Living the Christian Life

Introduction

The name “CHRISTIAN” was given to the early followers of Christ as a name of derision. Gradually, it became something to be proud of. If someone was a CHRISTIAN

It meant that that person had a unique relationship with Jesus Christ. That person followed the teachings of Christ and tried to LIVE like Him. Now, one wonders if the term means anything at all to many people. All kinds of people claim to be CHRISTIAN with little if any life style changes. Many who PROFESS Christianity & belong to churches show little evidence of Christianity. In fact, in many churches today one can live almost any lifestyle and still be a member in good standing in a local church. We come to day to deal with the issue of LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. How should one live in this world if he/she is a Christian? I am glad you asked because our scripture today give us the help we need. Look at what Paul says we should do:

I. STAND FIRM.

A. This does not just refer to our conduct.

This refers to conduct which is our duty because we are members of a certain group. As Christians, we are members of the family of God. We are citizens of the Kingdom of God and we have a certain responsibility to the group.

Listen to Paul in Philippians 1:27 (NIV) Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel

B. What does it mean to live as a Christian?

Stand firm in one spirit. The word translated stand firm refers to tenacity or perseverance. Keep on keeping on. We don’t give up when things get tough.

C. As example of Perseverance

A 104 year old man was being interviewed by a newspaper reporter. "How did you do it?" the reporter asked. The man replied, “I ate the right food, got plenty of sleep each night, didn’t fool around, and never indulged in alcohol, smoking or chewing." The reporter said, “I had an uncle like that but he died at fifty-five, can you explain that?”

“Sure,” the old man said, “he just didn’t keep it up long enough.”

D. Perseverance is essential

What is most important about our Christian life is not just what we do, but how long we do it. The failure in most Christian lives is not that we don’t do the right things; we just don’t do them long enough. Being a Christian doesn’t mean just serving Christ as a young man or woman. It means serving Christ all our lives. Being a Christian does not mean doing good when the going is easy. It means doing good whether the going is easy or not.

E. Standing firm means perseverance for the cause of Christ.

As citizens of the Kingdom of God, we have the duty to live like a Christian. That means to stand firm in one spirit. Tenacity.

But Paul mentions a second duty of the Christian:

II. CONTENDING AS ONE MAN FOR THE FAITH OF THE GOSPEL.

A. The word CONTENDING was a word from the field of athletics.

Literally, it mans, to wrestle together; to wrestle in harmony. A comparable picture today is eleven men on a football team working together to move the ball toward the goal line. But the emphasis is not on the activity, but the HARMONY in which the activity is carried out.

B. The Christian life is a life of activity, of commitment.

We are not just to stand firm and we are not just to hold our ground; we are to take the offensive. But in doing so, we work as a team. When we work together as Christians using our unique gifts and resources-we are living like Christians.

III. WE ARE TO DISPLAY COURAGE.

A. Read verse 28b.

Many opponents will rise up against us as we live the Christian life. Maybe someone at school will make fun of you. Perhaps someone at work will taunt us because we are Christian.

There are even members of our families that can make life hard for us (share examples) in our Christian life.

B. All of us have adversaries.

As Christian citizens of the Kingdom of God, we are to confront these adversaries with courage instead of fear. When we do this, it proves that our adversaries are on the road to destruction and that we are children of God.

IV. WE ARE TO DISPLAY SUBMISSION.

A. A privilege to Suffer

Philippians 1:29 (NIV) For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,

They had heard of Paul’s suffering. Paul was saying that was happening to you will also happen to others who follow Christ. Suffering is part of the Christian life.

B. We need to understand this point of Suffering

Suffering is one of God’s gifts to his children. Submitting to that suffering is one of the duties of the Christian. One man has said, “Suffering is not God’s goof, but His gift.”

C. We need a different view of suffering

What a different view of suffering that Paul had from the way we normally see it. Many times we see suffering as something that will destroy us and ask God to take it away. When, in fact, it may be God’s way of developing us and using us, if we are submissive to Him. Instead of praying to lose it, we should pray God USE it. You see, the Christian life involves not only what we believe, but also how we live.

CONCLUSION,

What does it mean to live like a Christian?

It means to display tenacity, standing firm in the faith.

It means to work in harmony, striving together in one spirit.

It means to show courage, refusing to be frightened by your adversaries.

It means to be submissive to God’s will, even if that involves suffering

Isn’t it time we started living like Christians?