Living An Authentic Christian Life

995 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Character development recitatif

The term Christian, literally meaning little Christ, should clearly express to every believer their ultimate goal. Everything a believer says, does and strives for should be unmistakably in line with the words, actions and goals of Jesus, as they daily strive to become more and more like Him. In order for this to happen there are two detrimental aspects that need to be considered. Character and service are two key ingredients in the life of one alive in Christ that go hand in hand as described in Romans 12. The believer’s new identity needs to continually transform their character to that of Christ, and their actions must identify them as servants of the King.
I. Christian Character

Theological Definition

The character of a Christian is multifaceted and extremely important. Outwardly, a Christian’s character is the visible witness that expresses who Jesus is to the individual, and the difference He has made in their lives. Thus it is imperative that a correct reflection of God be portrayed by the believer with authentic Christ-like character. Character is not only an external expression. D.L. Moody said "Character is what you are in the dark." Inwardly, a growing Christian character identifies a healthy, maturing relationship with Jesus. It is the ongoing sanctification of the believer that is the proof of the justification that God dons on every believer upon the acceptance of Christ. It is in fact, the` process of sanctification that requires intentional diligent effort on the part of every believer.

1
Biblical Foundation

The Word of God is a Christian’s final authority for every aspect of their lives, so when it comes to questions of character, one needs only look to the Bible (2 Peter 1:3). The more one seeks to ...

... middle of paper ...

...hey walk their talk and portray God’s love in all things, people see Christ through the very life of a believer and are drawn to His Truth. A Christian must overflow the love of Christ for others. That overflow of love will always be seen in service as believers seek to bring others to the saving knowledge of Jesus.

Works Cited

Haskell, Jamie “The Gospel Message” Unpublished, 2013.

Pink, Arthur. “Christian Service.” gracegems. February 09, 2014. Accessed February 11, 2014. http://www.gracegems.org/Pink/christian_service.htm.

Spurgeon, Charles. “If Hell Must Be Filled.” gracegems. February 11, 2014. Accessed February 11, 2014. http://www.gracegems.org/7/If%20hell%20must%20be%20filled.htm.
Stoll, John. “Biblical Principles for Christian Maturity.” Leaderu. February 11, 2014. Accessed February 11, 2014. http://www.leaderu.com/offices/stoll/maturity/index.html.

Show More
Related

  • Commentary of Greg Garrett´s The Other Jesus

    649 Words  | 2 Pages

    Garrett’s concise treatment of an array of relevant questions is reflected in chapter titles like “Faith and Belief”, “The Bible and Theology”, “Sacramental Faith”, “Spiritual Practice”, “The Kingdom of God”, “The End of Things”, and “Friends or Rivals: Living in a Multifaith World”. Each chapter is a vivid explanation on how our life should be based on love, nothing else but the love of Christ, it contrasts the modern day depiction of God bein...

    Read More

  • Interpreting Jeremiah in the Jewish and Christian Scriptures

    768 Words  | 2 Pages

    There have been many passages in the bible that are appealing to different people. What one person may find inspiring, another may view it as just another message in the bible. One of the passages in the bible that I found inspiring was that of one of the prophets, Jeremiah. The one particular passage that I would like to focus on in this paper would be that of Jeremiah's views on the subject of sin. I found that his thought on this subject made me look at how people act in a different way than I had before.

    Read More

  • Revitalizing Today's Christian Engagement with the World

    763 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many people believe that today’s Christians are too sheltered and oblivious to the real world around them. When asked, many outsiders compared today’s Christians to “The Titanic - a ship about to sink, but unaware of its fate” or “a hobby that diverts people’s attention” (Kinnaman 120). It is important Christians to not just stay secluded in one group (church group), but to be talking to others (outsiders) so we are aware of the problems and thing that are going on in the world around us. As Christians we are called to be disciples of Jesus by reaching out to those in need, praying for those around us, and calling people to become the church. In “Unchristian” David Kinnaman outlines three main things we as Christians should include in our lives: accepting responsibility, not being fearful, helping the desperate, being prepared, and keeping a balance.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Kierkegaard's You Shall Love And Our Duty To Love God

    1652 Words  | 4 Pages

    As many people will agree, Christ can be referred to, as Kierkegaard’s states it, “the prototype” (239). In other words, Christ lived in such an ethical and loving way that many people admire. Therefore, we can safely say that in following Christ’s “footprints” (238), we are closer to being more ethical and loving individuals. Consequently, in becoming involved with this service-learning project, I have come to realize that I, and everyone in general, do hold a moral responsibility towards complete strangers. This is most evident when regarding our religious background since I, and anyone else for that matter, cannot truly claim to being an ethical individual if we are stuck being admirers and do not alter in becoming imitators.

    Read More

  • What Is The Christian Worldview?

    1270 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. God himself will be with them as their God” (Revelation 21:3). The most confusing part of Christianity is the Trinity. Understanding God in three persons is difficult. He is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Humanity is to trust in the Father’s providential care; trust in the Son 's forgiving, justifying work; and trust in the Spirit 's comfort and witness to the truth of the Word (Johnson, 2014). Christianity will therefore change the way a person thinks and behaves. To live for Christ and have the Holy Spirit means that one dies to themselves. Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians

    Read More

  • What Is Moral Theology And The Gospels By N. T Wright Book Summary

    1179 Words  | 3 Pages

    Wright goes further to show that as Christians that this is a duty. The duty of a Christian is merely a joy of serving one another, and being that person that is there for one another. This duty that Christians have comes through love. The author goes further to say, “Love is not a ‘duty,’ even our highest duty. It is our destiny” (Wright, 2014, pp. 188-189).

    Read More

  • I’ve Got A Reason to Praise the Lord

    1206 Words  | 3 Pages

    Christianity has its challenges. It places demands on us that set us apart from the rest of our world. The bible calls us a peculiar people, who navigate the challenge of living IN the world, without being OF the world. When we say ‘no’ to temptations that are enjoyed by the masses, we are labeled as self-righteous snobs, religious weirdoes, or worse. But we persevere, and we press toward that invisible line the Apostle Paul drew in the sands of time…for the high calling in Christ Jesus.

    Read More

  • The Violent Bear It Away Thesis Statement

    1176 Words  | 3 Pages

    What being Christian means is being nice and respectful of others, not drinking and not over-indulging into sensations. O’Connor wants to paint a picture of Christianity to the audience

    Read More

  • My Personal Worldview Paper

    1773 Words  | 4 Pages

    “First, there is the call to be a Christian. Second, for each individual there is a specific call—a defining purpose or mission, a reason for being. Every individual is called of God to respond through service in the world. Third, there is the call that we face each day in response to the multiple demands on our lives—our immediate duties and responsibilities” (Smith, ...

    Read More

  • Gospel of John and Mission

    2757 Words  | 6 Pages

    ...Today as a Christ follower, we will never be satisfied if our life is not bearing lasting fruit because we are not fulfilling the purpose for which we were “grafted “into the Vine. Let’s examine the “fruit” of our lives. Is it the kind of fruit that reveals the character of Christ? Let’s not settle for fruitless Christianity. God will do the work of making us fruitful – we must only abide, surrendering our lives to His mission of making disciples of all nations through us. The whole notion of mission is to stretch out to work the work of evangelism not through hierarchy, sovereignty, rather through humbleness, hospitality, affection love for the others. That is what Jesus who portrayed as the one who we do not deserve to untie His sandals straps in the first Chapter of John, later become feet washer, intimate with humanity leaving His equality with God.

    Read More

  • Comparing Christian and Buddhist Perspectives in Healthcare Ethics

    709 Words  | 2 Pages

    God and the Bible’s teachings are used as a framework to find meaning in life and purpose of human presence. Purpose resides in every human’s potential to strive for peace, seek equality, nurture relationships and the environment to achieve harmony with the earth (Valk, 2012). “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior and my hope is in you all day long” (Ps 25:5). The Holy Spirit, known as God’s active force and His power in action (Lk 1:35), is used as a guide by Christians to ascertain and determine what is right. “We choose to act based on good thinking, scripture and prayer, and the Holy Spirit helps us discern the right alternatives” (Shelly & Miller, 2006, p. 89). In seeing others as the image of God, choosing what is right from wrong is influenced by beliefs cultural background and respect for one another. In this religious culture, the tendency to do wrong is seen as sinfulness. However, it is the admission of sin that leads Christians to Jesus Christ to find and experience God’s forgiveness (Shelly & Miller, 2006). The recognition of sin and eventual redemption strengthens the relationship with God which directs a life of service to humanity (Shelly & Miller,

    Read More

  • The Doctrine of Christology

    885 Words  | 2 Pages

    Of all the debates that concern the Christian faith, the most important lies in the understanding of the very one whom the faith professes to follow: Jesus Christ. Who was Jesus Christ, and what did He do here on this earth? In noting the importance of these issues the apostle Paul goes so far as to make the startling claim that the Christian faith is useless if predicated on a false assumption of Christ’s saving work (1 Cor. 15:14). Indeed, there are no truths more central to our faith than the personhood and work of Jesus Christ, and yet serious disagreements exist regarding the nature of these tenets. Jesus lived here on earth as fully divine and yet fully human in one and the same person, and His death on the cross served as a perfect sacrifice and substitute for the necessary punishment of death that all sinners deserve.

    Read More

  • Religion Essay

    824 Words  | 2 Pages

    This passage reflects what Christianity care teachings “taught by Jesus” are to good by everyone, which can be observed i...

    Read More

  • Holy Spirit Essay

    1068 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Bible calls Christians to be holy, from the beginning of time all the way to the very end of time, “Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined” (Titus 1:8 The New International Version Bible). The term holy can only be achieved through the work of the Holy Spirit that guides Christians and through the Holy Spirit they are given the fruits of the spirit. In this study of Holy verses Good, it will be looked at from the point of view of false fruits, the importance of spiritual practices and discipline and how they are important, it will be shown how Christians despite being in a fallen world are made holy and how through the relationship of the Holy Spirit Christians are

    Read More

  • Moral Responsibility and Its Impact Upon Community

    881 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...have presented to the world and for a large extent lived by it. Despite being subjected to persecutions, we as a people, maintained a level of humanity and caring that usually far exceeded the surrounding civilizations. It is the Christians job to go out in to the community and present the gospel. This being said, the moral responsibilities and values set fourth by Christians are a building block for the community and the world. Once these things are established it becomes a giant circle. The people have direct impact upon the community and that community is what bonds the people. Moral responsibility and community are in many ways one in the same, they work together to unite, and activate the citizens of faith so that they can positively impact the political process, influence public policy and define the heritage of Christian values, principals, and morals.

    Read More

More about Living An Authentic Christian Life

Open Document