* ALL Questions about the Christian Life *

[Patriot]

How do I hear from God?​

Answer

Every Christian has probably wondered at one time or another, “How do I hear from God?” The question is natural because we want to know what God has in store for us, and we are eager to please our heavenly Father. The range of answers, however, has caused much confusion and controversy. We need to be biblical when we answer the question how can I hear from God?

The Bible tells us how we hear from God: “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world” (Hebrews 1:1–2, ESV).

Before the Incarnation of God the Son, God spoke through the prophets. We heard from God through men such as Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Micah, Malachi, and the other prophets. They relayed messages from God, and often their words were written down and preserved so we would always know His promises, His law, and His redemptive plans.

There were times when God spoke directly to people. Abraham and Joshua, for example, conversed with God directly at times (Genesis 12:1; 17:1; Joshua 5:13–15). Others, such as Jacob, heard from God through dreams (Genesis 28:12–13). Ezekiel saw visions (Ezekiel 1:1). Saul began to hear from God and spoke for Him when “the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him” (1 Samuel 10:10).

But, in most cases, people did not hear from God directly; rather, they were responsible to read God’s written Word or seek out God’s chosen mouthpiece. On at least two occasions, King Jehoshaphat asked to hear from a prophet of God (1 Kings 22:7; 2 Kings 3:11). Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, sought to hear from God through the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 8:7–8). Isaiah told the people of Judah they had a responsibility to “consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning” (Isaiah 8:20); that is, they were to read the written Word of God already delivered to them.

With the birth of Jesus, things changed. John the Baptist was the last of the Old Testament prophets. Through the ministry of Jesus, God spoke directly to us. Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, the Sermon on the Plain, and the Olivet Discourse; and His pronouncements of being the Bread of Life, the True Vine, and the Good Shepherd are God’s direct revelation of who He is. Jesus’ words “are full of the Spirit and life” (John 6:63).

The writer to the Hebrews says, “In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” The “last days” are the current dispensation—the church age. Jesus Christ was the pinnacle of God’s revelation; He is the Final Word to us. In the Bible Jesus’ words are recorded for us. When Jesus ascended back into heaven, He left behind hand-picked apostles who were given the special task of recording what Jesus had said and done. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, these men were authorized by God to speak and record God’s words to His church so that all of the church can truly hear from God. We now hear from God through His written Word, which is the Bible.

So, basically, we hear from God by reading our Bibles and hearing it preached.

For many people who want to hear from God, hearing, “Read your Bible,” is not very satisfying. They desire a more “direct” and “personal” communication. There are many problems with such a desire, starting with the fact that neglecting or rejecting the Bible in order to seek a “new” word from God is spiritually dangerous. It is arrogant for someone to think that he is so special as to receive direct revelation from God, especially when God said in the first century that He has spoken through His Son, who is “appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe” (Hebrews 1:2). We can’t top Jesus. There are no modern-day apostles or prophets who function in the same manner as the biblical apostles and prophets.

God does speak to people today, but the means He uses always include the Bible. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer and gives gifts to them as He chooses. Some are given gifts to teach, correct, admonish, and encourage other Christians. There is no new revelation being given (see Revelation 22:18), but God has gifted people in the church to be able to speak into the lives of other Christians. Exhortation and the offering of biblical advice are important within the community of believers.

A pastor’s instruction from God’s Word is one way we hear from God today. A friend’s advice, tied to Scripture, is another way we hear from God. A directive issued by a God-ordained authority figure is another way we hear from God.

We should never neglect praying and meditating on God’s Word. As we meditate on a passage of Scripture, and we pray for God’s direction and understanding, we hear from God. When we feed daily on the Bible, the Holy Spirit points us to truths that we know are from God because they come directly from His Word. What a privilege it is to have God’s Word readily available to us!

“I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word”
(Psalm 119:15–16)

For Further Study​

The ESV Study Bible

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software

 

[Patriot]

How can I know what pleases God?​

Answer

When talking about His Father in heaven, Jesus said, “I always do what pleases him” (John 8:29). Because Jesus was the Son of God, of one nature with the Father, He knew what pleased God. But we are fallible human beings. How can we know what pleases Him?

God has always made it clear to His people what it takes to please Him. He is not random or arbitrary in His judgments: “To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law” (Romans 5:13). Although humankind had been sinning since creation, God was patient because He had not yet given His written law to Israel (Exodus 25:22). But even without a written law, people knew right from wrong. Romans 1:20 explains: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.”

We have a moral code written on our hearts (Romans 2:15). We know instinctively when we are doing wrong because we were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). So when we choose against that inner knowledge, we harden our hearts, sear our consciences, and eventually cannot tell good from bad (Romans 1:28). As unregenerate sinners, nothing we do pleases God. Romans 8:7–8 says, “The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.”

The only way we can please God is to submit to His authority in our lives. We start by receiving His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior and Lord (Romans 10:9–10). Only those who come to God through His Son can be forgiven and made right with Him (John 14:6). We receive salvation as a gift (Ephesians 2:8–9). It cannot be earned no matter how good we try to be. But it pleases God when we receive the gifts He offers us: forgiveness (Acts 2:38), eternal life (John 3:16–18), and a relationship with Him as our Father (Romans 8:15).

Once we’ve been born again as a child of God (John 3:3), we are pleasing to Him. We are “in Christ” and therefore seen by God as perfect, as Christ is perfect. The Lord’s righteousness was placed on our account while our sin was transferred to Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). We don’t have to work toward becoming pleasing to God. We are “accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:6, NKJV), cleansed and forgiven through faith in Jesus. Because of that great gift and the love poured out on us by our heavenly Father, we discover many more ways to please Him.

The concept of pleasing God can be compared to a marriage. A woman accepts a man’s proposal and becomes his wife because she loves him and he loves her. They are as married and in love as two people can be, yet they seek ways to continue pleasing each other. He brings her flowers, not so that they will remain married, but because he delights in pleasing her. She gives him a backrub and wears the perfume he likes, not so that he will love her but because she loves him. Likewise, once we’ve entered into a spiritual relationship with God, we want to do things that honor and delight Him.

Micah 6:8 tells us what pleases God, listing three basic actions: to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. When we live with integrity in both our public and private lives, when we show mercy to those who wrong us, and when we cling tightly to God’s Word and crave His presence, we will make choices that please God. We will never become perfect while living in this broken world, but we can aim for perfection as we model ourselves after Jesus (Romans 8:29). God was “well pleased” with His Son (Matthew 3:17), and the more we resemble Jesus, the more we will also please God.

For Further Study​

The ESV Study Bible

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[Patriot]

What does God want me to do?​

Answer

We ask the question what does God want me to do? for a variety of reasons. We may be facing a big life decision and truly want to follow God’s plan. Or we may be searching for God and believe that there are steps to follow or rules to keep in order to find Him. Or we may ask, “What does God want me to do?” because we can’t find purpose or meaning in our lives and suspect that God is keeping it from us. Whatever motivates the question, the Bible has answers when we are wondering what God wants us to do.

When asking what God wants me to do, remember that we are not human doings. We were created in God’s image as human beings to communicate and walk in harmony with Him (Genesis 1:27). Doing is the result of being. Birds sing because they are birds; they do not sing in order to become birds. They sing, fly, and feather their nests because of who they are. So what God really wants is for all our doings to emanate from our being. He has no interest in grudging actions that have no connection with our hearts (Psalm 51:16–17; 1 Samuel 15:22; Micah 6:6–8). Whatever we do for God must come from a place of overflowing love, worship, and surrender (Hosea 6:6; 12:6).

The first thing God wants us to do is to accept His offer of salvation. We are hopeless in our sin and cannot be good enough to overcome our sin and enter His presence. That’s why Jesus came into the world to take the punishment we deserve (2 Corinthians 5:21). When we put our faith in Christ’s death and resurrection, we can fulfill our purpose of knowing and glorifying God (Romans 6:1–6). God takes on the job of transforming us so that we become more like Jesus (Romans 8:29). So the first answer to the question what does God want me to do? is to receive His Son, Jesus, as Lord and begin the journey of faith.

After we are saved, what God wants us to do is “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). When God adopts us into His family (Romans 8:15), we begin a new relationship with Him that affects every aspect of our lives. Rather than making decisions to please ourselves, we make decisions that will please the Lord (1 Corinthians 10:31). Those decisions will be supported by the Bible, affirmed through godly counsel, and acted on through the power of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16, 25).

A quick checklist of things God wants us to do is found in Micah 6:8, which says, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Acting justly requires that we live with a sense of right and wrong and deal honestly and fairly with those around us. Jesus said we should not judge by appearances, “but judge with right judgment” (John 7:24). To do what God wants us to do, we must give everyone what is due them, we must live truthfully, and we must never oppress or exploit anyone. We should treat other people as fairly as we like to be treated (Matthew 7:12).

Loving mercy means we offer another chance to someone who does not deserve it. To do what God wants us to do, we must follow Jesus’ example in mercy; He was eager to show mercy toward anyone who repented (John 8:10–11; Luke 23:42–43). Like Jesus, we must forgive those who sin against us (Matthew 18:23–35). We should rejoice when someone is shown mercy, remembering how much mercy God has shown us (Luke 6:35–36).

We walk humbly with our God by seeking His blessing and approval on our life decisions. God does not become merely a part of our lives, He IS our life (Galatians 2:20). To do what God wants us to do, we grow in our faith, continuing to surrender more and more areas of our lives to His control. We daily deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Him (Luke 9:23). Only when we keep our sins confessed (1 John 1:9) and our lives free from idolatry, worldliness, and compromise (1 John 5:21) can we walk humbly with our God.

God wants us to impact our world with His message, the gospel. Jesus answered the question what does God want me to do? just before He ascended back into heaven. We call His words the Great Commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20). We make disciples by investing all that God has given us in the lives of other people so that they, too, become all they were created to be. When we focus on who we are in Christ and study the Scriptures, we will know what God wants us to do.

For Further Study​

The Owner's Manual for Christians: The Essential Guide for a God-Honoring Life by Charles Swindoll


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[Patriot]

Why should I get baptized?​

Answer

“Why should I get baptized?” is an important question for Christians to answer. From the earliest days of the Christian church, baptism has been a foundational step of faith following salvation (Acts 2:38, 41; 8:12, 38).

The act of baptism by immersion in water outwardly expresses the inward experience of change that happens in the life of every believer at salvation. It demonstrates that the old way of life has ended, and a new life of faith in Jesus Christ has begun (2 Corinthians 5:17). Baptism is important because it provides a visual testimony—a public declaration to the world—that symbolically identifies the new believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Bible supplies several reasons why baptism is an important step in the Christian life:

Baptism is an expression of saving faith. Like a stamp of validation, baptism represents our salvation experience and the magnificent work of Jesus Christ in dying for our sins and rising for our justification: “For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead” (Colossians 2:12, NLT).

Baptism is God-ordained and commanded by Jesus. As part of His Great Commission to the church, Jesus gave these instructions: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20). Baptism is an integral part of Christian discipleship and is meant to be an ongoing practice of the church.

Baptism is an act of obedience to our Savior, expressing our desire to please God. The word Christian means “Christ-follower.” Since Christ called us to baptism and set the example by being baptized Himself (Matthew 3:16), neglecting to be baptized is disobedience to the command of Christ.

Baptism unites us with Christ by identifying us with His death, burial, and resurrection: “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:3–4). When we repent of our sins and come to faith in Jesus Christ, baptism testifies of our union with Him.

Likewise, baptism represents our death to the old life of sin and our new birth into resurrection life and freedom from bondage to sin: “Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin” (Romans 6:5–7, NLT).

Baptism also identifies us with the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12–13). It is an emblem that says we now belong to Jesus Christ and His people: “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes” (Galatians 3:26–27, NLT).

Baptism gives public testimony of the Holy Spirit’s inward work of washing away our sins: “And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21, NLT; see also Acts 22:16; 1 Corinthians 6:11).

A correct understanding of baptism means comprehending that it is more than religious ritual or church tradition. The significance of baptism originates in the death of Jesus Christ, God’s own Son, who died in our place to pay for our sins, and who triumphed over death through His resurrection, securing for us new life in the Spirit and eternal life forever with God.

For Further Study​

Believer’s Baptism: Sign of the New Covenant in Christ by Schriener and Wright

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[Patriot]

 

[Patriot]

What does it mean to love like Jesus?​

Answer

A Christian wants to be as much like Jesus as he or she can be. Part of being like Jesus is loving like Jesus loved. God has a goal of conforming us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). Jesus was always obedient to the Father (John 8:29), He was pure in every way (Hebrews 4:15), and He loved people selflessly (Matthew 9:36; 14:14). He commanded His disciples to love each other the same way He had loved them (John 13:34). But that presents a problem. Jesus demonstrated His love by dying for us, saying, “There is no greater love than this” (John 15:13). Since most of us will never be called upon to die for someone, what does it mean to love like Jesus?

John 3:16 tells us what it means to love like Jesus loves: “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.” Godly love gives sacrificially. Loving like Jesus means we hold everything we own with loose hands. We are willing to part with money, time, and possessions in order to serve other people. We recognize that all we have is on loan to us from our Father in heaven and we are responsible for what we do with it (Matthew 25:14–30). We give people what they need when it is within our power to do so. When we see a brother or sister in need, and we have resources that could help, we are to share what we have with them (James 2:15; 1 John 3:16–17).

Jesus was undiscriminating in the way He loved. He warned us that it is easy to love those who are like us (Luke 6:32–33). But Jesus loved even His enemies and expects His followers to do the same (Luke 6:35). He healed, fed, and ministered to many who would later cry, “Crucify Him!” (Matthew 27:20–22). He washed the feet of Judas Iscariot, knowing that within hours Judas would betray Him (John 13:4–5). He made a point of ministering to the hated Samaritans (John 4), even making a Samaritan the hero of a parable (Luke 10:25–37). Rich and poor, young and old, religious and pagan—people flocked to hear Jesus because He loved them (Mark 10:1; Matthew 9:35–36; Luke 18:18).

To love like Jesus means we cannot be selective in how we treat people. James strongly condemns favoritism based on financial or social status: “But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors” (James 2:9). We are to treat every human being with dignity and respect, remembering that this person is a special creation, designed in the image of God (1 John 2:9–10; 4:20–21). We must work to rid our hearts of racial prejudice, socio-economic snobbery, and religious superiority. None of that belongs in the life of someone who wants to love like Jesus loves.

We must not equate love with complete acceptance of everything someone does. Jesus did not tolerate sin, deception, or false followers. He was painfully direct with the Pharisees, religious leaders, and those who claimed to love Him but loved their lives more. While still loving them, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, calling them “Hypocrites!” and “Blind fools!” (Matthew 23:13, 16). He challenged the religious leaders with the warning, “Not all who say to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven. Only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). He puzzled the half-hearted by telling them, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of heaven” (Luke 9:62).

Loving like Jesus means we care enough about the souls of others to tell them the truth. A rich young ruler came to Jesus with good intentions, but with a lack of surrender (Luke 18:18–25). He wanted what Jesus offered, but he did not want Jesus. He loved his money more, and Jesus lovingly pointed out the young man’s greed. We do not love people by watering down the gospel that could save them. Jesus never changed the truth to satisfy the “itching ears” of His listeners (see 2 Timothy 4:3). He loved them enough to warn them, challenge them, teach them, and forgive them all the way to the cross (Luke 23:34).

Forgiveness is another way we can love like Jesus. We forgive when we’ve been wronged (Matthew 6:14; Ephesians 4:32). Our selfishness wants to hang on to the wound, cherishing it, cradling it, and reliving it. But Jesus forgave and tells us to forgive as well (Mark 11:25). We cannot love someone we won’t forgive. Jesus does not hold our forgiven sins over us; rather, He pronounces us clean and restored (1 John 1:9). There may be consequences for our sin, but He loves us through them and helps us learn from them. When we forgive someone, we can love and pray for that person with a clean conscience because we have done what God commands us to do (Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32).

Jesus told His disciples that the primary way the world would know they were His was by their love for one another (John 13:35). If we love Jesus, then we will love what He loves, which is people. And as we practice loving like He loved, we become more like Him.

For Further Study​

The ESV Study Bible

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software

 

[Patriot]

What is the key to growing as a new believer?​

Answer

If you are reading this article as a new believer in Christ, welcome to the family of God! As a newborn baby must continue to grow after birth, so must new believers continue to grow in faith, in wisdom, and in holiness to become more like Jesus (2 Peter 3:18). If a baby does not grow after it is born, something is wrong. All birth results in growth. We grow at different rates and in different ways, but growth is evidence of life.

When Jesus told Nicodemus that he “must be born again” in order to see the kingdom of God (John 3:3), He was using a metaphor that we all understand. Babies don’t strain to grow every day. They grow because they are alive. When we are born of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God moves into our hearts and begins to change us from the inside out.

Growing as a new believer is not ultimately a matter of changing outward behaviors. It is a work of the Spirit on the inside. Upon our exercise of faith (Romans 10:9–10), He begins to transform our thoughts, our attitudes, our desires, and our perspective to be more like His. Growth is not brought about by a fleshly effort to clean up our act. It is the Holy Spirit’s work in us that causes us to want to pursue godliness. If no such desires exist, then it is likely that no new birth has occurred (James 2:17–18).

Another key to growing as a new believer is recognizing the importance of God’s Word in this new life of faith. Just as the regular intake of milk is critical for a baby’s growth and development, so God’s Word is critical for new believers. “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Peter 2:2, NASB).

There are many thought patterns to replace, attitudes to reform, and behaviors to alter as an ungodly sinner becomes a holy saint. Romans 12:1–2 says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Our minds are renewed as we allow God’s truth to replace the world’s lies. That continual renewal produces spiritual growth.

Another key for growing as a new believer is seeking godly fellowship. Most of the New Testament is written to churches, not individuals. The importance of Christian fellowship cannot be overstated. But fellowship involves more than simple church attendance as a spectator. Believers are the church (Ephesians 1:23; Colossians 1:18). Each member is a part of Christ’s Body on earth (Ephesians 1:22). Together we reach the lost world, minister to each other, and practice unity that prepares us for an eternity in heaven. New believers must find a church that teaches God’s Word, get involved in serving, and develop healthy relationships with other believers (Proverbs 27:17).

Practicing obedience also helps new believers grow and creates healthy behavior patterns. Before we knew Jesus, we did what we wanted to do according to our fleshly lusts and passions (1 Peter 1:14). We obeyed our flesh. Learning to crucify that flesh and live according to the Spirit is a crucial part of living as a Christian (Galatians 5:16, 25). The Bible calls this “walking by the Spirit.” Growing believers continually surrender more and more areas of their lives to the obedience of Christ and let go of their right to control things.

Another important step in growing as a new believer is guarding what we allow into our minds and hearts. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” When we surrender our lives to Christ, we become citizens of another kingdom. The closer our walk with God, the more we will feel like “strangers and pilgrims” here on earth (1 Peter 2:11, KJV). Our appetites begin to change; we evaluate our entertainment choices, our friendships, our habits, and our thought lives, asking, “Does this lift my heart up in praise to God or pull me down into worldliness?” In growing as a new believer, we saturate our lives with worship, praise, prayer, Scripture, godly relationships, purity, and wholesome entertainment (see Philippians 4:8).

Growing as believers in Christ is a lifelong process. We never reach the place where we can say, “I have arrived. I no longer need to grow.” Even the apostle Paul did not consider himself to have “arrived” (Philippians 3:12). Growing in wisdom and maturity keeps us working in harmony with God’s plan for our lives. And we learn that, the more we know of God, the more there is to know.

For Further Study​

The New Christian’s Handbook: Everything Believers Need to Know by Max Anders

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[Patriot]

What is the meaning of living for Jesus?​

Answer

We all live for something. Parents may live for their children. Spouses may live for each other, and business owners may live for success. We say that we are “living for” something when that is the motivation for all we do. Living for Jesus means that pleasing Him is our highest aim (Colossians 1:10). Although we have dozens of lesser motivators, those filled with the Spirit of Christ are motivated primarily by His goals and His plans for their lives. When those plans collide with lesser goals, those who are living for Jesus follow His way and not their own (Proverbs 3:5–6).

The phrase living for Jesus can sound ethereal and idealistic. But Jesus warned that living for Him would be costly (Luke 14:26–33). The first disciples were willing to pay that price. They suffered tremendous persecution and even death in order to glorify God (Acts 5:41). Stephen was stoned (Acts 7:58–60), James was beheaded (Acts 12:2), and history records that all the apostles but John were also martyred. Even today, Christians around the world are beaten, robbed, tortured, and imprisoned simply because they live for Jesus.

Here is some of what living for Jesus means:

1. Living for Jesus means we have died to sin. Romans 6 is a beautiful description of a Christian who chooses daily to consider himself dead to sin and alive to Christ (verses 6–8). Being dead to sin means we no longer consider sinning against God a viable option. The decision was made when we bowed at the cross and were born again by grace through faith. Though we will still stumble at times, sin no longer masters us. Just as a corpse does not lust, covet, or gossip, those who are dead to sin do not heed temptation (Galatians 2:20).

2. Living for Jesus means we have only one God. This is the first commandment (Exodus 20:3), yet people can and do make gods out of anything. John Calvin rightly stated, “The human heart is an idol factory.” We recognize our false gods by asking ourselves a question: What is it that I am unwilling to lay on the altar? Whatever we refuse to give to God becomes our god. Living for Jesus means we continually search our hearts for idols that steal our time and affection away from total devotion to Him (2 Corinthians 11:3).

3. Living for Jesus means we diligently study His Word. Second Timothy 2:15 says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” Correctly handling God’s Word is vital for one who wants to avoid deception and live as salt and light in this world (Matthew 5:13–16). Unless we know the heart of God, we will violate His standards and lead others to do the same. We discover His heart when we pursue the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27, NKJV) and apply it regularly to our lives.

4. Living for Jesus means we use our gifts to serve God and others. We strive to live as Jesus lived. We study Him in the Scriptures and pattern our lives after His (1 Corinthians 11:1). He was kind, so we imitate His kindness. He gave unselfishly, so we set aside our preferences and devote our time, resources, and energy to His purposes (1 Corinthians 10:31). People who live for Jesus discover their spiritual gifts and utilize them to impact their world (1 Corinthians 12:7–11). Living for Jesus means we find our greatest fulfillment in serving Him. Pleasing Him is our reward (2 Corinthians 5:9).

5. Living for Jesus means we know where our real treasure is. People who live for Jesus are not as concerned about earthly treasures as is the rest of the world. While we are free to enjoy all God’s blessings in this life, Jesus made it clear that we are not to put our whole focus on them (Matthew 6:19–20). People who are living for Jesus focus on eternity and dedicate themselves to endeavors that have eternal significance. Worldly entanglements are temporary and seem like wasted time and effort. Our passion and energy are directed toward investing in the lives of others who will join us in heaven one day (Luke 10:2–3).

Becoming a Christian means we are choosing to live for Jesus instead of living for ourselves. He made His requirements clear: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23, ESV). Carrying a cross means we are dying to our right to be our own boss. We cannot have two masters; Jesus will not share His throne (Luke 14:26–27; Galatians 1:10; Matthew 6:24). We either live for Jesus or for something or someone else. As we live for Jesus, He empowers us to live the godly lives we were created to live (1 Peter 1:16; Hebrews 12:14).

For Further Study​

The Quest Study Bible

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software

 

[Patriot]

Why do we still sin after salvation?​

Answer

Salvation begins the moment we receive, by faith, God’s offer of forgiveness through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus (Ephesians 2:8–9; John 1:12). Jesus called it being “born again” (John 3:3). In repenting and giving up our old life, we receive the new life Jesus purchased for us with His blood (2 Corinthians 5:17, 21). We are washed clean, and God chooses to remember our sins no more (Psalm 103:12). But we soon notice that our propensity to sin is still part of us. How can that be, since we are new creatures in Christ? We still sin because we, though forgiven, are still fallen human beings.

Salvation breaks the power that sin once had over us. We were slaves to sin and served it willingly (Romans 6:20–23, 7:14–15). While slaves to sin, it was impossible to please God (Romans 8:8). Regardless of how often we turned over a new leaf, straightened up, went to church, or performed righteous deeds, our souls were still enslaved to unrighteousness and we stood as condemned before God.

Upon surrender of our lives to the lordship of Jesus, we became God’s sons and daughters (Ephesians 1:5; Romans 8:15). But just as children sometimes disobey their parents as they grow, God’s children sometimes disobey Him. We rebel, get angry, or doubt for a while; the difference is, we can no longer live lifestyles of sin because our nature has changed (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 3:4–10). A fish may long to live on the beach, but once it has flipped itself onto the sand, it wants nothing but to return to the water because its nature is not designed for dry land. A fish was created for the water. So it is with us. The nature of those indwelt by the Holy Spirit is to live in righteousness. We may flip ourselves into sin at times, but we can’t survive there. The new nature thrives in righteousness and obedience to God. The degree to which we allow the Holy Spirit access to every area of our lives is the degree to which we live as God intended us to live.

Good parents don’t let their toddler play on the highway. They may start with a stern warning, but if the child persists in heading toward the road, good parents come after him, and the discipline will be memorable and effective. So it is when we, as God’s children, stiffen our necks and charge toward evil. Our Father comes after us. God does not allow us to get away with sin because He is a good Father. Hebrews 12:5–11 says that God’s discipline in our lives is one way we can tell that we belong to Jesus.

To the praise of God’s glory, after we are saved, God deals with our sin differently than He did before we were saved. First John 1:9 tells us that we can confess our sin and be forgiven. Confession means we humbly agree with God about how bad sin is. We admit we were wrong and ask His forgiveness. The awareness of our sin and the confession of it should be a regular practice. The first of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses says, “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said ‘Repent,’ he intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance.” God can pardon us and maintain His justice because our sin was already paid for by Jesus. There is no need to punish us because He has already punished His Son (Colossians 2:14).

As we “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18), we overcome besetting sins (Hebrews 12:1). Peter lists steps we can take in developing our new nature and ends with the promise that, if we do these things, we “will never stumble” (2 Peter 1:3–10). Our holiness is the goal, but John acknowledges that we still sin: “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (1 John 2:1).

God’s desire for us is that we not sin, and one day our sanctification will be complete (1 John 3:2). But, until that time, we still inhabit fallen bodies in a fallen world, and we struggle with the flesh and sometimes lose the battle. But we will not be lost; Jesus Himself intercedes for us as our High Priest (Romans 8:34).

For Further Study​

The Owner's Manual for Christians: The Essential Guide for a God-Honoring Life by Charles Swindoll

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[Patriot]

How should I decide how much to tithe?​

Answer

The apostle Paul frequently taught the early church about giving. Jesus taught His disciples to give, as well. But neither Paul nor Jesus nor any other passage in the New Testament compels believers to tithe. Tithing is an Old Testament requirement for Israel to provide the Lord with one tenth of one’s income (the word tithe means “tenth”). The New Testament, while not demanding a tenth, does present several principles to help us decide how much to give to the Lord.

The first New Testament principle of giving is to give regularly, on a weekly or monthly basis, as Paul instructed the churches in Corinth and Galatia to do (1 Corinthians 16:1–2). We are to give as a regular part of our corporate worship. Practically speaking, it’s easier to give small amounts more frequently than large sums all at once. Likewise, the church has ongoing needs and financial obligations that require steady weekly support.

The second New Testament principle is to give in proportion to our income. Paul taught to give in keeping with how much we have prospered and according to our means or ability (1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 8:2–3). If we have prospered significantly, we ought to give a more substantial amount. And if we have prospered only a little, a smaller gift is entirely acceptable.

Next, the New Testament teaches believers to give generously, and even at times sacrificially, but not to the point of personal deprivation (Acts 20:35; 2 Corinthians 8:2–3, 8; Romans 12:1; Philippians 4:17–18). Believers are instructed to give deliberately to meet genuine needs, with a joyful heart, and not out of guilt or compulsion merely to appease an urgent request (2 Corinthians 8:4; 9:7; Philippians 4:16). In other words, our giving ought to spring from our own free choice. When we see a fellow believer in need, particularly a minister of the gospel, we should try to meet that need if we are able (1 Corinthians 9:14; 2 Corinthians 8:12–14; Galatians 6:6).

According to Scripture, our greatest motivation for giving ought to be our love for others. Just as Jesus Christ died for the sins of others, we ought to give of ourselves for others (2 Corinthians 8:8–9). Another reason to give is that God promises to reward and bless us when we do (2 Corinthians 9:6; Luke 6:38). “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

These New Testament principles of giving are centered on one key factor: the believer’s relationship with God. Deciding how much to give to the Lord ought to be a matter of prayer. As we seek to know God’s heart through a consistent relationship with Him, we will discover the Lord’s will concerning how much to give. It may be the conventional tithe, or it may be some other amount.

Believers are to be willing to offer to the Lord whatever He may ask, whether it be 1 percent, 5 percent, 10 percent, or 100 percent. Through our giving, the Lord matures our faith and grows our dependence on Him. It has been said that financial giving is not God’s way of raising money but of developing character in His children.

As we recognize all that Jesus Christ has done for us, we will want to offer ourselves humbly and wholly to God as living sacrifices of worship to Him. Our giving will flow freely from hearts filled with gratitude and indebtedness, knowing that everything we have and everything we give already belongs to God. We own nothing. While the tithe may be an Old Testament concept, the New Testament requirement is radical and total obedience to the Lord, who guides every aspect of our lives, including our giving.

For Further Study​

Perspectives on Tithing: 4 Views by David A. Croteau

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[Patriot]

How can I gain an eternal perspective on life?​

Answer

Living with eternity in mind is the wisest way to live. An eternal perspective keeps us from chasing empty dreams and material gratification. It keeps us from wasting our years pursuing temporal things that we can’t take with us when we die. We gain an eternal perspective when we think of our lives as a 1000-foot rope with a black tip on one end: the rope symbolizes our existence; the black tip is our life on earth. We tend to focus all our passion and energy on the black tip while giving little thought to the rest of the rope.

There are several ways to develop and maintain an eternal perspective on life:

1. Make certain you have been born again (John 3:3). Eternity awaits all of us, but the only way to ensure that we spend eternity in heaven with God is to be born again. That new birth results in a renewed spirit and a new desire to please God. When we accept by faith the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on our behalf, the Holy Spirit moves into our spirits and births us into God’s forever family (Romans 8:15–17). It’s at that point that we begin to gain an eternal perspective.

2. Be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31; Ephesians 5:18). We receive the Holy Spirit as a gift the moment we are saved (Acts 2:38), and He continues to work in our lives. However, the degree to which we submit ourselves to His transforming work is the degree to which we can live with an eternal perspective. When we are “filled” with the Spirit, we are totally yielded to Him. He has control of us. Galatians 5:16 says that, if we walk by the Spirit, we will not gratify the lusts of our flesh. Sinful self-gratification, focused on the things of this world, cannot coexist with an eternal perspective. The solution for self-centeredness is to surrender to the Holy Spirit (Galatians 2:20).

3. Store up treasure in heaven. Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19–21). The treasures we store for eternity are the things done for Christ on earth. Even offering a cup of cold water to a servant of the Lord is cause for reward (Matthew 10:42). An eternal perspective is one that has shifted from earthly concerns to heavenly ones and invests time, energy, and resources in God’s kingdom.

4. Spend time with God and His Word (Psalm 119:11). We would not expect our cars to go a thousand miles on a single tank of gas. Yet, we think a quick prayer or a tweeted Bible verse is sufficient to sustain an eternal perspective for weeks or months. We need continual refilling of truth. Romans 12:1–2 calls it the “renewing” of the mind. Spending time in the presence of God invites Him to reveal areas of our lives that are not surrendered to Him. We acknowledge and confess those and then replace the lies we’ve believed with truths from His Word. This continual “washing” of the Word (Ephesians 5:26) keeps our priorities in agreement with God’s and helps maintain an eternal perspective.

5. Stay conscious of the fact that this world is not all there is. It is easy to lose ourselves in daily cares and desires. But those who live with an eternal perspective are equally aware that every day counts down toward our final journey. Second Corinthians 4:17–18 says, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” We must intentionally redirect our thoughts toward that which is eternal, judging the value of decisions based on their eternal significance. Colossians 3:1–3 says, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

God has commanded that we live with an eternal perspective. If holding an eternal perspective came naturally, He would not need to command it. So we choose to continually set our minds on things above. As we develop a habit of setting our minds on eternal things, we begin to handle things differently from those with earth-bound perspectives. As the eternal mindset becomes part of us, other people notice and one day may ask, “How can I, too, gain an eternal perspective on life?”

For Further Study​

Who Am I?: Identity in Christ by Jerry Bridges

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[Patriot]

What does it mean to be blessed?​

Answer

Quite possibly, the most frequently used word in the Christian’s vocabulary is blessed. “Have a blessed day,” “blessed to be a blessing,” and “God bless you” are just a few of the ways we put it to use. It’s even common among unbelievers to describe themselves as “blessed.” Some people think of blessed as a spiritual term for “good fortune,” like when we receive something good, the desired outcome, or an exceptional comfort. But what does it really mean to be blessed?

The Greek word often translated as “blessed” is makarios, which means “fortunate,” “happy,” “enlarged,” or “lengthy.” Makarios is used in the Septuagint (a translation of the Old Testament into the Greek language) and the New Testament to define the kind of happiness that comes from receiving favor from God. Consequently, the word can also be translated “favored.” In the New Testament, it usually carries the meaning of being “blessed by God.” Mary, the mother of Jesus, was “blessed among women” (Luke 1:42–45, 48), it was the Lord God who had blessed and favored her.

While material blessings are certainly included in God’s favor, the Bible ascribes a much fuller meaning to the word blessed.

Perhaps the most well-known use of the word blessed in the Bible is found in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3–12; Luke 6:20–23). Jesus used the term blessed in the framework of the Beatitudes to describe the inner quality of a faithful servant of God. This blessedness is a spiritual state of well-being and prosperity—a deep, joy-filled contentment that cannot be shaken by poverty, grief, famine, persecution, war, or any other trial or tragedy we face in life. In human terms, the situations depicted in the Beatitudes are far from blessings, but because God is present with us through these difficult times, we are actually blessed by Him in them.

The true servant of God is blessed, regardless of circumstances, because God has favored him or her with a fully satisfied soul (Psalm 63:1–5; John 4:14). The material things we crave can never bring genuine happiness or contentment. True fulfillment can only be found in a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1–2).

From the time God first created humans, He blessed them (Genesis 1:22; 5:2; 12:3) and has continued to do so throughout history (Genesis 26:3; Deuteronomy 7:13; Job 42:12; Judges 13:24). Because of Christ’s work of redemption on the cross, we can now receive the full blessings of God through faith in Him: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). We are blessed because our sins are forgiven and can no longer be counted against us (Psalm 32:1–2).

The Bible measures blessedness differently from how people of the world measure it: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12). To those who rest in God, He grants an inner state of joy that is unaffected by external trials. What is this promised “crown of life?” It is the never-ending, victorious life in the world to come, where all trials will be ended. The marvelous blessings we experience now are minor compared to the benefits God has stored up for us in His eternal kingdom (1 Corinthians 2:9).

The one who is blessed trusts in God’s love, no matter what: “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? . . . No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35–39, NLT).

Blessed speaks of our inner state of well-being, the prosperity of our souls in Christ. Blessedness comes from unhindered fellowship with God the Father through our Lord Jesus. To be blessed is to experience the full impact of God’s presence in our lives now and for all eternity.

For Further Study​

Too Blessed to Be Stressed: 3-Minute Devotions for Women by Debora Coty

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