JAN 1 - Defining Our Christianity
Hebrews 4:12 ESV
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.We all have an idea of what being a Christian should look like. But if we’re being honest, our views are often influenced by our cultural values, our politics, our background, and what’s currently going on in the world around us. If we were to strip away all those outside influences, what would our faith actually look like?
John 4:23-24 ESV
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Cultures will change and values will shift, but God’s Word will always reveal the foundations of our beliefs.
So starting today, we’ll take a closer look at some questions about God, the Holy Spirit, sin, and baptism and discover what the Bible tells us about each of them.
But before we get started, keep in mind that the purpose of this Plan isn’t to argue for or against a particular denomination, doctrine, or philosophical position. The purpose is to provide clarity around some common Christian questions by rooting each day in Scripture, and providing practical action steps.
So to help us do this, we’re laying out four foundational statements that each day will automatically assume to be true.
The God of the Bible is real, true, and perfect.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for correction and instruction.
God’s Word is truth. We can turn to it for trustworthy answers to our questions.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to worship God in Spirit and in truth. Basically, if we want to live Holy Spirit empowered lives, then we need to have a clear understanding of what is true so that we can recognize the Spirit’s promptings. And to clearly understand what is true, we must turn to Scripture—the written documentation of God at work through humanity. By seeking God’s truth we gain a greater understanding of His character, which allows us to confidently walk in His Spirit.