Hello Pastor, and peace be with you this Lord’s Day.<\/p>\n
I have been studying the book of Romans today and have two questions:<\/p>\n
Question 1:<\/p>\n
When I sincerely turned to God, I found myself in a certain situation: I became willing to befriend and communicate only with Christians, while deleting or blocking non-believers. I felt as though chatting with those who do not believe in Jesus-especially young people-would somehow contaminate me with sin.<\/p>\n
Question 2:<\/p>\n
How do I offer myself as a living sacrifice? Does it mean that everything I do must be done for God (Romans 12:1-2)?<\/p>\n
May God bless you! I am mindful of your love.<\/p>\n\t
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven<\/em>” (Matthew 5:14-16).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
How do you teach others if you never talk to them? How do you set a good example when no one sees you?<\/p>\n
My relationship with my fellow Christians is stronger than with worldly people, but I still interact with people who are not following Christ. I don’t get involved in their sinful behavior, but I don’t hide either.<\/p>\n
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain<\/em>” (Philippians 2:14-16).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
In regard to a living sacrifice, see:<\/p>\n
\n
- The Sacrifice of Self<\/a><\/li>\n
- Christ First! Last! and Always!<\/a><\/li>\n
- Service to God: A Holy and Living Sacrifice<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: Hello Pastor, and peace be with you this Lord’s Day. I have been studying the book of Romans today and have two questions: Question 1: When I sincerely turned to God, I found myself in a certain situation: I became willing to befriend and communicate only with Christians, while deleting or blocking non-believers. I…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[1704],"class_list":["post-96942","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-associations"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":23640,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-can-there-be-no-condemnation-if-christians-can-sin\/","url_meta":{"origin":96942,"position":0},"title":"How can there be no condemnation if Christians can sin?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 27, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I've been trying to fit Romans 8:1 and I John 1:7-10. We know that if we walk in the light then we can ask for the forgiveness of our sins and they are cleansed. How does Romans 8:1 come into play?\u00a0 If we sin, we are separated from God.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":45458,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-should-christians-do-about-the-supreme-courts-ruling-regarding-gay-marriage\/","url_meta":{"origin":96942,"position":1},"title":"What should Christians do about the Supreme Court’s ruling regarding gay marriage?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 7, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: The recent decision by the Supreme Court regarding gay marriage rights raises serious concerns; as Christians, we are to be peacemakers, kind, gentle, etc.\u00a0 Romans 12:9 says \"Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.\"\u00a0 If we don't speak up against sin, who will?\u00a0 Politics puts a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7682,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/if-i-am-not-a-follower-of-god-am-i-an-enemy-of-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":96942,"position":2},"title":"If I am not a follower of God, am I an enemy of God?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 1, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: If I\u00a0 am not a follower of God, am I an enemy of God? 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If a non-Christian wishes to partake of the Lord's Supper, it\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":24110,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-could-the-revolutionary-war-be-justified-in-light-of-romans-13\/","url_meta":{"origin":96942,"position":4},"title":"How could the Revolutionary War be justified in light of Romans 13?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 20, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Can I ask your thoughts on something? Just a little while ago I read: \"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":31806,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-if-a-government-gives-false-reasons-for-going-to-war\/","url_meta":{"origin":96942,"position":5},"title":"What if a government gives false reasons for going to war?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 17, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I am wondering what the Bible says concerning going to war for unjustified reasons? What if a country deceives its people and claims reasons for going to war, but there is evidence that does not justify war? 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