1 / 10

The Basics of Faithful Living

The Basics of Faithful Living. We’ve recently examined “The Basics” of The Power of God’s Word , Repentance , Confession , and Baptism (but not necessarily in that order). Now, let’s take a look at. The Basics of Faithful Living.

tave
Download Presentation

The Basics of Faithful Living

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Basics of Faithful Living We’ve recently examined “The Basics” of The Power of God’s Word, Repentance, Confession, and Baptism(but not necessarily in that order). Now, let’s take a look at

  2. The Basics of Faithful Living • The fundamental duty of Christianity can be discerned from a somewhat obscure passage. • In Ephesians 5, notice: • v.1, “Be imitators of God…” • v.2, “walk in love, just as Christ…” • vv.3-9, (various duties pertaining to personal purity) • And then, • v.10, “trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” • After our initial obedience, our primary duty thereafter is to be “pleasing to the Lord”! • Despite what preachers may imply, this is not an insurmountable task.

  3. The Basics of Faithful Living • Notice also, the O.T. example of Ezra, • Ezra 7:10, “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord, and to practice it, and to teach his statutes and ordinances in Israel.” • Some might be quick to respond, “But I’m not a teacher (or a scribe)! • But understand, God knows your capabilities and limitations, and doesn’t expect everyone to be a teacher orscribe,Jas.3:1-2 > 13. • You can, however, “set your heart to study the law of the Lord, and to practice it”! • In this same connection, notice the simplicity of 1Peter 3:10-11.

  4. The Basics of Faithful Living • God gave us a perfect example to follow in the human, Jesus of Nazareth. • Heb.3:1-2, “consider Jesus…He was faithful…” • Heb.1:3, “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature…” • Therefore, be like Him, Phil.2:1-8. • I know this sounds like an insurmountable task… but it isn’t.

  5. The Basics of Faithful Living • God doesn’t require or expect you to be Jesus, Ezra, or Paul. • He expects you to be the best “you” that you can be! Please note carefully, • Acts 10:38, “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God appointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him.” • Question: Did God give you miraculous healing power? • No? Then He doesn’t expect you to heal everyone! • But God did give you abilities to ‘do good’- use them!

  6. The Basics of Faithful Living • God does knowwhat abilities you do have, and He expects you to do what you can with what you do have. • 1Cor.12:1-12is concerning the use of spiritual gifts, but please notice: • Not everyone had the same gift, vv.4-6, 8-10; • These abilities were given to be used “for the common good”, vv.7, 10.

  7. The Basics of Faithful Living • God does knowwhat abilities you do have, and He expects you to do what you can with what you do have. • Rom.13:3-21is perhaps more applicable, since it also addresses non-miraculous service: • Again, note everyone doesn’t have the same function in the body, vv.3-5; • Therefore, each is expected/required to use his gift proportionally, vv.6-8. • There are also abilities that everyonehas, and is expected to use for the benefit of their brethren, vv.9-16. • And there are abilities that everyonehas, and is expected to use for the benefit of all,vv.17-21.

  8. The Basics of Faithful Living • God doesn’t expect you to be Ezra, Paul, or Jesus, unless He’s given you the abilities to serve as they did. • God does expect you to do what you can with what you He gave you. • Are you doing what you can (Mark 14:8) to please Him (Eph.5:10)?

More Related