The Importance of Baptism in the Christian Faith

I recently read a book that described how some believers were practicing baptism:  “Generally, new converts are baptized in the ocean. Here is what happens. After the words of the baptismal covenant have been exchanged, two deacons hold the person’s hands and feet in a horizontal stretch, swing the convert back and forth, and then throw the convert into a wave ‘in the name of the Father.’ The convert is washed to shore. The deacons quickly pick up the convert and throw him or her again in the name of the Son. The convert is thrown a third time in the name of the Spirit.”

Woah. Sounds pretty crazy. One may wonder whether this avant-garde approach to baptism has any biblical support. In fact, the whole issue of baptism is surrounded by a lot of questions. “What does baptism mean? What is the proper mode of baptism? Does baptism save? Who should receive baptism?” As one of the major principles of Christianity, we must make sure that we understand baptism and know how to answer these important questions.

What’s the point of baptism anyway?

Here is a working definition of baptism:  Baptism is the event in which a believer, in obedience to Christ, publicly and symbolically identifies himself with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, thus committing to walk in newness of life. Christ commanded baptism as part of His great commission (Mt. 28:19; Mk. 16:16), and the book of Acts demonstrates the fulfillment of this command in the public baptism of new believers (Acts 2:41; 8:12; 9:18; 16:33). Genuine believers will want to obey Christ by obeying this important command. Paul teaches that through baptism, the believer identifies himself with Christ’s death (Rom. 6:3), burial (6:4), and resurrection (6:5; c.f. also taught in Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:12). Thus, baptism symbolizes the believer’s “new life” (Rom. 6:4) in which he is dead to sin and alive to God (Rom. 6:6-11).

How should someone be baptized? Sprinkling? Dunking?

The question of how baptism should be administered has occupied the attention of Christians for centuries. Everyone agrees that baptism has something to do with water, but whether that involves sprinkling, pouring, or dunking is a matter of debate.

One way to solve the difficulty is to understand the meaning of the word baptism. At its root, the word baptism means to immerse. Even the occurrences and references to baptism throughout the New Testament suggest that immersion was the form of baptism that John, Jesus, and the apostles used: “They were being baptized by him in the Jordan River” (Mat. 3:6). “Immediately coming up out of the water” (Mark 1:10). “John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there” (John 3:23). “They both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him (Acts 8:38). Furthermore, the presence of many pools and baths throughout Jerusalem would have facilitated the immersion of thousands of people on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41).

The picture communicated in baptism by immersion is the only mode that matches the symbolism that baptism intends to communicate. Romans 6:3 states, “that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death.” Paul draws a similar parallel in Col. 2:12, when he writes, “having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith.” Sprinkling and pouring fail to communicate the important symbolism demanded by Scripture.

Does baptism save?

One should keep in mind that the whole of Scripture teaches that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone (Eph. 2:8-9). It is one of the principles of Christianity that baptism is not necessary for one to be saved. Baptism is an act of obedience that should follow conversion. Only those who have personally accepted Christ as their personal Savior qualify for baptism. Peter preached “Repent and each of you be baptized” (Acts 2:38), and only “those who had received his word were baptized” (2:41).

Baptism is an important biblical doctrine. Knowing what it is, how it is practiced, and what is accomplishes is an important part of the principles of Christianity.

The Doctrine of the Trinity and What it Means to Me

The doctrine of the Trinity can be a totally confusing concept. One in three? Three in one? Three distinct persons? But one God? Don’t get discouraged. As a matter of fact, intellectuals, theologians, and church fathers have all been struggling with the issue of the Trinity for about two thousand years. The concept hasn’t gotten any easier over time, and God hasn’t changed at all. What is the doctrine of the Trinity? Why is it important? As you engage in college evangelism, the issue of the Trinity will come up. In the day of Internet student evangelism, Internet student ministries, and postmodern questions of reality, why should we even bother believing in the Trinity, let alone explaining it?

What is the doctrine of the Trinity?

The doctrine of the Trinity is the orthodox Christian doctrine regarding the identity of the person of God. The doctrine of the Trinity states that God is One, yet He is also three distinct persons. These three persons are labeled as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each of the three Persons is God. Each member of the Trinity is eternal. Each member of the trinity is equal to the other.

What’s the big deal about the Trinity?

Belief in the doctrine of the Trinity is important to have a truly orthodox faith. Even though the word “trinity” doesn’t actually appear in a chapter and verse, its truth is all over the pages of our Bibles. God is referred to in the plural (Genesis 1:26; 3:22). The Father, Spirit, Son, appear individually at the same time (Matthew 3:16-17). Each person of the Godhead is referred to in various passages (e.g., Matthew 28:19). Since the Trinity is a biblical doctrine, it’s a big deal.

In addition, believing in the doctrine of the Trinity is a big deal simply for the legitimacy of our faith. On the one hand, if we don’t believe in the tri of the “tri-unity,” we have no confidence in a Savior who died, a Spirit who sustains, and a God who created. However, if we fail to believe the unity of the tri-unity, than we have a multideistic religion, and confusion over who to worship and how to conduct ourselves.

How do I understand the Trinity?

There are some who think that comprehending the Trinity requires a herculean effort of the intellect. Others think that some clever analogy will help them get to that “aha!” moment of finally grasping the elusive erudition of Trinitarian cogitation. Whether it’s an egg, the states of water, or a triangle, people try to grasp the concept of a three-in-one God through different pictures. Forget it. You’ll never completely understand it. Systematic theologian Millard Erickson admitted after seventeen pages of scholarly writing: “In the final analysis, the Trinity is incomprehensible” (Systematic, 363). This does not mean that we deny it. Nor does it mean that we don’t try to understand it better. It simply means that our finite human minds are not capable of comprehending the infinite mind of God. That is reason to glory in our great God—the blessed Trinity.

As someone once said,
Try to explain it, and you’ll lose your mind;
But try to deny it, and you’ll lose your soul.

Creation Versus Evolution: A Christian Perspective

Professor 1:  “Obviously, this proves the fact that the world’s development was a result of natural processes that took millions of years. The process of evolution is an inescapable scientific conclusion based on the data.”

Professor 2:  “I don’t know what kind of evidence you need for a universal flood beyond the fossil. The real facts of science clearly point to an act of instantaneous creation by an all-powerful being.”

Creation versus evolution: two sides that have been at loggerheads for a very long time. From the scientific spadework of men like creationist Henry Morris to the intellectual assaults from men like Richard Dawkins, the controversy between creation and evolution has no end in sight. Examining the Christian perspective–without the scientific training of a Morris or the intellectual equipment of a Dawkins–how are we to respond to the creation versus evolution dilemma?

This article makes no claims to ending the creation versus evolution argument. Nor does it assume to be the conclusion to the debate. Rather, it considers the Christian perspective as well as the creation side and attempts to look a level deeper to gain some answers.

Facts, Fiction, and Disappointment

There are very strong science-backed arguments on both sides of the creation versus evolution debate. Any qualified creationist can summon a litany of arguments to bolster the creation theory. On the flip side, a trained evolutionist can also marshal convincing arguments to prove his hypothesis that the world is a result of a big bang and interminable evolutionary process. In the end—data, fossils, carbon dating methods, bones, dinosaurs, and dirt notwithstanding—scientific data is limited in its ability to answer the question. Although this goes against every grain of our modern-era dependence upon science, we must realize that scientific data is ultimately disappointing. I personally am convinced that the scientific data for a six-day creation is more trustworthy. But in the end, can we depend on science to answer the question of creationism?

Facts, Fiction and the Trump Card: Faith

Ask yourself the question—do you need science to confirm your belief in creationism? Answer that question by asking another question—do you need science to confirm your salvation? No. The Bible as the bedrock of faith is the real answer to the dilemma.

Understanding something called “presuppositions” helps to solve the dilemma. You must presuppose that the Bible is true. You believe the Bible. The Bible teaches creation, and you accept it. The evolutionist, on the other hand, does not believe that the Bible is true. His presuppositions are atheistic and naturalistic.

Presuppositions, then, are the foundational level of the debate. They are the tectonic plates, so to speak, of positions, theories, and other arguments. They are the deepest level upon which beliefs are built. Presuppositions even influence scientific research. To argue on the level of scientific evidence is to ignore the more fundamental issue in the whole debate—one’s presuppositions.

Presuppositions are not an intellectual copout. They are intellectually axiomatic. It is ultimately futile to engage in the creationism versus evolutionism debate, when you realize that you can simply get rid of the “versus” and go by faith.

Are Miracles Only for Believers?

Have you every thought about God’s attributes? God is all-powerful. God is infinitely wise. God is all knowing. God is forever. God is holy. God is love. God is all-present. God is merciful. God is gracious. God is sovereign. God is faithful. God is just. God is good. In short, God is awesome. These are some of the glorious principles of Christianity.

This awesome God is capable of working miracles. A study of God and miracles and the principles of Christianity reveals that there have been three ages of concentrated miracles: the Exodus, the prophetic ministry of Elijah and Elisha, and Jesus’ life and inauguration of the church. But as we reviewed in the list of God’s attributes above, God is amazingly powerful. No one can say that miracles are not happening today. Why would God work miracles? For believers? For nonbelievers? Let’s dig into the biblical information on God and miracles and find out if miracles are for believers or nonbelievers.

Faith and Miracles During the Exodus

During the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, God worked a lot of miracles. Beginning with God changing Moses’ staff into a snake, to the falling of manna, to water from the rock, and to the parting of the Red Sea, God was busy performing miracles. Who were these miracles for? First of all, they were for Israel. That should be obvious. God also worked miracles to impress people who were definitely not believers. Exodus 9:14 tells us that God sent plagues and worked miracles in order to tell Pharaoh, definitely an nonbeliever, that Yahweh was God alone. Thus, God worked miracles for believing Israel and for nonbelieving Pharaoh.

God and Miracles During the Ministry of Elijah and Elisha

Many miracles occurred during the ministry of two special prophets in Israel’s history—Elijah and Elisha. In God’s power, they did things like multiply food, raise people from the dead, pray fire down from heaven, divide rivers, strike people with blindness, and heal dying people. Why? For believers? In many cases, yes. But consider the very first miracle of Elijah—praying down a drought upon the land (1 Kings 17:1). That miracle was definitely for the wicked King Ahab and for the sins of unbelieving Israelites. Even Elijah’s biggest miracle—that of praying down fire upon a sacrifice—was a grand display for the nation’s false prophet club (1 Kings 18). Again, we see that the main spectators of these miracles were people who were nonbelievers, God-haters, and false prophets.

Miracles During Jesus’ Ministry and the Early Church

The next stage of miracle-intensive activity that we read about is during the life of Jesus and during the early church. Miracles were happening all the time from the hand of Jesus and then through the ministry of Peter, Paul, and other apostles. Perhaps one of Jesus’ most notable miracles was raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11). The biggest fallout from this miracle came from Jesus’ most ardent enemies—the Pharisees. For the most part, the Pharisees, even though they were religious, did not believe in Jesus at all. They were nonbelievers, and Jesus worked miracles often to their extreme anger. At the very beginning of the church, the Day of Pentecost, the disciples came out from hiding and started speaking in tongues. With this miraculous gift of communicating to everyone in their own native tongue, the apostles preached to thousands of people. Again, in this situation, the miracles were for nonbelievers.

What is the Ultimate Reason that God Works Miracles?

Ultimately, He wants to bring glory to Himself. He may do that to spread His fame to believers, but He may put His character on display to nonbelievers, too. No, nonbelievers are not miracle workers, but as nonbelievers see God work miracles, they get a perspective of the greatness of God. Those attributes of God, those core principles of Christianity, are on display when nonbelievers witness God’s miraculous work.

What is Discipleship?

Jesus speaks a great deal about discipleship. The primary passages used in this article are Matthew 10:24-33. If you can, whip out that Bible of yours or go to http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2010:24-33&version=NASB. Ask God to speak to you through His words.

Now, Matthew 10:25 says it like this: “It is enough for the disciples that he become likes his teacher, and the slave like his master.” The purpose of discipleship is to make more disciples.

But the passage goes beyond mere discipleship, verse 27 says: “What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim on the housetops.” Go into the world and reveal Jesus to them! Verses 32 and 33 say this: “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”

Discipleship is reproduction–making more disciples–but it is also going into the world and proclaiming the word of God.

John 15: Disciple’s Charge

Disciple’s General Charge: Vine & Branches

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, he prunes so that it may bear more fruit.”

We, as disciples, are designed to bear fruit–which is more disciples as seen in Matthew 28:18-20 and Matthew 10:24-39. If we are bearing fruit, God will “prune” us so that we may be more fruitful, but those of us who are not producing fruit will become stagnant and die. If we are obeying God’s commands, this will never happen.

“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

This chunk is simply getting across the fact that we cannot do the work of discipleship apart from God–it simply doesn’t work. What tree branch can bear fruit if it is not connected to the trunk of the tree? God does the work–we are just the branches.

“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.”

The price of not being fruitful–not obeying the command given–is death. If we are not part of the tree, if we are a severed branch, we do not receive the nutrients we need and will dry up. What happens to dry branches? They’re burned–thrown away. Produce fruit. Love God by obeying His commands and remaining in His presence.

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”

What’s the fruit? Making disciples and spreading the Word of God to all nations. This glorifies God, and God’s glory is our sole purpose. It is why we were created, to glorify God.

“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full.”

Disciple’s Charge to Eachother

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you.”

This is part of discipleship–that we love one another. Acts 2:42-47 talks about this in great detail. They shared everything. They sacrificially served each other. Jesus washed feet (the nastiest part of the body in that day), and died for us all. We are to love each other in the same way: serving each other, and even dying for each other.

“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have eard from My father I have made known to you.”

We, as disciples, as friends of Jesus. Sweet deal!

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”

Christians, we did not get here on our own. We did not come to Jesus on our own. The Bible in John 6:44a “No one can come to Me (Jesus) unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” We have been chosen–we have been called, and we have been called to and for a purpose: glorifying God and making disciples. Jesus “appointed you that you would go and bear fruit.”

“This is what I command you, that you love one another.”

Disciple’s Charge to the World

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; of they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”

Christians, this is not an easy life. Jesus never told us that life would be easy. People don’t want to believe that there is only one God. People don’t want to crawl out of the pit of their pleasure and sins. People don’t want to be told that they will go to hell if they do not follow Christ–some of you probably don’t want to hear that. Jesus says in Matthew, “I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” (This does not mean that we are saved by works, which is addressed in another article).

“But all things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.”

We will be persecuted for the sole purpose of our faith–we are persecuted for His name.

“If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well. But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, ‘They hated Me without cause.’

To be perfectly honest, I do not fully understand what Jesus was saying here. I think what He is saying is that through Him–through what Jesus did–the entire world has the opportunity to turn away from their sin and to be washed, but the world does not wish to turn away, so they hate God.

“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about me, and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.”

The Helper is the Holy Spirit–He gives us power to witness, or “testify.” This is the culmination of all of discipleship. We bear fruit through Him–the Holy Spirit. We love one another and will be persecuted, but we will be given the power to testify and to hold firm by Him–the Holy Spirit.

The Cost of Discipleship

Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I will not deny that the sacrifice of Jesus is a free gift–nothing we do can get us to God. Nothing can make us worthy. But neither is Jesus’ sacrifice something to be accepted and tossed aside. It is a life commitment.

Matthew 16:24-28 talks about the cost of discipleship. In verse 24, Jesus’ words are: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” That means total life commitment! Jesus isn’t just a part of your life. He will never share His glory with another. That means He comes first always! This is something we Christians often over look. We want to accept Jesus and place Him on the mantle.

It was put to me like this: the Hindu’s have many gods, so it is easy for them to accept Jesus and simply place Him in the line with many other gods. This is what most Christians do. Maybe we have a really big Jesus on our mantle piece–but as Isaiah 42:8 says:

“I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to graven images.”

God will not share that mantle piece. It is our purpose as Christians to glorify God alone. The first four commandments are geared toward this very purpose.

You shall have no other gods before Me.

You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in haven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.

You shall not worship them or serve them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.

Did you catch all that? God comes first; He alone will be worshipped; and you shall not even say His name in vain. He comes first–He will not share His glory with another.

Does it still seem like we should accept Jesus’ sacrifice, believe God, and place Him on the mantle with all of our other Gods: food, music, education, video games, career, books, hobbies, and ourselves? Those things are not inherently evil–but God will not share the metaphorical mantle. He is all of your life–He must remain your first priority forever. That doesn’t mean that you have to give up all those things–but if they are keeping you from God, you might want to consider it.

My initial point was that Christ isn’t a part of your life–we Christians are to be holy priests–set apart for God. He won’t share His glory with another–don’t worship anything apart from God. Christianity isn’t a willy-nilly acceptance and casting by the wayside. It is a daily dedication of the rest of your life. Count the cost, like is says in Luke 14:25-35. Count the cost, people. Count the cost, Christians. Are you really willing to be wholly devoted to something greater than yourselves? Are you willing to give God control?

Keep in mind the God you will serve. He is good, just, merciful, graceful, forgiving, and loving. Giving Him your entire life may not necessarily mean abandoning all you have–but you must be willing to surrender all to Him if He asks it of you.

Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” God cannot lie–He has bound himself that way. This is the truth.

“Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple…So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.” ~ Jesus Christ, Luke 14:27,33

The Great Commission

Matthew 28: 18-20 says this, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

This is the Great Commission, the final words of Jesus Christ, Go and make disciples of all the nations. This is not a request, not a recommendation, this is a command. If we love Jesus, we obey His commands, if we obey His commands, we are out making disciples of all nations, both the one we reside in and those abroad. The entire world is our oyster, folks. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

We are responsible for the fulfillment of the Great Commission, we are responsible for making SURE that the ENTIRE world knows who Christ is, and has had the opportunity to choose Him.

This is the question: Are you obeying Jesus? Are you out on the mission, making disciples? This is Jesus’ final command, and it carries a heavy weight. This is our mission as Christians: to make disciples of the world, baptizing them in the name of the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY SPIRIT, and teaching them to observe all that Jesus commanded.

Are you making disciples? Are you obeying the commands of Jesus? Or are you living in disobedience and in action. Lying their on your couch, just going to Bible studies and church and not DOING what Christ commanded? Do you have faith but no works? If you do, I would strongly urge you to fix your ways. Do not sow disobedience and laziness, get out there and do what we were commanded to do. Go and make disciples, teach them to obey God and do just as you are.

John 15 talks about being fruitful, James 2:14-26 talks about having faith & works, Matthew 13:1-23 talks about the parable of the sower–all the sower did was spread the word. That is our responsibility. Mark 5 talks about Jesus casting a Legion of demons from a man, and what did Jesus tell that man to do? “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.”

Why would we be any different from the demoniac? So go, obey your King, hold fast to his commands and make disciples of the nations, just as the demoniac did, just as the sower did, and just as Jesus did.

Matthew 13: The Most Important Parable

Matthew 13 details Jesus’ most important parable: the Parable of the Sower. Mark 8:4-15 puts it much more concisely however. You can pick which to read. I’m going to feel through Matthew 13. So, let’s dive!

“Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soul. But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. He who has ears let him hear.”

First of all, know that the seed which the sower sowed is the Word of God. Next, notice that the sower sowed on all the ground–not just the good soil, he sowed on the path and the rocks and the thorns. He sowed carelessly. Likewise, we Christians are called to sow the word of God into all lives–paths, rocks, thorns, and good soil. We are not the judge of the soil–God is. Sow generously, sow carelessly.

Second, why am I explaining this? Jesus does the work for me:

“Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; for the heart of this people has become dull, with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heard and return and I would heal them. But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

“Hear, then, the parable of the sower: when anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown n his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. And the one on whom seed is sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it comes unfruitful. And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”

Not only is this for our own benefit in that we are to examine what kind of soil we are, but it is also a call. We are sowers of the word, Christians. We are the ones God ordained to go into the world and spread His word–we are the sowers, and we are to sow carelessly, sharing the word with all people everywhere.

Notice also that only 1/4 of the seed actually produced fruit. The sower sowed generously, and he reaped only a quarter of what he sowed. How then should we Christians be sowing the word of God and allowing the Spirit to work?

We are to minister to people in their iniquity, and bring them our of their sin. Provide them with the transformation of Christ. In order to come into the kingdom, you must repent. Call people out of their sin and into a relationship with Christ. People need to see their need for Jesus, or they will not repent.

I know that I do not live by this verse. Did not, maybe. I sowed seeds in a select few: the soil I got to know, this patch of ground and that. I did not spray the seed everywhere, as this parable instructs us to. Now, I want to spread the word of God everywhere. I am a sower of the Word of God, and I will reap. If you don’t sow, how can you reap? Even if it is only a quarter of all that I sow, it will be worth it.

5 Ways Accepting Jesus Can Improve Your Life

“What’s in it for me?” I must confess that’s the question I am sometimes tempted to ask before I make a decision. If I am going to choose something, it needs to improve my life, enhance my enjoyment of life, or somehow make me a better person.

It may be easy to think about Jesus in the same way. How is He going to help? Is Jesus just some ethereal being, minding His own business in heaven? Does He really have a tangible benefit for the rough-and-tumble of my daily life? Let’s ask the question. Let’s see if accepting Jesus can really improve your life.

Jesus actually gives you new life.

Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).

According to the Bible, you’re dead unless you have Jesus. Seriously, check it out (Ephesians 2:1). It’s more than an analogy. It’s a spiritual reality. The only way to gain new life is to accept Jesus. “New Life?” That’s more than just improving your life. That’s the beginning of life —-new life-— spiritual life.

Jesus causes you to fulfill your whole goal in life.

Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

The Bible makes it clear that every believer’s goal in life is to glorify God. The only way to do so is to accept Jesus into your life. Think about goals for a minute. Accomplishing goals is the only thing that gives life real purpose. The believer has a goal—glorifying God. Accepting Jesus, God’s only son, is the only way you can achieve this goal. Pray to Jesus and ask Him to help you glorify God.

Jesus is the reason you can come to God.

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).

(Jesus): I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me. (John 14:6)

There is little dispute over whether or not God can improve one’s life. But the only way to get to God in the first place is through Jesus Christ. As we mentioned above, accepting Jesus is the only way to glorify God. However, there is more to it than that. Jesus is the only way to God. Do you pray to Jesus? You should, because He is the only way to God. Come to God through Jesus.

Jesus totally cleans up your life.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7).

Life can get complicated, dirty, and rather unpleasant. Most of the time it’s our own fault. It’s sinful choices: bad decisions, self-centered living, and prideful actions that create a mess of life. Jesus is in the business of changing life from the inside out. He forgives sin. He banishes every bit of evil from your life, giving you a new nature. If you’ve ever longed to get “cleaned up” in an absolute and final way, Jesus is the answer.

Jesus gives you new meaning in life.

No longer should you always ask, “What’s in it for me?” Jesus gives you a new purpose for life. Now, the question you will want to ask is, “Will this glorify God?” That’s real meaning. That gives purpose to the empty feeling that you may have as you go through life.

Accepting Jesus changes everything. In fact, listing five ways that Jesus can improve your life doesn’t even begin to touch on all the ways He changes you. He doesn’t merely improve your life. He gives you a totally new life, helps you to fulfill your purpose as a human being, makes access to God possible, and cleans you from the top down. Pray to Jesus. Accept Jesus. Experience a total life transformation.

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