not going to mean anything, or accomplish anything in the kingdom of God. Accepting Jesus Christ into our life, for the rest of our life, comes first.
For example: The partaking of the Lord's Supper is to remember what Jesus did for us on the cross of Calvary. That His broken body, and shed of blood, was to be a sacrifice to atone for our sins. If we have not established a personal, saving premise, of Jesus Christ as our Savior, how are we to get a hold of what taking communion really means. How can we remember the one who is our Savior, and understand what He did for us at the cross, if we have never accepted Him as Savior in the first place? How can we be a witness to what Jesus means to us at Communion, if we have not accepted Him as Savior to begin with? Like someone has said: "You cannot lead someone to place you have never been."
I know that in some faith groups, there are strong restrictions in the matters of church practice and activity. And I believe that in the harshness of these restrictions, it tends to discourage people instead of encourage them, to establish and maintain what the Bible instructs us to do.
Yes, as the church we are to evangelize (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8) and we are to edify the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12) But we are to do these two things in a spirit of love, and gentleness (Galatians 6:1-5)
We are to help people to establish and maintain their personal premise; a personal, saving, and living relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ! When we start with Jesus, how meaningful, and effective our Christian walk, and ministry will be! GP
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