The followers of Christ were first called Christians in Antioch (in Syria) in c. A.D. 41-43 (Acts 11:26). By the preaching of the apostle Paul, Agrippa, a Jewish king, was almost persuaded to be a Christian (Acts 26:28). The apostle Peter said, "Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter/name" (I Peter 4:16[NKJV; cf. ASV]).
1. Christian living, in its essence, involves walking in the steps of Christ (I Peter 2:21). Marshall Keeble (1878-1968), the great black evangelist, said, "When you take 'Christ' out of 'Christian,' all you have left is i.a.n., and that just means 'I ain't nothing'!" As we say today, brother Keeble was "spot on."
2. Christian living demands that we "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:18).
3. It expects us to observe all that Christ has commanded (Matthew 28:18-20).
4. It involves continuing "steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42).
5. As a Christian everything we do in word or deed is to be done "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ," i.e., by His authority and for His glory (Colossians 3:17).
6. Christian living requires us to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37-38).
7. It requires us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39)
8. Christian living involves having the mind/attitude/disposition of Christ in all areas of life (Philippians 2:5-8).
9. Christian living requires us to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world (Titus 2:11-14).
10. It requires us to abstain from "fleshly lusts which war against the soul" (I Peter 2:11).
11. It demands that we love not the world or the things of the world (I John 2:15-17).
12. It expects us to "be careful to maintain good works" (Titus 3:8).
13. Christian living involves being the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and letting our light so shine that others may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:13-16).
14. Christian living involves being living epistles (letters), known and read of all men (II Corinthians 3:2).
15. It demands that our conduct/manner of life "be worthy of the gospel of Christ" (Philippians 1:27).
16. Christian living requires us to be diligent to present ourselves approved to God (II Timothy 2:15).
17. It necessitates worshiping God in spirit and truth (John 4:24).
18. It involves being regular and faithful in attending the gatherings of God's people for Bible study and worship (Hebrews 10:24-25).
19. Christian living demands that we "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33).
20. It requires us to search the Scriptures daily to differentiate between that which is true and that which is false in religion (Acts 17:11).
21. Christian living demands that we "watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong," and that we "let all that [we] do be done with love" (I Corinthians 16:13).
22. Christian living requires us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable to God, knowing that such is our reasonable service (Romans 12:1). (Note: The entirety of Romans 12 is a succinct guide to faithful Christian living.)
23. Faithful Christian living demands that we abstain from the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21).
24. It expects us to produce the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26).
25. Christian living demands that we "walk worthy of the calling with which we have been called" and that we endeavor "to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:1-3).
26. It requires us to put away lying and to speak truth with our neighbor (fellowman) (Ephesians 4:25).
27. It requires us to put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand against the wiles (snares, traps, tricks) of the devil (Ephesians 6:10-18).
28. Christian living necessitates thinking on the right kinds of things (Philippians 4:8).
29. It involves setting our mind on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:1-2).
30. Christian living requires taking heed that we not develop an evil heart of unbelief in falling away from the living God (Hebrews 3:12).
31. Christian living demands that we make our calling and election sure by adding various Christian graces to our lives (II Peter 1:5-11).
32. It requires that we understand that religion is not something we "get," but something we do (James 1:27).
33. Christian living requires continuous walking in the light (I John 1:1-10).
34. Christian living demands that we not be gullible in what we believe, but that we put all teachers and teaching to the test, knowing that "many false prophets have gone out into the world," including many who profess to be followers of Christ (I John 4:1).
35. Christian living requires abiding in the doctrine of Christ (II John 9).
36. Christian living requires earnestly contending for "the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3).
37. It involves avoiding lukewarmness in our relationship with the Lord, and instead demands that we be "fervent in spirit, serving the Lord" (Revelation 3:14-16; Romans 12:11).
38. Christian living demands that we be "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord," knowing that our labor is not in vain in the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58).
39. Christian living requires us to be "faithful unto death," knowing that we shall receive the crown of everlasting life (Revelation 2:10).
40. Christian living is centered in the reality that "to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).
Hugh Fulford
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