Blessing And Responsibilities Of Being A Christian

     Every person has some big events in life (for example:  birth, graduation, marriage, death).  But the most important event for anyone is becoming a Christian!  Why?  Because it affects both you and others for ETERNITY. 

     Unfortunately, many people become Christians and do not really appreciate it until late in life, if ever.

     But our service for Christ would be more productive and infinitely more enjoyable if we began to grasp the true significance of being Christians, and as such, the children of God.

Here are just a few of the blessings and responsibilities we have as Christians.

GOD AS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER - 1Jn 3:1

CONSIDER THE BLESSING OF HAVING GOD AS OUR FATHER...

He is the source of every good and perfect gift from above- Jm 1:17; Mt 7:11

He provides us comfort in all our afflictions - 2Co 1:3-4

When needed, in love He chastises us - He 12:5-11

He has promised never to forsake us - He 13:5-6

YET, THERE ARE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HAVING GOD AS OUR FATHER...

We must SUBMIT to God - Jm 4:7 By submitting to His Word.

By submitting to His providential workings in our lives 1Pe 5:6-11

We must also DRAW NEAR to God - Jm 4:8

     We draw nearer to God by "cleansing our hands" and "purifying our hearts"(Ja. 4:8) That is, by obtaining forgiveness and then strengthening our resolve to serve Him.  For the Christian, this involves repentance, confession of sins, and prayer - Ac 8:22; 1Jn 1:9

JESUS CHRIST AS OUR LORD AND HIGH PRIEST - 1Co 8:6; He 4:14

All authority in heaven and earth has been given Him- Mt 28:18

All have been made subject to Him - 1Pe 3:22

Yet, He calls us His "brethren"! - He 2:11-12

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES OF HAVING JESUS AS LORD AND HIGH PRIEST?

If He is truly our LORD, we must do what He says - Lk 6:46

We must be careful to observe what He taught - Mt 28:18-20

We must keep His commandments - Jn 15:10,14

THE CHURCH AS OUR FAMILY - 1Ti 3:15

THE BLESSING OF HAVING THE CHURCH AS OUR FAMILY...

The members become like fathers, mothers, brothers, and   sisters - 1Ti 5:1-2

They can even replace physical relations we may lose when we become Christians - Mk 10:28-30; Mt 12:46-50

RESPONSIBILITIES OF HAVING THE CHURCH AS OUR FAMILY...

We are to "edify one another" - He 10:24-25

We are to "bear one another's burdens" - Ga 6:1-2

This requires that we know each other well, and can be depended upon to provide support

These are just a few of the Blessings and responsibilities of a Christian

How important it is, that we fulfill our responsibilities as Christians

In part from an outline by Mark Copeland.

                                                                                                  - Dewey Stidham, Jr.