Can a Genuine Believer Continue to Live an Ungodly Lifestyle?

Are people saved if they make a profession of faith, but continue living an ungodly life?

No. 

Genuine Christians are serious about dealing with our sins (Philippians 2:12-13; 3:7-9). 

“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.” 1 John 3:9 

When genuine believers sin we're convicted by God’s Spirit and by our love for God.

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17

We must not deceive ourselves: 

“Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (see also  Jude 1:7 and Romans 1:26-27). 

True salvation is described in 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16, so let's continue to share God's truth with unrepentant loved ones who have made an outward profession of faith.

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 For more on this subject, see Why Salvation Requires Repentance and The True Meaning of Repentance.

 

 

 

Something Necessary for Growth in Christ

How do you feel when you're corrected?

It's never fun to be corrected, especially when our modern culture equates correction with hate and approval with love.

But correcting a fellow believer is an important element of genuine love and Christian fellowship (James 5:19-20). And accepting correction and taking it to heart may be one of the clearest indications of true love for Christ: 

“Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.” Proverbs 9:8-9 

It requires humility to look at things objectively instead of selfishly. It requires thinking of others who may be hurt by our actions and considering if we would want them to treat us as we've treated them (Matthew 7:12). It takes character to look at the 10% we did wrong when the other person did 90%.

And it gives us favor with our Lord:

“These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” Isaiah 66:2

May God help us to see correction as an important and necessary part of Christian maturity! 

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For more insights, see The Sting of Correction and The Benefit of Constructive Criticism. 

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4 Reasons God Gave Us Music

Did you know that God created our love for music?  

1. It’s a natural way to express gratitude toward God (Psalm 33:3, Psalm 95:1, Psalm 104:33, Psalm 150).

2. It’s part of fellowship (Ephesians 5:18-19, Colossians 3:16).

3. It's part of maintaining our well-being (James 5:13).

4. It helps in times of difficulty (Acts 16:25).

The video Alive Inside shows an elderly man living in a nursing home. As the video starts, he's barely alive, sitting slumped over all day, rarely speaking. 

Then they hook him up to an iPod with a collection of music, including Christian music, and he's transformed. He comes alive in ways he’s been dead for years: he speaks with enthusiasm, sings, and expresses his feelings and thoughts.

Music is a powerful aspect of our lives. Depending on the kind of music we choose, it can soothe, calm, and inspire us or enrage, tempt, and compromise us.

Scripture is filled with passages emphasizing the importance of music and singing. So let's make sure we use it in healthy ways, avoiding songs with immoral themes, profanity, and ungodly recording artists. 

It doesn't necessarily need to be Christian music. In fact, some music categorized as "Christian" simply puts God's name on worldly or self-centered lyrics. 

But whatever music we choose, it should have moral lyrics. And good Christian music should be a healthy part of what we choose.

I often find that when I'm worried or stressed, good Scripture songs can calm my heart. 

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When I became a Christian in 1972, the popular Christian music was mostly Scripture put to music (example). It not only brought me joy and peace but also helped me memorize Bible passages. I also enjoy some of the old hymns, such as It Is Well With My Soul. ← This link gives you the background to that song. And sometimes the simplest tune can bring us truth and joy: Simple, Profound, True. I also enjoy some modern Christian music. But it's important that we use discernment so we are not filling our minds with ungodly or worldly values. 

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Did Jesus Really Say That??!!

These devotions explain Scripture passages that might at first surprise us, confuse us, or astound us, but they contain important Bible truths!

Did Jesus Really Say a Small Donation Is Better Than a Large One?

Did Jesus Really Say That About Hair?

Did Jesus Really Say That About a Camel and a Needle?

Did Jesus Really Say That? Well, Slap My Face!!

Did Jesus Really Say That About Old Testament Laws?

Did Jesus Really Say I'm Greater Than John the Baptist?

Did Jesus Really Say That to a Sick Man?

Did Jesus Really Say They Swallowed a Camel?

Did Jesus Really Tell Us to Hate Our Parents?

Did Jesus Really Tell Us to Cut Off Our Hand?!

Did Jesus Really Call a Woman a Dog?

Did Jesus Really Say That About Jonah?

Did Jesus Really Say That About Ears?

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Whatever Was to Our Gain

I can identify with 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 when it says, “outwardly we are wasting away.” After all, I'm in my 70s, and aging is a natural part of life.

But I can also identify with Paul's statement that “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” That's why we “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

We can take our negative, fearful thoughts captive when we focus on the beauty of eternity (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Paul exemplified a passion for the Lord that I want to exhibit in my life too. He considered nothing more important than knowing Christ. He even welcomed suffering if it came from serving God (Philippians 3:7-11).

I admit I don't welcome suffering, but I pray God gives me the strength to endure it for His kingdom. 

As we face life's difficulties in our anti-Christian culture, let's press into our Lord, trust the Bible, and speak up even when it hurts. 

We may suffer rejection from friends and family for our uncompromising faith, but we have a God who loves us with an everlasting love that is worth more than anything the world offers.

“The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17

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For more encouragement to live for the Lord, see We Must Stop the "Judge Not" Shame Game and I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel.

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