The Christian Life: The Reality

➤ by Pastor Andy Fulson

The Gospel, the Good News

The Christian life embraces the Scriptures of the New Testament, which reveal Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, with power and authority to restore mankind to fellowship with God.

Jesus demonstrated the God-centered life by fulfilling the Scriptures, having come to destroy the works of the devil (1Jn 3:8). Belief in Him has empowered the Christian life to continue His works (Jn 14:12), as written in the Gospels, and to pass it on as God’s inspired word (2Tim 3:16). This Good News clearly reveals God’s intention to protect, to provide, and guide mankind.

For that reason, the New Testament contains the foundational principles for a satisfied life here on earth, based on the faith of Jesus (Romans 8:9), leading to eternal life after death. For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him, Hebrews 11:6. For many, this position appears too radical.

Those who have believed in Him and His accomplished work of grace are comforted and reassured by it. They testify to the world: That nature (creation) itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and corruption [and gain an entrance] into the glorious freedom of God’s children, Romans 8:21 AMPC.

Foundational Principles

The coming to God by faith is not a new theological idea. Rather, it emphasizes a return to God, as preached by John the Baptist: Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand … Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight, Matthew 3:2-3. Generations have declared this revelation, that the love of Christ has urged them to believe (2Cor 5:17).

Regardless of a person’s attitude, whether to acknowledge God as the divine creator or bow down to a man-made idol, every human being since creation (Gen 1:26) is endowed with a desire to express worship. The choice of worship is left to mankind. Yet, only one direction leads to eternal life.

The same applies to the choice of foundation upon which life, like a house, is to be built (Mat 7:24-25). Is your belief foundation the 'Rock', Christ Jesus? For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, Romans 1:6.

The structure of that house consists of building blocks, which the Apostle Paul described to the Galatian church as the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, Galatians 5:22-23.

Each of these attributes were evident in Jesus Christ. They are to be visible and effective in the Christian life, revealing the relationship with God which Jesus demonstrated toward His Father.

In the Image of Jesus Christ

That likeness of Jesus Christ (1Jn 4:17) cannot be attained through any belief apart from being born again (John 3:3; Rom 10:9-13).

The relationship: to be reconciled to God (2Cor 5:20), was the message of the Gospel, for which Jesus chose His twelve disciples, the apostles (Luke 6:14-16). In addition, seventy others were appointed (Luke 10:1). After His resurrection, a further 120 were commissioned to continue proclaiming His message (Acts 1:15). This resulted in bringing an additional three thousand souls into fellowship with Christ (Acts 2:41).

Listening to the Gospel leads to salvation. By it Scripture is fulfilled: Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved, Romans 10:13, and attain to eternal life.

And because the Christian life, an extraordinary experience in comparison to the worldly life, causes the world to look with longing toward those who have confessed Christ: For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God, Romans 8:19.

Evidence of the New Life

The divine building blocks, the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23), support your Christian life. They are the evidence of a lifestyle change having taken place. As with all outcomes, marginal effort yields marginal lifestyle improvements, for some thirty, or sixty, or hundredfold (Mt 13:23).

Hopefully, you’re looking for attitude changes from the old life (Gal 5:20-21) to reveal improvement outcomes of your effort of renewed thinking (Rom 12:2); that includes how you express yourself, what you listen to, your desires, and expectations.

God’s power (Is 55:11-12) is there to help you overcome your old lifestyle values. His promises are there to equip you for a renewed life: The old is passed away, behold all things are become new, 2 Corinthians 5:17, but you have to be willing to appropriate each of them:

• Every resulting change (Gal 5,22-23) is a positive step to acquire His promises.

• Every resulting change (Gal 5,22-23) toward the renewed life in Christ satisfies.

• Every resulting change (Gal 5,22-23) is an assurance toward the likeness of Christ in us, as He is, so are we in this world, 1 John 4:17.

Establish your life with these key building blocks. They’re indicators of how you’ve changed from your old nature through the given measure of faith to make the conversion to Jesus Christ possible, a gift of God, By grace are you saved through faith, Ephesians 2:8-9. This is not a human idea or decision, but rather the outpouring of God’s grace because of His love for you, being precious in His sight (Is 43:4).

Accepting the Gospel, the Good News of God’s Kingdom, leads to fellowship with God the Father: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, 2 Peter 3:9.

Is this fellowship visible? Yes! It’s the change in lifestyle which you’ll experienced by the Spirit of Christ (Rom 8:9) inside of you: Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ, Philippians 1:6.

God’s commandments have remained unchanged since the time of creation. To Joshua He said: This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success, Joshua 1:8.

God’s Promises are Attainable

Joshua was given direction on how to make his life successful (Jos 1:8). This applies to you as well; all of God’s promises are attainable through a change of your human will:

• Change comes by making a committed decision (Rom 10:11).
• That decision, in turn, is guided by your faith (Heb 10:38).

Jesus points this out clearly: He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also, John 14:12. Notice that your "believing" has an outcome: "shall".

It requires a readiness, a willing action, to carry out change. One step leads to another and is necessary and fundamental to receive from God’s promises (Mk 11:24).

Not only does a positive reaction to believe stir up hope (Heb 11:1), but is also your defence against doubt: Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God [the knowledge of scripture], that ye may be able to stand against [doubt] the wiles of the devil, Ephesians 6:10-11, and evade any shortfall (Hos 4:6).

Know that God’s promises and assurances are completely reliable. All encouragement in the Bible continues to speak clearly to us today, in all circumstances, and always in our favor: Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass, Psalm 37:5.

This reality is reserved for you and all who’ve been reconciled with God through Jesus Christ, His Son.

His Word, Your Confidence

It’s notable that people who reject Jesus also experience the greatest struggles with sickness, are overwhelmed by dissatisfaction, are plagued by disappointment, display deceitful behavior, and show a negative attitude.

The Bible clearly tells them why: Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living, Romans 6:16.

What does Jesus’ disciple James teach? Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you, James 4:7-8.

Christians should be strong in faith, knowledgeable, and grounded in the Word of God in order to obtain God’s promises (Jos 1:8, KJV).

King David, as a prophet, testified from experience: I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread, Psalm 37:25.

Your Commitment

While your decision to believe in Jesus empowers you to attain the likeness of Jesus: because as he is, so are we in this world, 1 John 4:17, a rejection of Christ separates you from God’s promises: He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God, John 3:18.

The Christian life rests on God’s promises, yet not without conditions; you need to build as a master builder (1Cor 3:10-17).

At creation, God spoke and it was GOOD (Gen 1:10). God stands by His Word with an infallible oath: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it, Isaiah 55:11.

Paul pointed out to the Corinthian church a needful lifestyle change: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God, 1 Corinthians 6:9–11.

Remember, God’s commandments give you provision, protection, and guidance for this new life and the life to come. Accept Jesus Christ for your redemption (Rom 10:9-10), and become a joint heir with Him. Acknowledge the born-again faith direction of John 3:3, leading to God’s promises: Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed [disappointed], Romans 10:11.

If you’ve made that your decision already, and have experienced the power of the Holy Spirit working in your life, tell someone today: all things are possible to him that believeth, Mark 9:23. It will be for them the best news they’ll have ever heard.

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Unless stated otherwise, all Bible passages quoted in orange are from the KJV translation.

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