What Is Christian Living?

MATTHEW 5:13-16, 20

THE term Christian has come to be used very loosely, and today it is applied quite generally to all who are not Jews or heathen. Among these nominal Christians there are very few who live true Christian lives, so the question, “What is Christian living?” is a very important one to those who desire to be in harmony with the Lord. Jesus himself said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”—Matt. 7:21

The name Christian was first given to the followers of Christ at Antioch. (Acts 11:26) It was used by King Agrippa when he said to Paul, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian,” and by the Apostle Peter when he wrote, “If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed.” (Acts 26:28; I Pet. 4:16) These are the only uses of the word in the Bible.

Today the Christian is not suffering as much as in the past. Throughout what is left of Christendom it is honorable to be known as a Christian, and when we use the name to designate true disciples of Christ it is necessary to discover from the Word of God what kind of lives such are expected to live, and what is the purpose of their lives. Nominal Christians have no interest in these questions, but those who take seriously their profession of belief in Christ do want to know.

The first part of our lesson is taken from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, and in it we find two illustrations by which the Master reveals the real purpose of the Christian life—we are to be the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.” In order for this divine purpose to be carried out in our lives as individuals the “salt” must not lose its “savor” and the “light” must not be put under a “bushel.”

The virtue of salt is its power to season and to preserve from decay. Being fallen and imperfect we have no “savor” by nature, being a part of the dying race. But as new creatures in Christ Jesus we have the truth and its Spirit within us, and it is thus that we have “savor.” Jesus implies the possibility of losing this savor, and we know how constantly we need to be on guard lest the spirit of the world and of selfishness cause us to lose the truth and thus be without its power in our lives.

The number of true Christians in the earth during this age has been very small, and while these have exercised a wholesome influence upon mankind within their limited sphere, and the world has thus been blessed by their presence, the next age will be the time when this statement will have its greatest fulfillment. Then, in association with Christ, the church will preserve and give everlasting life to all who obey the laws of that new kingdom.

Light is of value only when it is permitted to shine, so Jesus admonished us not to keep our light under a bushel, that is, hidden. We are to be the light of the world, Jesus said. Through Jesus and the church the whole world will ultimately be enlightened, for the knowledge of the glory of God will be caused to fill the earth as the waters cover the sea.—Isa. 11:9; Hab. 2:14

But even now, the church possesses the only true light there is in the world, and we are to make it shine out as widely and brightly as possible. Not many will be attracted by it. By the vast majority it will not even be recognized as light, because the “god of this world,” who is Satan, the devil, has blinded their minds. (II Cor. 4:4) But this does not deter us from laying down our lives proclaiming the message. Indeed, it should spur us on to greater faithfulness as ambassadors of Jesus, the great Light-giver. Bearing witness to the truth is a very important phase of Christian living.

As Christians, our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. They did their alms to be seen of men. Our sacrifices should be made to please God. They loved only those who loved them; but we are to love all, even our enemies, praying for them and blessing them. Thus will we be like our Heavenly Father, who causes the sun to shine and the rain to fall upon the unjust as well as upon the just.

PHILIPPIANS 1:27-30

CHRISTIAN living means the regulating of one’s conduct consistent with the Gospel of Christ. The word “conversation” here used includes conduct, and not merely our words. Our words are, of course, a very true index of our hearts and lives. The Christian who loves to talk about the Gospel of Christ more than any other theme is quite likely to be ordering his whole life in keeping with the Gospel, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

All Christians who truly appreciate the spirit and power of the true Gospel will want to labor together in its defense and promulgation. To allow petty and personal differences to occupy a position of greater importance in our lives than the Gospel, and because of these differences to hold ourselves aloof from the brethren, would be contrary to the true spirit of Christianity. The Gospel of Christ, the truth, is very important, and those who love it will stand together in its defense, and will permit its influence to weld them together into a blessed unity in Christ.

Those who are set for the defense of the Gospel are sure to be opposed by the world. Jesus said to his disciples, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Being forewarned of the result of letting our light shine, we will not be terrified when the opposition strikes, but will remember—and in remembering, rejoice—that we have the privilege of suffering with Christ—that this privilege has been given to us that we may share in the “better sacrifices” of the present age and prove our worthiness to live and reign with Christ.

I THESSALONIANS 5:15-23

IN THIS passage the Apostle Paul gets right at the foundation of true Christian living when he writes, “See that none render evil for evil; … but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.” This is but another way of explaining the manner in which the divine principle of love should manifest itself in our lives. We are to follow that which is “good,” and Jesus said, “there is none good but one, that is, God.” (Matt. 19:17; Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19) In other words, our Heavenly Father is the true standard of goodness, and we should endeavor to be like him.

Christian living means happy living. We are to “rejoice evermore.” True, there are many trials in the “narrow way,” but the joys of serving the Lord far outweigh these, and the “joy of the Lord” gives us strength to continue walking in the footsteps of the Master.

Christian living also includes prayer—“pray without ceasing,” wrote Paul, and then adds, “In everything give thanks.” (I Thess. 5:17,18) Taking the two thoughts together it would seem that to pray without ceasing means that everything we do should be made a matter of prayer, giving thanks for every experience, whether bitter or sweet, and seeking divine guidance and strength in all the vicissitudes of life.

The Holy Spirit should fill every Christian’s life. By it, we are begotten to newness of life and anointed to preach the glad tidings. Through the Word of truth, it witnesses with our spirits that we are the children of God. (Rom. 8:16) By the Holy Spirit, we are baptized into the body of Christ, and by the authority of the Spirit, we are “sealed unto the day of deliverance.” (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27; Eph. 1:13; 4:30) Let us, then, not “quench” the Spirit by resisting its influence or allowing the spirit of the world or the spirit of self to dictate our course in life.

Christian living does not mean that we should have an “open mind” for the various human philosophies which are continually being suggested to us. We are to “prove all things” by the infallible Word of God. And having found that the Gospel of Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation, satisfies our longings, we are to hold fast to it. Having satisfied ourselves that we have received the truth, it is not necessary to examine every idea that comes along. Having received the truth, let us also be anxious and glad to confess it before the brethren, and proclaim it as a witness to the world.

A better translation of verse 22 states that we should “abstain from every form of evil” rather than from every “appearance” of evil. Many things “appear” evil to those who are opposed to the truth and to Christian living. To those who sit in darkness, the dissemination of the truth appears evil; but we know, of course, that it is not. To abstain from what our enemies construe to be evil could well neutralize the power for good of the Christian life. We are, however, to abstain from that which actually is evil. And, where no principle is at stake, there are times when it is wise to refrain from that which others may think is wrong, although not actually so. A case in point was Paul’s determination not to eat meat offered to idols when by so doing some might have been stumbled.

No life is truly a Christian life unless it has been sanctified by God, through the truth. It was for this great objective of Christian living that Jesus prayed when he said to his Father, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth.” (John 17:17) This work of sanctification, or setting apart to do the will of God, is the work of a lifetime. At consecration, we dedicate ourselves to God and to the doing of his will, but it requires a lifetime to make good what we agreed to do, and then it is possible only by the grace of God.

Paul’s prayer that their “spirit and soul and body”; be preserved blameless unto the coming [Greek, presence] of the Lord, is to be understood as applying to the church as a body or group. While some may argue erroneously that the spirits and souls of individuals do not die, none wants to claim that his body is preserved. But the church, as a “body,” has been preserved throughout the age—preserved even during the darkest period of the Dark Ages, and is still alive today, when the second presence of Christ has become a reality.

JAMES 1:22, 26, 27

IN THESE texts from the Epistle of James, we have what appears to be a summary of what it means to be a Christian. First, he emphasizes that it is more than merely being a hearer of the Word, regardless of how much pleasure we receive from hearing it. We hear for the purpose of learning and doing. If we are not doers of the Word, we are deceiving ourselves, James writes.

One of the important injunctions of the “Word” is that we should not speak evil of others. If we fail to bridle our tongues our claims of living a Christian life are vain. To speak evil of others is to do them an injustice. Even if they have rendered evil to us, we are not to retaliate. Thus the matter of bridling the tongue comes right back to the principle of divine love and the manner in which it is controlling our lives.

And then we are to “visit the fatherless and the widows.” We cannot, of course, visit all the fatherless and the widows in the world.. It would seem that these terms are used to suggest the thought of assisting those who are in need of the help we can give. The principle involved is that of being mindful of others, that the Christian religion is not manifested by a self-centered attitude, but causes us to reach out to help others, particularly along spiritual lines.

Jesus said to his disciples, “I have called you out of the world,” so we are to keep separate from its self-seeking and pleasure-loving influence. While we are in the world and are to let our light shine for the blessing of others, we are not to be a part of the world. We are to keep ourselves “unspotted from the world.”

QUESTIONS

In what sense are Christians the “salt of the earth,” and what is the “savor” of a Christian life?

When will the whole world be enlightened by Jesus and the church?

What is a Christian’s “conversation”?

What is one of the sure results of “laboring together in the Gospel”?

What is meant by rendering “good” instead of evil?

Is unhappiness a token of true Christianity?

How are we to pray without ceasing?

What does Paul mean by quenching the Spirit?

Are Christians to have an “open mind”?

Can a Christian abstain from every “appearance” of evil?

How is the “body and soul and spirit” of the church preserved?

What does it mean to be doers of the Word; to visit the fatherless and the widows, and to keep ourselves unspotted from the world?

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