"Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Rev. 2:10). The word faithful means: "trustworthy, fidelity, i.e., the character of one who can be relied on." It is important for a Christian to live faithfully as each will "give an account of himself to God" (Rom. 14:11-12).
A Christian must be faithful to the word of God. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). John reasons that we become obedient believers of Christ by reading and hearing the word of God, "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing ye might have life through his name" (John 20:31). It follows that since our faith comes by hearing and obeying the word of God, then for us to remain faithful to God, we must be faithful to the word because it is inspired of God. "All scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (II Tim. 3:16-17).
A Christian must be faithful to the word of God because it is the guide to salvation: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation..." (Rom. 1:16). "By which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word..." (I Cor. 15:1-2; Matt. 7:21-23).
A Christian must be faithful to the church. Christ established the church (Matt. 16:18). It is his body (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). He loved the church and gave himself for it (Eph. 5:25). Christians are members of the church (Rom. 12:5) and are to be of "one heart and one soul" (Acts 4:32); in the "same mind" (I Cor. 1:10) which is to be the "mind of Christ" (Phil. 2:5; I Cor. 2:16).
It is impossible to have the mind of Christ and love the church as he did if we are not faithful to the church as set forth in the Bible. To the local congregation, a Christian owes faithful attendance to all services: "seek ye first the kingdom (church) of God" (Matt. 10:25-26). It is not possible to seek first the church and at the same time willfully forsake the assembling of ourselves together. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is...For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin" (Heb. 10:25a-26). The Hebrew writer didn’t say not forsaking the assembly, but the assembling. To forsake the assembly would mean that you didn’t plan to come back. To forsake the assembling, means all the assembling for worship. To willfully forsake that assembling is where the problem is. That assembling for worship is God’s plan for the church. Christ purchased the church with his blood. (Acts 20:28) A Christian will be loyal in attending the assembling.
Christians are known by their fruits (Matt. 7:16-20). Those who truly love God will seek to do his will (I John 5:3) Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Notice what he says of those who keep his commandments. “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him”(John 14:21). We need to ask ourselves; am I truly keeping God’s commandments?
Christians must be faithful to God, and with "one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel" (Phil. 1:27), so we can be the salt of the earth and a light unto the world (Matt. 5:13-16).
"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Pet. 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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