Conviction for Christ

When we become Christians, we are called to action, not complacency and our conviction for Christ becomes evident in our new behavior. To be born again is to be inspired by the Holy Spirit dwelling within us to propagate His goodness. The Bible tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, and the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our mindset changes and our focus becomes doing God’s will rather than our own (Galatians 5:16-17).

We are saved by grace so that we can serve God, through faith, by loving our fellow human beings as demonstrated by good deeds. Janes wrote: “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such a faith save him? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:14-17).

The authenticity of uninspired Christianity is questionable. Could you imagine if the apostle Paul, after his encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, believed that Jesus had resurrected but simply stopped persecuting Christians and went off to live quietly in obscurity? Where would the church be today (or perhaps where wouldn’t it be)? It is counterintuitive to believe faith can be devoid of purpose.

Paul was compelled to spread the good news to the world! Jesus took ahold of his heart and gave him a new mission. What began as a small spark, set all of civilization ablaze. Jesus said the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed (Luke 13:18-19, Matthew 13:31-32) and this truth is evidenced by Paul’s ministry. Furthermore, Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test?

AUTHENTIC CHRISTIANITY

Authentic Christianity is active Christianity. 1 John 3:18-19 tells us, “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence…”. There is much work to be done. Paul informs us in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Jesus illustrated in Matthew 25:31-46, that those who serve Him by feeding the hungry, providing the thirsty with something to drink, inviting in a stranger, providing clothing to those without, looking after the sick and visiting those in prison, will actually be doing these things for Him. All of God’s laws are fulfilled in this (Matthew 22:37-40).

This is what James alludes to as a saving faith. It is alive just as Jesus is alive! This is the kind of faith that Abraham demonstrated in offering his only son Isaac as a sacrifice to God. It is the kind of faith that is credited to us as righteousness. It is a conviction that is fully engaged in serving our Lord and King.

Many people that identify as Christians are asleep in their religiosity, acknowledging Jesus but failing to follow Him. When Jesus summoned the first disciples, He called them away from their work as fishermen. He said, “Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Matthew 4:19). If we are going to walk the narrow path that leads to life, we must first get off the wide road that leads to destruction.

There are many churchgoers who have been lulled into the complacent delusion that they will be welcomed at the gates of heaven simply by saying they believe in Jesus. However, Matthew 25:31-46 clearly teaches this will not be the case. Their faith will not be a saving faith. It will not be a pisteuo type of conviction. Those who lack the conviction of the Holy Spirit will not remain faithful because their faith is feigned and their Christianity is counterfeit.

Furthermore, a shallow faith that is not deeply rooted in Christ will not provide the perseverance to stand firm through life’s trials and tribulations (Matthew 13:5-6). Jesus proclaimed in Matthew 24:13, “but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” It may be the end of the age or the end of your life, it doesn’t matter. One cannot remain rooted in worldly values and grow in Christ.

THE LUKEWARM CHURCH

Revelation 3:14-17, offers a stiff reprimand to the lukewarm church of Laodicea. Jesus warns “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other. So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”

But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He continues, “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:18-20). This is a wakeup call to many Christians today!

For those who are focused upon earthly values and are unaware that they are spiritually poor, naked and blind, Jesus offers spiritual refinement. The spiritual gold here is faith, the white garment is Christ Himself and spiritual blindness refers to the inability to see their own wretchedness. They have been deceived into believing their religion will save them and deceived into storing up earthly riches rather than heavenly treasures.

FAITH CANNOT BE OVEREMPASIZED

Our faith or conviction for Christ cannot be overemphasized. Pisteuo is the Greek word that is translated as faith and belief (pistis), meaning to rely on, to cling to, or to trust in, with an implication that actions based on that trust will follow. Faith is the impetus that compels us to follow Jesus and not simply watch Him from a distance. Our faith is derived from the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit within us. We are saved by grace – through faith (Ephesians 2:8).

In the epistle to the Hebrews, the writer defines faith this way: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1). This passage conveys a powerful conviction that transcends what is proven and tangible, however it is not associated with gullibility or credulity. The writer expounds on the concept of faith throughout the chapter, adding, “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6).

True faith goes far beyond simple belief as the English language portrays it. Pisteuo is active, intuitive, and intentional. Authentic faith cannot be stagnant. James 2:26 reads, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” Furthermore, the gospel is a message of repentance. in Paul’s second epistle to Timothy, he declares, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” (2 Timothy 2:19).

As believers in the resurrected Jesus Christ, we enter into an ongoing, intimate relationship, therefore, we must be active participants in order for the relationship to be vibrant. Through worship, prayer, and serving Him in love, we honor Him through our actions that affirm His existence as our Savior. James 2:5 reveals, “Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised to those who love Him?”

True Christians travel the journey of life together with Jesus, not alone. Therefore, our lives give testimony to the veracity of our faith and subsequently the truth of the gospel. As active participants in our relationship with Christ, we become more like Him, exuding His love for God and other human beings. The resulting goodness that we spread through our deeds in the name of Jesus demonstrates the deep rooted kind conviction for Christ that is credited to us as righteousness (Romans 4). And when we enter the gates of the kingdom of heaven, we will hear the King say, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” (Matthew 25:23).