As followers of Jesus Christ, we often find ourselves striving to reach a higher plane, to rise above other sinners as a model of goodness.

But in Paul's letter to the Romans, we're learning that our goal is not to become a better Christian.

It's about finally becoming an authentic one.

Today, on Insight for Living, Chuck Swindall invites us to open our Bibles to Romans Chapter

12.

In this passage, Paul describes seven fundamental truths of an authentic Christian, and each one

is an expression of pure love.

Chuck titled today's message, Christianity 101.

If you have a copy of the New Testament with you, please turn to the 12th chapter of the

letter to the Romans.

I should warn you ahead of time that this is a very convicting section of Scripture.

As I've said to you before, I've lived with it all week, and I thought today I'd share

the conviction with all of you.

You'll feel it as we work our way through it.

Actually, the section that's so great is the last half of the 12th chapter, not that all

of it isn't great.

But verses 9 through 21, form in a nutshell the Christian life.

That's why we've called it Christianity 101.

We haven't the time to deal with the last five verses plus verse 14, so we'll wait until the next time for that.

But about all we can take in one sitting will be 9 through 16, so let's go there.

Romans 12.9,

Let love be without hypocrisy, abhor what is evil, cling to what is good.

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