I WONDER: WHICH WAY NOW?

“Wisdom is knowing what to do.  Skill is knowing how to do it. Virtue is doing it.”
 
In previous lessons, you have learned about yourself:  your origin, your duty to God, God’s love for you, and what you must do to obey God and become His child.  But, this is not the end.  It is the beginning.  You have a life to live here before you live with God. 
 
You may say, “I have heard, believed, repented, confessed Christ as Lord, and been baptized; now, what do I do?”  There is life after baptism.  Jesus called baptism a new birth (John 3).  A Christian is a newborn baby.  Our final lesson includes four actions necessary for faithfulness to God.
 
1.       I Must Withdraw From the World 
 
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (II Corinthians 5:10).
 
A judgment day is coming.  We will be judged on the things done in the body.  The world includes the physical lures and attractions that would contaminate the Christian.  A Christian must live in the physical world, but he does not have to live for worldly things.  Jesus did not pray for the apostles to be taken out of the world, but to be kept from evil (John 17:15).  It is God’s will that we live in the world and that we separate ourselves from the world (I Thessalonians 4:3).  This is not an impossible task.  God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear (I Corinthians 10:13).
 
Some have perverted the concept of separation from the world by demanding that we deny the body things that God has given to us.  For example, sex is not bad but is designed for married persons.  A Christian must refrain from sexual relations outside of marriage.  However, some, in their zeal, would forbid Christians to marry.  A person can refrain from marrying, but God does not command it for purity.  A Christian must withdraw from the world by keeping himself pure from the sins of the world (James 1:27).

2.       I Must Worship God. 
 
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)
 
By his own choice, a Christian has pledged loyalty to God (Matthew 6:24).  God has not forced him to make that decision but expects reverence and service when he does.
Jesus said, “You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.” (Matthew 4:10).  We have been given guidelines for that worship.  Jesus said, “God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24).  
A person must approach God sincerely in his worship.  Most who worship God are sincere, but the second part of John 4:24 is also true.  We must worship God in truth.
 
Our worship is based on God’s authority.  His word authorizes us to sing (Ephesians 5:19); pray (I Timothy 2:8); study God’s word (Acts 20:7); partake of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 11:24-26); and give money as we have been prospered (I Corinthians 16:1-2).  In our worship, as well as in our preaching, we must not make our worship vain by adding to the Lord’s Word (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18-19).  Traditions must not be our guide in teaching or worship (Matthew 15:8-9).
 
3.    I Must Work For God
 
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (I Corinthians 15:58).
 
Some have the mistaken idea that once a person obeys the Gospel, his obedience has ended.  No one can earn his or her salvation.  Working for God is not about attempting to do that.  The Bible teaches that a Christian will work for God as a response to His saving love.
 
Paul wrote that we are saved by grace, through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).  However, in verse 10 of that same chapter, Paul affirmed that, by our obedience, we are “created for good works.”  Therefore, work for God is a natural reaction by a Christian.  We rise from baptism to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
 
We must teach others concerning the grace of God and aid those who would be obedient to it (Matthew 28:18-20).  Our very lives must be a sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1-2).  Our works will live on after we are dead, encouraging or discouraging others to follow us (Revelation 14:13).
 
4.       I Must Walk In Newness of Life   

“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 6:4)
 
A Christian is a different person after his obedience in baptism.  He has died to sin, has been buried in baptism (Romans 6:4-5), and has been raised to live with Christ (Colossians 3:1-3).  He must, now, live as one who has died to sin.  He cannot love the world (I John 2:15-17).  It is still possible for a Christian to fall from the grace that God offers (Galatians 5:4; I Corinthians 10:12).
 
We must stay focused on living as a Christian.  If we are living according to God’s Word, and seek forgiveness when we fail, God has promised to save us (I John 1:7).  However, if we fall away from the path of righteousness and return to sinful living, we will be, once again, lost, and even in a worse condition (II Peter 2:20-22).
 
There is no need to be confused about salvation.  Whoever wants to obey God will be able to do so (John 7:17).  Baptism is the beginning of a new spiritual life.  I must withdraw from the world.  I do not have to deny myself good things, but, I must avoid evil things.  I must worship God in spirit and in truth.  I must work for God.  Finally, I must continue to walk in newness of life.
 
If you have not yet decided to obey God, will you not now seriously consider it and act in obedience to God?

— Mike Johnson