God's Mercy and Grace Principles for Christian Living
What does it mean to become a follower or servant of Jesus Christ and living the Christian life? What does the Christian life supposed to be like? Is there a cost and is the cost to great; also is there a cost not to follow Christ and is this cost to great?
The world has dramatically changed in the last 50 years and it has infiltrated the Church in many ways. Lets have a look.
2 Cor. 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: We implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
**WE ARE - implies present tense, positional attribute:
**An AMBASSODOR is a minister of the highest rank, employed to manage the concerns of his king, state, or government. He is sent to do what his sovern leader would himself do were he present. He is sent to make known the will of his sovern leader, to negotiate matters of commerce, war, peace, or in general everything affecting the interests of the sovereign among the people to whom he is sent.
At all times, and in all countries, an ambassador is a sacred character. He is bound to obey the instructions of his sovereign, and as far as possible to do only what the sovereign would do were he himself present.
Some Principles for Living the Christian Life are:
Be imitators
Eph. 5:1,2 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet–smelling aroma.
1 Cor. 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
3 John 1:11 a Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good
Rom. 12:1~2 that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind
Eph 1:4b that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love
2 Cor. 6:14~17 Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord.
So what does the Christian life supposed to look like?
We may talk about Christ and salvation; but is the message lost because of ourselves by our language, actions and even how we dress.
What about our language and actions
James 3:6~10 .... bless God and curse man
Our language needs to be seasoned with salt and grace as we represent Christ to this world.
Our actions need to be with love, mercy and grace. We need to have a forgiving spirit and have nothing that would give anyone anything of reproach to have against us. We should exhibit the qualities that you would find in the Beatitudes and also the fruit of the Spirit found in Galations Chapter 5. You should be light and salt to the world. See also Eph. 4:29~32; Eph. 5: 3~8; Gal. 5:22~25
How we live the Christian life not only gives us joy and happiness but is how we represent Christ to the world that is watching us. Though often the world looks for perfection in anyone who says they follow Christ; it is our responsiblity to mirror Christ to a dying world so that it draws others to Christ and not repels away. We as Christians are who Christ has here to do the work that will draw others to Him. We can say all the words we want but do we by what others see draw them toward Jesus Christ. Not just saying it but living the Christian Life is what speaks volumes the a watching and dying world.
Christian Spiritual Disciplines means:
As Christian we need to discipline ourselves to living a Godly life of mercy and grace, and being a friend of Christ, drawing others to Him; not one who turns others away.