Having a Lifestyle like Christ
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Human beings all tend to agree that different people have different styles. Different style for dressing, getting work done, schedules, you name it. Lifestyles define a person, because other people can watch that person in action.
A few weeks ago i was pressure washing the walkway in front of my house, and i wanted to clean right up to the edge, so as I would get to the edge where my bushes and such were, mud and dirt would spray back, and my legs and my shorts got covered in mud. I got done that day and I looked like I had been digging a hole or something, I was covered in mud. We were going to go get some dinner that night, so I went in to take a shower. Now listen to me....when I got out of the shower did I put back on my old clothes?
Why not?
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
See once we become a new creation, things are supposed to change. We aren’t supposed to go back to putting on the old, we are supposed to become new.
Clearly the lifestyle of world would be different from that of a Christian. Is wearing a necklace with cross on it, make you a person with Christian lifestyle? Instead of asking the question, what is the lifestyle of a particular Christian denomination, it would be better to ask the question, what is the lifestyle of faith?
The author of book of Colossians is Paul. The book is written around AD 60. The key themes of the book is that faith, love and hope are key to the following of Jesus Christ. In Christ Jesus, we have been offered freedom. But the most amazing thing, is that because of Jesus Christ, Christians can be as in touch with the next world as this one.
Colossians 3:1 “Since you were raised from the dead with Christ, aim at what is in heaven, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Think only about the things in heaven, not the things on earth.”
Our lifestyle is defined by whom we are serving
Our lifestyle is defined by whom we are serving
When we forget whom we are serving, our lifestyle takes a worldly tone. A deep personal relationship with Jesus Christ will transform every area of our lives. If we go after a rock star, cinema star or whoever, our language and our attitude will adapt to their behavior.
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
The word perfect is very important, it is not going upwards, improving. It is perfect. Have you come to the perfection as those who are being made holy.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
vs.3 Your old sinful has died and your new life is kept with Christ in God.
Put Evil Things out of your Life
Put Evil Things out of your Life
In order to maintain a lifestyle, we will have to avoid or remove certain things in your life. A combination of Elvis and Justin Beiber lifestyle would likely get ridicule for you.
We all have sense , at least most of the time to use a good set of clothes when we go outside our home. Once we are saved through Jesus Christ, the old man should die. Let us find out what are the things that we need to keep out to maintain a lifestyle of faith.
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
We may not do the first item. How about the rest? If we do not put out these evil things, we are serving a false god.
But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
What about these, are we doing these things and doing that which will promote a Christ-like lifestyle
Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Christ is in all believers, and Christ is all that important. What is the most important thing in your life, defines your life style?
Always Do these Things
Always Do these Things
We have to do certain things always to maintain a certain lifestyle.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
See when we want to have a lifestyle like Christ, there’s goin g to be some things that we cannot do, but there are also going to be some things that we HAVE to do. What does scripture say that those are here?
Compassion
Kindness
Humility
Meekness
Patience
Forgiving
Love
Thankful
Dwelling in the Word
Praising and Worshipping
Scripture makes it clear that not only do we have to not do things that aren’t like Christ, that we have to actively seek and practice behaviors that aren’t like Christ!
Everything you do or say should be done to obey Jesus your Lord
Everything you do or say should be done to obey Jesus your Lord
- Your new life with other people.
The fundamental building block is a cell. A healthy collection of cells, translates to a healthy body.
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
Now what is it that all of these things do, why did we call out all of these groups? Was it because we wanted women to be obedient or kids, or servants (some versions use the word slaves or slavery) to be obedient? Was this just about obedience???
Let’s go on to the following verse
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Preach the secret that God has made known about Christ
Preach the secret that God has made known about Christ
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
If there is a secret that brings financial gain, people will try hard to know that. You might have heard about insider trading. Using confidential information of companies to get gain on stocks at the expense of other stock holders.
Where our heart is, there will be our treasure. The amazing thing about our treasure, is the more we share and more people have it, the more it is our gain in heaven. Isn’t that amazing? If you lead many people to Jesus Christ, you will shine like stars in the heavens.
We know the secret that God has made known? Jesus Christ.
When it comes to our position before God, we’re perfect, When he sees each of us, he sees one who has been made perfect through the one who is perfect-Jesus Christ
Is your relationship with Jesus noticeable by your words? Ask God for vocabulary that reflects love for others without any bitterness or hate.
Becoming like Christ
Becoming like Christ
Are you feeling refreshed in the Lord?
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,
Washed, sanctified and justified - 1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
“And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. At Cana, the vessels that were outside, were used for a miracle, there status has changed. Our status has also changed, or should be changed. If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, let tonight be the night, you will accept Christ.
And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
Suffering for doing Good
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
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