AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN LIVING

By Wayne McKay

The source for our standard of conduct is God, not the world. Reject the world's way of living in order to do God's will. “This is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication.” (I Thessalonians 4:3).

Our theme for the quarter is “Living Expectantly.” This lesson puts the emphasis on the “living” part. Living expectantly is living an authentic Christian life.

Peter addressed the subject with the question, “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godli- ness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God” (2 Peter 3:11-12).

How should we live as we anxiously anticipate the Lord's return? What is authentic Christian living? Paul continues this letter with some practical exhortation that answers these questions.

IT IS TO LIVE PLEASING TO GOD

I Thessalonians 4:1-2

Paul felt it was extremely important that the believer walks to please God. It is not unusual for the Bible to refer to one's life as a walk. “Enoch walked with God” (Genesis 6:9) “Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:9). Moses commanded Israel to “walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you” (Deuteronomy 5:33). David de- clared, “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord” (Psalm 119:1).

That walk, that life, is to be lived so as to be pleasing to God. In truth, to walk with god is to please God.

IT IS TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE

I Thessalonians 4:3-8

Paul makes it clear that one important aspect of a walk pleasing to God is a holy life. This is another familiar theme in the Bible. “I am the Lord  your God: ye shall be holy; for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44). “As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversa- tion; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (I Peter 1:15-16).

IT IS TO LIVE A LIFE OF LOVE

I Thessalonians 4:9-10

Paul's admonition to love is not new. Jesus told His disciples, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another: as I have loved you, that ye also love one another”   (John 13:34). Then Jesus told them that such love was the identifying mark of a believer. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (I Thessalonians 4:8).

Paul also said that we should increase more and more in our love for the brethren. If you do not love the brethren, yours is not authentic Christian living.

IT IS TO LIVE A QUIET LIFE

I Thessalonians 4:11

Authentic Christian living includes quietly taking care of one's own business. If one is diligent in conducting his own affairs, working with his own hands, he will not have so much time to interfere in another's business.

Paul admonished his readers to “study to be quiet.” That means they were to be diligent in the attempt, to go all out to be quiet and mind their own business. Doing this enables one to heed Paul's admonition to the Romans, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18).

IT IS TO LIVE AN HONEST LIFE

I Thessalonians 4:12

Finally, authentic Christian live includes honesty. The assumption is that a Christian will be honest with other Christians. Here Paul commands that we also be honest with those who are not Christians. He commanded the Romans to, “Provide things honest in the sight of all men” (Romans 12:17). Also, “Let us walk honestly, as in the day” (Rom. 13:13).

We must realize that what is at stake here are the souls of men. Though we cannot save anyone, we are accountable to the Lord as to how we live before the lost. One act of dishonesty can totally destroy our testimony, along with any chance of reaching them.

These points show God's standard of conduct. Are you meeting that standard? Are you living an authentic Christian life?   -- From Baptist Progress