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The Christian Life Checklist...
Key Principles for Living a Godly Christian Life.
Grace — God’s Free Favor
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God’s
Grace — Grace for us
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1
Peter 5.10, And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all
grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect,
confirm, strengthen and establish you.
Hebrews 4.16, Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of
grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.
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Godly Grace — Grace through us
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2
Timothy 2.1, You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ
Jesus.
Colossians 4.6, Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so
that you may know how you should respond to each person.
Three Priorities for Life
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Believe in Christ as Savior — Destiny:
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John
3.16, ...that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal
life.
Acts 16.31, Believe in the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved.
Other Verses: John 20.31; Acts 4.12; 16.31;
Ephesians 2.8-9
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Live
in Fellowship with God — Living:
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John
15.5, I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him,
he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.
John 13.5, Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with
me.”
John 13.5-10; 15.4-5; 1 John 1.5-10
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Study the Word of God — Food:
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2
Timothy 3.16, All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching,
for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.
Matthew 4.4, But he answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on
bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”
Other Verses: John 8.31; 1 Peter 2.2; 2 Peter 3.18; Hebrews 4.12; Hebrews
5.11-14
God’s Guidelines for Life
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What I think — God’s Viewpoint:
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Colossians 3.1-2, If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking
the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your
mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
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What I do — Work for the Lord:
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Colossians 3.23, Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord
rather than for men.
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How I treat people — with the Fruit of the Spirit:
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Galatians 5.21-22, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such
things there is no law.
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How I am — Thankful:
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1
Thessalonians 5.18, in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you
in Christ Jesus.
Three Spiritual Virtues:
Faith, Hope, Love
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Faith
emphasizes certainty. Faith in the right object is a foundation; hope builds
upon faith; and love is the visible structure of a faith life.
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Hope
emphasizes expectation and eager anticipation. Hope builds upon faith.
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Love
demonstrates God’s love; and God’s love in a believer’s life is the visible
evidence or structure of a faith life.
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Three
Spiritual Virtues: Scripture
1
Corinthians 13.13, But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the
greatest of these is love.
1 Thessalonians 1.3, Constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of
love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our
God and Father.
1 Thessalonians 5.8, But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on
the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
Colossians 1.4-5, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love
which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you in
heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel.
Three
Spiritual Virtues: So What?
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When
your faith is tested, do not falter. |
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When
life seems sour or hopeless, eagerly expect God to do what He promises. |
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When
people fail or cynicism sets in, God’s love protects, forgives, and blesses
the believer and others through Him. |
Spiritual Maturity: Christ
Formed In You
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Galatians 4.19, My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is
formed in you.
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Romans
13.14, But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in
regard to its lusts.
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Ephesians 4.13-14, Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature
which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be
children.
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2 Peter
1.4, For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in
order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having
escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
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A good
indication of the character and life of Jesus Christ can be shown by His summary
of the law and by the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 22.37-39, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with
all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost
commandment. The second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Galatians 5.22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things
there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh
with its passions and desires.
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Living the Christian Life:
Basic Techniques
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Occupation with Christ:
Hebrews 12.2, Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who
for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat
down at the right hand of the throne of God.
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Knowledge of the Word:
2 Peter 3.18, But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
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Faith-Rest:
1 Peter 5.7, Casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.
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Confession of Sin and Fellowship:
1 John 1.7-9, But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all
sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is
not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us
our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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Spirituality — Living by the Holy Spirit:
Galatians 5.16, Walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the
flesh.
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Prayer:
1 Thessalonians 5.17, Pray without ceasing.
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Ministry:
1 Peter 4.10-11, As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving
one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, let
him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as
by the strength which God supplies
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Patriotic Heavenly Citizens’
Royal Birthright, Philippians 1.27-28
Every church age believer has a Heavenly Royal Christian Birthright: Heritage,
Mission, Courage
Philippians 1.27-28, Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel
of Christ; so that whether I come to see you or remain absent, I may hear of
you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together
for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents — which is a
sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from
God.
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Paul’s
Challenge: Heavenly Royal Christian Birthright
Rights, privileges, and responsibilities possessed by all believers because of
our new birth and position in Christ.
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Paul
challenges the Philippian believers to live as patriotic heavenly citizens and
therefore to…
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1. Stand
firm in their common spiritual life and position of strength — royal birthright
heritage.
2. Strive
together for the gospel faith — royal birthright mission.
3. Not
be frightened by their spiritual opponents — royal birthright courage.
Conduct
yourselves — Live like patriotic heavenly citizens.
“Conduct yourselves”
politeuomai
politeuomai; to be a citizen, to live as a citizen, to discharge obligations
as citizens. Present middle imperative second person plural (See also Acts
23.1).
“Citizenship”
politeuma
politeuma; Philippans 3.20
Royal
Birthright: Heritage
“Standing Firm”
steko
steko, to stand, to be firmly committed in conviction or belief. Present active
indicative second plural.
“In one spirit” Refers to the spiritual life camaraderie that we have in Christ
— our royal birthright position of strength.
Common Heritage for all believers:
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In
Christ Heritage.
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Word
of God Heritage.
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Blessings of God Heritage.
Royal Birthright: Mission
“Striving together”
sunathleo
sunathleo, to contend and struggle along with others. Present active participle,
masculine nominative plural, attendant circumstance, to “stand firm.”
See
Philippians 4.3, “shared my struggle” — same verb.
“For the
faith of the gospel” of the gospel is likely genitive of description — the
gospel faith.
The
gospel faith is the biblical faith — believing plus the revelation that is
believed.
Common
Mission for all believers:
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Spread
the gospel.
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Learn
and pass on the Word of God.
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Support believers.
Royal
Birthright: Courage
“Not alarmed”
pturo
pturo, to let oneself be intimidated, be frightened, terrified. Present middle
participle, masculine nominative plural, participle of attendant circumstance,
to “stand firm.”
We are
not to become intimidated or terrified or controlled by people who disagree with
us or attack us or ridicule us.
Because
we believers are God’s heavenly citizens and we have a common heritage and a
common mission:
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We
have spiritual camaraderie.
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We
know what we are to do and that we do not do it alone.
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We
live in grace, through the spirit, by faith, with hope, and in love (Galatians
5.1-16).
Summary:
Paul
challenges the Philippian believers to live as patriotic heavenly citizens and
therefore to…
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Stand
firm in their common spiritual life and position of strength
— Royal Birthright Heritage.
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Strive
together for the gospel faith — Royal Birthright Mission.
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Not be
frightened by their spiritual opponents — Royal Birthright Courage.
Applications:
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Spiritual camaraderie.
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Christian service working together.
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Apply
our God given spiritual citizenship and resources.
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