What it is to lead a christian life, And how to Follow Christ

There are many "ideas" of what it is to live a christian life. People claim there are different opinions and everyone should be entitled to follow as they want.

However, the truth of it, is that if what they claim is to follow, i.e. Simply

Going to church on Sunday,

Not swearing

Singing worship songs

Memorizing Psalms and scripture

Attending the church bakesale or literally any other church function that is not actually a "church" function.

Then they are misinformed, and practice tradition over following Christ as it was laid out plainly throughout the Old Testament And New.

I don't hope to bring you some new idea, rather to wipe away the shade that tradition has put over the eyes of many and what they beleive it means to follow.

I could go down a list miles long on what many of the 45,000+ Denominations do that they claim as worship. But we aren't here to compare ourselves to what we aren't vs. Them.

I am here to teach those who have ears to hear, and eyes to see, a more excellent way that has been infront of you the entire time.

Instead of piecemealing off the bible and standing on sections of scripture, or worse drawing your own interpretation when there are no individual interpretations. Look at the whole of it.

We are told first in the new testament by John the Baptist. Time wise.

Luke 3:7-14

Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? <8> Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. <9> And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." <10> So the people asked him, saying, "What shall we do then?" <11> He answered and said to them, "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise." <12> Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" <13> And he said to them, "Collect no more than what is appointed for you." <14> Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?" So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages."

And then it was reiterated by christ several times.

Most notably in Matthew 25:31-46

<31> "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. <32> All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. <33> And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. <34> Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: <35> for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; <36> I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' <37> "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? <38> When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? <39> Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' <40> And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' <41> "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: <42> for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; <43> I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' <44> "Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' <45> Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' <46> And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Now, am I telling you that these Good works we are called for will get you a ticket into heaven? Absolutely not!

Just as beleiving and having faith alone will not save you.

Even Demons beleive that God is One. And they tremble, but yet have no place in the kingdom.

It's said, spread out through most all "denominations" that it is

Grace alone. Or It is Faith Alone.Or It is just Works that we need to worry about.

Though The word of God tells us and I now Tell you in his spirit that it is all of them!

That mystery was only a mystery to those whos eyes are closed and ears plugged to the truth.

I want none of you to be this way.

It is through Grace that we were given Christ. Through the promise of the father, were we given his only begotten son, to die for Our sins. To have our faith in.

And in perfecting our faith in him do we do the good works that were set before us..

James 2:18-25

<18> But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. <19> You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! <20> But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? <21> Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? <22> Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? <23> And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. <24> You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. <25> Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

We are called to care for others more than ourselves...

Marching down the street yelling "Jesus" looks nice..but where are we told to do this.

Or sit quietly in church and sing a hymn. Quote a psalm or prayer

And call that good once a week.

This is in a shadow of how the jews fell astray only.in a new wrapper

We are indeed told to proclaim his name, in deed as well as word and faith.

Romans 10:1-13

<1> Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. <2> For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. <3> For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. <4> For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. <5> For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, "The man who does those things shall live by them." <6> But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?' " (that is, to bring Christ down from above) <7> or, " ‘Who will descend into the abyss?' " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). <8> But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): <9> that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. <10> For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. <11> For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." <12> For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. <13> For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

In our beleif, our faith. In our heart the beleif is exercised in righteousness..

[12:08 PM]

So I will tell you as you should have been told from the beginning.

Love one another, and serve those who have nothing. If you have abundance (more than is needed) then give to those who have little to none)

In their lack should abundance of goods be given.

This should not come simply from throwing money in a donation tin that goes primarily to "salaries" and building fees...

[12:09 PM]

If you pass by a brother or sister in christ or even simply a neighbor. Who has nothing, and you are well clothed and well fed beyond what is needed. Why do you keep walking?

Give to those who have none.

From our abundance do we make up for their lack of basic needs.

2 corinthians 8: 12-15

12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

To all of You.

It is not simply in going to church or participating in a "christ walk" or "prayer walk"

It is to SHOW in deed and truth in love for those whom christ died for the same as he did for you. To walk rightly. Not just speak rightly, or read daily or pray in groups and toss a few dollars into a tin that likely won't go to help anyone.

In doing this do we serve as living examples of christs Love. Living sacrifices

To show through example what it is to follow.

And not to sit quietly once a week away from the world.

If the world does not hate you for his sake because you "dont want to make people upset by speaking what scripture says in full"

Then you follow after the world.

We are to be good neighbors as well.

Christ taught this to all his followers.

A man asked how it is we are to be good neighbors, how do we know who is our neighbor?

Luke 10:29-37

<29> But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" <30> Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. <31> Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. <32> Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. <33> But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. <34> So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. <35> On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' <36> So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" <37> And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

And lastly. Even if you take advantage and full.use of the Grace given. In having faith, in doing all good works set before you...

Doing just that is no better than obeying the letter of the law.

Because without Love, all of it is useless to you

1 Corinthians 13

<1> Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. <2> And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. <3> And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. <4> Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; <5> does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; <6> does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; <7> bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. <8> Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. <9> For we know in part and we prophesy in part. <10> But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. <11> When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. <12> For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. <13> And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

In all that the 45,000 + Denominations claim.

Only Grace, Only Faith, only Works.

Or as some claim there is nothing we need to do but say christ is lord and continue on

Not only are they all equally important and integral to one another.

But without love,

To you they are useless...

Practice love with one another and count those around you as more important than yourself.

Christ came to serve...

We are to Follow him

How we are to do this is throughout scripture.

Romans 12:1-21

12 I beseech[a] you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your [b]reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Serve God with Spiritual Gifts

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Behave Like a Christian

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient[c] in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given[d] to hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have[e] regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

If he is thirsty, give him a drink;

For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good

I pray that all of you take hold of this in your hearts.

Praise be the Lord, All Glory to The Father. Amen.