About self-examination

Devotional Guide For the Week of November 1, 2009

ETERNAL LIFE IS REALLY REAL

About self-examination


To Know:

³When they heard these words, some of the people said, ŒThis is really the
prophet.¹ Others said, ŒThis is the Christ.¹ But some said, ŒIs the Christ
to come from Galilee? Has not the scripture said that the Christ is
descended from David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David
was?¹ So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted
to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.² (Jn. 7:40-44)

All the Bible study in the world will not substitute for faith. John, in his
gospel, shows the power of faith in action. A man paralyzed for thirty-eight
years was returned to health instantly by the word of Jesus Christ. Later,
the same apostle testifies to having seen Jesus raise a dead man.

The Puritans planted the American Way. These people broke out of the
Medieval mindset. They insisted that the Christian faith was personal and
not institutional. The Lord, not the church, saves people from the wrath of
God. Salvation does not come to sinners through the sacramental system.
Baptism and Communion do not possess saving power. The Puritans rediscovered
that Christ, not the church, saves souls.

John directs his readers to Jesus. We need him. He is able to save to the
uttermost everyone willing to trust him. The Bible can lead us to him, but
it can never take his place.


To Do:

Self-examination is vital for every serious Christian. It is too easy to
substitute what we think for what we do. It is possible to believe every
word regarding who Jesus is, what he did, and what he can do without
actually believing in him. True faith obeys. When we do not do what the Lord
himself tells us to do, we do not believe him.


To Ask:

Father, let me not be numbered with those who believe all that is taught us
about your son but will not do what he said to do.


11049$-10219


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