Branded

There's a dire need today for the world to see what real Christianity is. There's so much going on in the world that seem to discredit the truths of and about God. And it is the Christian's responsibility to demonstrate the power behind the gospel that we preach. The world needs to hear it. But it also needs to see it. Bilang mga Kristiyano, wag natin itago kung sino tayo. Let our talk match our walk.

It's time to make Him known through our life.

1 John 2:6 says “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”

A true believer of Christ has distinguishing qualities that set him apart from the crowd. The world has enough of people claiming themselves to be Christians but the true ones always stand out above the rest. Here are three of those qualities:

1. A True Believer Obeys

This might be simplistic, but this is fundamental in every way. The call from Jesus came to the disciples this way: follow me. It was a resounding call to follow; it was a call to obey. Our faith always can be measured up by our willingness to obey. “But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him” (1 John 2:5 NIV). A believer who obeys recognizes that it’s not anymore about him, but about Christ. That passage in 1 John 2:6 is a stern command: “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”

2. A True Believer Grows

A good seed, if it was planted on good soil, always grows. It should be that Christians who were planted on with the good seed of faith must grow and bear fruit. For there is no other worthy way. But how does a Christian grow? The second chapter of 1 John gives us an overview of how we should grow from children to young men to fathers. One should not be content with just receiving the word but there should be that unmistakable desire to level up in the faith. The Lord promised us that as we believe him for greater things, he will also bring us from glory to glory.

3. A True Believer Remains in Him

Endurance for the gospel is a distinguishing mark of a believer. Once we identified ourselves with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, it should be all the way and all throughout. It’s not enough that we start strong in him, but it should be that we also finish strong with him. It is true that tests and challenges will come, but the true believer will stand out despite of them. In 1 John 2:28 we are encouraged to “continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.”

A challenge...

A true believer lives out his or her faith. If we know that we are created in God’s likeness, then we should also know that we’ve been created to do what is right and pleasing to the Lord. A reminder from 1 John 2:29: “If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.”

Don't be silent. Play your faith out loud!

Time to walk the talk...