LIFESTYLE AND CHRISTIANITY

 

Rev. Kayode Afolabi. He is the shepherds of Seed Sower Int'l. He share this on our click this WhatsApp group platform 

The Topic Before Us is: LIFESTYLE AND CHRISTIANIT

The word "christian" which is the root word from which Christianity is derived is mentioned three times in the bible - 1Pet 4:26, Acts 26:28 and Acts 11:25-26.

Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch (Acts 11:25-26).

Please note, " disciples were called Christians...

They did not call themselves so.

Some people saw them, observed them and concluded "these were Christian's"

The above event happened

44–46 AD.. Before now,  I mean from the day of Pentecost believers were never called Christians.

Disciples were called Christians because of the way they were  perceived in relation to the lifestyle of Christ.

Now, let's define lifestyle.

Simply put, lifestyle is the way a person lives.

A Christian is a follower of Christ.

Our concern in this teaching is a Christian lifestyle. Lifestyle as it is related to Christianity.

What is a Christian lifestyle?

What is the way a christian should live?

What is the life we live in Christ as believers?

There is a general lifestyle that is morrally acceptable by society but the life style of a Christian is super higher than this:

Luke 6:32-35  "For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil".

This is a clear difference between a societal life style and Christian lifestyle.

Christian LIFESTYLE.

(1.) A lifestyle of faith:Romans 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Galatians 3:11  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

(2.) Lifestyle of the Spirit. Galatians 5:16, 18, 25  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

There is living in the spirit. There is walking in the spirit. Those who are born again are alive in the spirit. That is, living in the spirit.

This is automatic for all who are born again. But walk-in the spirit is a deliberate, conscious relational intetraction with the Holy Spirit. Allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and direct our words, actions and conduct. The reason we commit errors, fall and make mistake is because many of us are not conscious of the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We must consciously allow Him to lead and direct us. There are things we must do daily that will help us to achieve this. 

(3.) A lifestyle of Love: Matthew 22:37-40  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Morals, good habits, right attitude etc are all products of the aforementioned. A lifestyle of faith, of the Spirit and of love. Obeying God's commandments must be done in the spirit.