REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD BE A COMMITTED AND NOT A NOMINAL CHRISTIAN

Dear friend, are you a committed or nominal Christian? To make it clearer, we will define a nominal Christian as one who attends Church on Sundays and does not get involved especially in evangelism or other Church activities.

A nominal Christian does not pay tithes nor contribute financially to Church projects.

Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us in Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."

This directive from Jesus Christ is to everyone who has accepted Him as Saviour and Lord of his or her life. How can you receive such a beautiful gift as salvation of your soul and then refuse to obey the Lord's command to share with others?

Many Christians shy away from Evangelism because of the fear of rejection and embarrassment from those they approach to share the Gospel with. Some think they should not be seen as being too religious so that people will not mock them when they engage in worldly activities.

Paul tells us in God's Word in Romans 1:16-17, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Therefore, the Christian believer should not bother about rejection or shame but go ahead to plant the seed by sharing the Word of God with those who need it and following up with prayer.

Another person will water the seed planted by further Gospel messages to the same person(s) and God will give increase and nurture it by converting the soul even if the person rejected the Gospel initially (1 Corinthians 3:7).

1 Corinthians 3:8 states "Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor."

There is a talk about a reward for the labour in preaching the Gospel. There is also a reward for every good work done in the Lord's service, as the Word of God states in 1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

Dear friend, whether you preach the gospel, pay tithe, help a person in need, correct those going astray with God's Word in the Bible, whatever it is, there is a reward here on earth and at eternity.

God's Word states in 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, "each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."

What most Christians are unaware of is that a Crown will be given to everyone who has Jesus Christ as Saviour and has lived true to the Gospel as a committed Christian.

Now, that crown will have stars on it and the number of stars will depend on the quality of service the person rendered here on earth to God by way of evangelism, helping the poor and needy, praying for others, turning others away from sin to Christ Jesus and all such good works.

What most Christians are also unaware of is that whenever you pay your tithes or contribute financially to the work of the Gospel in whatever way, the angels record it in heaven and work on your eternal home in heaven continues.

When no work is recorded against a nominal Christian, the angels are idle and not building the person's eternal home.

Recall our Lord Jesus Christ tells us in John 14:2-4, "In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

Our Lord Jesus is clearly referring to the house each Christian person would live in heaven and now you know that this house is built from the tithes you pay and financially contributions you make to the Work of the Gospel here on earth.

The reward God gives to committed Christians is twofold - here on earth and in the hereafter in heaven.

You have a legitimate claim to ask God for help when you are a committed Christian because God's Word in the Holy Bible says so. You can be sure God would respond because He is faithful to His Word.

On the other hand, you have no right to ask God for help if you are a nominal Christian who does not care about serving God through investing your time and resources in Christian projects or sharing the Gospel with others who truly need Christ as God has commanded.

God's Word states in 1 Samuel 2:30b, "for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed."

God's Word states in Deuteronomy 7:9-10, “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face."

For those who share the Gospel of repentance and Salvation and win souls for Christ, this is what God's Word says:

Daniel 12:3 "Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.

Proverbs 11:30 "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.”

Dear friend, now that you know the value of being a committed and not a nominal Christian, I urge you to begin today and now to make a covenant with God in prayer to become a committed Christian and begin to serve God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

However, it is pertinent to note that good works alone would not save you as a Christian and qualify you to enter heaven when you exit this world.

What would save you and anyone else for that matter is to ensure to live out the Gospel daily according to God's commandments in the Holy Bible. 

The Holy Bible is the standard that would be used to measure all Christians and God will NEVER show partiality to anyone on account of social status while here on earth (Romans 2:11).

As our Lord Jesus Christ has said in John 8:31-32, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Jesus Christ has also said in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

It is therefore not enough to profess Jesus Christ verbally but important to be a doer of His Word so that you can contribute effectively to God's service here on earth and enjoy all the rewards in eternity in heaven where Christ is.

May the good Lord bless you as you heed His Word today, act on it and share with others in Jesus' Most Wonderful Name, Amen.

Gabriel Ama.