The Mark of Authenticity

Scripture: Romans 12:1 | Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.

This morning I went to the web and typed in counterfeit bill.  The first site that popped up on my search engine directed me to the secret service.  A search engine lists other pages on the web where you can find additional information.  The title on the secret service front page said, “KNOW YOUR MONEY.”  It was an article teaching United States citizens how to detect counterfeit money.  It read: “The public has a role in maintaining the integrity of U.S. currency. You can help guard against the threat from counterfeiters by becoming more familiar with United States currency.   Look at the money you receive. Compare a suspect note with a genuine note of the same denomination and series, paying attention to the quality of printing and paper characteristics. Look for differences, not similarities.”  The article then encouraged the study of our currencies portrait, Federal Reserve and Treasury Seal, border and the quality of the paper.  The Secret Service was trying to instruct us in knowing when a bill is counterfeit or an original.  To distinguish between a counterfeit bill and an authentic bill, we must carefully study one that is authentic.  How do you know when someone is an authentic Christ-follower or a counterfeit?  How do you measure the authenticity of someone’s profession of faith in Christ?  Just because someone claims to be a disciple of Christ doesn’t necessarily make him or her one.  I can stand in my garage all day long and claim to be a car, no matter how many times I say it or claim it to be so, doesn’t make me one.  I am not trying to sit in judgment of others but is everybody who claims to a disciple of Christ in really a disciple?  Are they authentic?  How can we tell an authentic disciple from a counterfeit?

God opens with the word “therefore” in our scripture for today.  This word indicates that even though God has identified and defined through His spokesman several key doctrinal truths in the last eleven chapters, they are not for self edification so we can be puffed up with knowledge, they are intended to be lived.  These doctrinal truths include things like: salvation by grace through faith; justification in Christ; freedom from the penalty of sin; forgiveness of sin; election and other key doctrines of the faith.  Paul states by this single word, that the doctrines God has just identified and clarified are more than just to gain understanding and develop spiritual truths.  These doctrines were given to strengthen our commitment to building an intimate relationship with Christ.   These doctrinal truths are intended to be more than just truths we read about, study and teach; they were given to motivate, inspire and encourage us to a greater level in our commitment to Christ.  All the great doctrinal truths found in the Word of God were given not only to anchor our faith but to impact and transform our lives.  They are more than just an intellectual exercise.  They were intended to affect not just our thought life but our practical life as well.  They were purposed for information, education and application.  Knowing a Truth and not practicing that Truth isn’t a truth worth knowing. To be able to understand, discuss, teach or quote doctrinal truth was never God’s ultimate purpose for His truths.  If they are not having an impact in the way we live your lives then we are not fulfilling the purpose for which they were given.

You know what they say?  “The proof is in the pudding.”  Biblical truths and doctrines need to be more than something we believe.  Our belief in these doctrines should lead us to a deeper level in our commitment to Christ.  Truth should  spill over into our behavior, attitude and action.  What good is head knowledge about God and all the doctrines of the faith if that knowledge doesn’t affect and influence the way that we live our lives for Christ.  Luke 11:28; Jesus replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”  How can we claim to be disciples and not practice truth?  The mark of authenticity is a life being continuously transformed by God’s infallible and inerrant truth.

LIFE APP:

1. God gives truth for life transformation – not self edification
2. God expects me to practice/live His truth
3. Disciples don’t just proclaim truth, they live it

PRAY:

1. I believe YOUR truths are for my life transformation
2. I ask YOU to convict me where I am not being compliant
3. I confess I have become a consumer of truth/knowledge/information
4. I know more truth than what I am currently living/practicing
5. I ask that you forgive my hypocrisy and self righteousness
6. I commit to knowing/living/proclaiming YOUR truth

~ by docboz on 12/28/2011.