By Stu Borders

What do we believe?

Though sin remains a reality, as we are led by the Spirit, we grow in the knowledge of the Lord and endeavor to keep His commands.

 Why do we believe this?

1 John 2:3-6 – And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

 Why does it matter?

“If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck.”  We’ve probably all heard this before.  Scripture tells us that it is similar for the Christian life.

The way we live our lives reflects what we believe.  When we believe in Christ, he makes us into a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) and while our life is physically the same, it should look different as God acts in and through us.  What is great in this passage is that while we have a responsibility to learn God’s commandments, it is His spirit that empowers and enables us to keep them.  One of the ways we abide in Him is through learning His heart in the Bible and obeying it.

Unfortunately, there are many around us who would say they “know God” but that have never looked at His commandments nor do they seek to live a life abiding in Him.  They decide what a “right life” looks like and His truth is not in them.  We have to always seek to know God more and allow Him to shape our lives through His word by the power of His Spirit.

How will you make sure you are learning God’s commandments in order to walk as He walked?