What Do You Have to Do?

Have you ever asked that question when you're dealt hand after hand of unplayable cards? Or maybe after you go all-in with a flush, only to find another player "has the nuts?"

We're actually asking this question in the context of our last post -- the man who had to do certain things to be allowed back in a Catholic church. We don't know what those things were, but he hadn't done them yet.

Some religious groups make up all sorts of rules -- whether to be baptized, confirmed, ordained or simply get inside the door. But the Bible shows to be part of God's family, it's really not that complicated.

"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus," Paul writes in Galatians 3:26. But the next verse there's more to it than simply saying that in a sentence, while your head is bowed: "....for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."

So baptism matters -- and so does something else. "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)

Repentance means more than confessing sin and wrong. Consider the words of Paul again: "I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." (Acts 26:20)

Galatians 5:22-23 will give you a good start toward understanding what sort of mind and heart those deeds involve. Look them over, examine yourself -- and ask that question at the top of this post. Maybe you need to do something. If not to be part of a congregation, then to be a child of God.