"How is a Christian identified in the world?"
According to the scriptures, a Christian--a true, genuine, God-loving Christian--is identified by two different aspects. The first, and most obvious, is belief. A Christian is, simply, someone who believes in Jesus Christ, crucified and resurrected. This belief involves commitment to Christ and to His Way. The second aspect that identifies a Christian is the Christian's lifestyle. When the Bible talks about "the world," it is not talking about something concrete or material. Rather, "the world" is a concept that brings into unity all the aspects of the human fallen nature: selfishness, greed, indifference to God and man, and extreme self-indulgence. A Christian, however, has embraced a new way of life--the God-life--that is completely opposite of "the world's" lifestyle. Where the world is selfish, the Christian is selfless, serving others in love even at the expense of his or her well-being or comfort; where the world is greedy, the Christian is generous with his or her talents, monies, energies, time, and resources; where the world is indifferent to God and man, the Christian sincerely loves God and other people in an action-oriented love; where the world is extremely self-indulgent, the Christian exists not to satisfy his or her own desires, but to live a life that honors God and serves fellow mankind. The God-life is not easy; rather, it is extremely difficult, because it goes against our primal, animal, human, sinful natures. The Christian, however, despite the difficulties of this life, pursues it. If someone claims to be a Christian but does not model this lifestyle, then he or she is a liar, pretending to be something he or she is not. During His last Passover meal, Jesus tells His disciples, "This is how people will know you belong to Me: by the love you have for one another." Our beliefs and lifestyles identify whom we pledge allegiance to.
When one looks across the entire spectrum of the Bible, the will of God is easily summed up in three different cornerstones: first, it is God's will that people believe in His Son. This belief is not just mental assent; it also includes trust in Christ, commitment to Christ. Second, it is God's will that we pursue holiness. "What, exactly, is holiness?" is addressed in the next question. Third, it is God's will that we evangelize. Evangelism has several negative connotations with it, but evangelism simply means sharing the Good News of the kingdom of God. When we live these three aspects--believing in Christ, pursuing holiness, and evangelizing--we are well within the realm of the will of God.
To a lot of people, holiness means not smoking, not drinking, not dancing, not cussing, wearing Christian t-shirts and dozens of W.W.J.D. bracelets. The prophet Micah sums up holiness quite well, and it is very different from many modern perceptions: holiness is "acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with thy God." The literary form of this verse (Micah 6.8) is rich: Micah shows us what holiness is, starting with the foundation and allowing this foundation to affect all aspects of life. The foundation is "walking humbly with God." Only God is holy; we are made holy by being in an intimate, dynamic, ongoing relationship with His Son. If you ask the Jews what holiness is, they will most likely say something to the extent of, "Being in communion with God." If one truly is in communion with God, then they will "love mercy." Loving mercy, in this case, means loving the people around us, and not just those whom we're friends with (how many of us have to share great mercy to our friends?). What is this kind of love we are to have towards others? The last aspect of holiness explains this: "acting justly." This is not a love rooted in sentiment; rather, it is a love rooted in action. It is selfless, generous, humble, kind, caring, compassionate, merciful, grace-giving, forgiving and accepting love. Holiness, then, is being in a relationship with God and loving our neighbors as ourselves (remember the two greatest commandments Jesus gave us?). If one claims to be in a relationship with God but does not love other people, that person (according to one of Jesus' closest friends who penned 1 John) is a liar.
"What is the will of God for our lives?"
When one looks across the entire spectrum of the Bible, the will of God is easily summed up in three different cornerstones: first, it is God's will that people believe in His Son. This belief is not just mental assent; it also includes trust in Christ, commitment to Christ. Second, it is God's will that we pursue holiness. "What, exactly, is holiness?" is addressed in the next question. Third, it is God's will that we evangelize. Evangelism has several negative connotations with it, but evangelism simply means sharing the Good News of the kingdom of God. When we live these three aspects--believing in Christ, pursuing holiness, and evangelizing--we are well within the realm of the will of God.
"What, exactly, is holiness?"
To a lot of people, holiness means not smoking, not drinking, not dancing, not cussing, wearing Christian t-shirts and dozens of W.W.J.D. bracelets. The prophet Micah sums up holiness quite well, and it is very different from many modern perceptions: holiness is "acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with thy God." The literary form of this verse (Micah 6.8) is rich: Micah shows us what holiness is, starting with the foundation and allowing this foundation to affect all aspects of life. The foundation is "walking humbly with God." Only God is holy; we are made holy by being in an intimate, dynamic, ongoing relationship with His Son. If you ask the Jews what holiness is, they will most likely say something to the extent of, "Being in communion with God." If one truly is in communion with God, then they will "love mercy." Loving mercy, in this case, means loving the people around us, and not just those whom we're friends with (how many of us have to share great mercy to our friends?). What is this kind of love we are to have towards others? The last aspect of holiness explains this: "acting justly." This is not a love rooted in sentiment; rather, it is a love rooted in action. It is selfless, generous, humble, kind, caring, compassionate, merciful, grace-giving, forgiving and accepting love. Holiness, then, is being in a relationship with God and loving our neighbors as ourselves (remember the two greatest commandments Jesus gave us?). If one claims to be in a relationship with God but does not love other people, that person (according to one of Jesus' closest friends who penned 1 John) is a liar.
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