Living an-authentic-christian-life

LIVING AN
AUTHENTIC
CHRISTIAN LIFE
by Ray Stedman

W
hat does it mean to live
a real Christian life?
According to pastor
and author Ray Stedman, it isn’t
contents about about trying to live up to the
teachings and example of Jesus. It’s
about a life-changing relationship
the Real thing
(2 cor. 2:14–3:3) . . . . . . . 2 with Christ—at the very core of
our being.
the secret In this excerpt of his classic
(2 cor. 3:4-6) . . . . . . . . . 20
bestseller Authentic Christianity,
Stedman reflects on how the apostle
Paul relied on such a heartfelt
awareness for his own strength, and
how he used it to encourage others.
This is the spiritual secret that
can renew and refresh any of us
as we also learn that we are not
sufficient, in ourselves, for the real
challenges facing us.
Mart De Haan
Managing editor: David sper cover Photo: istockphoto
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, new
International Version®, niv®. copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission
of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
this booklet is excerpted from Authentic Christianity by Ray stedman, published by Discovery House
Publishers, a member of the RBc Ministries family.
© 2011 RBc Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan Printed in UsA

THE REAL being Christian for awhile, then

THING abandon the whole thing. But
surely the most subtle stratagem

I
t has always seemed unfair to ever devised by Satan to deceive
me that many churches (and and mislead people is that of
some individual Christians) causing genuine Christians to
keep careful records of how many practice a sham Christianity before
converts they make to Christianity the world. You can’t detect and
but never keep any record of guard against this kind of sham
how many they drive away from Christianity by making people
Christ. Fairness would seem to sign a doctrinal statement or by
dictate that both sides of the having them recite a creed. This
ledger should be maintained. The type of phony Christianity is
fact is, many churches turn far always orthodox. It is frequently
more people from Christ than they very zealous and feeds upon
ever win to Him—and frequently consecration services and
the most zealous and orthodox dedication meetings. It uses all
Christians are the very ones who the right terms and behaves in the
drive the most people away! The proper, orthodox manner, but the
reason is that while they may net result is that it repels people
be true Christians themselves, from Christ rather than attracting
the life they manifest is false people to Christ.
Christianity—as phony as a $3 In sharp contrast to this
bill. is the “real thing”—authentic
True, there is a false Christianity as its founder, Jesus
Christianity that is practiced by Christ Himself, intended it to
those who aren’t Christians at be. Authentic Christianity never
all. There are many religious needs advertisement or publicity.
frauds who have never been real It gives off a fragrance and a
Christians, and there are apostates fascination that attracts people
who give every appearance of like flies are attracted to honey.
2 ©2011 RBC Ministries

Is everyone attracted to authentic He drew supernatural power to
Christianity? Absolutely not! Many resist evil and achieve great things
people are antagonized and even in a way I could never do.”
outraged when they discover what Yes, Jesus was fully God—but
Christianity is truly about. But we must never forget that He
in general, the initial character was also fully human, with all
of authentic Christianity is one the limitations that go with our
that attracts crowds and compels humanity. We can live our lives
admiration. as He lived His. We can base our
lives on the model He has set
The ChRiSTianiTy before us. This is practical, livable
of JeSuS and Paul truth, and the Scriptures are very
There is, of course, no clearer clear on this point. Here are a few
demonstration of real Christianity passages which commend Jesus
than Christ Himself. Today, there to us as an example we can and
are many varieties of Christianity, should follow:
but the most attractive form Because He Himself suffered
of Christianity of all is the when He was tempted, He is
original—the Christianity of Jesus able to help those who are
Christ. This was the authentic being tempted (Heb. 2:18).
Christian life in its purest, most We do not have a high priest
consistent form. Many people who is unable to sympathize
have a problem understanding, with our weaknesses, but we
applying, and identifying with the have one who has been tempted
Christianity of Jesus because they in every way, just as we are—
feel He, being the Son of God, yet was without sin (Heb. 4:15).
had an edge over the rest of us. To this you were called, because
“Not fair, comparing me to Jesus!” Christ suffered for you, leaving
they protest. “Sure, Jesus was you an example, that you
undoubtedly human—but He was should follow in His steps
also God. From His divine side, (1 Pet. 2:21).
©2011 RBC Ministries 3

How is this possible? How Note that key phrase: Jesus
can we hope to pattern our lives “emptied Himself.” He set aside
after the life of a perfect Person the prerogatives and powers of
who was God in the flesh? Isn’t Godhood in order to identify fully
that like trying to high-jump the with us. He lived the same kind
Empire State Building or broad- of life we live, facing temptation,
jump the Pacific Ocean? Isn’t that suffering pain and sorrow,
asking the impossible? Well, yes enduring frustration, just as we
and no. Yes, it is impossible for do. He approached life the same
us to live perfect, sinless lives; but way you and I must approach
no, it is not impossible for us to life: living in dependence on God
set a goal of Christlikeness. Every the Father, seeking guidance
time we fail in our pursuit of that and strength through continual
goal, we simply go back to God prayer, trusting God and listening
for forgiveness and restoration, to His leading, and being humbly
and He puts us back on the road obedient—“not My will, but
to our goal once again. The key Yours.” That is why we are to
principle is found in Philippians “let the same mind be in [us]
2:5-8, that was in Christ Jesus” (nrsv).
Let the same mind be in you That is authentic Christianity, the
that was in Christ Jesus, who, Christianity of Christ; Christianity
though He was in the form of in its truest, purest, most distilled
God, did not regard equality form. That is the Christianity
with God as something to be which you and I are to follow, the
exploited, but emptied Himself, only Christianity worthy of the
taking the form of a slave, being name.
born in human likeness. And The apostle Paul lived his life
being found in human form, He by the same principle, patterning
humbled Himself and became his life after the example of Christ.
obedient to the point of death— He wrote, “Follow my example,
even death on a cross (nrsv). as I follow the example of Christ”

(1 Cor. 11:1). That is why the favorite tricks is to brand the truth
apostle’s ministry was so attractive as a big lie, and that’s exactly what
to the people around him. That is was happening at Corinth.
why his preaching was so effective
in changing hearts and minds. He five unmiSTakable
was an imitator of Christ. As we maRkS of
examine a selection from Paul’s auThenTiC
second letter to the Christians ChRiSTianiTy
at Corinth—one of the most Paul’s response to these charges is
biographical of all Paul’s letters—to describe for us the nature of his
we will gain insight into his own ministry. As we shall see, Paul’s
experiences as an imitator of ministry bears five unmistakable
Christ and of His ministry. There, qualities of Christianity
Paul reveals to us in the clearest that cannot be successfully
terms the secret of his own great counterfeited. These qualities have
ministry. nothing to do with personality
The first 1½ chapters of or temperament, so anyone who
2 Corinthians indicate that Paul discovers the secret of authentic
was being challenged by certain Christianity can attain them. They
Christians at Corinth. They had are timeless, so they are just as
been affected by some Jewish genuine now as in Paul’s day.
Christians from Jerusalem who We begin our journey of
suggested that Paul was not a discovery in 2 Corinthians 2:14.
genuine apostle at all because Here we find the first three marks
(1) he was not one of the original of authentic Christianity: “Thanks
Twelve, and (2) some of his be to God, who always leads us in
teachings went beyond the law triumphal procession in Christ and
of Moses. Claiming he was not through us spreads everywhere
a real apostle, they insisted his the fragrance of the knowledge of
brand of Christianity was not real Him.” Let’s examine the marks of
Christianity. One of the devil’s authentic Christianity.

mark #1: unquenchable often seen in Christians today.
optimism Some people think they are
The first mark is found in the expected to repeat pious and
very first phrase: “Thanks be to thankful words, even when they
God.” One unmistakable evidence don’t feel thankful. They assume
of radical Christianity is a spirit that’s the way Christians are
of thankfulness, even amid trial supposed to act. Many have
and difficulty. It is a kind of settled for a form of Christian
unquenchable optimism. The world stoicism, a grin-and-bear-it attitude
operates by the gloomy principle which even a non-Christian can
of Murphy’s Law: Whatever adopt when there’s nothing much
can go wrong, will go wrong. he can do about a situation.
Authentic Christians operate by But that is a long way from true
a belief in God’s grace, love, and Christian thankfulness. To listen to
ultimate control. You can see some Christians today, you would
the unquenchable optimism of think God expects us to paste on
authentic Christianity clearly in a smile and go around saying,
the book of Acts, where a note of “Hallelujah, I’ve got cancer!”
triumph resounds despite all the That’s not what our unquenchable
dangers, hardships, persecutions, optimism is all about.
pressures, and perils that the early Authentic Christianity is rooted
Christians experienced. The same in reality. It feels all the hurt and
continual note of thanksgiving is pain of adverse circumstances,
and does not find any pleasure in
reflected in all of Paul’s letters, as
well as those of John, Peter, and them. But authentic Christianity
James. does see the result being
The attitude of thanksgiving produced—not only in heaven
evident in these passages is someday, but right now here on
genuine and profound. There is earth. That result is so desirable
and glorious, it is worth all the
nothing artificial about it. It is a far
cry from the imitation thanksgiving pain and heartache. That is why

it can do nothing but rejoice! An a good front just to keep up their
authentic Christian is confident spirits. They were genuinely
that the same Lord who permitted thankful to God. They began to
the pain to come will use it to praise Him at midnight because
bring about a highly desirable end. they knew that, despite the
That is why we can be genuinely apparent rebuff and lack of
thankful—even in the midst of success, their objective had been
perplexity and sorrow. accomplished. Now, the church
There is an outstanding they longed to plant in Philippi
example of the unquenchable could not be stopped! That fact
optimism of authentic Christianity inspired them to break out in
in Acts 16. There, Paul and Silas praise and thanksgiving. How
find themselves at midnight in could they have known what
an inner dungeon in the city God had planned for them—
jail of Philippi. Their backs are an earthquake that would jar
raw and bloody from a terrible their chains loose, topple their
flogging received at the hands prison walls, and set them free?
of the Roman authorities. Their They couldn’t! They had no
feet are fastened in stocks. The premonition at all of being set
future is uncertain and frightening. free. They were simply manifesting
Anything could happen to them marks of authentic Christianity:
in the morning—even torture and unquenchable optimism and
death. There is no one around thanksgiving.
to be impressed by a show of
courage, and no one to intervene mark #2:
and rescue them. Yet, despite unvarying Success
all these reasons for pessimism The second mark of authentic
and hopelessness, Paul and Silas Christianity is closely linked
literally break into song! to the first. It is found in the
No one could accuse them next phrase in 2 Corinthians
of being phony or of putting up 2:14, “who always leads us in

triumphal procession in Christ.” not given to thrill and entertain
Note how strongly Paul puts the Sunday morning audience
it: Jesus “always leads us” in but to embolden and encourage
triumph. Not occasionally. Not those who were literally risking
sometimes. Always. The apostle their lives and their families’ lives
makes perfectly clear that the every day for the cause of Christ.
Christianity he has experienced These words were written by a
presents a pattern of unvarying man who bore on his body the
success. It never involves failure wounds of a servant of Jesus.
but invariably achieves its goals. He had endured much difficulty,
It involves, as we have seen, endless disappointments, and
struggles and hardships and tears. bitter persecution with great pain.
Sometimes, as on the cross at Yet he could write with rugged
Calvary, the moment of triumph truthfulness that Jesus always
may even look like complete leads us in triumph.
failure. But our triumph is always This certainly does not mean
assured. Though the struggle may that Paul’s plans and goals were
be desperate, it is never serious. always realized, for they were not.
It issues at last in the complete He wanted to do many things that
achievement of the objectives God he was never able to accomplish.
has set for us. Even the opposition In Romans 9:3, Paul describes
we encounter is made to serve the how he hungered to be used as a
purposes of victory. minister to Israel—“my brothers,
We must remember that those of my own race.” He even
these high-sounding words of expressed the willingness to be cut
Paul’s are not mere evangelical off from Christ if only the Israelites
pep talk. They were not uttered would be delivered. But he never
by a well-paid, highly respected achieved that objective. It is not
pastor to a well-dressed suburban his plans that are in view here, but
congregation in a modern God’s. The triumph is Christ’s, not
megachurch. These words were Paul’s.

The invariable mark of many churches he has founded.
authentic Christianity is that once What a time for
we have discovered its radical discouragement! Yet no New
secret, we can never fail. Our Testament letter reflects greater
will, our dreams, our goals, our confidence and rejoicing than
desires may be thwarted—but Philippians. The reason for this
God’s will and plan? Never! He confidence, Paul says, is twofold.
can even weave our apparent He writes, “Now I want you to
know, brothers, that what has
failures into His overall design for
ultimate triumph. In the life of anhappened to me has really served
authentic Christian, every obstacleto advance the gospel” (1:12).
becomes an opportunity. Success Then he lists two evidences to
is inevitable. prove his point.
The Liberty Of Prison. First, he says, “As a result,
The unquenchable optimism it has become clear throughout
of genuine Christianity shines the whole palace guard and to
through chapter 1 of Paul’s letter everyone else that I am in chains
to his friends at Philippi. Writingfor Christ” (v.13). The palace
as a prisoner in the city of Rome, guard (or, in some translations, the
confined to a private, rented praetorian guard) is the imperial
home but chained day and night bodyguard. Since he is a prisoner
to a member of Caesar’s imperial of Caesar’s, he must be guarded by
guard, Paul faces a very bleak Caesar’s own handpicked guard.
future. He must soon appear The guard was largely made up
before Nero to answer Jewish of sons of noble families who
charges that could result in his were commissioned to spend a
death. He is no longer allowed few years in Nero’s palace guard.
to travel freely about the empire, Later on, this select group would
preaching “the inexhaustible become the kingmakers of the
riches of Christ.” He cannot even empire, responsible for choosing
visit his beloved friends in the succeeding emperors. They were

impressive young men, the cream Empire was brought in, chained
of the empire, in training for future to Paul, and forcibly exposed to
positions of power and leadership. the life-changing gospel of Jesus
Anyone who can read between Christ!
the lines a bit will see what is I suggest that if you want to
happening here. It is clear that the feel sorry for anyone, don’t feel
Lord Jesus, in His role as King of sorry for Paul. Feel sorry for the
the earth, has appointed Nero to young Roman bodyguard. Here he
be the chairman of the Committee is, trying to live a quiet, pagan life,
for the Evangelization of the and every so often he is ordered
Roman Empire. Nero doesn’t out and chained to this disturbing
know this—but then emperors man who says the most amazing
seldom know what is really going things about someone called Jesus
on in their empires. Remember of Nazareth, who has risen from
that when the time came for the dead. As a result, one by one,
the Son of God to be born in these young men were being won
Bethlehem, His mother and her to Christ. It is what you might call
new husband were 70 miles a chain reaction!
away, living in Nazareth. So God If you doubt that this was
commissioned Emperor Augustus happening, just look at the next
to get Joseph and Mary down from to the last verse of the Philippian
Nazareth to Bethlehem. Augustus letter: “All the saints send you
felt strangely moved to issue greetings, especially those who
an imperial edict that everyone belong to Caesar’s household”
should go to his hometown to be (Phil. 4:22). Here is a band of
taxed—and that did the trick! young men, the political center of
In this case, Nero had given the empire, being infiltrated and
orders that his imperial bodyguard conquered for Christ by an old
should have charge of the apostle man in chains who is awaiting
Paul. Every 6 hours, one of the trial for his life. It is not at all
future leaders of the Roman unlikely that some of the young

men who accompanied Paul on fellowship and excitement. Yet
his later journeys came from this it was all contained within the
very band. city walls. When God wanted to
This incident is a magnificent spread these good things among
revelation of God’s strategy—and, the nations, He permitted sharp
by contrast, of the weakness of opposition to arise. As a result,
human strategy. No human mind the early Christians were driven
could have conceived this unique throughout the empire—all except
approach to the very heart of the the apostles.
empire. We humans are forever I have learned to glimpse
planning strategies for fulfilling God’s hand in these acts of
the Great Commission, but what opposition, and I now read
we come up with is usually missionary reports from a
banal, routine, unimaginative, different perspective. In recent
and relatively ineffective. The years, I have seen many reports
noteworthy thing about God’s in missionary magazines saying
in one way or another, “Terrible
strategy is that it is ingenious and
totally unexpected. things are happening to our
Aided By Opposition. The country. The doors are closing to
strategies of God are so powerful, the gospel. Opposition is rising.
compared with human plans The government is trying to
and strategies, that He is able suppress all Christian witness.
to take man’s most vicious Our missionaries must soon
opposition and turn it to His pack up and get out.” Without
own advantage. That is what is question, these missionaries and
recorded in the early chapters of the national Christians in these
Acts. The church in Jerusalem was countries are being oppressed
growing by leaps and bounds. and threatened, and they greatly
Some 2,000 to 5,000 Christians need our prayers and support.
were gathering together weekly Yet, when I read such reports, I
and enjoying the tremendous have learned to say, “Thank God.

At last the missionaries are being official Roman persecution against
forced to relinquish control of the the Christians was beginning.
churches and the national church Many, therefore, were afraid to
is taking over.” speak of their faith. But then
In Ethiopia, before World War they saw that God—not Nero,
II, the missionaries were driven not the Jewish leaders—was in
out for 20 years, but when they complete charge of matters. With
came back in they found that the God in charge, they became
gospel had spread like wildfire, emboldened to proclaim the
and there were far more Christians gospel. As a result, there was far
than if the missionaries had been more effective outreach going on
allowed to stay. We have seen in Rome than if Paul had been
similar stories in other trouble free to preach at will. This fact
spots around the world, notably has always suggested to me that
China. perhaps the best way to evangelize
Paul makes a second point a community would be to start by
in his letter to the Philippians to locking all the preachers up in jail!
support his claim that the things Other Christians might then begin
that happened to him had only to realize that they too have gifts
served to advance the gospel. He for ministry, and would begin to
says, “Because of my chains, most exercise them in effective ways!
of the brothers in the Lord have Living Letters. Looking back
been encouraged to speak the on this incident with the benefit of
word of God more courageously 20 centuries of hindsight, we see
and fearlessly” (Phil. 1:14). a third proof of Paul’s claim—a
Because Paul was a prisoner, the proof that even he could not have
Roman Christians were witnessing seen at the time. If we had been
far more freely throughout the with Paul in that hired house in
city than they would have done Rome and had asked him, “Paul,
otherwise. what do you think is the greatest
It was at this time that the first work you have accomplished in

your ministry through the power of mark #3:
Christ?” what would he have said? unforgettable impact
I feel sure his answer would have The third unmistakable mark
been, “The planting of churches follows immediately. After saying,
in various cities.” It was to these
“Thanks be to God, who always
churches that his letters were leads us in triumphal procession
written, and it was for them that in Christ,” Paul continues with this
he prayed daily. He called them beautiful statement of the impact
“my joy and crown” and spent we have as authentic Christians:
himself without restraint for them.
“and through us spreads
But now, looking back across everywhere the fragrance of the
the intervening centuries, we can knowledge of Him” (2 Cor. 2:14).
see that the planting of these God tells us that our lives should
churches was not his greatest be spent giving off a fragrance, a
work after all. Every one of the perfume, a pleasing bouquet—not
churches he planted ceased its only to other people, but to God.
testimony long ago. In most cases,Enlarging on this thought, Paul
the very cities in which they adds: “For we are to God the
existed lie in ruins today. The aroma of Christ among those who
work of Paul that has persisted toare being saved and those who are
this day has been the letters thatperishing. To the one we are the
he wrote when he was locked up smell of death; to the other, the
and could do nothing else! Those fragrance of life. And who is equal
letters have changed the world. to such a task?” (vv.15-16).
They are among the most powerful Most men have had the
documents known to men. No experience of being in a room
wonder Paul could write, “Thanks when a strikingly beautiful
be to God, who always leads us in woman enters. Before she came
triumphal procession in Christ.” in, she applied a touch here
It is an unmistakable mark of and there of White Diamonds,
authentic Christianity. and as she passes through

the room, she leaves behind a Christianity. Those who are
lingering fragrance. Consciously seeking to live are helped on into
or unconsciously, all the males life. Jesus certainly had this quality
in the room are affected by that about Him. No one ever came into
fragrance. Weeks or months later, contact with Him and went away
they may catch a wisp of that the same.
fragrance again—and immediately, Many commentators on this
the image of that beautiful passage conclude that Paul had
woman flashes into their minds. in mind here a typical Roman
The fragrance has made her triumph. When a Roman general
unforgettable. returned to the capital after a
That is the picture Paul gives successful campaign, he was
here. Authentic Christianity leaves granted a triumph by the senate.
an unforgettable impression on A great procession passed through
those who encounter it. Christians the streets of Rome displaying
are responsible for the enduring the captives taken in the course
impact they make. As Paul of the conquest. Some people
suggests, the impact may be in went before the chariot of the
one of two directions. Christians conqueror, bearing garlands
either increase opposition to of flowers and pots of fragrant
Christ (death to death) or they incense. They were the prisoners
lead toward faith and life (life to who were destined to live and
life). If your life is one that reflects return to their captured country to
radical, authentic Christianity, govern it under Roman rule. Other
people become either bitter or prisoners followed behind the
better through contact with you. chariot dragging chains and heavy
But one thing cannot happen: manacles. These were doomed
people will never remain the same. to execution, for the Romans felt
Those who are determined to die they could not trust them. As the
are pushed on toward death by procession went on through the
coming into contact with authentic cheering crowds, the incense pots

and fragrant flowers were to the of God for profit. On the contrary,
in Christ we speak before God
first group a fragrance from life to
life, while the same aroma was to with sincerity, like men sent from
the second group a fragrance of God.” Remember, that is not a
death to death. description of Christian pastors
but of all Christians. It has great
This is the effect of the gospel
as it touches the world through application to pastors and others
the life of an authentic Christian.in the ministry, but its primary
Authentic Christianity leaves reference is to common, ordinary
a lingering fragrance to God of Christians who have learned the
Jesus Christ, no matter what—but secret of authentic Christianity.
to human beings, it is either a Christians can be described
fragrance of death to death or of in two ways, negatively and
life to life. positively. Negatively, they are
But what about phony not peddlers. The word means
Christianity? That’s another mattera huckster, a street salesman.
altogether—it’s just a bad smell! Occasionally I hear Christian
You’ve certainly heard the old witnessing described as “selling
one-liner: “Old fishermen never the gospel.” I cringe when I hear
die; they only smell that way.” that because I don’t believe
The same can be said for false Christians are meant to be
salespeople for God. The idea here
Christianity: It never dies; it only
smells that way. is that of a street hawker who has
certain wares that he considers
mark #4: attractive and that he peddles on
unimpeachable the corner as people are passing
integrity by. He makes his living by
The fourth mark of genuine peddling his wares.
Christianity is found in Much Christian preaching
2 Corinthians 2:17: “Unlike so and witnessing can be described
many, we do not peddle the word that way. People select certain

attractive features from the people. We must mean what we
Scriptures and use these as say. The world admires sincerity
“selling points.” Healing is a and feels it is the ultimate
case in point. It is a legitimate expression of character—but
subject for study and practice, but according to Paul, sincerity is just
when singled out and harped on the beginning of character, God’s
continually—especially when a minimum expectation of authentic
pitch for large, sacrificial offerings Christians. The very least we
is linked to it—healing can quickly should expect from ourselves as
lead to hucksterism. Prophecy Christians is that we thoroughly
can serve the same purpose. I am believe and practice what we say.
troubled by anyone who is known Second Quality Of Integrity:
only as a prophetic teacher, Paul says we are “sent from
for that person has picked out God” or “commissioned by God”
something that is attractive (and (rsv). This speaks of our purpose
even sensational) from the Word. as authentic Christians. We are
If that is all he ever teaches, he is not to be idle dreamers with no
not declaring the whole counsel definite objective in view. Like
of God. He is a peddler, making military officers, we have been
a living by hawking certain wares commissioned. We have been
from the Scriptures. Paul says given a definite task and specific
authentic Christianity does not assignments that constitute our
hawk its truth like a peddler purpose in life and in ministry.
selling goods in the street. We are purposeful people with an
Our integrity as authentic end in view, an object to attain,
Christians is characterized by a goal to accomplish. And we do
four qualities, according to this not merely preach or witness as
passage. though that were a goal in itself.
First Quality Of Integrity: Third Quality Of Integrity:
We speak “with sincerity.” In Paul says we do all this “before
other words, we are to be honest God” or “in the sight of God”

(rsv). This indicates an attitude Authority! Paul states it clearly
of transparency, of openness to in 2 Corinthians 5:20—“We are
investigation. To walk in the sighttherefore Christ’s ambassadors,
of other people permits us to hide as though God were making His
our sins and contradictions behind appeal through us.” Ambassadors
a facade. But to walk in the sight are authorized spokesmen. They
of God requires total honesty with have power to act and make
Him and with ourselves, because covenants on behalf of others.
nothing can be hidden from God’s Authentic Christians are not
sight. This does not mean we can powerless servants. We speak
words and deliver messages that
live sinlessly, but rather that there
must be no cover-up or evasion of heaven honors.
the facts of our sin when it occurs. All of these qualities add up to
It means there are no areas of unimpeachable integrity. People of
denial. All is evaluated and testedsincerity, purpose, transparency,
by the purity and knowledge and and authority are utterly
wisdom of God—and what is trustworthy. You can ring a gold
sinful, we confess and we repent ofcoin on their conscience. Their
before God. A man who walks in word is their bond, and they can
the sight of God is more interestedbe counted on to come through.
in his inner reality than his outerThey are responsible and faithful
reputation. He can be completely individuals. That is the fourth
trusted. You can even believe his great mark of real Christianity.
golf score and the size of the trout At this point in the Scripture
he caught. If you can teach your text, we come to a chapter
division. This is unfortunate,
young people to live in the sight of
God, you will even be able to trustbecause it divides two chapters
them in the backseat of a car. that belong together. The apostle
Fourth Quality Of Integrity: has not finished his line of
We speak “in Christ.” What reasoning, so it’s best to ignore
quality does that indicate? the division and read right on to

find the fifth mark of authentic the result of our ministry, written
Christianity: “Are we beginning to not with ink but with the Spirit
commend ourselves again? Or do of the living God, not on tablets
we need, like some people, letters of stone but on tablets of human
of recommendation to you or from hearts” (2 Cor. 3:2-3).
you?” (2 Cor. 3:1). He is saying, in effect, “You
want letters of recommendation
mark #5: to prove I have authority as
undeniable Reality a messenger of God? Why,
Paul is aware that he is beginning you yourselves are all the
to sound arrogant. He knows recommendation I need! Look
there are some in Corinth who what has happened to you.
will immediately take these Are you any different since
words in that way. Indeed, it is you came to Christ through my
obvious from his words that some word? Your own hearts will bear
had even suggested in previous witness to yourselves and before
correspondence that the next the world that the message you
time he came to Corinth he bring heard from us and which has
letters of recommendation from changed your lives is from God.”
some of the Twelve in Jerusalem! In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul made
They were thinking of Paul as reference to “the sexually immoral
though he were a man entirely . . . idolaters . . . adulterers . . .
like themselves. So because they male prostitutes . . . homosexual
saw him as continually praising offenders . . . thieves . . . greedy
himself, no one would believe him . . . drunkards . . . slanderers . . .
without confirmation from more [and] swindlers” he had found in
objective sources. But Paul says Corinth. “And that is what some
to them, “You yourselves are our of you were,” he added (vv. 9-11).
letter, written on our hearts, known But now they had been washed,
and read by everybody. You show sanctified, and justified by the
that you are a letter from Christ, name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

These changes validated Paul’s that story about Jesus changing
message. water into wine?” He said, “I sure
The Corinthians had written do.” The other said, “How can
to Paul about their newfound you believe such nonsense?” The
joy and the hope and meaning Christian replied, “I’ll tell you
that had been brought into their how; because in our house Jesus
lives. They described to him their changed whiskey into furniture!”
deliverance from shame and That is the mark of authenticity.
guilt, their freedom from fear and Such a marked change occurs only
hostility, from darkness and death.under the impulse of a powerful
So he says to them, in effect, relationship that substitutes the
“This is your confirmation. You love of Christ for the love of drink.
yourselves are walking letters from These are the five
God, known and read by all men, unmistakable signs of genuine
Christianity: unquenchable
written by the Spirit of God in your
hearts.” Here is the final mark of optimism, unvarying success,
genuine Christianity: undeniable unforgettable impact,
reality, a change that cannot be unimpeachable integrity, and
explained by any other terms than undeniable reality. They are
God at work. Paul did not need always present whenever the real
letters of recommendation when thing is being manifested. Mere
this kind of change was evident in religion tries to imitate these
the lives of his hearers. marks, but is never quite able to
I once heard of a man who pull it off. By comparison with
had been an alcoholic for years these marks, phony Christianity
and then was converted. Someone is always exposed as a shabby,
asked him, “Now that you are shoddy imitation that quickly
a Christian, do you believe the folds when the real pressure is
miracles of the New Testament?” on. The remarkable thing is not
He answered, “Yes, I do.” The that men seek to imitate these
other man said, “Do you believe genuine graces, for we all have

been hypocrites of one kind or you. Paul talks about it in
another since our birth. The truly 2 Corinthians 2—and it’s not for
remarkable thing is that becoming sale at any price. It is absolutely
a Christian does not of itself free!
guarantee that these Christian
graces will be manifest in us. The SouRCe of
It is not being a Christian that ouR SuffiCienCy
produces these, but living as a Remember the five marks of
Christian. There is a knowledge we authentic Christianity we just
must have and a choice we must examined: unquenchable
make before these virtues will be optimism, unvarying success,
consistently present. The secret unforgettable impact,
awaits us in the next section. unimpeachable integrity, and
undeniable reality. These marks
THE SECRET came into focus for us as we

T
urn on the radio or TV, read Paul’s description of his
and within minutes own experience and ministry in
you’ll be bombarded 2 Corinthians 2. Yet Paul also
with advertising. Each of these raised an important question
commercials has a different look in that chapter—a question I
or a distinct sound, but all of deliberately bypassed in order to
them promise essentially the same save it for now. After listing those
thing: the secret of fulfillment, marks of an authentic Christian,
satisfaction, success, or happiness. Paul asks the reader, “And who is
You won’t find the secret, however, equal to such a task?” (v.16).
by purchasing a product at the Let’s take that question very
department store, taking a cruise, seriously. Try to answer it! Who,
or calling a number at the bottom indeed, is equal to such a task?
of your TV screen. Who among us demonstrates the
Don’t despair! The secret can kind of unquenchable optimism,
be found. It truly is available to unvarying success, unforgettable

impact, unimpeachable integrity, new covenant—not of the letter
and undeniable reality that is but of the Spirit; for the letter
supposed to mark the life of kills, but the Spirit gives life.
an authentic Christian? Who He puts the great secret
is a consistent model of these before us in unmistakable terms:
qualities? Am I? Are you? “This confidence is ours through
Are you equal to the task Christ! Our sufficiency is from
of continually, unfailingly, God!” Lest anyone miss the
consistently manifesting a implications of that, he puts the
cheerful, confident spirit? An same truth negatively: “Not that
ability always to come out on top? we are competent or sufficient
A powerful, positive influence on in ourselves! No, our sufficiency
others? Complete trustworthiness? comes from God alone.” Nothing
And such a reliable, realistic coming from us; everything
demonstration of these qualities coming from God! That is the
that no one is ever in doubt about secret of secrets—the secret of
them? Who is equal to such a true fulfillment, satisfaction, and
task? success.
The question hangs in the
air, waiting for an answer. Paul, live iT—don’T
however, does not leave us groping waSTe iT
for an answer to his searching To live in this way, drawing our
question. In 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 sufficiency from God, is what
he gives us his forthright answer: it means to be “competent as
Such confidence as this is ours
ministers of a new covenant.”
through Christ before God. He sharply contrasts this way of
Not that we are competent in life with the old covenant, the
ourselves to claim anything for
dead written code, the “letter”
ourselves, but our competence that “kills.” To live with nothing
comes from God. He has made coming from us and everything
us competent as ministers of acoming from God is to live in the

Spirit. The Spirit continually gives brings us nearer to death,
Life with a capital L. This is the But nearness to death
secret that produced the confident no nearer to God.
spirit that characterized Paul Where is the life
and empowered him to spread we have lost in living?
the fragrance of the knowledge Where, indeed? We are
of Christ everywhere he went. forced to honestly admit that we
The language he uses reminds us deliberately waste a good deal of
immediately of the words of Jesus our life in useless dreaming and
to His disciples: “I am the vine; profitless activity. But not all of it!
you are the branches. . . . Apart At times we give it the old college
from Me you can do nothing” try, sometimes we are earnest and
(Jn. 15:5). Neither Jesus nor Paul serious and do our level best to
means to imply that no human act as we ought and do what we
activity is possible without reliance should. The results often appear
upon God. Both the world and the very impressive to us, and even to
church are full of examples to the others, but when we think of our
contrary. approaching death, it all seems
But both Jesus and Paul teach rather vain and futile. That’s when
that activity dependent upon we ask, “Where is the life we have
human resources for its success lost in living?”
will, in the end, accomplish The apostle indicates that the
nothing. It will have no permanent secret of an effective, meaningful
value. Men may praise it and life lies in what he calls “the new
emulate it, but God will count it covenant.” Jesus referred to this
for what it is—wasted effort. Just “new covenant” when He passed
such a life is described in the the cup to His disciples at the
plaintive question of T. S. Eliot: institution of the Lord’s Supper:
All our knowledge brings us “This cup is the new covenant in
nearer to our ignorance, My blood, which is poured out for
All our ignorance you” (Lk. 22:20). This cup, taken

with the bread, is to remind us all obstacles till death. Nations
of the central truth of our lives: sign treaties with one another to
Jesus died for us in order that determine the conditions under
He may live in us. His life in us which they will work together.
is the power by which we live a All these examples are forms of
covenants, and it is apparent
true Christian life. That is the new
covenant. from these that a covenant is
It is important to understand fundamental and essential to all
the meaning of the word covenant. human endeavor.
There are, according to Paul, two But the most fundamental
covenants at work in human life. covenant of all is the one that
One is the new covenant, which forms the basis of human life
Paul would describe as “nothing itself. We may not often think of
coming from me, everything from it in this way, but no activity is
God.” This is in direct contrast topossible to us that does not rest
the old covenant, which could be upon an underlying covenant.
described as “everything coming We could not talk, sing, walk,
from me and nothing coming from speak, pray, run, think, or breathe
God.” The root idea of covenant, without that covenant. It is an
both in Paul’s day and ours, is arrangement made by God with
that of an agreement essential to the human race, whereby we are
all further relationship. furnished the life and energy we
If two men go into business need to perform what God wants
together, they form a partnership. us to do. We do not provide our
The terms of their relationship areown energy. We are dependent
carefully spelled out so they will creatures, needing a constant
have a framework within which supply from God the Creator in
to work. Marriage is also a type order to live and breathe.
of covenant in which a man and Now the great thing that Paul
a woman agree to share all they declares to us in this passage—
have and to stick together against confirmed in both the Old and

the New Testaments—is that this kind of life he has in view, it will
fundamental arrangement for be helpful to trace how he came
living comes to us in one of two to learn this transforming truth for
ways. There is an “old” way that himself. If you think it all came to
is linked inextricably with the Old him in that one dramatic moment
Testament law of Moses—the in the dust of the Damascus Road
written code, the “letter” which when he discovered the true
kills. identity of Jesus Christ and yielded
But through Jesus Christ, himself to His lordly claims, then
there is a “new” way that results you are far from the truth. It is
in life that is unquenchably true that Paul was born again at
optimistic, is characterized by that moment; it is true that he
unfeigned success, makes an understood for the first time that
unforgettable impact, operates Jesus was indeed the Son of God;
with unimpeachable integrity, it is true that the center of this
and confronts the world with ardent young Pharisee’s life was
a testimony of undeniable forever changed from living for his
reality. Having discovered the own advancement to desiring the
implications of this new covenant, eternal glory of Jesus Christ. But
the apostle finds himself qualified it may be of great encouragement
to live as God intended him to to many of us who struggle in
live, and it is through discovering the Christian life to learn that
these same implications for Paul also went through a period
ourselves that we shall find of probably 10 years after his
ourselves qualified by God to live conversion before he began to
as God intends us to live today. live in the fullness of the new
covenant. And it was during this
how Paul found time that, from God’s point of
The SeCReT view, he was an abject failure in
Since the apostle uses his own living the Christian life!
experience as the example of the We can piece together

from Acts 9 and several other Damascus. Then Luke, without
Scriptures the full account of giving any indication in the text
Paul’s conversion experience and whatever, goes on in his account
what happened to produce the to something that did not take
tremendous change in his life. place for at least several months
Here is a description of what took after the above events and which
place after the experience of the may not have occurred for as long
Damascus Road: as 3 years afterward: “Yet Saul
Saul [Paul] spent several days grew more and more powerful
with the disciples in Damascus. and baffled the Jews living in
At once he began to preach in Damascus by proving that Jesus
the synagogues that Jesus is is the Christ” (v.22).
the Son of God. All those who Note that Paul’s (or Saul’s)
heard him were astonished message is here said to be in the
and asked, “Isn’t he the man form of “proving” that Jesus is the
who raised havoc in Jerusalem Christ. There is a great difference
among those who call on this between proclaiming Jesus as the
name? And hasn’t he come here Son of God and proving that He
to take them as prisoners to the is the Christ. Luke only hints at
chief priests?” (Acts 9:19-21). what made the difference in his
It is clear from these words phrase, “Saul grew more and more
that it all happened within a very powerful,” but Paul himself tells
few days after Paul’s conversion us in more detail what happened
and his baptism at the hands of in his life. We find his description
Ananias. Paul began immediately, of that time in his letter to the
with characteristic vigor, to Galatians.
proclaim (herald, announce) the
deity of Jesus (“He is the Son of fRom PRoClaiming
God”). This truth he had learned To PRoving
in the glory of the light that Many scholars consider the
flamed about him on the road to Galatian letter to be the earliest

of Paul’s epistles. Whether it is or how his discovery of the truth
not is uncertain, but it is clear that about Jesus of Nazareth related
in it Paul defends his apostleship to the revelation of the prophets
and describes what happened which he had trusted ever since he
to him after his conversion. He was a child.
writes: As a Pharisee and based on
When God, who set me apart what he knew of the Scriptures,
from birth and called me by he had been convinced that Jesus
His grace, was pleased to reveal of Nazareth was a fraud. Now
His Son in me so that I might he knew better—yet somehow,
preach Him among the Gentiles, somewhere, he must work out
I did not consult any man, nor the mental confusion this new
did I go up to Jerusalem to see discovery produced in him. Arabia
those who were apostles before supplied the opportunity. So into
I was, but I went immediately Arabia he went, the scrolls of the
into Arabia and later returned Old Testament tucked under his
to Damascus (Gal. 1:15-17). arm. As we might well surmise,
We learn from this account he found Jesus on every page.
that what served to greatly How the old, familiar passages
strengthen young Saul at this must have glowed with new light
time was that he went away as, beginning with Moses and all
into Arabia and then returned to the prophets, the Spirit of God
Damascus. What did he do in interpreted to him the things
Arabia? Scripture doesn’t tells us, that belonged to Jesus. It was no
but I don’t think it is difficult to wonder that when he returned
figure out. We need only imagine to Damascus he came “greatly
the shock to this young man’s life strengthened.” And no wonder
that his conversion produced to too that Paul went into the same
realize that he desperately needed synagogues, armed with his
time to go back through the Old newfound knowledge, and began
Testament Scriptures and learn proclaiming for the first time that

Jesus is the Son of God. In the conquest in the name of Jesus
Jewish houses of worship, he were brought to this sudden and
turned from passage to passage of degrading halt. How humiliating
the Jewish Scriptures and “proved” to be let down over the wall in a
(Greek: “to knit together”) that basket like a common criminal
Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah escaping from the reach of
foretold by the Old Testament. the law! How shameful, how
discouraging! Once over the wall,
a baSkeT CaSe he slips off into the darkness of
Then things took a turn for the the night, bewildered, humiliated,
worse. To young Saul’s chagrin, and thoroughly discouraged. He
the Jews of Damascus were not stated later that it was both the
at all responsive to his powerful lowest point in his life and the
arguments. Luke tells us what beginning of the greatest discovery
happened: he ever made.
After many days had gone by, Where does he go from there?
the Jews conspired to kill him, Luke tells us immediately, “When
but Saul learned of their plan. he came to Jerusalem, he tried to
Day and night they kept close join the disciples, but they were all
watch on the city gates in afraid of him, not believing that he
order to kill him. But his really was a disciple” (v.26). Paul’s
followers took him by night own account agrees with this
and lowered him in a basket exactly: “Then after three years,
through an opening in the I went up to Jerusalem to get
wall (Acts 9:23-25). acquainted with Peter and stayed
What a burning humiliation with him fifteen days. I saw none
to this dedicated young Christian! of the other apostles—only James,
Paul had become—quite the Lord’s brother” (Gal. 1:18-19).
literally—a basket case! How How he managed to break through
confused and puzzled he must the fear barrier to see these two
have been as all his dreams of men is given us by Luke:

Barnabas took him and brought preached to the Jerusalem Jews.
him to the apostles. He told But knowing his ambitious and
them how Saul on his journey dedicated heart, it must have been
had seen the Lord and that one of severe discouragement.
the Lord had spoken to him, Years later, he mentioned this
and how in Damascus he had event in his great defense to the
preached fearlessly in the name Jerusalem mob when he was
of Jesus. So Saul stayed with arrested in the temple precincts
them and moved about freely in and saved from certain death only
Jerusalem, speaking boldly in by the timely intervention of the
the name of the Lord. He talked Romans. In Acts 22 he tells us,
and debated with the Grecian “When I returned to Jerusalem
Jews, but they tried to kill him and was praying at the temple, I
(Acts 9:27-29). fell into a trance and saw the Lord
It is a familiar pattern. Once speaking. ‘Quick!’ He said to me.
again the ardent young Christian ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately,
is determined to persuade the because they will not accept your
Greek-speaking Jews that Jesus testimony about Me’ ” (vv.17-18).
is the promised Messiah of the It is surely understandable
Old Testament. Once again a plot that young Saul would seek the
against his life is set in motion. comfort of the temple at this
It is the Damascus story all over discouraging moment. Again
again. his efforts to bear a convincing
witness for Christ had failed,
geT ouT! once again men were seeking to
At this point there occurs another find an opportunity to kill him,
gap in Luke’s account that we and he had no positive results
must fill in from Paul’s own with which to encourage himself.
account elsewhere. Luke does not No wonder he went into the
tell us young Saul’s reaction to the temple to pray. And there, to this
opposition he received when he discouraged disciple, the Lord

Jesus appeared—yet His message I understand their background.
was anything but encouraging. I too am an Israelite, a Hebrew
“Get out of Jerusalem,” said of the Hebrews, circumcised on
Jesus. “They will not receive your the eighth day, of the tribe of
testimony concerning Me.” At this Benjamin. I was a Pharisee like
point Saul began to argue with they are. I walked before the law
Jesus: “ ‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these blameless. I even persecuted the
men know that I went from one church, as they are now doing.
synagogue to another to imprison Why, when the martyr Stephen
and beat those who believe in was killed, I even kept the
You. And when the blood of Your garments of those who murdered
martyr Stephen was shed, I stood him! Lord, don’t send me away. I
there giving my approval and have what it takes to reach these
guarding the clothes of those who men. Don’t miss this opportunity!”
were killing him’ ” (Acts 22:19-20). Jesus’ answer is abrupt and
In these words Saul gave to the point. Paul tells us himself,
himself away. We can now see “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go;
what he was depending on for I will send you far away to the
Gentiles’ ” (Acts 22:21). What a
success in his witnessing efforts. It
is apparent that he saw himself as shattering blow! How crushed
the one person who was eminently young Saul must have been!
qualified to reach the Jews for But to indicate how the church
agreed with the Lord at this
Christ. His argument says in effect,
“Lord, You don’t understand this point, Luke tells us, “When the
situation. If You send me out of brothers learned of this [the plot
Jerusalem You are going to miss to kill Saul], they took him down
the opportunity of a lifetime. If to Caesarea and sent him off to
anyone understands how these Tarsus” (Acts 9:30).
Jews think and reason, it is me. Tarsus was Paul’s hometown.
I was one of them. I speak their There is no tougher place to go
language. I know how they react. as a Christian than back home.

Paul had tried his best to serve his his plans dissolved in despair.
newfound Lord with all the ability For 10 years he is not heard of
and energy he could muster. But again—not until an awakening
it amounted to exactly nothing. breaks out in Antioch of Syria and
In fact, at this point, Luke records the church in Jerusalem sends
a rather astonishing thing after Barnabas down to investigate.
Paul’s exile to Tarsus: “Then the When Barnabas finds “a great
church throughout Judea, Galilee, number of people [are being]
and Samaria enjoyed a time of brought to the Lord” (Acts 11:24),
peace. It was strengthened; and he knows help is needed.
encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it In verses 25-26, we read,
grew in numbers, living in the fear “Then Barnabas went to Tarsus
of the Lord” (Acts 9:31). to look for Saul, and when he
The record shows that at first found him, he brought him to
the apostle Paul was not so much Antioch. So for a whole year
the dynamic history-changing Barnabas and Saul met with the
missionary he later became. No, church and taught great numbers
initially the apostle Paul was of people. The disciples were
really something of a “consecrated called Christians first at Antioch.”
blunderer”! In his earnest, It was a different Saul who
fervent, good-hearted way, he came to Antioch with Barnabas.
went about preaching the gospel Chastened, humbled, and taught
and stirring up all kinds of anger by the Spirit, he began to teach
and hostility among the Jews! the Word of God. And from
When this “dedicated disputer” there he launched into the great
was eliminated—sent away to his missionary thrust that would
hometown of Tarsus—the church eventually take him to the limits
finally had peace! It began to of the Roman Empire, spreading
grow! Isn’t that amazing? the gospel with explosive force
Saul goes off to Tarsus to nurse throughout the world.
his wounds, his ego shattered and

aRe you a guarded in order to arrest me. But
baSkeT CaSe? I was lowered in a basket from a
What made the difference? window in the wall and slipped
Writing to the Corinthians through his hands” (vv.32-33).
many years later, Paul makes “That,” says Paul, “is my
one brief reference to the event boast. That is the greatest event
that triggered a line of teaching of my life since my conversion.
that would culminate in a clear When I became a basket case,
understanding and acceptance then I began to learn the truth that
of what he came to call “the has changed my life and explains
new covenant.” The Corinthian my power.” What was that life-
church had written to Paul and changing truth? Let Paul put it in
brazenly suggested to him that his own words, from his letter to
he would be more effective if he the Philippians:
would boast once in awhile in If anyone else thinks he has
his accomplishments. To this the reasons to put confidence
apostle replied: “If I must boast, I in the flesh, I have more:
will boast of the things that show circumcised on the eighth day,
my weakness. The God and Father of the people of Israel, of the
of the Lord Jesus, who is to be tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew
praised forever, knows that I am of Hebrews; in regard to the
not lying” (2 Cor. 11:30-31). law, a Pharisee; as for zeal,
What he is going to say will be persecuting the church; as
such a shock to them that he takes for legalistic righteousness,
a solemn vow that he is telling faultless. But whatever was to
them the truth, otherwise they my profit I now consider loss
may think he is joking or playing for the sake of Christ. What is
with them. Then he tells them more, I consider everything a
what his boast is: “In Damascus loss compared to the surpassing
the governor under King Aretas greatness of knowing Christ
had the city of the Damascenes Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I

have lost all things. I consider is to be utterly bankrupt before
them rubbish, that I may gain some demand of life, and then
Christ” (3:4-8). to discover it to be a blessing
The word he uses for ‘’consider because it forced you to depend
them rubbish’’ refers to common, wholly upon the Lord at work in
barnyard dung. What he once you. That is where you learn the
regarded as qualifying him to be truth of the new covenant, and
a success before God and men nowhere else.
(his ancestry, his orthodoxy, his
morality, and his activity) he
now regards as so much manure
compared to depending upon the
working of Jesus Christ within
him. He has learned how to shift
from the old covenant (everything
coming from me, nothing coming
from God) to the new covenant
(nothing coming from me,
everything coming from God),
j
this booklet is excerpted from
which gives life. He is no longer Authentic Christianity by Ray stedman,
highly qualified to be utterly which is published by Discovery
useless but is able to say: “My House Publishers, a member of the
sufficiency is from God, who has RBc Ministries family.
Ray stedman (1917–1992),
qualified me to be a minister of a a graduate of Dallas theological
new covenant.” seminary, was pastor of the Peninsula
Have you become a basket Bible church in Palo Alto, california,
case yet? Have you reached that for 40 years. He is the author of
place which Jesus described as more than 20 books, including
Adventuring Through The Bible, Reasons
“blessed”? “Blessed are the poor To Rejoice,The Way To Wholeness,What
in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom On Earth Is Happening?, and his classic,
of heaven.” To be “poor in spirit” Body Life.

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