Christian Basic Training-Part V

As a review for this topic, many churches use services to gather people together, perform the newest songs on Christian radio, and allow the popular speaker to share a motivational speech all around an hour timeframe.  Jesus Christ gave His followers a list of things they were commanded to do to qualify as Christians. 

Jesus gave commands, not made suggestions, to the people listening to Him preach.  Christians must do these things, according to Jesus Christ, or they are not obeying the author and finisher of their faith (Hebrews 12:2).  The list presented through these articles can be referenced as Christian Basic Training, much like the military has basic training or boot camp.  People expect the military to have such training to equip all recruits to be good soldiers at the foundational level.  To have strong Christian soldiers they must be taught the basic training principles to excel in their roles and duties as soldiers for God. 

The 12th basic training principle is to read the Word of God.  As previously discussed, Jesus’ custom or routine was to be in the place of worship, but Jesus also read from the Word of God while being there (Luke 4:17-19).  It is important to read the Word of God while at church and not base one’s faith on opinions or feel-good stories.  Christians are not to only read the Word of God while at church but to be in the Word every day to be strengthened, encouraged, corrected, and trained (2 Timothy 3:16).  God’s people cannot know His will if they do not understand His doctrine (John 7:16-19). 

Due to the Jews not having a focus on the Word of God, they did not realize Jesus was discussing the plans God had for Him (John 7:33-36).  When Christians focus more on the Word of God rather than culture or being relevant, there is a deeper spiritual understanding.  Only being a surface-level Christian benefits no one.  Jesus also discusses the Word of God being the truth that sanctifies God’s people from the world and to be more like Him (John 17:17). 

The 13th and last basic training principle is to have their names written in heaven.  Jesus sends 70 disciples out with spiritual power and authority, and they come back amazed at demons being submitted to the name of Jesus (Luke 10:17).  Jesus tells them to not rejoice at this fact but rejoice at the fact of having their name written in heaven (Luke 10:19-20).  This signifies the importance of not the works that are from religiosity but the relationship people must have with God through Jesus Christ. 

The only method to enter into Heaven is to have one’s name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21:27).  This same verse describes nothing defiled, profane, or unclean will enter into Heaven.  Christians must not only turn away from unclean, unholy, and profane things but this style of living as well.  Jesus describes those who conquer or are victorious as being in clean garments reflecting the ones He will acknowledge to God the Father as written in His Book of Life (Revelation 3:5).  Knowing Christians do not fight against flesh and blood but against principalities (Ephesians 6:12), what is this victory over?  It is over the sinful lifestyle, aka desires of the flesh to sin, that Christians contend with propagated by self and the spiritual enemies of the Christian faith.  The Apostle Paul describes some of the fellow believers that have been examples of this within some of his epistles (Philippians 4:3-5).

 For more information about Abundant Grace Church visit agcsparta.org.