In Touch Ministries

Guest (Male): What in the world is the church? The church is made up of believers everywhere, in every country in the world, in every part of this globe. The church, the body of Christ is every single believer. It has nothing to do with being a Baptist, a Methodist, a Presbyterian, a Catholic, or anything else. The body of Christ is that group of people who have trusted Jesus Christ as their personal savior and now have become a part of the body of Christ. God is our heavenly Father. And so God has made it possible for each one of us to belong to his church.

Guest (Male): For many people, church is synonymous with obligation, ritual, and earning points with God. But is that all there is to it? Today on In Touch, the teaching ministry of Dr. Charles Stanley, we'll hear about the crucial role of the church that Jesus established as we continue our series, "Know What You Believe." Let's listen in to Dr. Stanley's message.

Dr. Charles Stanley: I want to talk about this whole idea of a belief system. And I want to give you a pattern of a belief system. That is, I want to give you a list of things that certainly should be a part of your belief system. That is, what you believe, those things that govern and guide your lifestyle and how you operate.

Now, here's what I want you to think about for a moment. And this is why it's so important that you and I understand what we believe. I want you to think for just a moment, not what you do, I want you to think about who you are. Listen to this. Who are you? Here's who you are.

As a child of God, listen, as a child of God, you are a person who owns the most precious, valuable thing in the face of this earth. A record of the living revelation of Almighty God, accurate for living in this life and for dying by. You and I have the Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, who's on our side and who is working in our behalf.

We have God the Father, we can come to as a child and pray to, and who will hear and answer our prayer. We have Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is our Lord and Master and King, one who lives on the inside of us and who will enable us and strengthen us. One who has forgiven us of our sin. We have the Holy Spirit, who has indwelt us and sealed us forever as a child of the living God.

You and I know that we have been created in the image of Almighty God. That we are fallen creatures, yes we are, but we are forgiven, listen, by the salvation that has been purchased at Calvary through the death of Jesus Christ. He says, "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." "If thou shall confess with thy mouth, Jesus Christ is Lord, thou shalt be saved."

And you remember what Paul says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Everywhere you turn in the Bible, salvation is the result of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Salvation's not good works. A person who is saved does good works. Salvation isn't believing something necessarily. Salvation is receiving by faith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the eternal Son of God, virgin born, conceived of the Spirit, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, believing Jesus Christ is personal savior, that's what brings about all of our forgiveness.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me." And my friend, no matter what you believe, no matter how much you try to believe it, how good you try to be, if you reject the Son of God, there is no salvation. If you reject Jesus Christ as your savior and Lord, when you die, there is absolute no hope of salvation. There's not a single verse in this book that says that in spite of the fact that you have rejected Jesus Christ, you're going to be saved. No.

What he gives us, he gives us eternal security. Eternal security is the work of God whereby he guarantees that the gift of salvation, once received, can never be lost. That's what salvation's all about. It isn't something that I get because of my behavior, it isn't something that I can keep because of my behavior. It is a relationship. It is not something I believe, it isn't something I attend, it is not something I belong to, it is a personal relationship with the Son of God as a result of our simple faith in him.

Salvation. Well, the next word I want you to put in your category of belief is this, and that is the church. The church. What in the world is the church? The church is made up of believers everywhere, in every country in the world, in every part of this globe. The church, the body of Christ, is every single believer. It has nothing to do with being a Baptist, a Methodist, a Presbyterian, a Catholic, or anything else.

The body of Christ is that group of people who have trusted Jesus Christ as their personal savior and now have become a part of the body of Christ. God is our heavenly Father, we are his children. The body of believers are to express themselves in love for one another, encouraging each other, uplifting each other, praying for each other, and helping each other in times of need. That should be the expression that the world sees of us.

And that is that we are followers of Jesus Christ, that our conduct is in keeping with the one whom we call as the Lord and the Master of our life. When we think in terms of what is the work of the church, ultimately it is this. The church is not a country club, the church is not just a place for social action, the church is not just a place for social fellowship, though all those things are a part of it. The church is the body of Christ, indwelled by the Holy Spirit, enabled by the Holy Spirit, corporately and individually as a person.

And what is our responsibility? Our responsibility is to do exactly what Jesus said when he said, "As you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all the things that I've commanded you, and lo, I'm with you all the way even to the end of this age." And therefore, the privilege of being able to be a part of the church is a wonderful privilege that God has given us.

And therefore, to be able to assemble together and to pray together and to pray for one another, all of this is extremely important in the eyes of God. Because he has given us a mission, the reason God has sown this world down in New Testament churches is because it is his purpose and his goal that the church of the Lord Jesus Christ proclaim the name of Jesus. Our mission is clear, our work is very clear.

We're not to do many things that oftentimes churches get sidetracked to doing. Our primary responsibility, proclaim the gospel, love people, help them to understand what it means to receive Jesus, disciple, grow them up and that each one of us would multiply our witness and our testimony for Jesus Christ. In the church, for example, there are two ordinances that we practice. Two according to the scripture. There are only two in the Bible. The first one is baptism. What is baptism?

Baptism by immersion, which is the scriptural way to baptize, not sprinkle, not pour on, but by immersion. Baptism by immersion, because what we have to ask is what is baptism all about? Baptism is a picture that God has given us of what happens to every single person who is saved, who is forgiven of their sins and who becomes a child of God. What happens is this. We place our faith in Jesus Christ and our sins are forgiven.

And we are regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit living on the inside of us, we get a new spirit, we get a new life, and we get a whole new destiny. What do we do? That means that we have turned from our old life, we're walking in a new direction. So what do we do? We baptize by immersion because that's what the Bible teaches. Died to our old life, buried in Christ Jesus, risen to walk in newness of life.

The unbelieving world has a right to expect something new and different about us because we've died to our old way of life, buried in Christ and risen to walk in newness of life. Is baptism important? It is absolutely important, or Jesus would not have said, "As you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them." Why? Because he wants every single believer to do what? To simply bear witness and to declare before the world.

I have died to my old way of life. I have been buried in Christ Jesus, which means I've placed my life in him. And now I have risen from that old life to walk in newness of life in the fullness and the power and the joy of the Holy Spirit of the living God. And now you can expect my character, my conversation, my conduct to be different because I have a new spirit, I have a new life, I am born again. I am a child of the living God.

Therefore, when we think in terms of baptism, baptism is extremely important. When a person says, "Well, I've been saved, but I've not been baptized. I don't think it's important," then you've not read the scripture. Baptism is absolutely important. Now listen carefully. Baptism does not save you. Baptism is an expression of your obedience.

To refuse to be baptized is to express disobedience. It is an outright denial of the command of God. He says, if we've been saved, we should be baptized. And what we are doing, we are declaring to the world and to the church that we are now a part of the body of Christ. Well, what about the Lord's Supper? Is the Lord's Supper some optional idea? No. You remember what he says in the Gospels, Jesus said it this way.

He said, "In the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the wine, he says, 'This is my body, broken for you.'" "This is my blood, it's the blood of a new covenant." That is, from this point on, what happens, and you'll recall in the crucifixion of Jesus, that the veil in the temple was rent from top to bottom. No more sacrifices, no more Holy of Holies. Why? Because Jesus Christ at that moment, he chose to come into the life of every single one of us who's been saved. And that's why he said, "I am abiding in you, and you are abiding in me. I in you, you in me."

And if you'll recall that oftentimes Paul would talk about being in Christ and Christ in us. The Christian life is all about Jesus Christ living his life in us. So that when we come to this Lord's table, which we call communion. And we talk about celebrating. What are we celebrating? While it is a time to examine our hearts, primarily, it is a time to celebrate, to celebrate what? To celebrate, listen, his crucifixion for our sin, which has provided for our forgiveness.

It is a time to celebrate that forgiveness. It is a time to celebrate, listen, not only that crucifixion but to celebrate his resurrection and to celebrate the awesome anticipation that you and I have that Jesus Christ is coming again. The Lord's Supper is a time of commemoration, it is a time of celebration, it should be a time of joy and expectation that our savior who gave his life at Calvary has given us the awesome, unchangeable, irrevocable promise. And that is, "I'm coming again to receive you to myself where I am, there you may be also."

The church has an awesome responsibility to evangelize the world. And because every single one of us is an individual member of the church. We too share in that responsibility to evangelize the world. We have two ordinances, baptism and the Lord's Supper, both of which are absolutely essential, listen, not to salvation but to obedience.

A person can go to communion. You can be baptized 10 times. It won't get you into heaven. These are symbolical things that indicate the fact that you have a new spirit, a new life. And when you and I come to the Lord's table, we're coming with praise and thanksgiving for what he's done and the blessed assurance that what we have, we can never lose and that is eternal life.

Well, when you think in terms of what ought to be in your belief system. Another word I want you to write down is the Christian life. What about the Christian life? What is the Christian life? The Christian life is simply this: it is Christ living in us and Christ expressing his life through us. His what? His character, his conduct, and his conversation.

Those of us who are believers are those who have received Jesus Christ as our savior. The Holy Spirit is indwelling us. And he's the one who's bearing the fruit of good conduct, good character, and good conversation. So that when somebody says, "What is a Christian?" A Christian is one who has received the Lord Jesus Christ as personal savior and one in whom and through whom Jesus Christ is expressing his very life and very nature.

Now, when we think in terms of the Christian life, we think in terms of you say, "Well, what does a Christian do?" Well, let me put it this way, first of all, the most important thing is this. As a child of God, it is the will and purpose of God for us who are believers to grow in our relationship with him. Remember that the Christian life is a relationship with Jesus Christ, we are to grow.

Listen carefully, we ought to progressively mature in our relationship with Jesus Christ. That is, he says, for example, "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." How are we to do that? Well, there are several things involved in that, but I want you to understand that it is not enough to be saved and stopped. That is because this is a relationship, we are to grow in our relationship, growing in our intimacy of him, growing in our understanding of him, growing in our commitment to him, growing in our surrender to him.

Because when you and I were saved, we were like diamonds in the rough, and some of us were pretty rough. And so therefore, what does God do? He begins his work of doing what? Maturing us, polishing us, shining us, working in our life. How does he do that? In several ways, one of which, of course, is tribulation, trial, hardship, difficulty, persecution. All of these things are a part of the Christian life.

You remember what he said to Timothy, he said, "Listen, if you live godly in Christ Jesus, you can expect the world to persecute you." Therefore, the Christian life is not a life of ease, comfort, and pleasure. It is a life of maturing, of progressively growing in the Christ-likeness. It is not because I'm getting better, it's because the Christ who is within me, the Christ who is within you, is having more and more control of our life.

And we're surrendering more and more to him and the Spirit of God, listen, is filling us and he is exercising more control of our life. So it isn't that we get better apart from him, it is Christ on the inside of us. Well, when you think about the Christian life and think about growing, what's involved in that growing process? Well, one thing that is certainly important and that is the word of God.

You will not grow in your Christian life if you neglect this book. Peter says in the first chapter, second chapter, first Peter, he says, "As newborn babes, desire what? The sincere milk of the word." What does he mean by that? Well, he's simply saying this. When you first become a Christian, you're like a babe in Christ. He says, "Desire the sincere milk of the word."

What does he mean? He means those things that are the easiest to understand. There are some things in the Bible that are much easier to understand than others. And you'll recall that even Peter said about what Paul wrote, he said, "Some things that Paul writes are very difficult to understand." Now that gives me a lot of comfort when I read it and I think, well, if Peter didn't understand it, then maybe I don't have such a hard time either.

So there are some things that are simple to understand. There are some things that are not so simple to understand. Once in a while, I'll meet a new Christian. I'll say, "You need to read the word of God." He says, "I've been reading it." Haven't been saved but a month, so I've been reading the book of Revelation. Say, "Wait a minute, that's not where you start." That is not, listen, that's not milk, friend, that's T-bone steak. That is not milk.

And so when he says, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word," as a new Christian, I'm to start with the understanding. And oftentimes what I'll say to somebody who's new Christian, "Read the Gospel of John." Because the Gospel of John was written for the purpose that we may believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

And oftentimes reading the gospels, of course, it's narrative, and we begin to understand who Jesus is and how he operated and so forth. So certainly, one of the very basic ideas when it comes to Christian growth is learning the word of God, studying the word of God, reading it, meditating upon it, thinking about it, absorbing it, watching how God works it in your life.

And keeping a diary and seeing how God has kept his promises in your life. You see, as you begin to soak your mind and your heart and your spirit with the word of God, you know what you're doing? You're driving out things that ought not to be there. Listen, the word of God is a cleanser. The Bible says, "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against God." The word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path.

And so certainly, if you're going to progressively move in your relationship to him, studying and reading and meditating upon the word of God. Secondly, is prayer. You'll recall what Paul said to the Colossian Christians, he said in that fourth chapter, "Devote yourself to prayer." Now devoting yourself to prayer isn't, "Now I lay me down to sleep, pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, pray the Lord my soul to take."

Well, first of all, if you know what eternal security is, you don't even have to pray that prayer anymore because you already settled your issue where you're going to spend eternity. It may be a good prayer for children, but I wouldn't recommend it for the simple reason, what you want them to understand that once they're saved by the grace of God, they don't have to keep praying, "Lord, if I should die, please take my soul." He already has your soul.

Prayer is the way to develop your relationship, talking with him, listening to him, allowing God to speak to your heart. When you mix the word and you mix prayer, and that is a discipline in your life, you are going to begin to grow in your Christian experience. But growing in the Christian life is not only reading the Bible and praying. But you know what it is, it's also sharing with other people what God has done in your life.

There's something, listen, there's something about telling and sharing with other people what Christ is doing in your life. What does it do? First of all, it's like more affirmation, more confirmation. You get stronger and more confident in what you believe and what you're saying. God begins to work in your life and here's what you'll discover.

You'll discover that one of the best ways for you to learn the word of God is to share what you do know with someone else because they're going to ask you questions you don't know that sends you back to the word of God so you'll know what you do know the next time you share with them. And so sharing your faith is certainly a part of the Christian life.

Not only that, but serving the Lord. Listen to what he says. He says in Ephesians chapter two, "For by grace are you saved through faith. That not of yourselves, it's the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast." Then he says, "We are his workmanship." God's the one who's made us what we are.

We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God preordained, foreordained that you and I should walk in them. If I'm going to grow and mature in my Christian life, reading the Bible and prayer and serving the Lord is a very important part of that. Because as I learn to give myself away to others, what am I doing? I'm following the pattern of Jesus. What did he say? He said, "I didn't come to be served, but I came to serve."

If I am going to grow in my Christian life, I am certainly going to have to be willing to serve the Lord. There are many facets of the Christian life, but remember this. It is the Spirit of God who is producing the fruit. Remember Jesus said, "I'm abiding in you. You are abiding in me." Sitting at the Father's right hand. Who's sitting in your heart and mind?

Who's sitting in your heart and mind is the person of the Holy Spirit doing what? He is willing, ready, and able, listen, has the power to express the nature of Jesus in your life and my life through every circumstance. He's the one who helps us endure. He's the one who enables us to tenaciously hold on to the will of God when everything around us is shaking loose. He's the one who gives us the faith. He's the one who's establishing us. He's the one who's giving us that sense of confidence and absolutely unshakable security that no matter what happens, God is on our side.

The Christian life is a wonderful adventure. The Christian life is a journey with the person of Jesus. It is the most fantastic adventure that a person could ever undertake in this life because it is walking hand in hand and heart with and heart with, and here's something else. It is a walk that will never cease. Jesus Christ, listen to what he said. He said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." And Jesus never told a lie, whatever he promises, all of heaven will back up every single promise that he made. Very important you and I understand what the Christian life is all about. Christ living his life in and through us in order to bring glory to God, honor to God by the life that we live.

Guest (Male): You're listening to In Touch, the teaching ministry of Dr. Charles Stanley. The Christian life isn't about what we can do for God, it's about what Christ does in us and through us. Head online to intouch.org and you can learn more about the church and how you can keep growing as a believer. And go back over what you just heard by following the link to Today on Radio.

And if you go to the bookstore page, you can order a copy of Dr. Stanley's complete message from today, The Pattern for What You Believe, or order his teaching set we've titled it, Know What You Believe. Again, you'll find these resources at intouch.org. And you can also call or text us at a very simple number, 1-800-INTOUCH. To write to us, address your letter to In Touch, Post Office Box 7900, Atlanta, Georgia, 30339-7957.

Being criticized can hurt, receiving praise can be awkward. Learn how to handle both in today's moment with Charles Stanley. That's coming up. With the 30 Life Principles Bible study, you'll enjoy a rich exploration of God's Word, designed as a 90-day learning experience for individual use or in a group setting. You'll explore Dr. Stanley's 30 Life Principles and learn how to make the Bible a part of your everyday life because we can all benefit from a closer look. To order the 30 Life Principles Bible study, call 1-800-INTOUCH or visit intouch.org/store.

There is an inexplicable joy that comes from understanding scripture and learning how to apply it in our own life. The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible includes 30 foundational truths that Dr. Stanley has learned from over 60 years of ministry. It's available in the New King James Version, New International Version, the King James Version, and New American Standard Bible version. To order, call 1-800-INTOUCH or go to intouch.org/store.

Dr. Stanley devoted his entire life to helping us. Get closer to Jesus as we all want to do. So, are you ready for the next step in your journey? It begins at the Charles Stanley Institute. You can learn how at charlesstanleyinstitute.org.

You're listening to In Touch. Is it criticism or critique? Encouragement or flattery? Either way, how should a believer respond? Here's a moment with Charles Stanley.

Dr. Charles Stanley: If they're coming across very loving and kind, that's one thing. But you can just sort of discern when a person is critical and's got something deep down inside. So I would say, the tone of their voice, number one, number two, watch their eye contact and third their body language. And ask yourself the question now, exactly what are they saying to me? Is this a word of criticism? Is this genuine affirmation? Or are they flattering me? Do they want something in return? And the Spirit of God will show you and help you understand what's really going on here between you and the other person.

If I'm willing to receive your criticism or your praise and understand how to do that, especially criticism, then it's easy for me to receive that same kind of criticism from God, realizing that he doesn't condemn us, but he corrects us. But if I can take it from you, whom I can see, I can take it easier from him, whom I cannot see. And so, it does strengthen us. Because what happens is, as I respond correctly to someone, it strengthens my sense of courage that I can take it, my perseverance to keep moving.

It helps me to be able to discern the difference between my actions and my personhood, so that if somebody attacks my personhood, I can think, "Well, God doesn't attack my personhood, he corrects my mistakes." So I think in the volley that goes back and forth between people, when we respond to each other correctly, I think God affirms that. He says, "It's a badge of courage."

Guest (Male): Visit our website, intouch.org for help responding to life with firm faith in Jesus Christ. And if today's program has encouraged your relationship with Jesus, we'd love to hear from you. Upcoming on In Touch, we'll wrap up our series, "Know What You Believe." You can get insight into the truth about Satan, our eternal destiny, and future things. So I hope you'll join us for more of In Touch, the teaching ministry of Dr. Charles Stanley.

This program is a presentation of In Touch Ministries, Atlanta, Georgia, and remains on this station through the grace of God and your faithful prayers and gifts.