"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
No matter how you slice it, application of God's Word is the true mark of a Christ-follower. It is the fruit produced from a spiritual harvest, defining who we are in the midst of a world bent against Christianity. Bottom-line: Application is our call to obedience, not merely knowledge attainment, lest we become Pharisaical.
Scripture speaks clearly on the implications of confessing Christ as our personal Savior. It requires full submission to the authority of the Bible, producing works that do not save but publicly mirror the inward work of the Holy Spirit. It provides accountability for our lives that measures what fruit we truly bear, and holds us to a standard the world does not comprehend. Yet many confess Christ but (in truth) continue to live consumed with pleasing their fleshly desires rather than fulfilling the will of God found in Scripture.
Peter understood this dilemma and echoed James by stating that it would be better for a believer to not know the way of righteousness than be filled with knowledge and lack application (2 Peter 2:21). For it is our application of the Bible's instructions, warnings and encouragements that identifies who we are both publicly and to one another within the body of Christ. It does no one any good when we remain timid, silent and reserved. Therefore, we must take a stand. Yes, discern and pray on all occasions to ensure the Spirit is leading in decisions made, but step forward in faith and ACT! For the world is in desperate need of Christians who take their faith serious enough to emulate the light of Christ in thought AND action.
We are our greatest asset and liability in the advancement of the Gospel throughout the world. Let us not forget that truth lest we cause more division in the body and quench the Spirit's fire by our lazy application of God's Word. Because simply knowing what it says is unacceptable in today's culture.
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