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| Fundamental
Features of Christianity
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Fundamentals are a vital concern for whatever
the project or enterprise. Without a firm foundation, any
endeavor is eventually doomed to failure. Fundamentals are the
things that undergird something, the foundation on which that
thing rests. The Christian system has certain fundamental
things that underlie it. These are necessary fundamentals.
Here are some suggestions concerning those essential parts.
Conversion. Conversion indicates a change.
Change is what the “new birth” is all about (John 3:3).
Jesus said, “except a man be born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God.” That conversion is a change of the whole
man–a change of his intellect, brought about by faith; a
change of his will, brought about by repentance; and a change
of his relationship, brought about by baptism. This
fundamental change brings one “into” Christ, or into a new
relationship with Him. “Therefore, if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold, all
things are made new (II Corinthians 5:17). “Except ye be
converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter
into the kingdom of heaven” Jesus said (Matthew 18:3).
Conversion is fundamental to Christianity; it’s what makes
one a Christian in the first place.
Conviction. Conviction issues in two different
directions: it may be the equivalent of faith, or it may be
what is produced by the knowledge of being found guilty. First
of all, it’s being convinced, fully persuaded. That’s
faith. Conviction is faith. “Without faith it is impossible
to please Him,” we are told in Hebrews 11:6. We must be
fully convinced that God is, and that He rewards those who
diligently seek after Him. Faith is an essential part of
Christianity; it is the bedrock foundation on which the entire
system rests.
But conviction can turn in another direction as well. It may
mean one who is convicted by the law, one who is guilty of a
crime, as charged by a judge or jury. Man has to realize his
lost condition before he will turn to God. The people on
Pentecost were “pricked in their hearts” (Acts 2:37)
before they said, “men and brethren, what shall we do?”
One of the purposes of the word of God is to identify sin for
what it is, and cause men to repent. “Godly sorrow worketh
repentance (II Corinthians 6:10). Sorrow for sin comes as a
result of a realization that one is not approved of God
because of that sin. In either case–whether it is understood
as faith, or being found guilty– conviction is a fundamental
part of Christianity.
Consecration. To consecrate something is to set
it apart, to make it sacred. In the case of Christianity,
consecration is an indispensable part of service to God. As we
have seen already, the Christian must be a new creature, one
who has been born again. Once that is accomplished, he then
must consecrate himself to God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
“Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed,”
we are told, “by the renewing of your minds” (Romans
12:1-2). Notice that one must renew his mind in order to be
consecrated to God. He must have a new focus, new desires, a
new attitude toward the world, all of which has to do with his
being set apart or consecrated to God. “Set your affection
on things above, not on things of the world” (Colossians
3:2), is another way of saying, “be consecrated to God
rather than the world.”
Consummation. Consummation is bringing one’s
life to a suitable end or conclusion. “Work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling,” says Paul (Philippians
2:12). You have to work it out yourself; and you have to work
it all the way out to the end, or as Peter says,“Give
diligence to make your calling and elections sure (II Peter
1:10). Consummation, for our purposes, means to bring your
sanctified life to a good conclusion. “Gird up the loins of
your mind, and be sober,” says Peter (I Peter 1:13), “and
hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Live your life here in
such a way that when it is concluded you will hear the
commendation, “well done good and faithful servant...”
Life is a miserable failure if it doesn’t, by the grace of
God, culminate in a heavenly abode.
Fundamentals. They’re necessary to who and what we are. Let
us not become so enamored with where we are that we forget
where we’re going.
Dee Bowman
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Copyright (C)
2008
Southside Church of Christ
All rights reserved.
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