Living
To God
"For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God." (Galatians 2:19.)
Paul's goal was to "live to God." That should also be the goal of
every person living in the world today and of every one who will ever live. A
greater challenge than space travel or any other scientific challenge is that
of living to God.
A man living to God is redeemed.
"Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver
or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but
with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot." (I Peter 1:18-19.) A man living to God is redeemed by the precious
blood of Christ.
A man living to God is restored.
Sin has separated man from God. (Isaiah 59:1-2.) But through Christ man is
restored to God. When a penitent believer is baptized into Christ that person
is restored to God. (Galatians 3:26-27.) A man living to God is restored.
A man living to God is reliable.
He will not steal. His speech will not be corrupted. He will work to edify. He
will do that which is good. He will give to those in need. His word will mean
everything. (Ephesians 4:27-32.) A man living to God is reliable.
A man living to God is righteous. This righteous man will bear the image of the
heavenly. (I Corinthians 15:48-49.) His life will be governed by the desire to
be like Jesus Christ. Righteousness is pictured and described in the life of
our Lord. A man living to God is righteous.
A man living to God is ready.
He is ready unto every work that is good. (Titus 3:1.) He is ready for
opportunities that come to do good. (Galatians 6:10.)
He is ready to meet his maker in judgment. (II Timothy 4:6-8.) Are you living
to God? If not, you are missing the most beautiful life that you could be
living.
A man living to God must be a saved man.
The Bible tells us how to be saved. Salvation comes only to those that BELIEVE.
If you are to be saved you must BELIEVE in Jesus. Jesus claims to be the Son
of God; the only religious authority of God on earth. (Matthew 28:18) He said,
"I am the Way, and the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father but
by me." (John 14:6) Without faith it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews
11:6)
Salvation comes only to those that REPENT
of all sins. The scriptures teach that repentance is necessary for all people.
(Acts
Salvation comes only to those that CONFESS
the name of Christ. People, who believe in Jesus and have repented of their
sins, will be asked to confess publicly the name of Christ. (Romans 10:9-10)
Then, with this accomplished, a person is ready to be baptized into Christ.
Salvation comes only to those that are BAPTIZED.
In Bible examples of conversion, the New Testament plainly states that people
were baptized. Paul was told to be baptized and wash away his sins. (Acts
By Charles Box,