It Matters How We Live

Let me just say this straight out with boldness: It matters how we live as Christians. Believing is not enough, at least not the kind of believing that has no effect on our lives. The kind of faith or belief that is apart from a changed life is not only wrong but clearly in contradiction to the teachings of Scripture.

This has been on my heart for a few years; this whole idea that is lived out in many lives of so-called believers - a life of ‘faith’ that does not result in a progressive walk of holiness. That is abhorrent to God and detestable to Him.

I started to collect verses that spoke of a changed life due to our salvation in Christ, but I soon stopped, because the Bible is chock full of millions of verses that illustrate and highlight this truth of a sanctified life - a life that is progressively growing in truth and holiness. This is the only path for true believers; there is no other way therein to walk. If this is not true of you, if there is no ongoing proof of your walk with Christ, I beg you to examine not only the Scriptures, but your own life and heart. Because once Christ takes up residence in our lives, we change. There is no exception.

There are those out there who want to live in blatant, defiant sin who still want to claim the mantel of Christianity. This is utterly false.

A believer can fall. Yes. A believer can fall badly. Yes. But if the pattern of years is unfruitfulness and willful sin and an unchanged life, then the Scriptures tell us to examine their fruit. We will know them by their fruit, and a good tree does not produce bad fruit.

We believe - God rescues us and we believe with the God-given gift of faith - and the result is a new life in Christ; we are now new creatures. We walk in newness of life, “so that in every way we will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” (Tit.2:10) We ‘adorn the gospel of God….’ How? We adorn it with a godly and upright life.

We are told to "put our religion into practice" (I Tim 5:4/8); to "pursue righteousness and godliness" (6:11); to "fight the good fight of faith" (6:12). The fight of faith is the fight for holy living. Admittedly it is a fight.

We are "called to a holy life" (2 Tim.1:9). “The Lord knows those who are His…everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from sin.” A life of faith and real belief results in a turning away from sin and wickedness. “Flee evil desires…and pursue righteousness…” (2:22). I see no room for cozy co-habitation with sin. It should repel and horrify us.

Titus 1 tells us that "knowledge of the truth leads to godliness." In verse 16 Paul says that "there are those who claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him" Ouch. Actions and behavior tell the real story, right out there plain for all to see. And God above has access to our hearts, too; what kind of ugliness is revealed there?

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority…” (Tit. 2:11-15)

"Learn to devote yourselves to doing what is good" (Tit.3:14); “purify yourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of a reverence for God.” (2 Cor.7:1) “But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you - but you must master it.” (Gen. 4:7)

I could go on and on. I feel so strongly against the ‘easy-believism’ of the current Christian pop culture. What an affront this slap-stick religion is to God Most High and Holy. Such a life holds Him in utter contempt and spits on the blood sacrifice of His Son. For shame.

So examine your life and heart. I will examine mine. Where do I fall short? Where am I cozy and comfortable with sin? Where have I gotten too lazy to fight the good fight and have slid down into murkiness? The downward slope is slick and easy; no fight involved there.

Lets get more serious about our walk with God. Sober up. Pursue Him; follow hard after Him. Evaluate your walk and bump it up; raise your walk with God to a new level. Why? Because He loves us, sacrificed His Son on our behalf, and made a way for us to live in heaven with Him. He transferred us from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. We owe Him. We owe Him our very lives.

R.C. Sproul says this: “God first sets us apart as holy - and then He commands us to live up to this reality.”