Do we act what we believe in or do we believe in how we act?

It might sound the same, but it is not. Perhaps the question is not the correct one; maybe it should be: “Do we act as we say we believe?” Because if we say we are something why would we do things to discredit it?  If we say “we are good” Why do we act badly? Most probably we believe in how we act, because that we do without thinking about it. Like it is said; “if it has four legs, feels hairy and it barks, it has to be a dog”. So it’s no use to disguise oneself, whatever we believe in is going to show somehow. No matter what we say, the way we act prevails on.. Of course that does not always mean we like the way we act. Sometimes we feel we should have said something else or acted differently if we are trying to behave the way we should. And how should we behave? Well if we say we are Christian, for instance, and behave as nonbelievers, we are not being truthful to ourselves or to the ones surrounding us. I know that we are human beings and sometimes our behavior might seem a little too liberal due to what we are used to, because our lack of knowledge or our inflexibility. We are then being false to whom we promised faithfulness. If I say I am a Christian I should follow the Scriptures that say: Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom belongs the glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (I Peter 4.11)

Jesus himself said “For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, in the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit.” (Luke 6.43-44a) But we still do what we do not want as you have also heard “the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” And Paul, apostle said: “For what I’m doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate”.(Romans 7.15)

Nevertheless, if we believe that Jesus became human to pay our debts with God dying in the cross, as the Holy Scriptures says, we have to say like Paul: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh, the law of sin.  Therefore there is now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. . . the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 7.25-8.2, 6) 

So if we want Life and Peace we should set our minds on the Spirit and act like it too and let no one discredit us for not trying, and whatever we say or do, people see the good on us. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come. (II Corinthians 5.17)

Let us truly say with our actions what is certain: He was born to save us from perishing.eternally. Let’s celebrate. Merry CHRISTmas!!!