What It Means To Live As A Christian Part 2

In the final talk, we reviewed what it means to live as a Christian and remembered that life as a Christian means understanding exclusive inclusivity.

What it means to be a Christian:

To wholeheartedly and exclusively trust in the person and claims of Jesus Christ, activating a new birth that results in a lifestyle that mirrors His values, teaching, and ways so that others can see and know Him.

For God so loved THE WORLD (inclusive) that He gave His ONE AND ONLY Son (exclusive), that WHOEVER (inclusive) believes IN HIM (exclusive) shall not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:16

We can mirror Jesus's values, teachings, and ways. Last week we discovered that to live as a Christian is to:

1) Be Christlike

2) Be in love with God

3) Extend grace

4) Shine light

5) Give generously

This week we will continue with the final three things we can do to live Christian lives.

Eugene Peterson, a Greek and Hebrew scholar, paraphrased the Bible. What is said sums up our role in the Christian life.

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage."

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16

6) Proclaim the Good News. We don't go around telling people bad news, we're to speak the words of the Gospel. Romans 1:16 says that we are not ashamed of the Gospel. The word "Gospel" in Greek is "euangelion" which means "good news." This is also where we get the word "evangel" in Latin, leading to our word evangelical. Mark 16:15 and Matthew 24:14 tell us to preach the good news. Preaching isn't a profession, it's simply to tell, proclaim, share, and spread. Everyone can do it. We are the good news bearers. We have to get back to the heart of God's Word where we can put the gospel into our hearts. He wants us to live as a Christian and proclaim to Gospel, the good news.

• Footnote: Our culture wants to get rid of all the bad news, so they want us to think God loves us because we're so amazing. The truth, we are amazing because we are made in the image of God, but humanity has a problem, so we all have a problem. We do terrible things to ourselves and others. The problem with humanity causes humans to fight Yahweh- but God loves humans because they are made in His image. So, He solves humanity's problem by making our problem His Son's problem so that our problem was solved through His Son so that we could be called sons and daughters of God. This is good news!
  • Would you tell everyone the good news?
  • Would you be generous with your life because you know that generosity invites curiosity?
  • Would you speak words of truth when people ask curious questions?
  • Be prepared, be ready. Have a book, clip, a link to give to them. Know it's a process and leave the results to God. Repeat.

7) To make disciples. Someone who has a disciple is helping someone to progressively learn the Word of God, to become a mature growing disciple, a learner, a true Christ follower, to train and develop in the truth of scripture and the lifestyle required. It's helping a believer learn to be a disciple of Christ in belief and practice. Who has helped you to learn to pray and study the Word of God? God has left us on earth to do this. See Matthew 28:18-20.

• "Therefore, go and make disciples" is most literally translated as "As you are on your way, make disciples. The way you become a mature disciple is because someone invested in you, so go invest in someone else and help them to grow. Who are you doing this for? All you need to be a disciple maker is to be a step or two ahead of someone else in their faith journey so that you can teach them what you've learned in your two steps ahead.

8) To love one another. Jesus gives this command in John 13:34. Do you know how God has loved you? He has always loved you more. He loved you before you loved Him. He showed His love by dying for us while we were still sinners. See Romans 5:8. You matter more than the lilies and the sparrows. He sees everything. See Matthew 6:25-34.

Jesus takes it even further in the next verse and says that the Church will be known by our love. The word for love that is used there is "agape", which is a special kind of love. The idea behind it is to prefer the other. This is incredibly counter cultural-to prefer others as better than yourself. See Philippians 2:3. But while you are preferring others they are preferring you. If you are united on the Gospel, then the other disagreements you have can be handled with grace. You talk to someone, not about someone. You talk with someone, not post about them. It's maintaining you're lane and living like a Christian. Go to them in private and pray for them a long time before you criticize them because you don't want us to look like a mess to the world. Do everything in your power to solve the disagreement in peace and privacy.

When it comes to public discourse, Christians need to stay out of the comment section. It doesn't change anyone's mind to throw bombs back and forth. That brings no one to reconciliation so why get in it? Focus on loving each other, not the world, and this is how the world will know of the Agape House, the Church. A place where every need is met and no one has lack. When you are part of that community, you are part of paying mortgages, medical bills, car issues, and other bills. It's the house of love.

Which one of the 8 do you want to lock onto right now? In what areas can you grow?