(Phone rings): Hello.
[How are you feeling today?]
I still feel awful!
[Didn’t you go to the doctor?]
Yes, I went last week; but I still feel horrible.
[What did he say you have?]
Some weird disease I never heard of: Hamartia.**
[Well, didn’t he do anything for you?]
Oh, yes, he wrote me a prescription for some high-powered medication.
[Did you get it filled?]
Yes, I went straight to the drug store and got the medication from the pharmacist.
[I can’t figure why you aren’t any better.]
Well, I don’t know either. Maybe if I’m not better in another month or two, I’ll take the medicine.
[WHAT? You mean you haven’t taken your medicine?]
Of course not. Why would I?
[Because you aren’t going to get any better if you don’t, that’s why!]
I’ll be just fine. I have confidence in my doctor. He can cure me. I know he can.
[But your doctor is the one who gave you the prescription! If you really have confidence in him, shouldn’t you follow his orders?]
Well . . . um . . . uh . . . well . . .
RX of the Great Physician
Believe (put your confident trust) in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Mark 16:16; John 8:24)
Repent of all sins (Acts 2:38; 17:30). That is, let your godly sorrow for your sins move you to change your mind, resulting in a change in your behavior (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Confess with your mouth that you believe Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9, 10).
Be baptized (immersed in water) for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3, 4; 1 Peter 3:21).
**Hamartia is the New Testament Greek word for sin.
