CHRISTIAN LIVING

WHO IS A CHRISTIAN?
Christians are those who believe that Messiah has saved us from our sins, purified by the atonement of his blood and made righteous, accepting him as his personal Saviour (Rom.10:9-13).
“That if thou shall confess with thy mouth the LORD Yahshua and shall believe in thine heart that Yahweh hath raised Him from the dead shall be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek for the same LORD over all is rich unto all that call upon Him”
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark.16:16).

The disciples were called Christians:
‘The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch’ (Acts.11:26).
‘We have the mind of Messiah’ (1Cor.2:15). So true Christians should have the mind of the LORD showing love, mercy, joy, peace, long suffering, i.e. showing the fruit of the Holy Sprit as written in Gal.5:22. “But the fruit of the spirit is love, peace, joy, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance”.
Phil.4:8 teaches the believer to think about “whatever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report, if there be any virtue, think on these things”.

Virtue of Godliness:
Apostle Peter explains the virtue of godliness in II Pet.1:4-11, called as a ladder for righteous living:  “… given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”.  Further Peter gives the godly virtues of knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity.
He encourages the believer by these virtues and further strengthens us in the godly way of life, saying if these things are in your character, then “ye shall neither be barren now unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord”…we will enter into the everlasting kingdom.

Believer to have faith:
Apostle Paul in his letters to Hebrews teaches the believer to have faith in the Lord, the protector, comforter, redeemer and giver of our souls. He defines faith as ‘the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen’. He describes the great faith seen in Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses in Hebrews: II.

Faith without works is dead:
James exhorts the believer by teaching ‘faith without works is dead’ (Jas.2:26). ‘Doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed’ (Jas.1:25). So the believer should show himself through his good works. ‘Always be ready to do every good work’ (Titus.3:1) James treats such a man as a wise man.
‘Who is a wise man and endure with knowledge among you? Let him share out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom!’ (Jas.3:13)

Heavenly wisdom:
James .3:17-18 describes heavenly wisdom. Wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy…the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
v.15,16 describes the earthly wisdom that is sensual and devilish. ‘For where envying and strife is there is confession and every evil work’.

‘Earthly nature is lust of flesh, lust of the eye and pride of life. Where there is confusion, strife in believer’s life, evil thoughts of the earthly nature i.e. lust of the flesh, lust of the eye and world’s temptation come closer to him and thereby gives him a signal of devilish works which starts with his thoughts and later on into actions.
Therefore the believer should start checking his inner spirit of mind by the word of Yahweh which teaches him the paths of righteousness as David says in Psalm.23:3 ‘He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sale’.

Do good to others:
II John.v2 teaches the believer with love, saying,’ beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of Elohim, but he that doeth evil hath not seen Elohim’ because Elohim has sealed his people with the Holy Spirit.
II Cor.1:22. ‘who hath sealed us and given the earnest of the spirit in our hearts’.
Eph.1:13. ‘Ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise’.
Rom.8:14. ‘As many as are led by the spirit of Elohim, they are the sons of Elohim’. If we are Elohim’s children we should live our lives doing good to others’.
Jas.4:17 explains what sin is. ‘To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin’.

Rom.16:19 teaches the believer to be ‘wise unto that which is good and simple concerning evil’. IICor.4:2 says,’ but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of Elohim deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of Elohim’.

Unity, love and tolerance:
I Pet.3:8-12 give a few tips for good Christian living—showing unity, love and tolerance to one another.
‘Finally be ye of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brothers, be pitiful, be courteous, not rendering evil for evil or railing for railing but contrariwise blessing, knowing that ye are there unto called that ye should inherit blessing. For he that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile. Let him eschew evil and do good. Let him seek peace and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil’.

Give to the poor:
Faith, hope and charity are the most important virtues of the believer, as Paul writes in I Cor.13:13,’…and the greatest of these things is charity’.
Prov.19:17 explains the way of charity. ‘He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord’.
Psalms.40:1 says it is a blessing to give to the poor. ‘Blessed is he that considereth the poor, the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble’.

Trials and temptations:
II Pet.2:9 exhorts the believer not to get vexed due to the trials and temptations. The Lord delivers his people. ‘The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation’.
ICor.10:13. ‘There hath not temptation overtaken you but such as is common to man: but Elohim is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but with the temptation also make a way to escape’.

The believer should be satisfied with what Elohim gives:
The Lord shall supply your needs but not your greed!
Godliness and contentment is gain. I Tim.6:6-12.’ But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses’.
Keep the body perfect:
The believer has to take care of his body because he was saved and atoned by the precious blood of the Lord. The price was paid on the cross. Therefore he cannot deny his body and live as he likes or eat as he likes, neither be a drunkard or a smoker.
II Cor.6:16, ‘for ye are the temple of the living Elohim; as Elohim hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Smokers and drunkards have no place in the kingdom of Yahweh, therefore believers should take care of what they do.
Matt.12:36. ’every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.’
Eccl.12:14.’ Elohim shall bring every good work into judgment with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil’.
Believer should not be lazy:
The believer should not be lazy but work for his food (II Thes.3:11-13). ‘For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.’ One should always be alert in the spirit. He should always be on his feet ready for Elohim’s work. Laziness brings poverty. Prov.6:9-11,’ How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:  So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.’
Prov.10:4.’He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich’. Therefore a believer is blessed to be rich because Elohim is the giver of riches, provided he works hard as per the rules given in the Bible.
II Tim.6:17. ‘Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy’.
Prov.8:21.’ That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.’ These riches have to be used for the proclamation of his second coming, bringing many souls to his glory. As written in II Cor.9:7,’ Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver’.
A believer should be orderly and not a burden to others:
Apostle Paul was not a burden to others but teaches them, in II Cor.12:14, ‘I will not be burdensome to you, for I seek not yours, but you’. He practices and commands believers to behave orderly. II Thes.3:7-12, ‘for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:  Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.’
If a believer does not work hard and does not take care of his family members, he is worse than an unbeliever as Paul teaches in I Tim.5:8.
I Thes.4:1.’how ye ought to walk and to please Elohim , so ye would abound more and more’.
I Thes.3:13 says’ to the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before Elohim, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Yahshua with all His saints.
I Thes.4: 16-17 ‘The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of Elohim: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we, which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.’