Th 140Th 140Principles of the Christian Life IPrinciples of the Christian Life I

The Nature of the Christian The Nature of the Christian LifeLife

The Essence of a ChristianThe Essence of a Christian

The essence of being a Christian is The essence of being a Christian is 1.1. having a right relationship with God and having a right relationship with God and

His Son. His Son. John 17:3John 17:3 “This is eternal life, that they may “This is eternal life, that they may

know You, the only true God, and Jesus know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (NASB)Christ whom You have sent.” (NASB)

Eternal life flows from being rightly related to Eternal life flows from being rightly related to God.God.

1 John 5:111 John 5:11 … God has given us eternal life, … God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.Son of God does not have the life.

The Essence of a ChristianThe Essence of a Christian

2.2. being an apprentice to Jesus = being an apprentice to Jesus = learning how to thinking like Him learning how to thinking like Him about every area of life so you about every area of life so you can live like him in every area of can live like him in every area of life. life.

John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Judeans who had believed him, "If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples

I. I. Our Problem as SinnersOur Problem as Sinners

1.1. We were dead in trespasses and We were dead in trespasses and sins. sins.

Since spiritual life is having a right Since spiritual life is having a right relationship with God, being dead must relationship with God, being dead must mean being alienated from God.mean being alienated from God.

Ephesians 2:1Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, your trespasses and sins,

I. I. Our Problem as SinnersOur Problem as Sinners

2.2. We used to “walk” in our trespasses We used to “walk” in our trespasses and sins.and sins.

Ephesians 2:2Ephesians 2:2 in which you formerly in which you formerly walked according to the course of this walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of now working in the sons of disobediencedisobedience. .

““Walk” means to “live” in this verseWalk” means to “live” in this verse Verse 3 describes this life as one that Verse 3 describes this life as one that

indulges the desires of the flesh and indulges the desires of the flesh and mind.mind.

I. I. Our Problem as SinnersOur Problem as Sinners

3.3. We were alienated and enemies of We were alienated and enemies of God.God.

Colossians 1:21Colossians 1:21 And although you were And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,engaged in evil deeds,

Romans 5:10Romans 5:10 For if while we were For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.be saved by His life.

I. I. Our Problem as SinnersOur Problem as Sinners

4.4. All our righteousness (our good All our righteousness (our good works) is like filthy rags.works) is like filthy rags.

Isaiah 64:6Isaiah 64:6 For all of us have become like For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy* garment; and all deeds are like a filthy* garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.like the wind, take us away. *filthy = menstrual*filthy = menstrual

II.II. God’s Provision for God’s Provision for SinnersSinners1.1. God provides salvation and offers it God provides salvation and offers it

to all men. to all men.

John 3:16John 3:16 For God so loved the world, For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.perish, but have eternal life.

II.II. God’s Provision for God’s Provision for SinnersSinners2.2. God enables all men to respond to God enables all men to respond to

the truth.the truth. Romans 1:20-21Romans 1:20-21 … since the creation … since the creation

of the world His invisible attributes, His of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks honor Him as God or give thanks

III. III. Our Response to Our Response to God’s ProvisionGod’s Provision1.1. Recognize that we deserve his Recognize that we deserve his

wrath and Hellwrath and Hell Ephesians 2:3Ephesians 2:3 Among them we too all Among them we too all

formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.children of wrath, even as the rest.

III. III. Our Response to Our Response to God’s ProvisionGod’s Provision2.2. Confess our rebellion, sinfulness, Confess our rebellion, sinfulness,

idolatryidolatry

1 John 1:91 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.unrighteousness.

III.III. Our Response to God’s Our Response to God’s ProvisionProvision3.3. Repent—turn from our idols to Repent—turn from our idols to

serve God only, asking forgiveness serve God only, asking forgiveness for our sinsfor our sins

Acts 3:19Acts 3:19 Therefore repent and return, Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; come from the presence of the Lord;

See also See also 1 Thess. 1:91 Thess. 1:9

III.III. Our Response to God’s Our Response to God’s ProvisionProvision4.4. Believe that Jesus is God’s Son and Believe that Jesus is God’s Son and

that He died & rose to provide us that He died & rose to provide us salvation salvation

Romans 10:9Romans 10:9 that if you confess with that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; the dead, you will be saved;

III.III. Our Response to God’s Our Response to God’s ProvisionProvision5.5. Begin as an apprentice / follower of Begin as an apprentice / follower of

Jesus.Jesus. Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His

disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

IV.IV. God’s SalvationGod’s Salvation

1.1. God has reconciled us to himself through God has reconciled us to himself through the death of His Son on the cross.the death of His Son on the cross.

Colossians 1:22Colossians 1:22 yet He has now reconciled yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach–and beyond reproach–

2.2. We are new creatures created in Christ.We are new creatures created in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:172 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Therefore if anyone is in

Christ, he is a new creature; the old things Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.passed away; behold, new things have come.

IV.IV. God’s SalvationGod’s Salvation

3.3. We are quickened together with We are quickened together with Christ (made alive spiritually).Christ (made alive spiritually).

Ephesians 2:5Ephesians 2:5 even when we were even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),you have been saved),

IV.IV. God’s SalvationGod’s Salvation

4. 4. We become sons and daughters We become sons and daughters of God, members of God’s Familyof God, members of God’s Family

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

Focus: Loving Relationship with God our Father through Jesus, our High Priest and Brother.

IV.IV. God’s SalvationGod’s Salvation

5. We become members of Christ’s 5. We become members of Christ’s BodyBody

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,

Focus: Loving Relationship with our fellow members in the Body.

IV.IV. God’s SalvationGod’s Salvation

6. 6. We become citizens of the We become citizens of the Kingdom Kingdom

Colossians 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

The Kingdom has … A King – Jesus Laws – God’s law A culture – the values, perspectives, and

institutions established by God’s word A mission – making disciplesA mission – making disciples

The Contexts of the The Contexts of the Christian LifeChristian Life

V.V. Our Response to God’s Our Response to God’s SalvationSalvation1.1. Grateful Self-SacrificeGrateful Self-Sacrifice

Out of gratitude for …Out of gratitude for … the new life God has given usthe new life God has given us freedom from sin’s powerfreedom from sin’s power the inheritance we have been given, the inheritance we have been given, sonship, sonship, all of God’s mercies,all of God’s mercies,

V.V. Our Response to God’s Our Response to God’s SalvationSalvation

… … we give our new life back to God as a we give our new life back to God as a living sacrifice – we are all His, every living sacrifice – we are all His, every part of us.part of us.Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.which is your spiritual service of worship.

V.V. Our Response to God’s Our Response to God’s SalvationSalvation2.2. Believing Self-YieldingBelieving Self-Yielding

We believe (reckon) that we are indeed We believe (reckon) that we are indeed free from sin and yield ourselves to God as free from sin and yield ourselves to God as his servants. He is the master; we are the his servants. He is the master; we are the slave. slave.

Romans 6:11-13Romans 6:11-13 Even so consider yourselves to Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 1212 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,body so that you obey its lusts,1313 and do not go on presenting the members of and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.as instruments of righteousness to God.

VI.VI. God’s Response to our God’s Response to our ConsecrationConsecration

Entire Sanctification by Spirit-fillingEntire Sanctification by Spirit-filling God God sanctifies us entirely – spirit, sanctifies us entirely – spirit,

soul, bodysoul, body. .

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 Now may the God 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.to pass.

VI.VI. God’s Response to our God’s Response to our ConsecrationConsecration

God’s Spirit takes full control of us God’s Spirit takes full control of us (“fills us”). (“fills us”).

Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, filled with the Spirit,

Illustration: Back seat driver.Illustration: Back seat driver.

VII.VII.Life after Entire Life after Entire SanctificationSanctification

1.1. Joyous, God-glorifying service.Joyous, God-glorifying service. We live out our lives in joyous, grateful, We live out our lives in joyous, grateful,

loving service, striving to please Him in loving service, striving to please Him in everything, to glorify Him in all we do, and everything, to glorify Him in all we do, and to grow more and more into the image of to grow more and more into the image of His Son.His Son.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in beforehand so that we would walk in them. them.

VII.VII.Life after Entire Life after Entire SanctificationSanctification

2.2. Continued apprenticeship to Jesus = Continued apprenticeship to Jesus = growth in Christlikenessgrowth in Christlikeness

We “press toward the mark of the high We “press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” = full calling of God in Christ Jesus” = full Christlikeness (Phil. 3:14) Christlikeness (Phil. 3:14)

As we discover areas in our lives which As we discover areas in our lives which are not like Jesus, we cleanse are not like Jesus, we cleanse ourselves from such “filthiness of the ourselves from such “filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1)the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1)

VII.VII.Life after Entire Life after Entire SanctificationSanctification

3.3. Abiding in ChristAbiding in Christ We are created in Him, it is only as we We are created in Him, it is only as we

are “in Christ” that we have spiritual are “in Christ” that we have spiritual life. life.

Our spiritual life exists only through Our spiritual life exists only through our union with Christ. our union with Christ.

Abiding in ChristAbiding in Christ

John 15 pictures this union as a branch in John 15 pictures this union as a branch in a vine. Christ teaches us that unless we a vine. Christ teaches us that unless we are abiding in him we can do nothing, we are abiding in him we can do nothing, we cannot produce fruit, we will be nothing cannot produce fruit, we will be nothing but a dead dry branch fit only for the fire.but a dead dry branch fit only for the fire.John 15:4-5 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the John 15:4-5 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches; he in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Abiding in ChristAbiding in Christ

How do we abide in Christ?How do we abide in Christ? 1.1. Depend totally upon Christ for everything.Depend totally upon Christ for everything.2.2. Bring his word in to abide in us (memorize, Bring his word in to abide in us (memorize,

meditate, assimilate, and practice God’s meditate, assimilate, and practice God’s word).word).

1 John 2:24 As for you, let that abide in you which 1 John 2:24 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning [the Word of God]. If you heard from the beginning [the Word of God]. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

1 John 3:24 The one who keeps His commandments 1 John 3:24 The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.