What is needed to know how to live and die for God's glory?

Ephesians 5: 8 For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light.

Three things are important to live and die for God's glory. The first is that we know our sin, we know that we are lost when we do not know Jesus Christ as Savior. The second is that we can only be saved by the Lord Jesus Christ of all our sins, and the third is how we can be thankful to God for such redemption.

The three points throughout the Bible runs like a red thread. Sometimes there are jokes about it, others can not live without three points, but it is the line of the Bible. We see this already in Israel. When they leave God and worship other gods, begins the misery for them. But then they are again called upon to turn to God and if they do, they live again much better and have flourishing country again.

So it is in our lives. Without the Lord Jesus we are lost, we are dead. It is the worst position that a person can imagine. If you live as lost, it is miserable with you. Our self is thus contaminated by sin since the fall. We choose the wrong against God and want to live only for ourselves. And if we are not aware of that, are not aware that we need Jesus in our lives, then that is a sad situation. But even if we do know Jesus and through Him saved from sin, we can not ignore our sins. This will never change on earth and therefore it is important to know Him.

We can get out of the terrible situation by Jesus Christ and His work on the cross. He went to the cross and He bore the penalty for sin. That is the message of the Gospel, which is the good news. He also wants to bear our punishment and forgive our sins. In that God's love comes to us and we may assume without that we ourselves have to do something. God's Word teaches us that salvation is given us and we just have our hands open to His love and so be saved from the punishment of God, even so that we may live forever with Him. That is a welcome message, and we should be glad and thank God for that.

And how can we thank God, we read in His Word. We must spend time with Him, putting Him first in our lives and stop all that is sinful and leads us to sin. Because sin does grieve God, but when we follow His Word and seek Him in prayer and in His Word and also look after our neighbor and live in love for creation, we show our gratitude to God. Life is then practice for eternity, it looks upon that great day when Jesus returns on the clouds. Our lives should be dedicated to that day!

Thus these three things as a thread running through the Bible, is not ridiculous. No, they determine our life here on earth. We can not separate one from another and can not stabbing at one of the three remain. Realize who we are, faith in Jesus Christ and live by grace!

Heidelberg Catechism question and answer 2

What is your only comfort in life and in death?

1 Corinthians 3:23 But you are Christ's and Christ of God.

That I am not my own,but belong,body and soul, in life and in death, to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life

and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him. 

This is the faith in a nutshell. We, as Christians, but of one thing wells our comfort and that is that we are Christ's. We are not ourselves, but in Jesus Christ, and He is in God. So we are from God. When we would stay ourselves, sin fester in us continues and we will never be holy before God. But now we are in Christ and his work has been done for us, we are holy to God. God accepts the sacrifice of His Son, as if we did it ourselves and see us through His Son to. Jesus paid for all our sins, not one exception, and that makes us clean before God.

The devil has no power over us and to lapse. He can dominate us when we are not of Jesus Christ, and he can take us as possession if we follow him. He seduces us again and again, trying to draw us to him. Let it be clear that it is not the devil that sin in us, but that we do sin by ourselves. The devil tempts us and pulls us away from God, but if we are Christ, the devil doesn't have that power anymore. The power of Christ's blood is too strong and defeated him at Calvary, even his most deterrent weapon, death is negated and overcome.

And everything is in life for our salvation. That's a comforting thought. Because we can sometimes lose ourselves in why questions. Why did this or that happened or why I'm not strong in certain areas. But then we read in Romans 8:28 that all things work together for good. That makes the sorrow or the pain not smaller, but it should again bring us to Christ because in Him we are with God, and He knows how to make it so that it cooperates too good.

And God gives us His Holy Spirit to assure us that we may live forever with Him. We do not doubt, but we should know for sure. The Christian life does not end with death, but then begins to glory. This little piece of earth is only the beginning, and sometimes difficult, but after death will it take forever and it is not difficult, but delicious. And with that view we can live for Him. Our lives are in God's service and also determines our choices in life. The huge choices of work, study, church and family. But also the smaller choices of what I watch and what not, What I do and what not do.

If God will comfort us and help us in this difficult world. He wil not leaves us alone, but gives us His Word and His Spirit. That will help us to live for Him and He assures us of the glory of God!

Heidelberg Catechism question and answer 1

My child, you are holy

My dear child, you are holy

Not because you're so good, but because God is good.

God has given you parents who believe to honor Him,

And because He has given you parents that believe, you are holy.

You were born to us as a child of parents with faith,

And by God, you are given to us to grow up sacred.

God has sealed that when you were a baby

When you yourself did not even understand, he said, you belong to me.

Not by your own merit,

But on ground of His love and His covenant.

We as parents have the important task to raise you.

We can tell you the great deeds of God.

We should always remember you his love.

We will constantly fall and have trouble with that,

But God will not break His promise.

He will show you His love and mercy

And remind you that you belong to Him.

That's why you wear that sign on your forehead,

So you never forget that you are holy.

It will not be easy in your life,

You'll also get setbacks and perhaps even questioned God.

But he says to you: You are blessed, my dear child.

Doubt not to me and just keep close to me.

With me it is indeed good and better, you can not get it better somewhere else.

My Son died for you

And by His blood and death you must also belong to me.

I will always be there for you, for I Am That I Am.

I have created the world and I have everything in my hand,

And so you must also live out of my hand.

When you're struggling, I will be with you.

When you're sad, I will dry your tears.

When others hurt you, I will help you.

If you have trouble with things, ask me.

If you do not like things, tell me.

You do not see me, but I'm always there.

People will tell you that I do not exist,

But I've been there from the beginning.

Even those people I have created and I still stretch out my hand to them.

Know then, my beloved child

I am your Father, My Son has taught you.

I have given my Son for you and believe that this is for you.

Then you will forever belong to me, and may live with me.

Because I have a wonderful future for you.

A future without sin, pain and sorrow.

A future in which you can rule with Me and live under my wings.

I'll be your sun, you will see your loving Father.

You are Mine, live close to me. I love you.