NUGGETS: Three steps of Christianity – Odessa American

By Jannie Linney
There are many places in the Bible that explains the main trail of Christianity. There are many more steps of developing the steps. Today I want to show this one path of three steps. We see all through the word Salvation, Sacrifice and Service.
Salvation: The Thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill and to destroy [John 10:10A]. The only reason the devil would bother with us is to destroy us. He hates us because God made us in His image and likeness. Satan hates us because we look like God, His image and we act like God, His likeness. Satan hates God and we remind him of God. Satan also hates us because God loves us so much. He loves us so much He sent His only Son to die on the cross for us, so our sins could be forgiven and we could spend all eternity in heaven with Him.
Sacrifice: The devil wants to kill us before we get saved [Born Again of the Spirit of God], If He can’t accomplish that, then he wants to kill us after we get saved so we can’t win anyone else to the Lord. If he can’t get that done, he tries to pull us away from the things of God and His presences, so we won’t be of any value to the kingdom. Not being of any help to the Kingdom, but even a bad influence, so we give Christianity a bad name. Lost people say, “If that’s the way Christians are I don’t want to be one or they say, I live better than those Christians, so I know a good God would not send me to hell and let them go into heaven.”
Because of this attitude, many people dismiss the whole idea of ever becoming a Christian. So God gave us a message about hindering others where the Kingdom is concerned. “It was better for Him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones” [Luke 17:2]. If a person does anything that hinders people from following the Lord with their lifestyle, it sure doesn’t look good for Christians who live in sin!
He Came: That we might have life and that we might have life more abundantly. [John 10:10B] Now we are not talking just about when we go to heaven, yes, yes!!! That too. We know He paid the price for us from hell to heaven. Thank You Jesus! However, He paid the price for everything we need while we live here on earth. Jesus paid the agonizing price for us to move from darkness to light, the price from sickness to health, from anxiety to peace, paid the price from poverty to prosperity, on and on! He taught us that we might teach others.
Jesus paid the price that we could have authority over what He has assigned us to. He told Adam and Eve “Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it: and have dominion. [Gen.1:28]. That was general instruction for all mankind. “Behold I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” [Luke 10:19]. That sounds like a lot of authority to me, to serve!
The Lord wanted us to be blessed on the way to heaven. Are you blessed? Are you having an abundant life, even a more abundant life? If not, maybe you would like to come into this first step of Christianity. Jesus is “The Way” into that life. Just ask Him to forgive you of all your sins, be willing to give them up, and then ask Him to come into your heart. If you are willing Jesus will take it from there. Always make decisions that take you UP to Him. Resist those that would take you down, back into the old life. Satan never wants to turn any one loose. He will do anything it takes, mostly lie and keep you bound in sin. Choose the way up today.
Choose today “Three Steps of Christianity.”

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