TO THE BIBLE - 2 Timothy 3:16 NIV
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

LET’S TALK
Just because some people claim to be Christians and have chosen a kind of Christianity that isn’t based on the Scriptures doesn’t mean what they practice is true Christianity. Authentic Christianity is built on the Bible—the Word of God.

Our opening scripture says, “All Scripture is God- breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting
and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV). Every true Christian accepts the Bible as absolutely true and final. It is the foundation and standard for everything in life. If someone does not believe this, then according to the Bible, that person is not truly a Christian.

A Christian also believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, which means He is God in the flesh. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14 NKJV). Furthermore, a Christian acknowledges that Jesus died for our sins: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NKJV).

The Christian also believes and declares that Jesus rose from the dead and is alive today. “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9 NKJV). The Lord Jesus Himself said, “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Revelation 1:18 KJV).

So no matter what title a person holds or how long he’s identified as a Christian, if he doesn’t believe, accept, and declare these truths, he’s not a Christian, according to the Bible! This is where the definition of a Christian begins.

It’s because the transcendent life in Christ that the Bible talks about is only available to those who believe. Believing involves two essential components: accepting the truthfulness of something and confessing it, while acting accordingly. Without these, belief is incomplete.

GO DEEPER
Romans 10:8-10; 1 John 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:16

PRAY
Dear Father, I thank you for the light of your Word that defines and directs my life. I believe, accept, confess, and proclaim the absolute truth of the Scriptures. I boldly affirm that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, died as my Saviour, was raised from the dead, and now lives in my heart by His Spirit. I live by these truths, walking in the full blessings of your Word, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

DAILY BIBLE READING
ONE YEAR
Hebrews 4:14-5:1-10, Jeremiah 7-8

TWO YEAR
1 Peter 3:13-22, Ezekiel 37

ACT
Take time today to examine your faith—are you standing firmly on God’s Word and living by the truth of who Jesus is?