A LIFE TO LIVE
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June 2000
A few weeks ago I was visiting with my dad, Doyle, and he told me something a person had said to him: "Why would anyone want to be a Christian, to have another person tell you how to live." I guess that qualifies Christianity as a cult. Sure, if you let another man tell you how to live then you're only fooling yourself. To live as a Christian, one must depend on the living Word of God, which is our final authority in which Jesus Christ tells us how we live; for Jesus Christ is God and by His Spirit do we operate.
Ephesians 4:17-19 says, "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of ignorance that is in them, because of the wickedness of their heart, who being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." When people are outside of Christ, because sin hardens one's heart, they are past feeling anything from conviction. They don't understand the things of Christ. For the carnal man cannot understand the spiritual things of God.
Continuing on with Ephesians 4:20-24, "But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness."
He is a Holy God and therefore we should also be holy. Sure we stumble in sin, which is why we need to confess our sins to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ every day.
As Christians, we live a life in true righteousness and holiness, establishing the moral law of Jesus Christ in our hearts, those that He taught in the Word of God.
Titus 2:11-14 says, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."
It isn't any man that we trust in, but God, our Lord Jesus Christ we trust in, for we are His own special people, and it is His living Word that is the final authority in our lives, not anything else. Why live this way? Well, number one, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ. We will stand before the judgement seat of Christ. Two, what can a man profit if he forfeits his own soul to gain the whole world only to loose it? Galatians 6:7, 8 says, "Do not be deceived: God can not be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the spirit will reap eternal life."
It is an awesome life to live in Christ Jesus. Sure, it isn't easy at times, but praise God, He will never leave us or forsake us, for He is with us until the end of the age. To live a Christian life is a great blessing. He has many wonderful blessings and treasures in heaven for those who believe in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. Let you faith in Christ produce those good works in your life that show Christ is Lord of your life and live the life in Christ Jesus, not ashamed, but with boldness for Him who gave His life freely that you might be a special person unto Him.
(c) 2000 by Pastor Aaron D. Lint
