The Practicing Christian

Much like a doctor or lawyer, where they are always learning and growing in their trade, so they continue to practice and learn.

Well that’s what I’m doing here, practicing and learning. I learn something new everyday. Every time I open the Bible and read God’s word I pickup on something new, that I didn’t catch before or may not have understood it that way the first time around.

But as a basis and starting point of anyone wanting to follow along, I thought I’d start with a most important question.

How would you introduce Jesus to someone? I’m ashamed to say I didn’t have an answer, much less one I felt good about giving to somebody wanting to know more. But after some thought, I figured this would be a good place to start such a conversation.

I think everyone can agree we have good and evil in this world. All we have to do is take a look around us or watch the news.

To put a label on these Good and Evil concepts, let’s call them God and Satan.

I think we can all agree that whatever force created the universe, is awesome and powerful.

It is my belief that force is God. No other theory has convinced me otherwise.

From our biology and science classes in school we’ve all heard about the fact we’ve found evidence of multiple Hominids, including Homo-sapiens, homo-neanderthal and homo-erectus, to name a few.

Our current form is considered different from our distant past cousins. With what people refer to as a missing-link between past and modern man.

I believe God provided that missing link when he created our version of human beings.

We are different from our distant cousins. Even science agrees with this concept.

Being created by God, when Adam and Eve sinned against God we (humans) were removed from the direct relationship with God that we once had.

God, being like any parent would be, looked for a way to support the punishment he laid out and provide a way back into his loving arms.

That way is through his son, Jesus Christ. Through a blood sacrifice where Jesus allowed himself to be killed and tortured to death. He became the path to our salvation. He volunteered for this mission to honor our Heavenly Father and bring his wayward children home again.

Its even more important today that humanity understands that God is there and offers a way to live beyond this mortal life on earth.

In Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The ever-famous John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believed in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:17, For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Luke 13:3, No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Mark 1:4 (NASB) John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 3:13 (NASB) Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him.

Romans 6:4 (NASB) Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Romans 10:9-12 (NASB) that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;

This is the basis of my faith in Christ Jesus and I hope it is for others as well. Not limited to these verses alone, the entire Bible continues to teach and guide us on our journey on earth.