Changing Our “Want-To”

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Rom. 6:1, 2).

Some people think, “You can’t tell someone they are under grace, because they’ll live however they want to!” But Paul shows here that grace is to change our “want-to”! Grace makes us “want to” live a life pleasing to the One Who saved us by His grace. God’s grace changes hearts and lives. It transforms how we think, act, and speak. It changes our motivation and desires, from living for only self and temporal pleasures to living for the glory of Christ and for the eternal. The grace of God through the Cross should forever change us.

Pastor Bill White wrote this: “Recently I witnessed an unusual accountability partnership at my church. In an effort to break his habit of using profanity, Paul started meeting with another guy from church, and they set up an aggressive plan for holiness. Each Sunday, Paul would report to William how many times he cussed during the week, and he’d put $5 in the offering plate for each incident. The first week cost Paul $100. Although following weeks improved somewhat, he wasn’t having the success he wanted and was losing a lot of hard-earned cash.

“After the fourth week, William told Paul he had totally changed the deal for the coming week, but he wouldn’t tell Paul how. Paul wanted to know, but all William would say was, ‘Trust me. It will cost you both less and more.’ The following Sunday before worship, Paul was looking a bit down, obviously having failed again. William put a hand on his shoulder and said, ‘Paul, this will cost you both less and more. It’s called grace.’ With that he took out a check made out to the church, dated and signed by William. Only the amount was blank. ‘Your sin still costs, but for you it’s free. Just fill in the numbers. And next week there will be more grace.’ That first week of grace cost William $55, but the second only cost him $20. The third week cost him nothing. It cost Paul too much to fill in those checks, so he quit swearing.” (Friends Grace Motivates Change, www.preachingtoday.com)

God’s Word shows us that grace does not give us license to sin, but instead, as we think of our Savior and His sacrificial payment for our sins at the Cross, that grace should discipline, motivate, and soften our hearts to obey Him and turn from sin. Grace gives liberty to practice grace and power to live a life free from the bondage of sin. It’s the grace of God and the love of Christ that are to motivate us to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4) and live a life pleasing to Him.

Article printed from Berean Bible Society: https://bereanbiblesociety.org URL to article: https://bereanbiblesociety.org/changing-our-want-to/
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Changing the Clocks Doesn't Change My Feeding Time

Comparing world religions

Comparing world religions There are five major religious faiths in the world today – Hinduism; Buddhism; Islam; Christianity and Judaism.

Hinduism Hinduism is the major religion in India, and it has over half a billion followers. The belief developed over 4,000 years, making it one of the world’s oldest surviving religious belief systems. Hindu society is broken into four classes, or castes, with each class having distinct duties and roles. The lowest class are the untouchables, who are considered inferior human beings.

According to Hinduism, all moral beings are required to abide by honesty, courage, service, faith, self-control, purity, and nonviolence. One of the identifying features of Hinduism is a belief in the transmigration of the souls, or reincarnation. Hindus also believe in a multitude of gods throughout the universe.

Buddhism Buddhism was founded in northern India about 500 B.C. by Siddhartha Gautama, the buddha, and it is estimated there are currently more than 300 million Buddhists in the world. Most Buddhists, however, have incorporated practices from other religions, especially Shintoism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Hinduism. By good acts, meditation, and developing enlightened wisdom, Buddhists believe they can achieve a rebirth in the heavens. This final goal of enlightenment is known as nirvana.

Islam Islam is one of the world’s fastest growing religions. Almost 1 billion people practice Islam with nearly 25 million converts per year. Islam was founded in Arabia during the 7th Century by prophet Muhammad, who received divine revelations from Allah, via the angel Gabriel, and recorded them in the sacred book of Islam, the Koran.

Although Islam’s origins date back to the lifetime of Muhammad, Muslims regard their religion as a timeless religion of eternal truth. The line of prophets recorded by the Koran include Muhammad, Abraham, Noah, Moses, and Jesus, with Muhammad being viewed as the ultimate restorer of the original religion of the patriarch Abraham. Islam also recognizes the Torah, the Psalms, and Gospel of Jesus.

Christianity Christianity is the religion of over a billion people whose belief system centers on the Bible, and Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah. Through Christ, sinners who believe in Him can be saved and receive eternal life.

Major differences in belief exist between Christian groups. Some do not believe in the second coming of Christ, while many believe the Kingdom of God is now present among the faithful. Most profess the doctrine of heaven and hell along with the three person godhead of the Trinity, while other Christian groups contest these beliefs. Also, the majority of Christians keep Sunday as a day of worship and observe Easter and Christmas as celebrations of Christ’s resurrection and birth, although the pagan origins of these festivals are well known.

Judaism Judaism claims over 14 million adherents and is the oldest religion in the Western world. The source for Jewish belief is the Old Testament and specifically the first five books, known as the Torah or Pentateuch. They believe God revealed His plan to the patriarchs, and entered into a special covenant with the ancient Israelites so that they could be an example to humanity of God’s way of life.

Judaism consists of a system of laws which includes adherence to dietary restrictions, monotheistic worship, a Saturday Sabbath, and observation of annual holy day festivals. The Jews believe in a prophesied Messiah, but most reject Jesus Christ as this Messiah.