Being a light

[ronjohn839]

Hi, first off thanks for letting me b a part of the discussion board/forum! I am a 21 year old Christian and i just wanted some insightful perspective into a problem some brothas and sistas including myself have faced. Being a light in the world is an amazing thing that God can do through a simple dude like me. however, sometimes i dont shine and I make big mistakes. Do you guys have this issue too? I know i`m a victor in Christ and I am secure in my salvation brought on his part. sometimes again, I just feel like i dont do what a "great christian" would do. Thanks God bless

[Canuckster1127]

We were saved by grace outside of our performance, why would we believe that that changes when we enter into active relationship with God?

Gal 3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?[a] 4 Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[c]

7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”[d] 9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”[e] 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”[f] 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”[g] 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”[h] 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

The depth of your value and worth to God is found in Christ. There's value to examining our lives and our efforts and seeking to grow as Christians, but never ever mistake that for the basis of your value to or relationship with God. It's incredibly freeing when we learn that and let go of the whole performance mentality that imagines God is watching us from a distance like a drill sergeant waiting for us to mess up so He can bust us.

[jlay]

Bart is right on the money. The way to shine is to first know who your are "In Christ." Not only are you secure, but you are assured. You are blessed with every spiritual blessing. Made to sit in Heavenly places. A child of God. A citizen of Heaven. More than a conqueror. Under no condemnation.
Being a light is not trying to live up to some standard, but living out of the standard that Christ has already accomplished. It's really about knowing who we are. It's an issue of identity.
Since we trust Christ to be saved, we should also trust that our identity "In Christ" is a positional reality.

[Furstentum Liechtenstein]

Being a light in the world is an amazing thing that God can do through a simple dude like me. however, sometimes i dont shine and I make big mistakes. Do you guys have this issue too?

I don't have this issue. I'm a perfect Christian, always infallibly doing the Will of God.

FL

[ronjohn839]

thanks guys. sorry if what i wrote didnt make much sense, i just needed to hear how valuable i was again to alpha and omega. I guess it was really bothering me because so much of my fam just dont see me as "born again" or dont want to... peace b with y`all.