25. CHRISTIAN STANDARDS OF LIVING
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  • CHRISTIAN STANDARDS OF LIVING

    The word of God not only explains the gospel to us but it also demonstrates Christian standards of living. Once we accept Christ, we are called ‘ambassadors for Christ’. As such, we are walking witnesses to God’s presence in our lives. People need to see ‘Christ’ in us. This can only be accomplished through the Holy Spirit in our lives and takes time. However, God wants us to know and understand His principles for living. In this lesson we will explore what these Biblical principles are and how to relate to them.

  • 1. What does Paul instruct the believers in Rome to do? Rom. 12:2

  • 2. What does John teach regarding ‘the world’? 1 John 2:15

  • 3. What are the three areas that John specifically tells to guard against? 1 John 2:16

  • Note: Worldliness is anything that is motivated by self-interest. Our motivation is important to God and is at the center of what we do.

  • 4. Is ‘worldliness’ a trait of only the non-believer? 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

  • 5. What are some other evidences of having a sinful nature or living ‘in the world’? Galatians 5:19-21

  • Note: Sanctification or being made ‘holy’ by God is a process and takes time. In this passage Paul is addressing the Corinthian church that He brought to Christ ten years earlier. He is telling them that by now they should have grown into mature Christians.

  • 6. How does one grow into a mature Christian? Gal. 5:16-18

  • Note: One ‘lives by the Spirit’ by keeping a close connection with God through prayer, reading His words and surrendering our hearts and lives to Him on a daily basis. It is only then that the Spirit continues His work in us.

     

    “Those who make room in their hearts for Jesus will realize His love. All who long to bear the likeness of the character of God shall be satisfied. The Holy Spirit never leaves unassisted the soul who is looking unto Jesus. He takes of the things of Christ and shows them unto him. If the eye is kept fixed on Christ, the work of the Spirit ceases not until the soul is conformed to His image.”

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  • 7. What are some of the attributes of the Spirit living within us? Gal. 5:22-25

  • Note: The Bible has many admonitions for the believer. Many of these were in the framework of the culture of those days. For instance in 1 Tim. 2:8-10, it is written that women should not braid their hair. What is the harm in that? In the days of Paul only prostitutes braided their hair and wore extensive jewelry. In essence, what Paul is saying is that God’s children should not dress like prostitutes. So, rather than giving ‘rules’ it is better to give ‘principles’. A principle transcends culture and time. It cuts right to the heart of the matter. In this lesson we will be looking at five basic principles.

  • FIVE BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING

     

    1. MOTIVATION- Why are you doing it? For whom does it give glory or attention to? 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15

  • 2. RELATIONSHIP- You put others and their needs above yours. 1 Corinthians

    10:24; 1 Corinthians 9:22

  • 3. PRIORITIES- What is more important the outward or the inward? Do we spend more time on the outward adornment or on the inward in cultivating a godly spirit? 1 Tim. 2:8-10; Col. 3:1, 2; 1 Peter 3:3,4

  • 4. CONSISTENCY-Are we consistent in our behavior? Are we dependable to others? Do we say one thing and do another? Matthew 23:1-3

  • 5. SIMPLICITY- Not being encumbered with the abundance of possessions but with the simplicity of a beautiful inner spirit. Luke 12:15

  • Conclusion: It is the work of God to bring us to the point of obtaining to the standards that He gives. Our part is only always to keep coming to Him, for love, for confession, for forgiveness and for grace strength and power. He then continues to work in us so that others may see Him in us and be drawn to Him. In exchange we live full, abundant purposeful lives which touches and blesses many especially ourselves.