■ do not ask , “W hat is a C hristian ?” fo r we ■would get many answers to that question. Some would reply, “A Christian is one who is a member of a church, or one who attends church. Another would say, “A Christian is a person who is reli gious, that is, he reads the Bible, he prays.” Still others would say, “ A Christian is one who tries to follow the Golden Rule; he is one who is sincere, a good person, one who is really doing the best he can.” Yet one may do all of these things, be the best person possible and never possess the Chris tian life. For it is just that, it is a life. What kind of a life is this Christian life? I. IT IS A NEW LIFE. It is a new life which comes from above—John 3 :3, 7: “Jesus answered and said . . . ‘Except a man be bom again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ ” “Marvel not that I said unto thee, ‘Ye must be bom again.’ ” The Christian life originates in a new birth, a spiritual birth, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Receiving this new life which is from above, we become new creatures—II Cor. 5 :17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are be come new.” We still bear the same name, outwardly are the same persons, but inwardly we are new creations. Receiving this new life through the new birth also makes us a partaker of the divine nature—II Peter 1 :4 : “Whereby are given unto us great and precious promises: that by these ye might be par takers of the divine nature, having escaped the cor ruption that is in the world through lust.” By our physical birth we become partakers of the nature of our parents. By our spiritual birth we become partakers of the nature of our Heavenly Father. Like produces like. Jesus said: “That which is bom of the flesh is flesh; and that which is bom of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3 :6 ). II. IT IS A NEW KIND OF LIFE. 1. It has found satisfaction in Christ — Matt. 11:28-30: “ Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn o f Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” We have found some One, a Person, and He satisfies completely. In the world people go to night clubs, to theatres, to the mountains, to the beach, seeking a something that will satisfy, but never finding it. The advertising slogan of one of America’s largest tobacco companies, “ They Satisfy,” is expressive of the devil’s lie. They do not sat isfy. They only form a habit that enslaves the
F O R 1967 :
by Dr. John B. Houser, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Corvallis, Oregon
12
THE KING 'S BUSINESS
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