Tag Archives: obedience

Abide in God’s Word

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Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32). To be a genuine disciple of Jesus Christ, rather than one in name only, requires abiding in his word. That’s what Jesus Christ himself said. That means a real disciple of Christ, a real Christian, is one who abides in — continues in, or lives according to — the teachings of Christ. And one of the teachings of Christ is that we are to live “by every word of God” (Luke 4:4).

Is it your desire to be a true disciple of Jesus? If so, it’s absolutely vital that you abide not merely in some particular organization of men, or a religious tradition imposed by the flawed teachings or reasonings of men, but in God’s word, correctly understood.

Discover keys that can help you enter into God’s kingdom as you abide in his word.

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How to Be a Real Christian

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Christianity is estimated by census figures, surveys, etc., to be the world’s leading religion in terms of population numbers, with more than two billion, perhaps as many as two and a half billion, who identify themselves as Christians. Among those claiming to be Christian are represented a wide assortment of beliefs and practices that are often contradictory not only to each other, but are often exactly the opposite of what Jesus Christ himself believed, taught and practiced. One dictionary definition of a Christian is one who professes belief in Jesus as Christ. Is a Christian just anyone who claims to be a Christian? If not, exactly what does it mean, from the standpoint of Scripture, to be a Christian? What makes one a Christian in God’s sight?

That is the subject the message, “How to Be a Real Christian.” In it are discussed specific steps necessary to becoming or remaining a Christian, as God’s word defines a true Christian.

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Copyright © 2025 by Rod Reynolds

Unless otherwise noted Scripture taken from the New King James VersionTM
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Messenger Church of God
PO Box 619
Wentzville, MO 63385
USA

God’s Law is a Blessing

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The world as a whole is groping in darkness and blindness for a path to happiness, peace, safety and life. In the world many don’t realize they can’t see. They don’t realize they are blind and walking in darkness. They think they are walking in light and that they know the path to a better, fuller, happier life. Yet, they keep falling into pits. They keep stumbling into snares. And the result is a world full of unhappiness, misery, suffering and death.

At the same time they have nothing but contempt and scorn for the light that would show them the true path and lead them to safety and happiness. They, oddly enough, don’t regard the light as a blessing, but rather as a curse. How about you. Do you know what is the true light? And do you regard it as a blessing or a curse?

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Love God

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Jesus was asked the question, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” (Matthew 22:36). Jesus answer, as recorded in Matthew 22:37-38, was, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.”

We see then that the first and greatest requirement for a Christian is that we love God. And not just that we love God, but that we love him totally, with all our heart, mind and being. This means that we must love God above anything or anyone else. “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” [Matthew 10:37; cf. similar scripture in Luke 14:26; the Greek word μισεω (miseō) in this context does not mean to hate but means to love less by comparison (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)].

But how do you love God? Have you ever thought about it? I hope so. It is something we should give a great deal of thought and attention to. Let’s examine this subject of loving God and some specific ways we can go about fulfilling this greatest of all commandments.

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Repentance

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Repentance according to Scripture is necessary for salvation. Genuine repentance from a Scriptural standpoint is not just remorse, although it includes that, but a change in the way you think, and behave, and are – to a different way – to become a different person. Repentance from sin is a “change of mind [that] involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary).

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