How To Live A Christian Life

Raul Ries: Are you redeeming the time? Are you buying back or opportunities? Are you buying back the time that you lost when you were in the world? Are you making up for time now that you're in Jesus Christ? I hope so. Because the only thing that is going to count when we stand in the presence of Jesus Christ, the only thing is what we've done for Jesus Christ, period. Nothing else. Welcome to Somebody Loves You Radio, the Bible teaching ministry of Raul Ries in Diamond Bar, California. Today, as we continue our focus on living the Christian life, Raul will urge you that while you may not always get it right in honoring God with your actions, you can still be intentional about pointing others to his power and love. Stay with us for a challenge to make choices that glorify God in an imperfect world. Today's lesson is how to live a Christian life. Here's Raul Ries in Ephesians chapter 4.
Raul Ries: Paul the Apostle says, either for the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness and longsuffering and bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, for there is one body, one spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all who is above all and through all in you all. Sounds like Paul was a Texan, but he's not. But it's amazing how Paul the Apostle is so amazing. He just amazes me the way he writes. Now, it's so important that we understand this that to much is given, much more is required. So, that means that every time you come on Wednesday night and you listen to the word of God, God is going to make you just a little bit more responsible to the things that you do. Reason is because he's going to teach you how to live the Christian life. He's going to teach you how to be a saint, how to be a child of the light. Let's begin by looking at verse 1 to 3 in our outline. Let's begin with Paul's in treaty verses 1 to 3 of chapter 4. He says, either for the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with you were called with all lowliness and gentleness and longsuffering bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Holy Spirit in the bond of peace. Notice first of all in chapter 4 verse 1 that Paul begins with an appeal, an appeal not only to be walking worthy of our calling, but the appeal is Paul is reminding you that you don't forget that you have been asked by God that you should walk worthy of the call of God and the anointing that is put over your life. That's really important. Now, what's amazing, the Greek word that he uses for worthy here is the word axios in Greek. This word is actually deriving from our English word axiom, which means to be equal in weight. What Paul literally is saying here is that we should try to live lives equal to the great blessing inscribed to us in chapters 1 to 3 of the book of Ephesians. We are to be like the men who said this, Christ has done so much for me. The rest of my life is totally given to Jesus Christ to his great work. That's what we should really be saying. We should be so grateful for what Jesus Christ has done that we should totally be committed for the rest of our lives to Jesus Christ, just in thanksgiving because he's done so much. Now, in this great appeal of Paul to walk worthy, the word walk again in the Greek means to make one's progress, to make do use of opportunities. And the question came to my own personal mind. How should you and I really be walking as believers and how should we not only take the opportunity God has given to us today, but are we going to have greater opportunities in the years or the days to come? If we're not taking great advantage of every opportunity that God is given to you and to me today, then why should God give us any more opportunities? What are some of the opportunities that God is given to you tonight? Think about it. Whether you're young or old, there will never be another day like today. We move forward. We don't go backwards. Everything keeps moving forward. Negatively speaking, we should not be walking in darkness the way we used to be walking before we came to Christ. We lived a life of sin. Some of us messed up our bodies, but the most important thing we had a messed up heart. This is why Jesus in John 8:12 said, he said this, I am the light of the world and he who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. That's a promise to those that walk in darkness. You don't have to be a child of darkness any longer. Secondly, we should not be walking after the flesh any longer. And the desires of the flesh, why? Because they'll destroy you. In Romans 8:4 Paul says that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Holy Spirit. We should be led by the Holy Spirit as we submit our lives to Christ. Being led by the Holy Spirit so that we can do what is right before God. And thirdly, we should not be walking in craftiness, being crafty like Satan. In 2 Corinthians 4:2 Paul said, but we have renounced the hidden things of shame. Notice that. When people talk about their past, we should be ashamed of what we did. We should never boast on what we did. It's a shame to go back and look at your past. Why? Because you were dead and without hope and without God in the world. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully. But by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. I like that. We should be so aware that God is watching and that God is listening to every one of our conversations. He sees everything. He hears everything that we say and do. And then positively speaking about walking, again John the beloved, we are first of all to walk in the light even as Christ is in the light. In 1 John 1:7 he says, but if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have true fellowship with one another. You see? And the blood of Jesus Christ, his son, continually is cleansing us from all our sin. That's the true way of the believer. One that is no longer practicing sin. One can come to the light. Secondly, we are to walk in truth. 3 John 3 and 4 says this, for I rejoice greatly when brethren came and they testified of the truth that is in you. Just as you walk in the truth, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth. Do you know what a great blessing this to me when I hear about the church in Chile or Colombia or when I hear of the church in China or in Thailand, and even when I hear about you guys here that you are walking in the light of Jesus Christ, there is great joy to know that your children are walking in truth. That's what John says. That's part of walking in Christ. There's a great joy when you know that your children are not backslidden and they're not meddling in the world, but their focus in their heart and their mind is on eternity. You see? It doesn't mean you can't have fun. You can have a lot of fun as a believer, but the most important thing is that you're walking. You remember Enoch? Enoch walked with God and he was not because God took him. And I personally believe that one of these days like Enoch, one of these days is going to happen so quickly that we're going to blow our minds when Jesus comes for the church. But he's only coming for those that are walking in the light. And these are the steps that we need to take forward in our own lives. Thirdly, listen. We are to walk in Christ. Colossians 2:6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in him. He's your example. That's why we are to imitate Christ. If we receive Christ Jesus as our Lord, then let us walk even as with him. Let us walk the way he walked. And then fourthly, we are to walk in the Holy Spirit under the power of the Holy Spirit. Galatians chapter 5 verse 16 and 25 says, I say then walk in the spirit and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. You see, if you are in the word and you're in prayer and you're in fellowship, you're not going to walk in the flesh. The Holy Spirit of God is going to give you the power over the flesh. You're going to have that power that Christ talks about and that Paul talked about and he says this, if we live in the Holy Spirit, then let us also walk in the spirit of God. You see? And how do we do that? The next step. Fifthly, we are to walk by faith. Listen. 2 Corinthians 5:7 for we walk by faith and not by sight. Not by sight. And then if we're walking by faith, then let us also walk in love. Loving people, not wanting people to go to hell, caring for them, praying for them, witnessing to them as the Holy Spirit speaks to us. He says in Ephesians 5:2, and walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us in offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma. And then as we walk in love, listen, we need to walk in wisdom too. We need to be wise, wise as serpents and gentle as doves. In Colossians 4:5 Paul says, walk in wisdom to those who are outside, that is the world, redeeming the time.
Guest (Male): You're listening to Somebody Loves You Radio with Raul Ries. Visit somebodylovesyou.com for Bible based resources to deepen your faith and enrich your daily walk with God. Raul's motivational 10 part series titled Called, Chosen and Committed is available on both CD and flash drive. We'll tell you how you can get your copy in just a few moments. But first, here's more with Raul Ries in the lesson How to Live a Christian Life.
Raul Ries: Are you redeeming the time? Are you buying back or opportunities? Are you buying back the time that you lost when you were in the world? Are you making up for time now that you're in Jesus Christ? I hope so. I hope so. Because the only thing that is going to count when we stand in the presence of Jesus Christ, the only thing is what we've done for Jesus Christ, period. Nothing else. And then we are to also walk pleasing to God. We are to please the Lord. In 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Paul says, finally then my brethren, we urge you and exhort you in the Lord Jesus Christ that you should abound more and more just as you receive from us how you ought to walk. Notice and to please God. We are to please God with our lives. And then because Paul is urging us, the appeal is to walk. Look at secondly, the appeal comes now the characteristics, seven things Paul will describe to us concerning how we need not only to be walking, but these are the things that we should be doing as believers. He begins first of all, again there in chapter 4 beginning with verse 2. He says, walk in lowliness. Notice that. Lowliness. The word lowliness here in the Greek means humbleness of mind. That is the having a humble opinion of oneself or a deep sense of one's littleness, not how big you are, or modestly, humbly lowliness of mind or literally what he's saying here is that we need to be humble in the presence of God. Are we walking in all humility like Jesus Christ, not promoting ourselves? Is Christ the center of everything that we do? Do we copy the way Christ walked while he was on this earth? Secondly, notice what he says because the word lowliness is very important here. And as he's talking about this humility, then we are exhorted first of all to do what? To put on humility. Colossians 3:12 says this, therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved brethren, put on tender mercies and kindness in humility and meekness and longsuffering. That's the walk of the Christian. Not like the world that when they walk in pride and they're arrogant and they're angered and they're rude, not us. We're supposed to be an example to the world and we're supposed to be copying Jesus Christ. And then thirdly, we are exhorted to avoid all kinds or avoid all false humility. All false humility. James 4:6 says this, but he gives more grace. Therefore he says, God resists the proud, but he gives grace to the humble. I like that. He gives grace to the humble. God always resists the proud. Make sure that one of the characteristics that we're supposed to possess as believers is lowliness. Second characteristic is meekness. And that is patience of humility. The word meekness means this in Greek. It means gentleness or it means mildness. It speaks of the person's character, not that he's a wimp. You see? Not that he's henpecked, but that he is in submission to Jesus Christ. Listen. Psalm 37:11 but the meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. The meek not only inherit the earth, but they have peace in their lives. Thirdly, third characteristic longsuffering that is persistence of humility. That is the word longsuffering means this in the Greek again. Patience, endurance, constancy or steadfastness. The word longsuffering. You see longsuffering is produced by the Holy Spirit. It can only be produced by the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22 but the fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, gentleness, goodness and faithfulness. It also is taught as a virtue in Ephesians 4:1 we saw it either for the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the calling where you were called. And then also it is set for imitation to be imitated. 2 Timothy 3:10 but you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love and perseverance. Paul says that we need to imitate longsuffering. And fourth characteristic is forbearing. That is the productiveness of humility. The word bearing means in the Greek to hold up, to hold oneself erect and firm or to sustain or to bear or to endure. The word to forbear. So, we are to endure in what? In love. In love toward people. And then fifth characteristic is peace. And this is not shalom peace, but this provision of humility. That is the word peace here in the Greek means tranquility of spirit or quietness or rest that God gives to your lives. He gives you that quietness, tranquility. You see, we are to preach constantly the peace of Jesus to people constantly. Acts 10:36 the word which God sent to the children of Israel proclaiming peace or preaching peace through Jesus Christ that he is the Lord of all. Secondly, we have the peace of God how through his blood given to us. Colossians 1:20 and by him to reconcile all things to himself by him whether things on the earth or things in heaven have been made peace through the blood of Jesus Christ. I love that through his cross. You and I have received tranquility, quietness, rest of soul because of the precious blood of Jesus Christ that he shed on Calvary for each one of us. And thirdly, we are to be peacemakers. Matthew 5:9 in the Beatitudes, blessed are the peacemakers. Why? For they shall be called the sons of God. I like that. We shall be called the sons of God. Look at everything now that God has done and this is not where we are supposed to be what putting on in our lives. These characteristics. Second point, chapter 4 verses 4 to 6 Paul's exposition now. Listen to what he says. There is one body, one spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all who is above all and through all in you all. What is Paul talking about? First of all, Paul is talking about the unity that the body of Christ should have now in Jesus Christ. Whether you're a Baptist or a Methodist or Calvary Chapel, you see, what makes up the body of Jesus Christ? Those that are born again of the Holy Spirit. Those are in the body of Jesus Christ, not the non-believer, the believer. Whether believer is Methodist or Wesleyan or Assembly of God or Church of God. You see? It doesn't matter. As long as they are born again of the Holy Spirit, we are have to be what? Unified with them in the body of Jesus Christ. And this is what Paul's talking about. First of all here when he talks about the one body, he's talking about the church, not the building, but you and I. He's talking about you and me. Christ is the head and the church is the body. The one is of the church is essential to what? To the work of Jesus Christ. What he did for us. That's the work of Christ. The one spirit is talking about what? The comforter, the Holy Spirit of God. He's talking about the Holy Spirit when he came on Pentecost. Not only that he baptized, but when we accept Christ and who convicts us is the Holy Spirit. And then when we accept him, the Holy Spirit now comes into our hearts and it lives within our hearts and he's constantly there to convict us of sin and of judgment and of righteousness. There can be no church without the spirit of God. And there can be no receiving of the Holy Spirit without prayerfully waiting for him to come into our lives. This is what Paul teaches. The oneness of unity in the church of Jesus Christ. And then the one hope is the challenge that is we are all proceeding towards the same goal. And what's that? A world redeemed in Jesus Christ.
Guest (Male): And we pray today's lesson has inspired you to look for ways to glorify Jesus as you represent his name to a broken, hurting world. You're listening to somebodylovesyou.com with Raul Ries. Today's message was how to live a Christian life. If you'd like to get an unedited version, just call us at 800-634-9165 and for a donation of $5 or more, we'll send the copy to you. We'd also like to tell you more about Raul's 10 part series titled Called, Chosen and Committed available on either CD or thumb drive. This resource will spur you on in establishing heavenly minded priorities while spending more time with God in his word and in prayer. You'll also learn about the mighty power of obedience and the eternal blessings of surrender. Visit us at somebodylovesyou.com or call 800-634-9165 to order Raul's 10 message series Called, Chosen and Committed. We'll send you the CD set for $22 or the flash drive for 13. The number again is 800-634-9165. To order this resource by writing our mailing address is somebodylovesyou radio PO Box 4440 Diamond Bar, California 91765. Somebody Loves You Radio is made possible by the support of our faithful partners. Every gift helps us keep sharing the good news of salvation through the Lord Jesus. Next time we'll continue with more insight into how we can live for the Lord with a devotion that brings joy to his heart, stewarding our gifts and talents for his glory. Now, with a closing word, here's Raul once again.
Raul Ries: And then one Lord, I like this. Christians are joined together because why? They are all in the possession in the service of one master and one king. Whether Baptist or Methodist or Lutheran or Calvary Chapel, we're all one in Christ. One Lord. And then one faith, our credentials. Paul means that all Christians are bound together because they have a common act of complete surrender in love to Jesus Christ. That's how we came to know Christ. He gave us faith to believe in him. One baptism, confession. That's the confession of the believer. Baptism was what a public confession of faith. Not only when we go into the water and we are baptized in water, okay, not for salvation, but to do what? To show the world that we are not dying to ourselves and they were being resurrected in Jesus Christ with newness of life. And then one God. And what does this speak of? The creator. Listen. It is the Christian believe that we believe in a God created, God control, God sustained and God filled world. I love that.
Guest (Male): This program is sponsored by Somebody Loves You Radio in Diamond Bar, California.