Christian Living

Paul beseeches believers by the mercies of God to present their bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is their reasonable service. Unlike the dead sacrifices of the Old Testament, believers offer themselves as living sacrifices—wholly consecrated yet daily functioning in service to God.

This consecration is reasonable because of God's mercies—the immeasurable grace bestowed through Christ's redemption. Be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The crucified life follows Paul's testimony: 'I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.' Believers are not their own, for they are bought with a price—the precious blood of Christ. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

Those who live should no longer live unto themselves but unto Him who died for them and rose again.

Scripture commands clear separation from worldly values, priorities, and practices. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?

And what communion hath light with darkness? Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love 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. Friendship with the world is enmity with God; whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

This separation is not physical isolation but spiritual distinction—maintaining different values, pursuits, and allegiances than the unregenerate world while living as salt and light within it.

The Christian life presents a continual choice between walking in the Spirit and fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other. They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth, for ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. Daily yielding to the Spirit's control produces godly living.

Jesus declared, 'Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.' Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Believers are to shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life, doing all things without murmurings and disputings, that they may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation. Once ye were darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord; walk as children of light, having no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reproving them.

Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works glorify God.

God's command to His people is unambiguous: 'Be ye holy; for I am holy.' Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Holiness is not optional for believers but essential evidence of genuine conversion.

Having these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. This is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication, that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness but unto holiness. This holiness is both positional—set apart unto God at conversion—and progressive—growing in practical righteousness throughout life.

It requires active mortification of sin, deliberate pursuit of righteousness, and continual dependence upon the Spirit's sanctifying work.

Let a man so account of us as ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.

Believers are stewards entrusted with time, talents, treasure, and the gospel message itself. Every good gift received demands faithful stewardship.

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. The parable of the talents warns against burying our gifts in the earth through laziness or fear.

Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto men, knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance, for ye serve the Lord Christ. Faithful service flows from gratitude for salvation, recognition of Christ's lordship, and desire for eternal reward.

Every believer possesses gifts and opportunities for service—faithful stewardship employs them for God's glory and others' benefit.

Jesus gave a new commandment: 'That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.' Christian living finds its highest expression in genuine love.

Though I speak with tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honour preferring one another. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Recompense to no man evil for evil. If thine enemy hunger, feed him.

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. Christian living requires sustained endurance, not sporadic enthusiasm.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Give diligence to make your calling and election sure, adding to your faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. If these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful.

For if ye do these things, ye shall never fall, but an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.