Do You Just Believe or Do You Actually Live It?

Maybe you should make new friends and find a new family since the ones you do have don't wear robes or have halos. 

Very good question semi. I often think of this very question myself which causes me to examine my own life. And to be honest sometimes I wonder what is the point.

Jesus is such a tough act to follow. To take up ones own cross, to die to flesh and be crucified with Christ is probably one of the hardest things anyone will do in this life. Yet these are some of the things He commands if we are to follow Him. Other wise there is no point in calling Him Lord.

Luk 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Quite often I fall flat on my face trying to do as He says. It becomes very discouraging sometimes. Yet somehow I get back up and try again. Hopefully I learn from previous failures and do better next time. I'm still a sinner and will probably always be a sinner to some degree in this life as long as I'm in the flesh. It is my biggest hope in this life that He will bring me to the point where sin no longer rules over me. If not now then without a doubt someday.

Ultimately it is Christ that enables us to follow Him by His grace and not our own so called "free will". Gods grace is defined as divine influence of the heart. With that I can do all things through Him. I can do nothing of myself.

So we cant completely blame those who call Him Lord, but do not do the things He says. We are all right where God wants us. Everyone will follow Him eventually, but each in his or her own order.

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

When Paul is talking about dead/dying, he's referring to being dead to the

world. To not give in to the evils the world offers. The more one makes 

themselves available to sin, the easier it becomes.

One of the big disappointments Christ sees in us is our indifference to what

he taught us. We must take the first steps to reconcile ourselves with him.

If you think you can tell Jesus "I'm waiting for you to make me a life deserving

of Heaven." You might want to rethink what you have done or not done to

gain salvation. Jesus did his part.

The word Christian doesn't appear in the original text. It could be used to

substitute in later editions.

Semi, I try but since I am human I always fall short of the perfection of God.  Heres the good part he does not expect us to be perfect, in fact he sent his Son to pay for our sins.   Sadly it is true many claim to be extemely Faithful Christians to take avantage of people.  I am extremely careful of dealing with and useally avoid people who have to tell you how Christian they are or have it on a business card.  I perfer tose who show it thru thier actions.  Still hoping you find your way to God.

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I'm not asking for perfect, for a halo, or a robe. But it would be nice to see a genuine effort in being the Christian they claim to be. Cheating on your spouse a night or two before going to church isn't what I would call a Christian. Staying drunk every day except church day isn't what I would call a Christian. Using the GD word in every sentence you use isn't what I would call a Christian. Having 3/4 abortions because the baby isn't your husband's is not what I would call a Christian. Do you get what I'm saying yet? Or is your dislike of me so intense that you would question everything I say no matter if it did make sense to you?

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That's why I said Paul makes it sound as though you have to die so Christ can take over your body. The old you has to die and another you has to be re-born. At least that's the way I see it.