The Ultimate Question Regarding Christ

Everyone who believes on the Son of God, and trusts their soul to Him, is at once pardoned, forgiven, justified, counted righteous, reckoned innocent, and freed from all liability to condemnation. Their sins, however many, are at once cleansed away by Christ's precious blood. Their soul, however guilty, is at once clothed with Christ's perfect righteousness. It matters not what they may have been in time past. Their sins may have been of the worst kind. Their former character may be of the blackest description. But do they believe on the Son of God? This is the one question. If they do believe, they are justified from all things in the sight of God. It matters not, that they can bring to Christ nothing to recommend them—no good works, no long-proved amendments, no unmistakable repentance and change of life. But do they this day believe in Jesus Christ? This is the grand question. If they do, they are at once accepted. They are accounted righteous for Christ's sake. 
 -J.C. Ryle 1816-1900

Praise God for the “Good News” that is found in Jesus Christ.  This message of forgiveness, redemption, and transformation has been celebrated in every generation dating back to the first century church.  Unfortunately today's church continues to bleed the power and victory that is promised in this “Good News.”

Why?  Because somewhere along the way we began to forget what is implied in these words.   We began to take the "Good News" for granted.  We relied more on the miraculous transformation of Gods' grace and forgot about the commitment and discipline it takes to stand in that divine grace.  Instead of killing the "old man" forever, we quickly resurrected our old personalities and habits, then proclaimed the blood of Christ and God unconditional love as our justification.  

How did we drift so far?  Why do we experience such a diminished presence of God’s power and victory in our lives?  Simply put, we forgot what it means to be a “follower of Christ.” 

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what is says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says, is like a man who looks at his face in mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”  James 1:22-24

Every Sunday many attenders are content to look in the mirror, but after they go home… Well, we all know the story.

Who is to blame?  Certainly the Church should take the lion’s share of the blame.  Jesus created the Church to make disciples.  Our decision to get out of the discipleship business and into the entertainment business has cost our people dearly.  To be fair, not all churches, but enough churches were sold on cheap grace and the self help philosophies of this age.  As a result, the church has lost its voice in the affairs of mankind and with its own people.

Individuals are to blame as well, for too long we have opted for “itchy ears", we have dined on “cheap grace” and we have fully bought into what the world has been selling.  So much so, that our mantra has become,

“I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”  Romans 7:15

When is the church going to wake up and begin to make disciples again?  When are Christians going to start taking responsibility for their rebellious lifestyles? If we choose to remain in our slumber, someday (perhaps very soon) will we tragically hear Jesus say to us, “depart from me, I never knew you.”

"So let us go up to the mountain of the Lord....  He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths."  Micah 4:2