It is one thing to profess our faith in Jesus Christ, but it is another thing to demonstrate that faith through the way we live. Christianity is more than attending worship services, knowing Bible verses, or wearing the name Christian. It is a daily commitment to follow the Lord in our words, our actions, our attitudes, and our decisions. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Light is meant to be seen, and our lives should reflect the character of the One we claim to serve.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5.0). That is a serious challenge. Do our lives show that God comes first? Do we treat others with kindness, speak with honesty, forgive those who hurt us, and resist the temptation to follow the ways of the world? Are we as concerned about the salvation of others as we are about our own comfort and happiness? These are questions we must be willing to answer honestly.

James reminds us that faith must be demonstrated by our actions. He wrote, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). We are not saved by earning our salvation, but genuine faith responds to God in obedience. A faith that never changes our conduct, priorities, or relationship with God is a faith that needs serious examination.

The world does not need more people who merely claim to be Christians. It needs to see Christians who live like they belong to Christ. Our families should see it. Our neighbors should see it. Our fellow Christians should see it. Even when no one else is watching, our Lord knows whether our hearts are truly devoted to Him.

We cannot change yesterday, but we can make the decision today to live more faithfully. Let us not be satisfied with simply wearing the name of Christ. Let us strive to reflect His teachings, follow His example, and obey His Word. The question is not merely, “Do people know that I attend church?” The more important question is, “Can people see Christ in the way I live?”

God Bless

One of the most beautiful relationships in the New Testament is the relationship between the apostle Paul and Timothy. Paul was more than Timothy’s teacher; he became a spiritual mentor, encourager, and father-like influence. Paul saw Timothy’s potential and invested himself in helping this young man become a faithful servant of Christ.

Paul called Timothy his “beloved and faithful son in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:17). Timothy had already been blessed with a godly upbringing through his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois, but Paul helped him grow in his faith and prepare for greater responsibilities in the Lord’s work. Paul trusted Timothy because he had proven himself faithful. He wrote, “For you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel” (Philippians 2:22).

Paul also encouraged Timothy when he needed strength. He reminded him, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Paul knew that Timothy would face challenges, but he wanted him to remain faithful and courageous.

Perhaps the greatest lesson from their relationship is found in 2 Timothy 2:2: “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” Paul had taught Timothy, and Timothy was now responsible for teaching others. The truth was to be passed from one faithful generation to another.

The church today needs more Pauls and more Timothys. Older Christians have a responsibility to teach, encourage, and train those who are coming behind them. Younger Christians have a responsibility to listen, learn, grow, and eventually teach others. We must never become so concerned about our own generation that we fail to prepare the next one.

Paul eventually reached the end of his life and could say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). He could face the end with confidence because he had helped prepare Timothy to carry on the work.

The question for each of us is simple: Who are we helping become stronger in the faith? Someone is watching our example, learning from our faithfulness, and depending upon us to help them become what God wants them to be. Let us be faithful enough to teach the next generation, and humble enough to learn from those who came before us.

God Bless

We often hear people today asking, “What are the signs that the end of time is near?” Wars, earthquakes, political unrest, false teachers, moral decline, and other troubling events cause many to wonder if these things indicate that Christ is about to return. While the Bible certainly teaches that Christ will come again, it does not teach us to look for specific signs that will tell us when the end is near. In fact, Jesus specifically warned against trying to predict the time of His return.

In Matthew 24, Jesus spoke about wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. However, He said, “See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet” (Matthew 24:6). He continued by saying, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matthew 24:36). Jesus was not giving His disciples a calendar of events by which they could calculate the end. He was teaching them to be prepared.

There will be no warning that allows mankind to set a date for the Lord’s return. Paul wrote, “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). A thief does not announce when he is coming. Likewise, Christ’s return will be unexpected. Peter said, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night” (2 Peter 3:10).

Jesus plainly said, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44). We do not need to decipher world events. We need to faithfully serve God every day. We need to obey the gospel, remain faithful to Christ, worship according to His Word, live righteous lives, and be prepared to meet the Lord.

The Bible does not call us to be end-time predictors; it calls us to be faithful Christians. Instead of watching the headlines looking for signs, let us watch our own lives and make certain that we are walking faithfully with God. The Lord’s coming is certain, but the time is unknown. “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6).

The end of time will come. Christ will return. The dead will be raised, judgment will take place, and eternity will begin (John 5:28–29; 2 Corinthians 5:10). We may not know when it will happen, but we know what we must do. “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

God Bless

One of the most common questions raised when we teach that baptism is necessary for the forgiveness of sins is, “What about the thief on the cross?” Jesus told the thief, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). Some conclude from this that baptism cannot be necessary for salvation. But the thief on the cross does not contradict what the New Testament teaches about baptism.

First, we must understand when the thief lived and under what law he died. The thief lived and died before the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus had been completed. Jesus was still living under the Old Testament period. Hebrews 9:16-17 says, “For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.” The New Testament had not yet gone into effect when Jesus spoke to the thief.

The command to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins was given after Christ’s death and resurrection. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached the first gospel sermon and commanded those who believed, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). This was after Jesus had died, been buried, and risen from the dead. The thief could not have obeyed a command that had not yet been given in the New Testament covenant.

Second, the thief was not saved under the same covenant and circumstances under which we live today. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He had authority to forgive sins directly. Jesus said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you” (Matthew 9:2). He then demonstrated His authority by healing him. The thief’s forgiveness came directly from Jesus while Jesus was still on earth and before the New Testament covenant became effective.

Today, we do not receive forgiveness by asking Jesus to personally speak forgiveness to us as He did to the thief. We must obey the gospel that Christ commanded His apostles to preach. Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). Peter preached the same message in Acts 2.

The thief on the cross is therefore not an exception that removes the necessity of baptism. He lived and died before the New Testament command to be baptized for the remission of sins was established. We live after Christ’s death and resurrection, under His New Testament covenant, with His completed gospel revealed to us.

We should not use an exceptional circumstance from the Old Testament period to set aside a clear command given under the New Testament. The question is not, “What did Jesus tell the thief?” The question is, “What has Jesus commanded us to do?” The answer is clear: believe the gospel, repent of our sins, confess Christ, and be baptized for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 22:16).

The thief on the cross was saved by the grace and authority of Jesus. We are saved by that same grace when we obey the gospel Jesus has commanded under the New Testament. Rather than being an argument against baptism, the thief reminds us that we must rightly divide and understand the covenant, the time period, and the command God has given us.

God Bless