Life as a Christian 

Foundations of Faith – Life as a Christian

In this lesson, we are going to see what God desires our lives to be concerning two areas;

• How do I live as a child of God in the world around me?

• What should I expect now that I am a Christian?

How do I live as a child of God in the world around me?

(Matthew 5:14-16), “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

As Christians, those around us should notice a difference shining from us as a result of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit being in our lives. They should see us as “ambassadors” as we represent our King of kings and His heavenly kingdom!  There is no greater honor!

(2 Corinthians 5:20), “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ…”

True Christians are people who love God with all their heart. They are people who made the decision to follow after the footsteps of the Lord Jesus Christ. Their love for God and His Word become very evident in the way they act and speak and thus SHOWS AS A BRIGHT LIGHT SHINING FROM THEIR OUTWARD TESTIMONY! 

The purpose, of this study is to help you understand how our outward appearance should be reflecting our inward joy and relationship with a holy and righteous God.

• Our manner of speech

(Colossians 4:6), “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

Our speech should be holy, gracious, wise, wholesome, courteous, respectful, desirable and worthy of being kept in memory of others. It should be free of foul language and taking the Lord’s name in vain.  

(1 Peter 3:10), “For He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.”

• How we interact with others

(Galatians 5:22-23), “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.…”

As we see how our Lord Jesus interacted with others, let us strive to do likewise. Along with the fruit of the Spirit, He also added grace, mercy and forgiveness.  

• Our appearance

(1 Peter 3:1-4), “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”

To sum it all up, when people see us, we do not want to draw their attention away from seeing Christ in our heart. Let modesty always be your desire.

What should I expect now that I am a Christian?

The Bible is very clear that there is a strong worldly influence that is contrary to God’s eternal purpose. The Word of God commands His children to be separate from the things of this world that lures us away from God’s desire and purpose for our lives. Yet at the same time, for Jesus Christ, we are to reach lost men and women who are held captivated by this deception.

This lesson is designed to show Christians how to live a balanced and consistent life in order to influence people for the Lord Jesus Christ, without the world influencing them for evil.

• If You Live for Jesus Christ, You Will Encounter Opposition from the World. You will be opposed because Jesus Christ was opposed.

(John 15:18-21), “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.”

(2 Timothy 3:12), “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

• What areas will this opposition come from?

1. Your primary opposition will come from those closest to you who know you best such as friends, family, workers and fellow acquaintances.

(Matthew 10:35-36), “…a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.”

(John 1:11), “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.”

(Mark 6:4), “But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.”

2. From lost people in general.

There are many neighbors of ours that are not truly believers, but do show us kindness and offer help. But you can count on some, who have hatred towards the things of God and Christianity, who will mock and persecute you to one degree or another. 

(Galatians 4:29), “But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.”

3. From society in general.

The nature and course of this present world system is against God. This opposition is communicated subtly through the media (literature, television, radio, etc.). You must judge those things by the Word of God.

(1 John 2:15-17), “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

(James 4:4), “…Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?”

4. Of course, the mastermind behind this opposition is Satan. 

(2 Corinthians 4:3-4kjv), “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

1) He is your adversary.

(1 Peter 5:8), “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

2) He is currently at work in lost people.

(Ephesians 2:2), “in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,”

• How Can I Overcome This Opposition?

1. Give a soft answer. Avoid fights whenever it is possible.

(Proverbs15:1), “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” 

(2Timothy 2:24-26), “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

2. Please God with your life.

(Proverbs 16:7), “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

3. Have faith in God.

(1 John 5:4-5), “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

4. Love your enemies and help them.

Jesus Christ loved His enemies enough to die for them. The world cannot understand this type of love, and those who are seeking the truth will be drawn to it.

(Romans 12:14-21), “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse…Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

5. Pray with pure motives for your enemies.

(Matthew 5:44-46), “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”

(Matthew 6:14-15), “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

6. Keep good company. Associate with people who love God and want to serve the Lord.

(1 Corinthians15:33), “Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

(Proverbs 13:20), “He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.”

7. Immerse yourself in the Word of God.

(Romans 12:1-2), “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

8. Resist the Devil and his influence

(James 4:7), “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

• How should the lost world view me as a Christian?

1. They should know you love God – Not just by word, but also shown by your life.

(1 Corinthians 8:3), “But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.”

2. They should see you as being different than the normal, sinful state of man.

(2 Corinthians 6:14-18), “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.”

(1 Peter 2:9-12), “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light… Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

3. However, you should not be so peculiar physically that you lose influence. The lost should view you as moderate in physical matters.

(Philippians 4:5), “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.” 

(1 Corinthians 9:22), “to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

(Colossians 4:5-6), “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

• How Should I View the World?

1. You should see yourself not as one who is so attached or permanent to this world but rather, a pilgrim in a strange land traveling through as we head to our heavenly home.

(Hebrews 11:13), “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

(Philippians 3:20), “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,”

2. This world is a “mission field” to reach the lost for Jesus Christ.

(Acts 1:8), “…and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

(1 Thessalonians 2:19-20), “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.”

• How to win the lost to Christ?

1. Pray that the Lord will soften their hearts and give you the right words to say.

2. Get them to the point where they realize that they have sinned against God and are lost in unbelief. They must recognize that they are hopeless without Jesus Christ and that the Lord wants to save them from both sin and Hell.

3. Explain to them the gospel. Show them from the Bible how Jesus died, was buried, and rose again from the dead that they may have forgiveness of sin and everlasting life.

4. If you believe that they are sincere, then ask if they would like to pray and ask God for forgiveness of their sins, and ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into their heart.

Remember, it must be the Holy Spirit that brings conviction in the heart of the person, not you.

Once they have made this initial decision, encourage them now to continue in the faith by reading their Bible daily, joining a local Bible believing Church, continue in prayer daily and confession of sin. Encourage them to go through this or a similar Bible focused discipleship course which will strength the foundation of their faith.

Life as a Christian!

BUILDING A FOUNDATION THAT WILL NEVER CRACK!