A Truly Changed Life

Some people claim to love God but don't obey him. Be careful that disobedience does not create a wedge between you and God.

What good is it, my brothers and and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has not deeds? Can such faith save them? . . Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action if dead. . . You see a person is considered righteous by what they do and and not by faith alone. -James 2:14, 17, 24

Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. -2 Corinthians 9:13

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. - Hebrews 12:4

According to Gallup surveys, confirmed by other polls taken over the past fifteen years, 33 percent of all Americans over age eighteen indicate they are evangelical or "born again" Christians. That translates into 59 million Christians, or one in every three adults, who experienced a turning point in their lives as they made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ.

This information should grip us with terror. It means that the greatest revival in history has so far been impotent to change society. It's revival without reformation. It's a revival which left the country floundering in spiritual ignorance. It's a change in belief without a corresponding change in behavior. . .

How did the building blocks of the gospel become glued together with the cement of self-centeredness? The American gospel has evolved into a gospel of addition without subtraction. It is the belief that we can add Christ to our lives, but not subtract sin. It is a change in belief without a change in behavior. It is a spiritual experience without any cultural impact. It is revival without reformation, without repentance. . . 

The proof of religious conversion is to demonstrate that we have both added a relationship with Christ and that we have subtracted sin (repentance). And we multiply proof to a weary world by what we do - our deeds, our obedience. What we do must confirm what we say. Our deeds are the proof of our repentance. . . 

A changed life is one that has added Christ and subtracted sin, that attracts a world weary of worn-out words. Obedience is the proof.

-From Walking with Christ in the Details of Life by Patrick Morely; part of The Inspirational Study Bible: New Century Version by Max Lucado

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