The other day while making a shopping list for ingredients to make a cake for a church event, I remembered another list that was given to me. While attending a Capstone Recovery graduation at Trading Ford Baptist Church, a dear friend and Christian brother, Dr. Oscar Ramirez, gave me a list with six items written on it and said, “Here’s your next sermon.” I thought no more of it until making my shopping list. This list Dr. Ramirez gave me I now saw as a shopping list of things needed to fulfill one of God’s recipes. That recipe was the transformation of a sinner to that of a morally just person, an effective Christian. Through this list, the scriptures and God’s guidance I will try to decipher this recipe so that you may create this very desirable creation for yourself.

The first item: “Salvation,” defined as spiritual rescue from the consequences of sin. Hebrews 9:28 says, “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” In other words, admit you’re a sinner and ask God to forgive you; believe in Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, forgiving you for your sins and creating a way for you to spend eternity in Heaven and ask God to take control of your life, so that you’ll be ready when He comes this second time.

The second item on the list: “Christ In Us,” defined as Jesus of Nazareth, regarded by Christians as the realization of the Messianic prophesy. Romans 5:5 tells us, “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given until us.” So accept His gift of the Holy Ghost who will guide you to a more righteous way of living.

This spirit (Holy Ghost) is a part of the Gospel’s Trinity which consists of the composite formed by the Father (God), The Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Ghost.

The third item: “Dead to Self,” defined no longer living to self. Romans 8:8 says, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Your goal is to try your best to please God by doing away with your selfish desires which are the most part sinful and unrighteous. Colossians 3:2 tells it best: “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the Earth.

The fourth item: “Scripture,” defined the sacred Bible. In Luke 4:4,, “And Jesus answered Him (Devil) saying, it is written, that a man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” The more you read and meditate on the scriptures (Word of God), the more you’ll become like him. We’ll never reach his level of supremacy but we’ll approach it closer with every scripture we read and understand, strengthening our fellowship with God.

The fifth item: “Identity,” defined the condition of being the same as a person or thing described or claimed. “Ephesians 5:3 says, “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints.” In other words, as I see it, become one in Christ so that what others see in you is what God wants them to see in Him.

Finally the last item: “Ministry,” defined the art of serving as a minister or clergyman. I Peter 4:10, “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Therefore tell and show others what God can and does do for each and everyone that comes to Him.

This I believe is the recipe God has given us, through Dr. Ramirez’s list and my interpretation, for a moral and effective follower of Jesus Christ. I hope the explanations of the items (ingredients) helped show you how to conjure up this “mixture” and let you strive in our world which we live in today as well as having eternal life in Heaven. Study the scriptures and you’ll enhance your knowledge as well as your ability to utilize these ingredients to perfect your moral and spiritual lives. God Bless All!