JESUS CHRIST SAYS ... I AM THE LIGHT of the WORLD.
He who follows Me, will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of Life !
Question 10
What does the Bible teach about the spiritual and practical life of a christian?
There are many things to say about this topic, but the Bible teaches first of all that nobody can live through the Spirit ot God and have a spiritual life - that is a God pleasing life - if this person has not been born again by putting his trust in Jesus Christ in order to die with His death for sin and in order to be raised with Him too before God as a new creation by His resurrection and the outpouring of Gods love by the Holy Spirit into the heart of the believer.
In our physical life we are born first, only then are we a living being. Spiritually it is the same. We need to be born again spiritually first in order to be able to live before God next just like Adam and Eve did live before God before they fell into sin.
Let us now look at the life of a christian from the moment the he has been born again. How does it look like? You may think he has to do all kinds of good works and be a perfect man before God?! Do you really think so?
Well that is NOT what the Bible says in the first place. The Bible even says to a christian this:
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." (1 John 1:8-10)
Let us see what a baby, a young born needs first of all? He needs milk, food and communication with his father and mother and other children!
Spiritually this is the same.
We quote from the bible:
Jesus answered (when being tempted by satan): “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)
The apostle Paul writes to the believers: Since, then, you have been raised with Christ (from your dead and sinful life), set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is youra life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Col. 3:1-4)
The doctor Luke who wrote the third Gospel and Acts observed this among the first believers in Jerusalem: They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42)
The letter to the Hebrews warns the believers: And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24,25)
Live by the Word and the Spirit of God!
From your daily, faithful walk with Jesus Christ will flow a spiritual fruit, By listening to and by reading his words in the Bible and by trusting in Him and praying to Him who is your Saviour and Lord, you will be enabled by the power of his Word and by the power of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in the (newborn) believer, to obey his words.
You can read about the effect and outcome in the following Bible texts:
"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Col. 3:5-13)
God is light and a christian should walk in the light!
"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1:5-7)
"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4: 12,13)
Much more can be said about actually all issues in our daily live. How should we look at them in the light of Gods Holy Word. For example: all sorts relationships, marriage, children, family, work, time, dress, food, money, our dealings with authorities, about how to exercise authority, how should we deal with our body, how should we speak, and how should we interact with people who do not believe in Christ etc.
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