Tag Archives: Reformation

Who am I?

I am a Christian.  I am not a Nicewander.  I am not a Texan.  I am not an American.  I am a Christian.

I am not a Baptist.  I am not a Calvinist.  I am not Reformed.  I am a Christian.

But, what defines me as Christian?  What makes me a Christian?  What causes me to do what I do, to speak what I speak, to live as I live?

When I speak, what do people hear?  When I do, what do people see?  When I act, what do men say that I believe?

Would they say that I am a follower of Christ?  Would they say that my love is for Him?  Would they see a heart that yearns for Christ, that aches for Christ, that would give up all just to have Christ?

Do I follow Christ?  Do I live for Christ?  Do I love Him and do I strive with all of my being to make Him known?  Am I so reliant upon Christ that I am worthless and as nothing without Him?

Oh, may God give me the grace to be thus!  When men see me, may they see a Christian, a follower of Christ, and one who Loves Him!

May I know that no one can take His place!  My wife may love me, support and encourage me, but she will someday die and leave me.  My family, as loyal as they might be, will fail me.  Christ is all I need!  Men will fail me, Christ will not.

Though doctrine is vitally important to my spiritual well-being, it is but a means to know Christ.  As comforting as the Doctrines of Grace are to my soul, they are merely telling me about the love of my Wonderful Savior.  May my love be for Christ!  May my hope be in Him!

Oh, would that my love for Christ would overflow!  In Christ I can be the son to my parents that I ought to be.  In Christ I can seek their council, and enjoy their support, because I know that it is ultimately in Christ that I am truly comforted.  In Christ I can be the brother I should be, loyal and kind, for I know that as I do good to others I am really showing my love for Christ.  In Him I can be what I should be for my sweet wife, in Christ I can know how to lead and to care.  How cruel it would be to make her my hope!  How hateful it would be to put such a pressure on her, a pressure that only Christ can handle!  How spiteful I would be to her in trusting my heart and emotions to her!  Oh, but as my hope and trust is in Christ, I can truly be for her what I should!

Oh, would that in respect for Christ, and desire for Him, I would know doctrine!  Oh, would that I would study Him, and seek after His truth!  Would that His love would drive me to know the Word of God, and fight for the Truth within its pages!  Oh, that I would have a sound worldview, a proper metaphysics, and a sound systematic theology!  Without Christ these things mean nothing.  They are worthless to save me, and powerless to love.  Oh, but in Christ I have a basis for belief, and a foundation for life!

And I pray with all that is within me, with tears and groans that Christ would enable me to glorify Him.  What an indictment if I dishonor Him!  What an indictment if I am a source and encouragement for others to curse and deride Him!  Oh, I plead with Him to do whatever it takes, however it takes, whenever it takes to glorify Him!  As He is my all in all, my hope, and the only one I ever need, I am His to use as He sees fit.  His Will is good.  His Love is eternal.  His Grace is Astounding.  And He is worthy of all honor, glory, and praise.

If you read this, and don’t know Christ, I have one word for you:

Believe.

Believe in Christ.  Trust Him for your soul.  There is a Holy God who rules and reigns over all.  And you are a sinner.  The Righteous God will not and cannot permit sin and rebellion.  A price must and will be paid.  Would you like to pay it yourself?  You can try running from Him, you can try hiding from Him, but sooner or later your time will come, and the price WILL be paid.

What can be done?

Believe.

Believe in the One who has paid the price.  Believe in the One who has satisfied Justice.  Believe in the One who has provided Salvation in all righteousness and holiness.  Believe, and you will be saved.  Believe, and you will know the depths and the breadth of the love of God.  He does not promise an easy life.  He does not promise physical safety and well-being.  He does promise His Grace, He does promise His Love.  He does promise Himself, and that’s all you’ll ever need.

Come know the cool sweetness of the everlasting flow of the River of Christ’s love!  Come see the majestic might of the towering peaks of Christ’s grace!  Come rest in the arms of the King of Kings, sink into His sovereign mercy and cling to His eternal grace!  Again, I say: believe!  Trust not in yourself, trust not in your philosophy, metaphysics, or systematic theology!  Trust in Christ!  Believe in Him!  Flee from your sin, flee unto Christ, and find in Him the Love you seek, the Grace you Need, and the Hope that never fails nor fades!

Believe!

Who am I?

I am Christ’s, and He is all I need.