Christian Living

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What hinders a Christian in their walk with God and how can they address these issues for their spiritual betterment?

●Introduction
●Are You A Christian?

INTRODUCTION

First of all I would like to thank a young woman named Vivian for providing me with a spark to write this book.
As I was attending an evening worship service at a local Christian church she was asked to share the notes that she had taken while listening to a message that was delivered by the Head pastor at the headquarters of the affiliate ministry earlier that morning.
The message was centered about this verse from the Gospel of John.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. John 12:24

As a corn of wheat needs to fall into the ground and die in order to bear fruit, so must a Christian learn to die to self in order to bear fruit.

How does a Christian die to self?

What is it that causes a Christian to continue to think, feel, and act the way they were before they were saved?

What is it that can bring about the necessary changes in order for a Christian to evidence Christ-likeness?

There is much that needs to be said in order to answer these questions. However, there is one decision that needs to have been made before any of these questions can be answered. Let’s take a look at this decision and go on from there.



CHAPTER 1

ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?

Before Christlikeness can be manifested in a person’s life what do you think is needed that would cause us to be able to manifest the same spiritual qualities of Christ (e.g. love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance) that he exhibited when he lived on this earth?
The answer to this question can be confusing.

Why is this the case?

In many of the churches today there is a misunderstanding as to what it means to be a Christian. Many churches will say that if you were brought up in a Christian home, then you are a Christian. Other churches will say that if you commit minor sins, attend church regularly, are faithful in giving money, and do good for others then you are a Christian. And still there are others that say if you believe in the trinity (three persons in one God; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) along with being baptized in water then you are a Christian.

So what does it mean to be a Christian?

In the Book of Acts it says that Jesus disciples were first called Christians in the church at Antioch. The word “Christians” means those who are a follower of Christ or those who are of Jesus party.

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Acts 11:26

It is evident they had the name Christians from CHRIST their master; as the Platonists and Pythagoreans had their name from their masters, Plato and Pythagoras. Now, as these had their name from those great masters because they attended their teaching, and credited their doctrines, so the disciples were called Christians because they took Christ for their teacher, crediting his doctrines, and following the rule of life laid down by him1.

This outlook is probably how many, who call themselves Christians, would describe themselves. If this is what it means to be called a Christian, then there would be no distinction between the followers of this faith and any other. Simply choose whosoever as your teacher, letting their name describe how you would like to be recognized by others; give assent to their doctrines, and follow what they would like you to do or not do in your daily life.

If this is the way that a Christian should follow Christ, then nothing more needs to be said.
However, what I have found whenever I have undertaken a study on any biblical topic is that there is always more than what meets the eye.

In Christianity unlike any other faith there are two conditions that need to be satisfied in order for a person to be called a Christian.

At the young age of eighteen I went to a liberal arts college for four years in order to obtain certification to be a high school math teacher. I had to follow the guidelines of the college which mandated that I take certain courses each with a certain numbers of credits assigned in order to fulfill these requirements. Another word I had to exhibit competence in order to achieve this goal.

In Christianity competence in our self is not a condition that causes someone to become a follower of Christ. Please go to Acts 20:21.

Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

The background to this verse is as follows.

Paul had been living in Greece for three months and now decides to depart and head for Jerusalem carrying with him financial assistance for the poor saints that are living there. While on his journey he decides to stop and reside in a place called Miletus. From there he sends someone with a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus requesting that they meet up with him, which they did.
He tells them that when we was with them at another time, he kept back nothing from them that would be profitable (of help), having taught them at times in public and at other times in house churches; giving warning to both the Jews and Gentiles that they should repent to God and believe in Jesus.

So there it is. The distinction of the Christian faith is that there is to be a warning (to testify of in order to remove all doubt) given to both unbelieving Jews and Gentiles to repent (a change of mind about their sin; the denial of ourselves; the displeasing of ourselves) to God the Father. This is a willingness to make acknowledgment to the very Being whom we have offended or injured2.
This is to be followed by faith in Christ as to who he is and what he has done.

For what purpose does a person repent and believe?

Please go to John 7:37-39

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

We repent and believe so that one of the other members of the trinity called the Holy Spirit might come inside our body thus providing for us a new nature.

Why is this so important?

Because the indwelling Holy Spirit can accomplish in us that for which we are unable to accomplish for ourselves such as:
a. Causing us to be washed (made pure), sanctified (the setting apar to be wholly employed in the service of the true God), and justified (accepted as righteous; brought into a state of favor with God). 1 Cor 6:9,11
b. Providing us with divine power and divine perspective. John 4:23-24
c. Communicating to us truths that he hears from God the Father. John 16:13
d. Delivering us from the dominion of the sin nature with its affections and lusts, along with freeing us from reliance on any of the demands of the Mosaic Law (following the Ten Commandments, observing the 7th Day Sabbath, Tithing, etc.). Rom. 7:7-8
e. causing the righteousness (the requirements of the moral precepts e.g. thou shalt not covet, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, etc.) of the law to be fully satisfied or accomplished in the believer when they walk after Him. Rom. 8:4
f. Being the evidence that we belong to Christ. Rom. 8:9
g. Giving us witness of His presence with our human spirit, when he produces in us the effects of his influences, these influences being his love (self-sacrifice for the benefit of the one loved); joy (inner rejoicing which does not depend on circumstances, because it rests in God’s sovereign control of all things); peace [tranquility of mind as a result of a right relationship with God, or to restoration of right relationships between people3; the calm, quiet, and order, which take place in the justified soul, instead of the doubts, fears, alarms, and dreadful forebodings (Dict. a strong inner feeling or notion of a future misfortune, evil4, etc); peaceful sense of harmony with God and a compliancy in all things with his providential appointments5]; longsuffering (remaining quiet when persecuted; patient endurance of wrong under ill-treatment, without anger or thought of revenge6); gentleness (conciliatory to others; unruffled disposition); goodness (gracious giving, no strings attached; to do good to the body and souls of men); faith (faithful to one’s word and promises; faithful to God’s promises); meekness (compliant to the teaching of the word); and temperance (being able to say no to one’s own desires; mastery of one’s own desires and impulses). Rom 8:16; Gal. 5:22-23
h. Interceding to God for us by praying according to the plan of God for our life, when we are immersed in our infirmities (trials and troubles; physical, emotional, and spiritual disabilities; the general weakness of the spiritual life). Rom. 8:26
i. Helping us to examine, investigate, and understand the things (the blessings of redemption; the blessings of salvation) that are freely given to us of God. 1 Cor. 2:12
j. Giving us at least one spiritual gift which is proof of His presence 1 Cor 12:7
k. Giving us at least one spiritual gift which is to be used for the benefit (edification) of the church. These gifts are the gifts of: prophecy, divers kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues, faith, healing, the working of miracles, the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom, discerning of spirits, teaching, exhorting, giving with simplicity, ruling with diligence/governments, showing mercy with cheerfulness, helps/ministry. Romans 12:6-8 and 1 Cor 12:1,7-10,28
l. Giving us at least one spiritual gift which constitutes our appropriate place in the church. 1 Cor 12:13
m. Transforming us on the inside which reveals a gradual change on the outside into the image of Christlikeness in coordination with our choosing to meditate upon God’s word. 2 Cor 3:18
n. Being the seal which indicates that we are owned by God. Eph 1:12-14
o. Allowing us when we pray or worship to have access to God the Father’s presence, being confident that He will minister and answer us. Eph 2:18
p. Building us together with the other members of the church by means of a process of construction, growth, and eventual completion for a place where God lives. Eph 2:20-22
q. Producing divine love in us, which when accompanied by our obedience to the word of God will enable us to love others with a self-sacrificial love that is free from all evil thoughts and feelings in a continual manner. 1 Peter 1:22

So do you want to become a Christian?

If you do, then you can confess these words in silence or out loud.

I acknowledge that I am sinner who needs a change of heart. I don’t want to continue in my sinful behavior any more. God I confess to you these sinful actions (e.g. lying, stealing, slander, fornication, murder, homosexuality, rape, lesbianism, prostitution, worshiping of idols, practicing black magic; drunkenness, jealousies; pedophilia; extortion, gossip, etc.)
I believe in Jesus Christ as God, who preexisted time; came to earth in the form of a man, but still as God; born of a virgin; lived a sinless life; died on a cross paying the penalty for the sins of the whole world satisfying the demands of the payment for sin that God the Father required; forgave all sin; rose from the dead after 3 days, not to die again; ascended into heaven; and is seated at the right hand of God the Father.
Upon these declarations God the Holy Spirit has now entered your life.
So where should you go from here?

The next decision that you should make will go a long way in determining as to whether you will learn how to address the weaknesses of your flesh so that the spiritual qualities of the Holy Spirit will be experienced by you and be manifested to others.

http://makingtheonerightchoice.com

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