If Yes, then try asking why. If the response comes that you need to join them in order to be saved, then don’t join them. Why? Because they are indirectly telling you that you are not yet saved; that you are yet apart from Christ. And that’s not true, because God through Christ has already saved us all from sin. How?
The Bible says all died when Christ died (2 Cor 5:14,15). Apostle Paul explains that he was crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20), but was he there hanging on the cross with Him when Christ was hanging on the cross? No. Same thing applies to us all now. We were not there when Christ was crucified, but just like Paul, we were crucified with Christ, and hence died when He died. Having died with Him, we are now free from sin (Rom 6:7), because the blood of Christ washed us clean from sin (Rev 1:5). That simply means we were forgiven from ALL sins (Col 2:13). Our sins and iniquities God remembers NO MORE (Heb 10:16, 17).
But we did not just die with Christ. God also made us alive TOGETHER with Him when He raised Him from the grave (Eph 2:4-6). Through His resurrection, God caused us to be born again (1 Pet 1:3). Hence we are spiritually alive, and therefore attached to Christ because He is our life (Col 3:4). We are part of His Body (1 Cor 12:12-27). Attached to Him Who is our Strength (Phil 4:13), we have His Power to overcome evil with good (Rom 12:21). And overcomers will not be blotted out from the book of life (Rev 3:5), and will be seated with Christ – Who also is an overcomer – in His throne (Rev 3:21).
The question for you to ponder is, have you been overcome of evil instead of overcoming evil with good? If Yes, then be an overcomer. Overcome evil with good. The fight is not over yet. There’s hope while alive. Fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim 6:12; 2 Tim 4:7). God has given us faith (Rom 12:3) so we can please Him (Heb 11:6) and gain victory over the world (1 John 5:4). Through Christ, we are more than conquerors (Rom 8:37).
The Bible says all died when Christ died (2 Cor 5:14,15). Apostle Paul explains that he was crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20), but was he there hanging on the cross with Him when Christ was hanging on the cross? No. Same thing applies to us all now. We were not there when Christ was crucified, but just like Paul, we were crucified with Christ, and hence died when He died. Having died with Him, we are now free from sin (Rom 6:7), because the blood of Christ washed us clean from sin (Rev 1:5). That simply means we were forgiven from ALL sins (Col 2:13). Our sins and iniquities God remembers NO MORE (Heb 10:16, 17).
But we did not just die with Christ. God also made us alive TOGETHER with Him when He raised Him from the grave (Eph 2:4-6). Through His resurrection, God caused us to be born again (1 Pet 1:3). Hence we are spiritually alive, and therefore attached to Christ because He is our life (Col 3:4). We are part of His Body (1 Cor 12:12-27). Attached to Him Who is our Strength (Phil 4:13), we have His Power to overcome evil with good (Rom 12:21). And overcomers will not be blotted out from the book of life (Rev 3:5), and will be seated with Christ – Who also is an overcomer – in His throne (Rev 3:21).
The question for you to ponder is, have you been overcome of evil instead of overcoming evil with good? If Yes, then be an overcomer. Overcome evil with good. The fight is not over yet. There’s hope while alive. Fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim 6:12; 2 Tim 4:7). God has given us faith (Rom 12:3) so we can please Him (Heb 11:6) and gain victory over the world (1 John 5:4). Through Christ, we are more than conquerors (Rom 8:37).
