Our Relationship to God and Others

What is our role as believers?

It is one of the most misunderstood aspects of modern Christianity.  Perhaps because we are not aware enough of God's active role in our life and in our world, we can become confused about where we stand, and what is required of us, in relation to God and others.

But the Gospels, the words of Jesus Himself, are very clear.  There is no wiggle room to put on a different hat than what God ordains for us each.

We are commanded to:

• Love others (be patient, kind, long-suffering etc) (John 13:34, 1 Cor 13)
  
• Serve others (Mark 10:43-45)
• Invite and welcome others to Jesus (Matthew 28:16-20)
• Be bothered by & work on our own sin (Matthew 7:3, Luke 18:9-14)

We are commanded not to:

• Pass judgement on other's salvation / righteousness (Matthew 7:1-6)
  
• Be self-righteous in comparing ourselves to others (Luke 18:9-14)
• Pass judgement on others because of differences in how they follow Christ (Romans 14:13-23)
• Place any rules/ law above Jesus' love and salvation (Gal 3:1-14)

We exist to  
1) Share Jesus  2) Welcome others 3) Give God better.
 
This is meaty stuff.  Yes, we simplified it into 7 words.  However, don't ever be misled that something simple is not also the highest bar set in the history of humanity.
 
We will each feel tempted to fall into the trap of placing ourselves and our opinions and even our beliefs and experiences in faith higher than others.  Be careful, believers!  Jesus, and Jesus' followers must walk forward into the world in love, humility, and deep self-awareness of our own frailty and faultiness.  Only Jesus saves.  Only grace triumphs.  Only the Lord is God.  Everything else, every idea, every sin, every word and posture, fades into nothingness in the light of His glory and goodness.

See you Sunday at 10 AM!  We believe this one hour each week can change every other hour of your life!  Invite a friend, you may never know the difference it will make.