TWO APPROACHES TO CHRISTIAN LIVING (1)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   There are many religious organizations in the world that claim to be “Christian” in nature.

1.    They affirm their love for God.

2.    They confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

3.    They believe the Bible is the Word of God.

4.    They trust Jesus to save their souls.

5.    They associate with a group, a family, a church.

6.    They know they are supposed to live a certain type of life as a child of God.

7.    They believe in heaven and hell.

 

B.   However, when we look deeper into many of these organizations, we find that they have an approach to Christian living that is much different than the Christian life authorized in the New Testament of Jesus Christ.

 

C.   The title of our lesson is:  “Two Approaches to Christian Living.”  Let’s contrast these two methods.

 

THE CONTEMPORARY APPROACH           vs.         THE NEW TESTAMENT APPROACH

 

I.             ETHREAL                                  vs.         CONCRETE

 

A.   In the contemporary approach to Christians living, the use of Scripture is light, airy, dreamlike, and open to interpretation.

1.    Bible is acknowledged, but it not integral part of one’s life.

2.    One or two verses, the allusion to a story from Scripture

3.    The Bible can be interpreted numerous different ways.  

 

B.   The New Testament Christian life lives by a “Thus saith the Lord.”

1.    The Bible is our guide book (Ps. 119:105).

 

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

 

2.    We must have book, chapter, and verse for what we say and practice.

a.  Isaiah 8:20

 

To the law and to the testimony:  if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

 

b.  1 Peter 4:11

 

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God…

 

II.           EMOTIONAL                               vs.        RATIONAL

 

A.   Contemporary Christian living is based on much emotion.

1.    They want to feel.  They want to feel good.

2.    They do not want to be convicted, shamed, or exposed.

3.    Two examples:

a.  Jer. 6:14; 8:11

 

They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

 

                       b.  2 Timothy 4:3-4

 

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

 

B.   The New Testament lifestyle is grounded in reasoning based on the Scriptures.

1.    Emotions were never intended to be the driving force of the Christian religion.

2.    Christianity is grounded in reasoning.

a.  Acts 17:2

 

And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures.

 

b.  Acts 18:4

 

And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

 

3.    NOTE:  Emotions come after a person has understood God’s Word and has responded in obedience.

a.  Philip began in Isaiah 53 and taught the eunuch (Acts 8:32-35).

b.  The eunuch obeyed the gospel (Acts 8:38).

c.  His emotions of joy were expressed after this (Acts 8:39).

 

And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more:  and he went on his way rejoicing.

 

III.         POSITIVE                                   vs.        BALANCED

 

A.   The contemporary Christian lifestyle wants everything to be positive.

1.    Little sin is condemned.

2.    False doctrine is not confronted.

3.    There is a lot of positive thinking that is taught.

4.    There is an emphasis placed on grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love.

 

B.   The Christian lifestyle of the New Testament is not negative, but it is balanced.

1.    God is definitely balanced.

a.  A God of love and a God of wrath

b.  A God who forgives and God who condemns

c.  A God who covers sin and a God who exposes sin

                   2.  2 Timothy 4:2

 

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

     a..  Negative:  reprove and rebuke

     b..  Positive:  exhort

     c..  Positive:  longsuffering

     d..  Negative (to many):  doctrine

 

IV.         ENTERTAINED                           vs.        GROUNDED

 

A.   The contemporary Christian life enjoys being entertained.

1.  Concert style worship service.

2.  Concerts in stadiums

3.  Plays and productions

4.  Playgrounds, slides, movies

5.  NOTE:  All of these things cater to the outer man.

 

B.   New Testament Christianity centers in being grounded in the faith and growing in Christ.

1.    Colossians 1:23

 

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel…

 

2.    1 Corinthians 15:58

 

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…

 

3.    2 Peter 2:10

 

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure:  for it ye do these things, ye shall never fall.

 

4.    NOTE:  God is more concerned about our inner man.  The outer man is constantly perishing (2 Cor. 4:16).

 

…but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

 

V.           GOD HAS SUGGESTIONS            vs.        GOD HAS COMMANDED

 

A.   The contemporary Christian life looks at the Bible as a book filled with requests.  The Christian has the room to say, “No,” to some of God’s commands (Ex., social drinking, cussing, adulterous marriages, homosexuality, etc).

 

B.   Authority/Obedience

1.    The Bible is an authoritative book that one must yield to in order to be changed into the image of God.  If God has commanded, there are no “if,” “ands, or, “buts.”

2.    Matthew 7:24

 

Therefore whosover heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will like him unto a wise man, which build his house upon a rock.

 

VI.         SERVE ME vs. I WILL SERVE

 

A.   The contemporary view of Christianity is all about “my needs…What’s here for me?”  Individuals look for the organization that can fulfill as many of their personal needs as possible.                                                 

 

B.   Needs of others…What’s here for me to do?

1.    The church was never intended to be a DHS for her members.

2.    If the church is likened unto a DHS, then all of the members are the employees.  Our purpose is to serve the needs of others.  Instead of asking:  “What’s here for me?” we should be asking:  “What’s here for me to do?”

3.    Mark 10:45

 

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   One way of living appeals to the masses, the crowds. 

The other way appeals to the few, the minority.

 

One is worldly, sensual, and fleshly.

The other is spiritual, holy, and godly.

 

One displeases God.

One pleased God.

 

One will cause individuals to lose their souls.

One will cause individuals to be saved on the Day of Judgment.

 

B.   Matthew 7:13-14

 

Enter ye in at the strait gate:  for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.