THE CHRISTIAN LIFE Lesson 6

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
Lesson 6

RIGHT LIVING

Now that I'm a child of God-a Christian, a member of Christ's church, the body of Christ-the way I live is very important. My desires, goals, and aims in life have changed. I now have a Father in heaven and Christ the Lord is my older brother. Therefore my life is changed, because the children of God do not live like the people in the world. Those people do not follow Christ as Lord. Now that I am a child of God, I want to learn how to live to give honor and glory to my Father in heaven and to Jesus Christ my Lord. In the previous chapters, I have seen again what it means to obey the gospel of Christ, God's power to save (Romans 1:16). I have looked at the Bible, God's book given to me to guide me in the right way. I have studied about the church of Christ: what it is, and how it worships and works. Now I need to learn from the New Testament how to live my own private Christian life. I want to please God and honor Jesus Christ.

As a child of God, I want to avoid sin as much as I can. The New Testament is my guide book. It tells me what I can and cannot do. Sin means doing wrong, but sin also means to fail to do right. James 4:17 says: "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." The New Testament not only tells me about those sins that God has forbidden, but it also tells me how I sin when I fail to do God's will. Jesus said "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). It is God's will that I avoid wrong and do right.

The apostle Paul names "the works of the flesh," writing, "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the life. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)

In his Ephesian letter, Paul writes:

"Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:25-32)

And again, writing to the Christians at Corinth, Paul declares:

"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

Some other Scriptures which tell about things that are wrong are 1 Corinthians 5:11, Colossians 3:5-9; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; and Revelation 22:15. I should study all of these words so that I will know what God wants me to avoid. As a child of God, I am to do what is right also. The apostle Paul wrote:

"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins." (2 Peter 1:5-9)

These Christian qualities take time to develop in life, but they are necessary to living the Christian life.

Above all things, as a child of God, my life must be filled with love. A Jewish lawyer asked Christ: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?" (Matthew 22:36). Jesus said, "Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40)

Paul, instructing the Colossian Christians, said:

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, and gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." (Colossians 3:12-15)

As a child of God, there are evil things that I must stop doing or avoid; as a child of God, there are things I must do. What really counts is to remember all the time that "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" (Galatians 5:6). Christianity is not just talk; it is doing. John wrote "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:18). This same man of God wrote again "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:8). Thus, as a child of God, my heart must be filled with love, toward both God and man. This love moves me to act, putting God above all, and then it moves me to follow the words of Jesus "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12).

True, these standards are high. But as a child of God, when I fail, let me remember that all is not lost. John wrote: "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One" (1 John 2:1). When I sin, let me repent, confess to God my only Father, and ask in prayer for forgiveness, because the Bible says: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). I can live the Christian life, with the help and forgiveness of God, through Jesus Christ my Lord. God bless you now, child of God, as you live the Christian life.