Practical
Christianity For
Salvation is by the blood of Jesus. (Hebrews 2:9.)
His blood was shed in His death. Baptism brings us into the death of Jesus.
"Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into His death? Therefore we
were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised
from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4.) As Paul wrote to the Colossians he
dealt with practical Christianity.
Practical
Christianity means seeking heavenly things: "If then you were
raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting
at the right hand of God." (Colossians 3:1.)
Practical
Christianity means having a heart set on Godly living: "Set your
mind on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:2.)
Practical
Christianity means your life is hidden in Christ Jesus: "For you
died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3.)
Practical
Christianity means putting to death sinful desires:
"Therefore put to death your
members which are on the earth: fornication,
uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is
idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of
disobedience." (Colossians 3:5-6.)
Practical
Christianity means putting off sinful things: "But now you
yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy
language out of your mouth. Do not lie
to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds."
(Colossians 3:8-9.)
Practical
Christianity means putting on Godly things: "And have put on the
new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created
him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised,
barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Therefore,
as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness,
humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving
one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave
you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the
bond of perfection." (Colossians 3:10-14.)
Practical
Christianity means allowing God's peace to rule your heart: "And
let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one
body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15.)
Practical
Christianity means letting the word of Christ dwell in your
richly: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom,
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3:16.)
Practical
Christianity means doing all you do in the name of the Lord: "And
whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17.)
Christianity
is for every circumstance of life.
Literally, Christianity is life. It affects the way we talk, the way we
think and the way we act. As a Christian all our actions and thoughts must be
controlled by the Lord. Christianity is bringing every aspect of our life into
obedience to Christ. "Casting down arguments and every high thing that
exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into
captivity to the obedience of Christ." (II Corinthians 10:5.)
Christianity is for living every day, whatever the circumstance of that day may
be. Until Christianity becomes practical and is lived every day it is not New
Testament Christianity! Are you practicing Christianity in your daily life?
Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not
believe will be condemned.” (Mark