New Life in Christ

Yesterday at Smiths Grove Baptist Church we talked about what it really means to be a Christian. The key idea was that being a Christian is to be a follower of Jesus Christ every day in every way of life.

Here's the text from my final point about the new direction of life that comes from our repentance and Christ's forgiveness...

Being a follower of Jesus Christ doesn’t mean that you are just standing still until you go to Heaven one day. The life of a follower of Jesus Christ is a life of motion and action. You never stand still in life. You are either moving toward Jesus Christ or you are moving away from Him.

Those that are real followers of Jesus Christ are moving toward Him and they see their lives changed and affected by Him every day.

There are two specific examples we see in the first chapter of Mark –
Jesus immediately calls these four fishermen to follow Him in Mark 1:16-20.
-- He gives them a new role in life.
-- They leave their old life behind.
Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law in Mark 1:29-31.
-- She leaves her old life behind.
-- She gets up and begins to literally serve Jesus.

You need to see and understand that entering the Kingdom of God…being a part of the church… being a member of the family of God is not some cosmic experience that will only happen when you get the mantra correct or reach a certain level of enlightenment. It is not some secret knowledge that is contained in a mysterious group or a hidden document.

Being a part of the Kingdom of God is receiving forgiveness for your sins from Jesus Christ, turning away from your sinful lifestyle and following Jesus Christ. There are real, practical implications to this new way of life!

This means that music in your iPod should change.
This means that your definition of success and achievement in life should change.
This means that what you say to help or encourage people should change.
This means how you spend or save your money should change.
This means how you talk to your parents, your family, your husband, your wife, etc. should change.
This means how you play the game or work at the office should change.

Ultimately, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians, everything you do should be done for the glory of God.

The way you argue with your wife should be done for the glory of God.
The way you discipline your children should be done for the glory of God.
The way you work in school or at our job should be done for the glory of God.
The way you goof off should be done for the glory of God.
The way you choose what to read or to watch on TV should be done for the glory of God.
The way you mourn should be done for the glory of God.
The way you hope should be done for the glory of God.

From these examples in Mark, we see the lives of the first disciples and the life of this ill woman drastically changed.

Jesus’ call is for you to come and follow Him in all of your life.