Welcome back to our series on the Christian life.
In the previous blog, we discussed three forms of sanctification that help define our Christian experience:
- Salvation– Our legal sanctification through the blood of Christ by faith (Romans 3:21-26).
- The Christian life– Our ongoing pursuit of holiness in our thoughts and actions because God is holy (1 Peter 1:16).
- Heaven– Our final sanctification when Christ brings us to our eternal home and our bodies are transformed (1 Corinthians 15:50 ff)
Importantly, once one stage of sanctification is completed and we move to the next, we cannot return to the previous state. This truth gives us confidence in our eternal security and in our relationship with God.
In this blog, we will focus on the biblical goals of the Christian life and one of the key tools God provides to help us accomplish them.
Goals for the Christian Life
For this current blog, let us talk about scripturally based goals for Christian living and the tools God provides by which we can accomplish them.
- Be holy as God is holy – We should strive to develop godly characteristics in our life (1 Peter 1:16)
- Live a life of faith – God is pleased by our faith, not guilt and legalism (Romans 14:23; Colossians 2:6)
- Serve God with your entire life – We have great freedom to live faithfully within the broad guidance and commands given in the New Testament epistles (Romans 12:1-2)
These goals provide direction for how we think, live, and serve God each day.
Tools for Living the Christian Life
How has God equipped us to pursue these goals?
One of the most important tools He has given us is the Bible.
We are called to receive God’s Word as truth and allow it to guide our lives (1 Thessalonians 1:6). In Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9-14, he emphasizes the importance of approaching the Christian life with knowledge. Before we can live correctly, we must first learn to think correctly.
That begins with knowing God’s Word, particularly the New Testament epistles, from Romans through Revelation 3. These writings provide specific guidance for believers living in the church age.
How did this instruction come to us?
- God the Father – All truth began with God and was given to His Son to give to man (John 14:24; John 17:14).
- Jesus Christ – He came and spoke to us, as recorded in the gospels, so people would believe in Him as Messiah. Upon the rejection of His message (Matthew 12), He taught the disciples about the coming age (Matthew 13-18; Matthew 24-25; John 14-17), later confirmed by the Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 12:2-4; Colossians 1:25; Ephesians 3:3).
- The Apostles – Christ tasked the apostles to teach God’s truth to the church (Matthew 28:19-20, sometimes called “apostolic authority”. It was the listener’s duty to obey what they heard from the apostles, not yet having the written scriptures. Importantly, the authority of the Bible itself is established not just by direct statements that claim it is scripture (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Peter 3:16; 2 Timothy 3:16) but also by verses which indicate the authority of the apostles (2 Thessalonians 3:4-6; Colossians 1:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:14). To them God gave the charge to teach His truth and later to write the epistles, because they were taught by Christ Himself.
- Second-generation Christians – These believers received the word from the apostles and taught new believers under their authority (e.g., 1 Timothy 4:6; 2 Timothy 2:2; 2 Timothy 2:24).
- The biblical canon – The true Word of God was written down as epistles with guidance by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16). These letters were circulated probably in the early church period, when apparently an informal canon of scriptures was formed. A generally accepted canon existed in the 2nd century (1). The New Testament in its current form was finalized at the Synod of Hippo in 393 AD. The late date of finalization occurred probably due to Christians being unable to openly meet until Constantine legalized Christianity after he became the Roman emperor in 313 AD.
- Biblical authority for the Christian life – The Bible speaks of accepting God’s word and using it as a basis for our lives (2 Timothy 3:16; Ephesians 6:17; 2 Peter 3:16). Consequently, through scripture, we gain not only the knowledge of the will of God and the benefits of the Spirit but also a healthy mind (1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 1:7).
Far from being restrictive, the Bible gives us freedom by teaching us truth and wisdom while placing relatively few commands upon us.
It allows us to live by faith without being deceived by harmful practices in the world (1 Timothy 4:4-5). The Bible is our guidebook for life. As we learn and live according to His truth by faith, we can see God working within us and producing spiritual fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9).
What a privilege it is to know God through His Word and to pursue a life that is holy and pleasing to Him. Join us again in the next blog as we continue examining the tools God has given us for the Christian life.
Next, we will discuss God’s power.
William C. Stewart, MD
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