Do Christians Really Have to Live a Righteous Life?
Appropriately the question may be: How much does the Christian care to accomplish for the Kingdom of God? There are many athletes but not all become world champions. The same is true for Christians in God’s Kingdom. Just because we find ourselves having called upon the Name of the Lord, and sitting faithfully in the pew does not mean we are all changing the world around us. Though God has fully equipped us for victory, if we allow unrighteous living our faith will grow rusty and dull.
The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2:21, “If a man therefore purge himself from these (iniquities), he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” Notice the responsibility of the purging belongs to the Christian and the cleansing of the vessel qualifies one for “every good work.” Would the paying customer at a five-star restaurant accept an eating utensil crusted with dried food particles and soap scum? No, they would expect excellence. So the question is: Do you think God is at least as smart as the paying customer? After all, God did purchase the believer as His instruments to bring His saving message to a suffering world. (1 Cor 6:20, Romans 6:13, 2 Cor 5:17-21)
The truth is that God is looking for pure connections to distribute His power to a lost world. The problem is that too often we are sold into the world that caters to our every desire. The drive thru mentality, “Have it your way” is unfortunately prevailing in church circles and the doctrine of righteous living is vastly unheard of. “Our way” is the problem and so few of us have submitted to “His way.”
So what is our answer as believers? Please know that there are no righteous acts that can provide salvation. Only calling upon Christ can provide that. These challenges are for those that call themselves His. With that said, our answer is found in Revelation 3:19, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be ZEALOUS AND REPENT.” If we are living with one foot in the world and one foot in the church we need to repent, which means we change our minds about the sin in our lives and confess it to the Lord. Then we get zealous. Pure vessels are powerful when they fearlessly with grace, not brashness, begin to testify of God’s redeeming goodness. Let’s tell the world that God has purchased from them their sin and is ready to freely forgive and give new life. Let’s tell the world that Christ is the only means to the abundant life. (John 10:10) Let’s walk in God’s ways and let His joy flood upon us and in this shall we be living billboards of His power. Only then will people want what we have and then we will be provided opportunities to pull the lost from the burning house. Remember believers, judgment and correction begins with the house of God. (1 Peter 4:17) Then as we judge and put away sin in our lives God will bestow the ultimate honor, allowing us to be “vessels meet for the Master’s use.”
Pastor Tim
Family Church Jamestown is a non-denominational church located in Chautauqua County in Jamestown between Lakewood and Busti, NY. The senior pastor of Family Church is Pastor Tim Stahlman a native to the Jamestown, NY area.
