LESSON 1: THE CHRISTIAN LIFE What is the Christian life all about? 1: SUMMARY This lesson will provide an overview of the Christian life so that you understand what a Christian is and how a Christian ought to live. 2: BIBLE STUDY ROM 1:16-18; Rom 12:1-21 What is the gospel? (Rom 1:16-18) In the opening chapter of Romans Paul, one of the greatest evangelists and missionaries of the Christian faith, reveals the source of his confidence and zeal: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." (Rom 1:16-17) Paul s confidence was in a simple message which he called the gospel, meaning good news. The gospel was and is good news because it is the medium through which God s power for salvation is conveyed to everyone, irrespective of culture, race, age, background or upbringing. From this simple statement it is apparent that: 1. Every single person is in need of salvation 2. Salvation can only be accomplished by God s power 3. The gospel is the good news about what God has done to save humankind. But, from who or what does mankind need saving? In the very next verse we find a most surprising answer to our question For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. (Rom 1:18) The verse begins with the word for/since/because. Humankind needs to be saved because God s wrath is being revealed against all the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. God s wrath is His righteous outrage against sin. By our own standards we might think that we are relatively good, and certainly not as bad as many others, but by God s standards, the book of Romans will go on to say, All have sinned and fall short of God s glory (Rom 3:23). God created us for Himself and yet we have not done what is right, we have not worshiped, loved or obeyed Him as we ought. We 1
therefore need to be rescued or saved from God himself, from His righteous anger and just judgment of our sin. Once we understand this, it is obvious why nobody can save themselves who could rescue himself from the judgment of God almighty? The Gospel is the Good News that God Himself has done the saving in the person of Jesus Christ. He lived a perfectly righteous life and then offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins in order to satisfy God s wrath. The gospel affirms that God is both just and must punish sin and yet He is also merciful in providing a way to be rescued from this punishment and be reconciled to Him. That is why Paul could affirm in verse 17 above that in it that is, in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed. The gospel reveals God s way of righteousness, God s way of being restored to a right relationship with Him. The great many religions of the world testify to people s various attempts to make themselves right with God: Some attempt this through a variety of religious rituals, some through acts of great sacrifice, or through generosity, or self-denial. Some try to find their way to God through the study of sacred writings and philosophy, or by living according to a rigorous code of ethics. Many try to ignore the reality that there is a problem in their relationship with God, or they simply hope that their good works outweigh their bad. All these man-made ways have one thing in common, they require people to put their faith or confidence in themselves; in their own goodness, knowledge or performance. God s way requires us to take our confidence out of ourselves and place it fully and only in what Jesus Christ has done for us. The gospel explains God s way of salvation. God s way requires us to stop trying to find our own way to Him and believe in Jesus Christ who has opened the way to God through His death and resurrection. Have you already heard and understood the gospel as explained above? Yes No Is there anything you don t understand or personally believe to be true? Explain What is a Christian? (Rom 1:17) Romans 1:17 closes with the statement, the righteous shall live by faith. To be righteous is to be in a right relationship with God, to be reconciled to Him. A Christian is therefore someone who is living in a right relationship with God, not because of anything they have done, but because they have placed their faith fully and only in what God has done for them in Christ. 2
A Christian Desires after God, to know Him, love Him and serve Him (Rom 12) Knows that they are a sinner by nature and by choice and is continually confessing and forsaking their sin (1 Jn 1:6-10) Believes that Jesus Christ is God the Son, who died on the cross to pay for their sin and rose again in victory over sin and death (Rom 10:9) Has called upon Jesus to forgive them of their sin (Rom 10:13) and committed themselves to follow Him (Mk 8:34) Has been restored to God, recreated and given new spiritual life in Jesus Christ (2 Cor 5:17-18) Would you say that you are a Christian? If so, when, where and how did you become a Christian? Yes No How to live the Christian life? (Rom 12) After Paul reviews God s way of righteousness in the gospel through the first 11 chapters of Romans, he goes on to explain how faith in this gospel should change the way we live. He says: I appeal to you brothers, in view of God s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God (Rom 12:1). He makes his appeal to us to live Christian lives in view of God s mercy or, as a response to God s mercy to us. The Christian life is not an attempt to make ourselves righteous before God, but a response to having been made right before God through faith in Christ. It s a life lived in gratitude to God for His gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. A Life of Worship (Rom 12:1) In the Old Testament God commanded His people to bring sacrifices and offerings to Him as an act of worship. In doing so, the worshiper was recognizing God s supreme worth, expressing gratitude for His provision and dedicating himself to love and serve God. In the verse above, Paul is drawing on this Old Testament background and urging Christians not to bring animals or other things as an offering to God, but to make a decisive commitment to dedicate themselves completely to God as 3
living sacrifices. The Christian life, at its core, is a life of worship. It s a life lived in recognition of God s supreme worth. It s a life lived in gratitude and submission to God, seeking in every thought, word and deed, to put God s own character and splendour on display for all the world to see. Christ commanded all those who believe in Him be baptized as a decisive and public testimony of their faith in, and dedication to Christ (Matt 28:18-20; Eph 4:5). Have you dedicated yourself to live for God s glory alone and been baptized as a believer as a public confession of your faith? Yes No How would others (family, friends, work colleagues) be able to see from your life that God is supremely valuable? A Life of Holiness (Rom 12:2) Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Rom 12:2) The Christian life is not only a once-off, decisive dedication of ourselves to God, but a daily walk with God. We have been reconciled to God in order to pursue a life-long, intimate, moment by moment, relationship with Him. We must therefore train our minds to think about God and what would please Him, and resist the pressure of the unbelieving world around us which would drag us back to our old way of life. The Christian life is a daily, relentless battle against sin and the diligent pursuit of all that is good, acceptable and pleasing to God. We need to be renewing our minds with God s truth and actively seeking His help on a daily, on going basis. How can we do that practically? Is there any area of your life in which you are willfully and continually sinning or failing to do what is right? Yes No 4
A Life of Community (Rom 12:3-5) God has not called us to live the Christian life alone, but in community with other believers. A Christian is not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment (Rom 12:3). We should not think that we are so good that we don t need other believers, neither are we to think that we are so bad that other believers don t want or need us. Rather we are to have a right view of ourselves in relation to others. Paul goes on to say in the next verse: For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another (Rom 12:4-5) In this verse Paul compares the human body to the body of Christ. Each of us have one physical body, consisting of different members with different functions and locations. Though the eyes look very different to the ears and have a different function, yet both eyes and ears are essential to the healthy functioning of the body. In the same way Christ has a spiritual body, the church, which enables us to live out our Christian lives. Every true believer belongs to Christ and is therefore a member of His body. Christ s body has many different members, with different functions, yet each is essential to the healthy functioning of the body as a whole. No Christian should think that he doesn t need the rest of the body, or that the body doesn t need him. This verse reminds us that we are members one of another so whether we like it or not, God has made believers inter-dependent. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them in proportion to our faith (Rom 12:6) The text goes on to remind believers that each of us has been specifically and uniquely gifted to serve the church in a specific way. We do not all perform the same function in the body, but different functions. We should not regard it as an obligation or burden to serve in the church, but as God s gracious gift to us, and we need to trust God to enable us to serve effectively in the strength that He provides. It is obvious that we cannot faithfully live out our Christian faith without being an active member of a local church. What examples of Christian service does Paul give in Rom 12:6 8? Can you think of other ways a Christian might serve the church? Are you a committed, active member of a local church Yes No 5
If so, where have you been a member and how have you served(are you serving) in that church? A Life of Love (Rom 12:9-21) Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honour (Rom 12:9) Paul exhorts believers to practice genuine Christian love and goes on to describe what such love will look like in daily life and relationships. Read Rom 12:9-21 and then consider the summary below. To love people we must: Not condone sin, but hate it and join with others in fighting it and pursing all that is good (12:9) Treat other believers as family, with deep affection, sympathy and honour (12:10) Serve God by zealously serving others (12:11) Continually pray for others (12:12) Contribute to the material needs of others and the church (12:13) Seek to build relationships with others by having them in our home (12:13) Repay even the unkind deeds and words of others with kindness and blessing (12:14) Share in the sorrows, sufferings and joys of others as if they were our own (12:15) Live in harmony with others, avoiding all forms of quarreling and fighting (12:16) Not show any form of racism, or partiality toward others (12:16) Not retaliate when wronged, avoiding all forms of gossip and slander (12:17) Do everything to pursue and maintain peaceful relationships with others (12:18) Not harbour bitterness or anger toward others, but willingly and freely forgive them when wronged (12:19) From the above list, it is obvious that when Jesus said, they will know you are my disciples by your love for one another (Jn 13:35), He had in mind an uncommon love, one which can only be produced by God s gracious work in our lives which transforms our inner thoughts, desires and motives. The Christian life might be viewed simply as the vigorous pursuit of a deeper, love relationship with God and with other believers. 6
How are you active in pursuing deeper, loving relationships with other believers? Do you have any broken relationships in your life? Is there anything you can and should do to pursue reconciliation for the glory of Christ? (see also Matt 6:14 15) 3: APPLICATION In this lesson we have considered what it means to be a Christian and how to live the Christian life. Take some time to evaluate your own life against this simply summary: I am a Christian who Acknowledges my sin before God Believes that Jesus Christ is God the Son, who died for my sin on the cross and rose again on the third day Called on God to forgive me, reconcile me to Himself and transform me into His image Diligently lives the Christian life in pursuit of God and His glory. I am diligently living the Christian life I have been baptized as a believer as a decisive, public expression of my faith. I am renewing my mind through daily Bible reading and prayer I am resisting sin and pursuing all that is good I am an active member of a local church I am pursuing personal, loving relationships with other believers and dealing with any disunity 7
If you would like any help or clarification with the above, please indicate: Note: If you are not already a member of a local church, we encourage you to request a membership application form for Midrand Chapel. This should be accompanied by 1. Midrand Chapel Constitution 2. Midrand Chapel Statement of Faith 3. FOF Lesson 2: Church Membership Once these have been completed you may request a membership interview with a church representative. 4: FURTHER DISCUSSION These questions are intended to help you think more deeply about the subject matter at hand and provide the basis for further discussion with another mature believer. Mark with X the position that best describes your attitude and relationship to God? Angry...indifferent...curious...attracted...seeking...believing...committed...growing...struggling What people/events/circumstances/choices have lead you to the point where you are in your relationship to God? What do you need to do to move to a place of faith, commitment and growth in Christ? Who or what can help you? 5: MEMORIZATION The following Scriptures would be good to memorize and meditate upon as they summarize the truths contained in this lesson: Rom 1:16-17 Rom 12:1-2, 3, 9 2 Pet 1:3-10 8
6: FURTHER STUDY In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus warned us that not everyone who professes to know Christ and calls him Lord is genuinely saved and fit to enter heaven. Some people may think they are saved and even be active members of a Christian church and yet they do not truly know Christ. On the other hand, some genuine believers may struggle to understand what the Christian life is all about and be ineffective and unfruitful in their Christian lives (2 Pet 1:8-10). In either case, it is necessary to make our calling and election sure (2 Pet 1:10) by laying a solid foundation of Christian doctrine and practice upon which we can build our Christian lives. Midrand Chapel s Foundations of the Faith series is designed to help you lay such a foundation in your own life and the lives of other believers. 1. It covers all the foundational doctrines of the Christian faith and life in 18 lessons. 2. It draws biblical truth and practice from a few key passages of Scripture, explained in their original context, rather than isolated verses scattered throughout the Bible. 3. It focuses on both biblical truth and practical application to life 4. It allows you to work through each lesson on your own and then be able to clarify and discuss what you have learned with another mature believer 5. It provides something that you can, in turn, use to help another believer lay a solid biblical foundation for their Christian life. Midrand Chapel would like to insure that every member lays a solid biblical foundation for their Christian life and is equipped to help other believers do the same. We therefore encourage all new members to work through the Foundations of the Faith series with another mature member of our church. It will require you to set aside at least 1 hour to work through the lesson on your own and 1 hour to meet with another believer to discuss the lesson. Will you be able to commit to work through the FOF series? Yes No When are you available to meet to discuss each lesson? Index of FOF lessons: Introduction 1. Introduction How to get the most out of this course 2. The Christian Life (Rom 12) What is the Christian life all about? 3. Church Membership (1 Cor 12:12-26) Why Church membership is important 9
Who is God? 1. The revelation of God (Ps 19) General and special revelation 2. The nature and being of God (Is 40) Introduction to attributes of God 3. The sovereignty of God (Ps 139) Everyone is accountable to God 4. The person and work of Christ (Col 1:15-23) The uniqueness of Christ 5. The Trinity (various) An essential Christian doctrine often misunderstood What is Salvation? 1. The creation and fall of man (Gen 2-3) The purpose and problem of humanity 2. The total depravity of man (Rom 3:9-20) Why we cannot save ourselves 3. The free gift of God (Eph 2:1-10) How God saves us 4. The call to follow Christ (Mk 8:27-38) How I should respond to the gospel 5. The perseverance of the Saints (2 Pet 1:3-11) How I can be sure I am a Christian How do I live the Christian life? 1. The fight against sin (Eph 4:17-32) Putting off sin and putting on Christ 2. The fullness of the Spirit (Gal 5:16-25) The Ministry of the Spirit 3. The disciplines of grace (Acts 2:41-47) Cultivating daily devotion to Christ 4. The worship of the saints (1 Cor 11:17-33) Corporate worship, communion 5. The commandment to love (1 Cor 13:1-9) Living selflessly 6. The reality of trials (Rom 8:28-30; James 1) Dealing with difficulties in the Christian life 7. The witness of the saints (1 Pet 3:8-17) Being a witness with your life and your lips 8. The mission of the church (Matt 28:18-20) Reaching the nations for Christ What are the doctrinal distinctive s of Midrand Chapel? 1. Believers Baptism (Rom 6:1-12) 2. The Doctrines of Grace (Eph 1:3-14) 3. Lordship Salvation (Mk 4:1-20) 4. Elder Rule (1 Pet 5:1-5) 5. Church Discipline (Matt 18:15-20) 6. Creationism (Gen 1) 7. Complementarianism (1 Tim 2:8-15) 8. Cessationism (1 Cor 13) 9. Expository Preaching (2 Tim 3:10-4:5) 10.Futuristic Pre-millenialism (Mk 13) 10