“Christianity isn’t about following a list of rules; it’s about having an abundant life.”
Statements like this are common in the Church, especially in discussions about evangelism. I have so much to say about this statement because it’s basically a truth and a lie mixed together. You see, as a Christian, you can live for yourself or for Christ. You can be the Christian who only uses salvation as a get-out-of-hell-free card or the Christian who lives his or her life with gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice and allegiance to Him alone.
There are commands in the Bible. Trying to wish them away won’t make them disappear. But the commands don’t need to scare or discourage you. You’ll never ever ever be able to follow all of them, but you can be the Christian who tries to live in obedience to them.
Christians will have the most abundant life when they try to honor God.
It’s a lie that Christians have to follow a list of rules to go to heaven. You can’t do anything to earn your salvation, and you can’t do anything to lose it. However, your life won’t be fulfilling if you live for the empty pleasures of this world. You won’t have a very meaningful life as a carnal Christian.
After all…
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15 NASB)
I hate when believers act like they don’t have to obey God’s commands. Yes, it’s true that they don’t have to because they still have freewill. But they’ll live more fully if they’re obedient. God blesses those who follow Him.
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the Lord. Blessed are those who comply with His testimonies, and seek Him with all their heart. (Psalm 119:1-2 NASB)
Your life will be hard as a Christian trying to seek the Lord, but it’ll be harder if you’re running away from Him. When God is for you, no one can be against you (Romans 8:31).
And even though living for God is difficult, it’s truly abundant.
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