Living as a True Christian

I want to talk today about living as a true Christian.  Since it is my hope and expectation that many Christians from all denominations across the world get the opportunity to read this.  I want to let you know that not just any old way of living is acceptable to God.  Let's read what Paul said to the Corinthians:

 

2 Corinthians 12:20-21

New International Version (NIV)

²⁰ For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. ²¹ I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

Why is Paul afraid of discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder?  Because it does not belong in the Church!  The Church is also called the Body of Christ and is supposed to be a smooth working body.  Each member working both in unity and in corporation and also functioning independently to complete the tasks given by God as assigned to the Church, united members and individual Christians.  The arm and the hand have to work together to reach and grab things.  But the left arm and the left hand have to work together and sometimes have to work independently from the right arm and the right hand.  But how can this be in the Church if there are all these disorders among the Christians in the Church.  If the body needs to swing the hammer to strike a nail and the hand won't grab the hammer, how will it be successful.  These sins of the church and the members of the church keep the church from functioning well.  Some projects are more visible that others and we get jealous of those who get the visible jobs.  Or we get envious of the arm whose strength is greater than the hand.

Then Paul is also afraid of unrepented sins of impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged (or continuing to indulge).  These are different than the first list.  They are less about the unity and working together and more about a church portraying itself in poor light among the world of unbelievers.  It is about people in the Church actually not living as a Christian.  They think Christ came only to forgive sins and to allow us to continue in those sinful ways.  This is not so.  It should never be that a Christian will continue in sin.  Sin is wrong. Christ gave us His grace not only to forgive us from sin but to give us power over sin.  He calls all men to no longer to walk in sin. Consider this next verse:

2 Corinthians 13:5

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

What test?  The test is do you believe in Christ, believe in His grace, and believe that Christ died for your sins and set you free from sin.  If Christ is in us and we have yielded our bodies too Him how then can we sin?  Is Christ trying to tear down His body with discord?  No! Is Christ trying to show a message of sin when we know Christ cannot sin?  Again, no! If we have totally yielded our bodies to Christ we cannot sin.  So if we sin, we have taken our bodies back from Christ.  If we get caught off guard and forget that we have dedicated our bodies to Christ, He understands and forgives us.  We should labor to no longer sin in this way.  But when we willfully choose to take our bodies back and no longer yield our bodies to Christ, we endeavor on a dangerous path.  I say, repeating Paul, test yourselves.  Are you yielding your body to Christ? Or, perhaps, you have taken your body back and are doing your own thing?

Let me end with Paul's verse from Romans:

Romans 12:1-2

New International Version (NIV)

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

If you have believed God's message and have received Christ as your savior, your body belongs to Christ. If you have tested yourself and have found that you have taken your body back and are living in willful sin.  Repent! Stop sinning! And ask Jesus to forgive you of those sins. Ask Jesus to help you overcome those areas in your life that have tempted you and caused you to go astray.

Thanks.