For the Christian, Christ must be central. In our fallen and egocentric condition, we become the center of our existence. The consequence of this is a supplanting of the truth of God with our own ideas. I have many times heard people say, "Well, I think…" when talking about doctrine and Biblical truths. There is no place in these things for our own "opinion". If Christ is genuinely the center of our lives and faith, our only concern should be His Word and Will.
Concerned about what they see happening in the Evangelical Christian Church, a group of men joined under the banner of "The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals". They are calling the church back to the central issues of the Reformation, including the centrality of Christ. Here is what they confess on this subject:
"We reaffirm that our salvation is accomplished by the mediatorial work of the historical Christ alone. His sinless life and substitutionary atonement alone are sufficient for our justification and reconciliation to the Father.
We deny that the gospel is preached if Christ's substitutionary work is not declared and faith in Christ and his work is not solicited."
Many pulpits in the church no longer proclaim the "mediatorial work of the historical Christ alone" for salvation. But what about us as individuals. Does this message have to do only with the pulpit ministry? Failure to put Christ at the central place in our personal lives and faith will cause us to distort the truth. We will fail to trust Him and begin to trust ourselves or a past event (sinner's prayer, trip to the altar, etc) rather than Christ.
In my own life God has given me a hunger for deeper intimacy with God. While I reject the idea that my 'feelings and experiences' validate or direct my faith, I am persuaded that as Christ is kept at the center of my life He will come in and sup with me. Revelation 3:20 was, after all, written to believers, not unbelievers.
"Lord, help me to not be distracted from Your person, Your will and Your truth. You are the one working in me to accomplish all that is to be done and can be done. Empower me to fix my eyes on You and trust You to do that which fulfills Your plan and purpose for this life. In Jesus' name. Amen."
Pertinent Passages for you to look up:
Philippians 3:7-11
1 John 2:12-29;
1 John 3:3;
Amen - let it be so.
Shalom
Bob Goldsby
Devotions TOC
Goldsby Home Page
City Harvest Church Vancouver, WA
Posted 24 October 1997
Acts 17:28,
2 Corinthians 5:16-21,
Colossians 2:9-10