One of the major differences between religion and Christianity is that the former is based on certain ideologies whereas the latter is based on a person. In other words, one can be religious without having any personal knowledge of its founder, but one cannot be a true Christian without having a personal knowledge and relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Notice a few verses spoken by the Lord Himself.
“And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40)
       - Who gets everlasting life? The one who sees the Son and believes in Him.
“And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." (John 8:23, 24)
       - Who will die in their sins? The one who refuses to believe the deity of Christ will die in their sins. Faith in Christ’s perfect divinity and perfect manhood is imperative for salvation.
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)
       - Once again the Lord underscores the importance of knowing Him as the eternal Son, distinct from God the Father in the Godhead.
Let’s consider three requirements about this knowledge

a. Scriptural

This understanding about the Lord Jesus Christ should be as revealed in the New Testament, not as any of the diverse opinions propagated by the sceptics.

b. Intimate

It should not be just an intellectual awareness, but a very personal and experiential understanding.

c. Transformative

It should affect one’s heart and mind and thus the whole life being changed.
       Of course, there is a ‘Christian religion’ too which.............>>>More

NTK

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Out line:-

Believer’s Unsearchable Riches in Christ, (Eph 3:8)

1. Riches of His goodness, Rom 2:4
2. Riches of His glory, Rom 9:23; Eph 3:16
3. Riches of the wisdom and Knowledge of God, Rom 11:33
4. Riches of His Grace, Eph 1:7
5. Riches of the glory of His inheritance, Eph 1:18
6. His Riches in Glory, Phil 3:19
7. Riches of the glory of mystery, Colo 1:27
8. Riches of the full assurance of understanding, Colo 2:2
9. Riches of the reproach of Christ, Heb 11:26

   

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Anecdote: -

Growing in the Lord

A group of tourists visiting a picturesque village walked by an old man sitting beside a fence. In a rather patronizing way, one tourist asked him, “Were any great men born in this village?” The old man replied, “Nope, only babies.”
       Every person who is a born-again believer starts life as a baby in Christ. Whether the new convert is six or sixty, that person is still a new Christian and needs to grow in the Lord. A baby Christian who has been saved for forty years is a tragedy. God intends for us to grow and mature so that we can be a positive influence in the lives of others. Until we learn to dig into the meat of the Word for ourselves, we will never grow.

— Author: John Maxwell

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Exhortation: -

Let Nothing Move You

By Sam K. John, Bangalore

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1Cor 15:58)

In 1 Corinthians chapter 15, Paul gives an exposition of the mystery of the resurrection. After explaining what will happen to our bodies after our death and the glorious hope that all of us have in Christ, he concludes with a very practical aspect in verse 58.
    Paul was an amazing theologian and a prolific writer. God used him to reveal some of the wonderful mysteries of God through his written work. Yet, he was a very practical person, for he knew that life on this earth is a tough one. He writes this to Corinthians as an exhortation and encouragement.
    Let’s read the same verse in another translation. “Oh, my dear brothers and sisters stand firm let nothing move you, always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
    ‘Let nothing move you’; let nothing stop you from serving the Lord, let nothing rob you of your zeal and joy of serving Christ in His vineyard. When Paul wrote this exhortation, he knew from his own experience that we live in a broken world where the fallen effects of sin have a possibility of affecting us at every turn of our lives.

Shaking Stories

‘Let nothing move you’. A few months ago I happened to stay at the home of an evangelist .....More

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Meditation: -

Straying into a Slippery Path! Joshua 1:7, 8

By Stanley K Sam, Secunderabad

God prepared Joshua for a successful service by revealing the inspired Word. But it had to be kept by the people in obeying the Word. Because God is the Author, it is always "alive and powerful" (Hebrews 4:12). It's by applying Scripture that our meditations will ultimately lead to an abundant and maturing Christian life. Every step we take by placing faith in God's grace, there's the promise of His salvation and His continuous provision.
       Though we'll have trials, struggles and troubles yet with all these there is also God’s promise of deliverances throughout our lives. Just as Joshua had overcome the fortified strongholds in Canaan, so we must wrestle with sin that indwells us and live victoriously against the supernatural powers of darkness and the ungodly system of the world.…More

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News & Views: -

Unprecedented Atrocities against Christians

Tribal Christians in the state of Chhattisgarh in India have been going through unparalleled persecution in the recent months. The recent aggression intensified when the majority community groups conducted series of regional meetings and made various measures to pressurise Christians to either convert to their religion or leave the village itself. They banned Christians from attending prayers, conducting rituals like wedding or funerals. They also banned Christian leaders from visiting members’ homes, and even restricted Christians from buying or selling goods and from working.
       When such tactics were not successful, Christians were brutally attacked and evicted from their homes. They also vandalised and demolished their houses and prayer halls. As a result, around 1500 were displaced in 33 villages of Narayanpur and Kondagaon region of Chhattisgarh.
       According to some civil rights groups, it was due to the inaction of the authorities that violence escalated against tribal Christians. It is estimated that during the past 3 years, 400 incidents of violence against Christians have been documented in Chhattisgarh.

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Worthy Quotes:-