Beyond Easy Believism

The new birth comes when we yield ourselves completely to Christ and trust Him to forgive our sins and guide our actions. The new birth is an inner spiritual transformation which comes when Christ enters our lives. We don't earn this new status by our efforts or by good works, it is a gift from God, bestowed freely on all who ask Him for it (Eph. 2:8,9). It may involve elation but it is more than an emotional high. Those who want to be born again are freely received and brought into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Such people are truly born again--into God's family. They have become God's children because they have committed themselves to Him. At the beginning, perhaps, this new birth is "mere belief," but the sincere child of God begins to develop "real conviction and practice." Frequently, we are tempted to slip into an easy believism--that modern form of religion built on atheistic humanism--and at times most of us give in to the temptation. But God gently prods us and encourages us to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). Slowly our lives become a reflection, not of worthless religion but of a dynamic spirituality. This is pure and faultless religion. It involves a growing relationship with Jesus Christ which goes beyond easy believism. It is identified at least by these 10 characteristics: costly commitment; solid intellectualism; stable emotionalism; a separated life style; selfless success; giving love; sanctified sex; changed home life; meaningful worship; and realistic hope.