Such a Complex Question.
This topic came up while talking to my friend about the Lord, according to what is written in the Bible. Our discussion raised the question: “How is a Christian supposed to live?”. As an active believer, I wanted to go on and on about all the aspects of a Christian life. However, I also am sensitive to everyone’s journey and wanted to make sure that my response was directed by The Holy Spirit. The worst thing for any believer to do is to do the job of God and not as a servant.
Over the next few days, this question was burning in my mind, and I wanted to make sure that I heard from the Lord so that my work would not be in vain. The Bible covers many aspects and layers of Christian living that the Bible covers, but I know that God doesn’t require us to be a master of every subject to start living a purposed-filled life with Him in charge. I was given six aspects to review with my friend that I was led to share with you all. All in hopes that someone would get a clearer understanding of what the Word says and how to start applying it.
A total disclaimer. I am not a theologian, nor am I a professional in any sense of the word as it relates to the biblical analysis of topics or meanings. I am just a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ who has been anointed to teach the whole truth of scripture as the Holy Spirit reveals to me. This question can be answered in several ways, however, this is simply a response between friends that I believe anyone with a similar question can get some clarity on.
Also, this is not a step-by-step application of these answers. They all tie together and require continued development to stay on the path.
God Created Us With a Purpose and a Plan.
First thing first. For anyone to understand scripture, you first must believe that what is in the Bible is true. You cannot be, what the Bible calls, double-minded, meaning you can’t believe in two opposing thoughts. One minute, you believe one thing, then the following situation, you believe another. Your faith and hope must be in the Lord, for His ways become clear to you.
With that knocked out of the way, yes, God created each of us with a unique purpose and plan for how we live our lives. It is not a mistake that we are born in the time, family, community, culture, etc that we were born in. God, being all-knowing, made no error by having us here when He does. The confusion comes when we believe we are to follow our dreams and plan our future without regard to the One who created us all. Think for a moment how crazy it sounds for you to create something for a purpose and have a plan in mind for it to tell you, “No, I’m good. I’ll do something else that makes me feel better.” We didn’t decide who our parents would be, or our gender (despite the confusion going on about this now), nor did we create ourselves.
We will now examine a couple of verses in context that prove God has a purpose and a plan for our lives.
Jeremiah 1:5 states: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
This verse shows that God knew us before we were in the womb; He was the one who formed us, He has given us authority and also has a purpose for our lives. This verse shows there is no room to decide what we want to do in life. True purpose will only be attained by connecting with our Father and discovering His will for our lives.
Jeremiah 29:11 says: For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Along with the previous verse about God’s purpose for your life, it is clear that He also has plans for our lives. His plans deal with having a prosperous life (not merely financially) and not that of destruction. His plans for us provide a future and a hope so we don’t have to figure out anything for ourselves. The enemy would like us to think that the most significant thing we can do as autonomous beings is to “take control” over our lives, but that is the furthest thing from the truth. It is so freeing knowing that the Creator of everything we know carved out a plan for us in this chaotic world that we live in. Let’s just take a moment and give Him praise and thanks!
We Can’t Live Righteously On Our Own Strength and Will.
When most people are asked how to get into Heaven, one of the most common responses is the accumulation of doing more good than evil. If this were a question of how people can live on Earth with fewer issues, perhaps this response would be suitable. However, the Kingdom of God requires something different altogether. It doesn’t matter how good one person is or how good they live. If a person has not accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, they will not enter God's kingdom. Righteousness only comes by faith; no one can become righteous by wishing to be or acting it out. Sin is such a big deal to a pure and Holy God that once a sin has been committed against Him, the sinner is eternally damned to Hell.
Our God knew that we would sin more than once, so a part of His plan for us was to send a redeemer for us to believe in. Once we take faith in this Redeemer, He will account it to us as righteous, and we will be spiritually changed into the image of His son. This is done so that when our flesh dies, God will see His son in us, and we will be granted eternal life because of our faithfulness.
However, in reality, none of us can say, with a clear conscience, that we are really “good.” Our testimony will be more in the lines of Paul in the book of Romans. Romans 7:19 says: For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. No matter how well-intentioned someone is, we are in a spiritual battle between our flesh and spirit. Though someone might be able to be good for a moment, when life starts coming with blows, then our flesh is the one who has more dominance over our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Unfortunately enough for us, even ill thoughts and feelings are accounted as a sin against God.
But then, what can we do not to be a slave of the flesh since it has so much power over us? Paul answers that question in his letter to the Galatians in chapter 5. Galatians 5:16-17 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want.
If we were only to discipline ourselves into choosing to live according to how the Word tells us to live, there would be no time available to carry out the desires of the flesh. Trust me when I say there is more than enough work to do for the Lord to keep us busy. However true, we will still find it hard to walk according to the Spirit because we are weak. That’s where Phillippians 4:13 comes in and comforts us, saying, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” There is nothing we can’t do when we walk in the truth of this verse.
We All Fall Short and Should Not Lean On Our Own Understanding.
One thing I’ve learned and often share with others is that we have to give ourselves grace. We all are commanded to live holy and perfect lives. However, we are still in the flesh and will fall short. In fact, Romans 3:23 says just that “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” As the Father above forgives, we must also learn to forgive ourselves. The enemy will get into our minds and have us feel that we are too far removed from God for Him to save us, and that couldn’t be further from the truth. I once heard that Christianity is less about your actions and more about your reactions. God knows we will mess up, but He expects us to understand the level of His grace and mercy to repent and seek renewal in Him. He is faithful to forgive, restore, and redeem.
Another side to this same thought comes from the book of Proverbs. Chapter 3:5-8 states, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.” There is so much to unpack in this verse, but this Proverb has six commandments that will keep every Christian in line with the word of God: 1) Trust in the LORD with all your heart. 2) Do not lean on your own understanding. 3) In all your ways, acknowledge Him. 4) Do not be wise in your own eyes. 5) Fear the LORD. 6) Turn away from evil.
When numbers 1-3 are lived out in the believer’s life, then God steps in and leads us in His ways. He straightens our paths so we will end up where He purposed us to go. When 4-6 are lived out, the by-product is that we experience healing and renewal inside our inner selves. Notice that none of the promises God made are that we will understand life situations, worries, problems, etc. I truly believe that God wants us to be less worried about how things will work out versus trusting that it will work out. He seeks all the glory, and from the beginning of time, the wrong knowledge can lead us astray.
We Are Called To Be Like Christ.
Now, let’s start getting into the nitty-gritty of the question of this article. To be a Christian is to be a follower of Christ. When we follow Christ, we seek an intimate relationship with Him through the boundaries of scripture. Jesus is the Word of God incarnated in the flesh and by meditating on His Word day and night, He will transform us from the inside out. We change from our old self into the image of Christ Himself. Notice that I mentioned meditating on the Word of God and not reading. When entering into the Word of God, we must do so with a heart and mind position of receiving. God’s Word has transformative powers; however, we must walk in the newness of life that was given to us by Christ.
Galatians 2:20 gives us the proper mindset to have when we choose to live our lives according to the Word of God. It states, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” This verse is a core concept of the Christian faith. We must continuously deny our flesh and embrace Christ, who lives inside us as His followers. What Christ did for us was not easy, so neither shall our walk be.
Another verse reiterating the importance of our attitude and mindset on how we should live out the Christian comes from Ephesians 4:21-24. “If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
There’s a Standard/Requirement for Christian Conduct.
Here, Jesus gives us clear instructions on how we should approach this walk of faith. He says we must abide in Him, keep His commandments, and abide in His love. There is evidence when we live the lives Jesus called us to live. Without Christ, there would be nothing to show of heavenly substance. However, when we abide in Christ, much fruit will be evident in our lives. The more fruit we see, the more we can be assured that God’s Word is true enough for us to live our lives according to it. Always remember that He will never leave you nor forsake you, neither will His word return to Him void.
Galatians 5:18-25 tells us what we produce outside the covenant of Christ and what fruit is produced when we abide in Christ. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
There is a clear difference between deeds of the flesh and spiritual fruit. Nothing happens by accident; the deeds of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit result from conscious choices. There is no such thing as being filled with the Holy Spirit and grafted into God’s vine that fruit won’t appear. We must trust that by choosing Him, He will see everything through and that we should live according to His standards and requirements.
It’s All About Faith and Love.
We have covered so much in such a short time. God created us for a purpose, and there is no such thing as living righteously apart from Him. This is so because we all fall short of the mark of God, and after one failed attempt, we are eternally doomed because He is such a Holy God. That is why we shouldn’t lean on our understanding. When seeking godly wisdom and understanding, we practice trusting the Lord and being more like Christ in our walk. There is nothing that Christ did outside of the will of His Father. It has also been made clear that there is a certain standard and requirement for how we should conduct ourselves.
Now, with all that being said, the most important two aspects of living out our lives according to the Bible are that we must have faith in what God says and that love must be first in all we do. These two scriptures capture it perfectly.
1 Corinthians 13:13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
It all boils down to faith in God’s word and love. Faith is required because it is the hardest thing for humans to do. We love to be in control of our lives without having to submit or answer to anyone. However, God knows His plans for us, and He won’t reveal them until we submit to His authority over our lives.
God talks about His love for us throughout the Bible, so it is only expected as children born in His image that we should take on that heart posture as well. God’s love is who He is, and most importantly, His love is sacrificial. We should seek to have our hearts steadily examined, renewed, and enlarged so that we can have the capacity to love the way God expects us to love. Let us not ignore His call for our lives but walk out what God has aligned for us.
Conclusion
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. My friend and are now finished with our bible study sessions as the Holy Spirit led, and I am proud to say that we have another believer on board. ALL THANKS BE TO GOD! Again this article wasn't designed as a step-by-step guide on how we should be living our lives according to the Bible. However, it gives great insight into some of the basic principles that can be studied and adopted to get a good grip on what we are required to do.
I have linked each scripture to the YouVesrion Bible App website/app, so please feel free to click on any verse mentioned here and dive further into the word of God for yourselves. If you have any questions or would like to know more about anything mentioned here, please leave a comment or email us, and we will be happy to get back to you as soon as possible.
God bless you, and take the time to read my last article entitled “5 Powerful Scriptures on Hope”. I hope that it finds you well and that you will share it with others who might be impacted by it.
Until next time!
References
(2023, June 16). Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://bible.com/bible/100/rom.7.9.NASB1995
(2023, June 16). YouVersion. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://bible.com/bible/100/gal.5.16-17.NASB1995
(2023, June 16). Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://bible.com/bible/100/eph.4.21-24.NASB1995
(2023, June 16). Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.4.5-10.NASB1995
(2023, June 16). Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://bible.com/bible/100/gal.5.18-25.NASB1995
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself u | New American Standard Bible - NASB 199. (n.d.). Bible.com. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://bible.com/bible/100/gal.2.20.NASB1995
Graber, G. (n.d.). Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD | New American Standard Bible ... Bible.com. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.3.5-8.NASB1995
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. | New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995) | Download The Bible App Now. (n.d.). Bible.com. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://bible.com/bible/100/heb.11.6.NASB1995
Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” | New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995) | Download The Bible App Now. (n.d.). Bible.com. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://bible.com/bible/100/jer.1.5.NASB1995
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. | New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995) | Download The Bible App Now. (n.d.). Bible.com. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://bible.com/bible/100/jer.29.11.NASB1995
1 Corinthians 13:13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. | New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995) | Download The Bible App Now. (n.d.). Bible.com. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://bible.com/bible/100/1co.13.13.NASB1995
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. | New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995) | Download The Bible App Now. (n.d.). Bible.com. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://bible.com/bible/100/php.4.13.NASB1995
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God | New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995) | Download The Bible App Now. (n.d.). Bible.com. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://bible.com/bible/100/rom.3.23.NASB1995