by Amanda Joy Beguerie
Holiness is not and can never be ankle-length skirts, purity rings, or immersion in Christian media to try to fight against the world. Holiness is so much more than that, and we’ve taught ourselves to settle for the symbols instead of the real thing.
I think it’s time we change that.
Welcome back to the Hebrews Bible Study, friends, and thanks for joining me for week seven. Feel free to jump in now if this is your first time here, though you’re also welcome to go back to the beginning and read through it all (and I’ll leave links to each post) and start there. It’s a blessing to have you on this journey along with us!
Continue reading “Why Jesus Is Truly Enough (Hebrews Bible Study: Week 7)”
A lot of people dismiss Christianity as just another religion. But it’s not. And I’m here to show you why.
(Yes, I just gave all you awesome readers an abrupt start. Forgive me, lovely lords and ladies. But please read on.)
When people think of Christianity, a lot of times they think of religion. It’s right up there with Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Mormonism, Judaism…and all those.
But Christianity? It’s not the same. Really. I hesitate to consider it a religion, even though that may be upsetting to some.
Because there is something that stands out about Christianity that other religions do not have.
Freedom and Sincerity.
“But Amanda,” you say, “I’m a Mormon, and I’m very sincere.”
I am sure you are. After all, belief in something is much more than just words. Saying the words “I believe” do not ensure that you actually do, for all that it proves is that you have a voice and a mind.
But freedom? I will explain that in a minute.
I’d like to point out a few things about the Christian life.
First of all, God knows we are not perfect. He knows that we are sinners and, by nature, turn away from Him.
Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
But yet, He extends grace to us, at our darkest. And by receiving that, sin has no power over us anymore.
Romans 6:14
“For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”
And, in turn, we are changed from the inside out.
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Did anyone hear anything about good works earning anything in there? Obligations? Our performance?
Uh, I sure didn’t.
So as I was saying, we have freedom.
Freedom from the power of sin and death over us.
Freedom from eternal life and righteous standing before God being based on works.
Freedom to live for God because of gratitude to Him for your salvation.
Not because you’re locked into tradition.
Not because Mom and Dad make you go to church so that hopefully, religion will rub off on you.
Not because you have obligations to live up to so that you’ll go to Heaven when you die.
Because of the freedom you’ve been given, sincerity springs from that.
And that’s why Christianity is different.
Why we look different. Why act different. Why we are motivated to live a pure and holy life.
Perhaps in the future, I’ll write some blog posts reflecting on other religions.
What I can say is this, however.
I’m not religious.
I’m a Jesus-lover, for He loved me first and pursued my soul.
I’m not living to please God because I have to.
I live to please God because it brings me joy, and the only joy that’ll ever last.
I’m not bound by obligations.
I’m set free by the love of my Creator for me.
1 Peter 2:16
“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.”
And that’s what I want to do.
*aj
