There is a sharp contrast between formal religion and informal faith. The first clings to ritualism, and the second is spontaneous and responsive to the need of the moment. The most urgent need in our time is for spiritual awakenings around the globe that will revive Christians and put their faith back on track with undeniable evidence that God is at work in their lives.
Jesus promised that all believers would have the indwelling power of God’s Spirit. He also said: “The works that I do shall you do also, and greater [in quantity] than these shall you do because I go to the Father.” This, because, instead of only one Christ on earth, there would be countless millions who would be like Him, called Christians, who do the deeds that Jesus did.
If you have believed in Jesus, you are ready to receive the dynamic gift of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus gives, and then the gifts (plural) which are distributed by the Holy Spirit to “whosoever he will”.
Christianity is an empowered way of living that enables Christians to share with others the reality of the living, active Lord Jesus. Christians are not other-worldly dropouts who deny reality, or dreamy do-gooders with a view that with a little more love things will all work out.
The best thing that can happen to anyone, anywhere, is for one who reads and believes the message of Jesus, is to submit to him right now without reservation. When this happens on a large scale — which it will — amazing changes will take place! Crime will all but disappear. Husbands will love their wives, wives will respect their husbands, and children will obey their parents. Life will be a whole lot better!
Jesus died in our place so that God could forgive us and then become our Father instead of our Judge. Are you willing to let God change you? Would you like to be the first in your family to know Jesus as your Lord? You will then be a Christian in the truest sense. There’s never a better time than the present, so why not submit to Jesus today? I did so 63 years ago and have no regrets.
Christianity itself began as a way of life, not a religion. It only became one when the body of the church body, which was by nature organic, became organized, then systematized and later corporatized. We cannot go back 2000 years and dress in robes, ride on donkeys, and read from scrolls; but we can receive the Spirit of Christ, love God as our heavenly Father, love Jesus as God’s Son. Then we can regard every human life — the lowest, as well as the highest — as redeemable. (Redemption is essentially a buyback.)