Welcome back to our series on the Christian life.
In earlier blogs, we discussed the three forms of sanctification that help define the 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 takes us to our eternal home and our bodies are transformed (1 Corinthians 15:50 ff)
Once we move from one stage of sanctification to the next, we do not return to the previous state. This truth gives us confidence in our eternal security and in our relationship with God.
We also discussed several biblical goals for Christian living:
- Be holy as God is holy – We should seek to develop godly characteristics in our lives (1 Peter 1:16).
- Live by faith – God is pleased by faith, not guilt or legalism (Romans 14:23; Colossians 2:6).
- Serve God with your whole life – Believers have great freedom to live by faith within the broad commands given in the New Testament epistles (Romans 12:1-2).
To help us pursue these goals, God has also provided two important tools: His Word and His power through the Holy Spirit.
Now, let us consider another important aspect of Christian living: the wise boundaries God gives us.
Wise Boundaries for the Christian Life
God gives believers great freedom to pursue Him in faith. At the same time, He provides scriptural boundaries to help keep us on the right path.
These boundaries are not designed simply to restrict us. Rather, they help protect us, guide our decisions, and keep us from moving away from the life God intends for us.
Scripture provides admonishments for the Christian life that generally serve several important purposes.
- Maintain an orderly society – These are reflected in commands such as “do not murder” or “do not steal” and are often repeated from the Old Testament. God’s order commands are interspersed throughout the epistles. In general, His commands are few and protective to us and society, leaving us a broad path in life in which He wants us to live by faith to serve Him. Note: Old Testament and gospel commands – These commands reflect God’s holiness. Nonetheless, they are dictates for another time when God administered His people differently. We obey commands within the epistles because these are for the church time in which we now live.
- Live a wise and godly life – Like the commands related to orderliness, these injunctions also are interspersed throughout the epistles and provide wisdom about how to lead the Christian life. Interestingly, research in the medical literature has shown that when such admonishments are obeyed they increase wellbeing, such as producing hope, forgiveness, thankfulness, and joy (https://teleiosresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/CV-Teleios-Wellbeing-Review-JRH.pdf). Further, Teleios’ research has shown that Christians who study the Bible and practice what it says its precepts on average have better wellbeing than those who do not. God made us and He knows our psychological profile and what is healthy for us.
- Use your freedom wisely – Although God grants us wide freedom in our Christian walk, the Apostle Paul tells us not to misuse this freedom if we’re causing other believers, who are following legalistic non-biblical commands out of faith, to stumble (Romans 14; 1 Corinthians 8; 1 Corinthians 10:23ff). An example of this might be drinking alcohol. Scripture tells us that we should not become drunk (Ephesians 5:18) but does not tell us not to drink alcohol. Therefore, we are free to partake of alcohol in a responsible way (1 Timothy 4:4-5) in which we remain sober. However, we should not drink if we are causing a Christian who believes that we should refrain from alcohol to become discouraged in their faith.
God has given believers great freedom to live by faith within the broad boundaries of Scripture.
Knowing biblical truth helps us navigate life with wisdom, purpose, and joy. Rather than limiting us unnecessarily, God’s Word provides protection and guidance while giving us room to make faithful decisions.
What a privilege it is to have God’s wisdom available to us through Scripture.
In the next blog, we will continue this series by examining the methods God graciously provides to help believers mature in Him.
William C. Stewart, MD
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