Though Christians should expect to encounter opposition at some point – and though we should expect rejection to take different forms – we shouldn’t forget what God has waiting for us.
Jesus sends us into each other’s lives, and into the lives of other people, so that we’d be able to encourage each other: “Do not fear; only believe.”
Christians shouldn’t be timid people.
To wage good warfare as Christians, we need encouragement (from God's word), the right equipment (faith and a good conscience), and knowledge about our enemies (how they became enemies, where they're headed, and the hope for them) if we hope to succeed.
Will you curse God and sink? Or will you trust God and swim?
So when it comes to being a follower of Jesus, the question isn’t can you perform the right actions. Because even demons can put on a show – even they can pretend to be something they’re not for a while.
Jesus has been given the ability to bring forgiveness to all who believe. The miraculous healing, here, proves it. Jesus’s sacrificial death on the cross, confirms it. Jesus’s resurrection from the dead – it certifies it...
Is the coming of Jesus affecting us the way that it should? Do we have the right expectations? Do we have the right response?
The Gospel at it's core really is simple. And it requires a simple, though significant, response.
The fact that God declares us to be righteous with the unshakeable righteousness of Christ, all through faith – it is an incredible gift.