What Must I Do?

What must I do if I desire to know truth and wish to live my life in harmony with God? Since Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, my life must be determined by His teachings. This also means that the Scriptures must become my guide, and through them, I can learn to live in harmony with God. Jesus commissioned His followers to preach the gospel to a lost world and those that would believe the gospel and is baptized shall be saved. This is the first step in living in harmony with God. "And he [Jesus] said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." [Mark 16:15-16 KJV] However, believing and being baptized is only the first step toward living in harmony with God. One must continue on by doing the will of God. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." [Matthew 7:21-23 KJV] The group of believers referred to in Matthew 7 professed a faith and did many wonderful works in Jesus' name but their good works could not save them. They were dismissed by Jesus because they practiced iniquity; they transgressed God's law. The word iniquity that is used here is translated from the Greek word "anomia" which means lawlessness or transgressing the law, and transgression of the law is the clearest definition of sin found in Scripture. "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." [1 John 3:4 KJV] Obedience to God's law is the fruit of living in harmony with God. Understanding the character of God, His love and care for us is vital if we wish to understand how to live in harmony with God's law. Those that want to live in harmony with God desire to keep His law because they understand the principle of love embodied in God's law. "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward." [Psalms 19:7-11 KJV] God's law must be kept from the heart out of love for God. God's law must be written upon the tablet of our heart by the Holy Spirit; only when this happens do we live in proper harmony with God. "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." [Hebrews 10:16-17 KJV] The Holy Spirit of God works inwardly to transform our bent character into that which reflects the character of Jesus. Water baptism is the outward symbol of one's willingness to enter the transformation process. However, the job of water baptism is not to transform a person's character. Baptism serves as the symbol of a life that is willing be buried with Jesus so that one can be raised and transformed to walk in newness of life. "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:" [Romans 6:3-8 KJV] Transformation is the job of the Holy Spirit and the washing of water by the Word of God. "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." [Titus 3:4-7 KJV] Before being touched by God's saving grace, it is impossible to live according to His requirements. Living in harmony with God's laws is the results of a life that has been transformed by the renewing of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. God's law has no power to save; it is the school master that points us to Jesus Who does have the power to save. If I wish to live in harmony with God, I must believe and be baptized, then allow the Holy Spirit to transform me by inscribing God's law and words into my heart and my mind. This is what I must do!