Live a Good Christian Life

This article talks about the general idea of living a good Christian life. You will read about ways that you can grow closer to God, spread the faith, and some basic morals and ethics that God wants us to live by.

Steps

  1. Follow Jesus' example at all times . Follow Jesus' (the Son of God) greatest commandments: "Love the Lord your God with your whole heart, mind, body and soul" and "Love your neighbor as yourself." Even if someone treats you wrongly or whether you know them or not, we are called to love them. Jesus said "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Jesus says in John 13:15, "I have given you an example, that as I have done, so should you do." He had compassion on people and healed them In I Corinthians 11:1, Paul says, "Imitate me as I imitate Christ." Ephesians 5:1 says, "Be imitators of God as dear children." Also many Believers are "empty, swept and garnished" (Matthew 12:44) by lukewarm Christian Doctrines. If you just go to church, you will be a weak Christian and trials will make havoc of your life. But if you go to church AND read the Word every night, you will become a strong Christian. Most Christians do not read the Bible every day, so if all you do is go to Church, you will be a weak Christian. A few Christian growing passages are Proverbs 8:17-21. Psalms 1:1-3. John 14:21-27. James 1:2-8. I Thessalonians 5:16-18. II Timothy 1:6-7, Hebrews 8:6,10. Ephesians 6:10-18. Proverbs 4:20-23.
  2. Acknowledge that you have faults (sins) and then repent -- change your attitude and pray. Realize that conversion is not simply one act but the beginning of a life-long commitment. Persistence and perseverance are continuing attitudes for engaging life with. Don't be hard on yourself if and when you fail, but admit it; pick yourself up; trust in God and move forward.
  3. READ and DO what the Bible says. James 1:22 - Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." Matthew 4:4 - Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" The bible also says that "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable [for something] for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;" - 2 Timothy 3:16.
  4. Allow God to change you: As a follower of Jesus, you cannot change yourself, only God can through his Son. Ezekiel 36:26-27 - "I will give you a new heart and put a new Spirit in you ; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." Ephesians 4:24 says "and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness". A true Christian, when converted, will immediately notice an unavoidable change in sensitivity to his daily routine. They will begin to question their taste in movies, music, clothing, even choice in friends! The Bible says "Therefore, rid yourselves of everything impure and every expression of wickedness, and with a gentle spirit welcome the word planted in you that can save your souls."(James 1:21)
  5. Understand that Defend the Validity of the Unique Character of the Christian Faith for your beliefs. Do not allow others' attacks to weaken your faith. Have courage in your convictions and do well but don't judge others. 2 Timothy 3:12 - "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,"
  6. Set aside time for effective and meaningful prayer. Make intercession for people who do not pray enough for their own development, i.e.: children, cousins, friends, enemies and family, etc. In Ephesians 1:16 Paul prays for a "Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation" I recommend that you say the prayer in Ephesians 1:16-23 for yourself everyday for one year and God will open up your spirit and develop your understanding.
  7. Try to see the perspectives (point of view) of others, even if you personally disagree with them. Of course, an answered prayer for peace for your enemies and that they would become blessed as children of God would help both you and them.
  8. Be patient with people who do not make you happy or even upset you. Work on trying to forgive those who may have hurt you. You must learn to love your enemies. God loves everyone, and we need to, also. Say farewell to selective loving. If you have a hard time loving your enemies, pray to God to provide understanding through his Holy Spirit.
  9. Work and pray for others to the best of your abilities. Care for people who are in need If they are sick or in pain pray for them and when they ask for help. James 2:16 "If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?" This is one of the things Jesus talked about in His teachings. Giving does not always having to be financial, it can be in the form of perishables or clothing.
  10. Treat others kindly as you would like to be treated. Even simple acts of kindness like holding a door open for someone are good deeds that can help you feel less paranoid--because then you feel that others should think well of you and of your testimony in Christ.
  11. Strive to live a quiet life. 1Thesolonians 4:11 - "and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you," Pride can imply that you are judging others falsely and is said to be the mother of all sins, because pride resides in each one of us. The source of all sin is ones' own selfishness (greed, lust, hate for others, murder, theft, etc.).
  12. Openly share the good news! Remember, living the Christian life through your actions will show others that God must be working in your life. Always stick up for your beliefs such as being conservative in good morals and liberal in giving your own goods--not being a Robin Hood or "welfare-monger" (profiting off poverty) or welfare-cheat, but planting seeds in others towards Christ by grace through faith, which always results in good deeds (which are a RESULT of salvation and NEVER a means to salvation).
  13. Make special efforts to fellowship with other believers. It is a wonderful thing that God wants Christians to unite in church and Bible study evenings--so do not think of others as hypocrites or hold yourself out as an example. Give the credit for any good that you may do to God and to God's blessing. You will find it a blessing to talk with Bible study members about the Christian life: but not sensationalism like argumentative opinions... This may be called being accountable--being open to share your views or any misgivings and weaknesses.
  14. Practice what you preach...
    Jesus gives us a very good example in Matthew 7:3-5 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
  15. Help people. Volunteering is a great place to start for a Christian who is sure or unsure of what God wants them to do. For example, you could take a shift at a soup kitchen near you, or visit people staying in a nursing home.



Tips

  • Read the Bible as many times as it takes for you to understand it.
  • All you have to do is trust God and Jesus.
  • Trust in him with all your heart and you will see miracles happen.
  • Remember the heart of your faith should be love, not an obligation to check off these boxes but to live as Jesus--easier said than done--but as long as you are aspiring to be like him, you're on the right track. God will always be there to help you through it, one step at a time.
  • Forgive yourself and others.
  • Take it 1 step at a time move forward don't look back.
  • If you aren't a Christian, but you want to be, accept Jesus into your heart then find a local church and learn the gospel. Follow it; there is no in-between, (worldly) Christianity. You are either with Jesus or against him. As Christ said, you can't wear the world's hat and God's hat at the same time. You can't drink out of the cup of the lord and drink out of the cup of demons at the same time.
  • Ask people for help. Everybody learns something new every day.
  • Do not ever be discouraged. Always look forward and never backwards. Remember God loves you and will forgive you no matter what. So if you make a mistake don't think that God doesn't love you anymore. Just remember that God loves you with no boundaries or limits to his love!
  • Love other people and remember that being a christian is more than following rules; It's about loving people through your love for God.
  • Remember to pray for the needs of others then yourself.
  • Remember that being a Christian is a lifelong journey toward benefiting others in Christ. Don't expect to be free from sin and error overnight and do not judge yourself or others harshly. Maintain good morals and good habits that glorify God in your body in everyday life--not to brag or boast, but to glorify God.
  • Remember, though, don't be mistaken that this means you only have forgiveness if you do it through someone else... No! God knows your heart, and as long as you ask forgiveness for real, you're forgiven. God's always there for you!
  • Be humble, see the good in people, and share God's love and your knowledge of him. Don't pretend to be better than others.
  • Even if you have problems, or bad stuff happening, don't give up! Christ will help you!
  • Get a Bible and start reading.
  • There is one advocate like a lawyer as your representative before the judge: 'There is one God. There is also one mediator between God and human beings--a human, the Messiah--Jesus Christ.
  • Attend church and a weekly Christian church/school to help learn more about the Christian life and what it means to practice your faith.

Warnings

  • Prayer is powerful; do not underestimate it.
  • Peter reminds us to share the reason for our hope, but with "gentleness and respect". Do not be rude or violent in spreading the faith.
  • Do not bury your talents or exclude your goods from others--share as much as possible--give to those with less than yourself and serve as a guide giving aide to the less fortunate instead of judging them as lazy or as sinners because of their ill-fortune and poverty. Usually poverty is not a punishment from God, for example an extreme drought or terrible storms may bring starvation, disease and famine and they fall upon all in a state or nation even upon the good and the wise.
  • You can change a lot through prayer, but do not abuse it. God answers all prayers,[1] and He will say "No," to any prayers that are unjust or hurtful. Pray that His will be done in you, because He wants the best for all of us, and He changes all bad things in our life to be good, if we'll trust in Him to do so.
  • You can know a Christian by his fruits, but that is a positive statement. Remember that only God can save and has already saved. There is one judge of all; love others as you love yourself.
  • Jesus said "Whatever you do to the least of my children--you do to me! Your good or bad deeds are to me." That also means since you are one of Gods very own that if you suffer ridicule and abuse because of insisting on truth, honesty, loving their enemies and other good works, etc. then they are hating Him and doing that to God and not just to you...
  • Never forget what the definition of "Christian" means... it means "Christ-Like". 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we Christians have no veil over our faces; we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him.
  • In Bible reading there are some parts in the Old Testament that are Israel's genealogy, history or legal system which seem archaic (and uninteresting). The Old Testament books like Isiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Samuel and several others are especially interesting because of prophecies (predicting the future) and stories of miracles. The books of the entire New Testament are very readable.
  • Forgive and don't bring it up again--although you can not change past events--but you can change your views and activities about the past and so (pray thankfully and really forgive). God forgives all manner of sin when we repent sincerely: be like God!
  • When you are confused as to how to live a Christian life, just ask yourself one question "What would Jesus want me to do?" If you are still unsure than pray to God for help then reference scripture. "If any of you needs wisdom to know what you should do, you should ask God, and He will give it to you. God is generous to everyone and doesn't find fault with them."(James 1:5)
  • Every aspect of a Christian's life should be backed with scripture.
  • Remember that God loves everybody, and we should too.
  • Never lose faith in God.(There will be times this happens in life, we are not perfect and not called to be)
  • Realize that ones ill-health or illnesses like some cancers, sugar diabetes, drunkenness, drug use, extreme obesity, other physical and emotional suffering are often related to personal choices that Jesus knew were conducive to health, good morals and character. However by His grace and mercy He healed them anyway and and He wants us to follow His example

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Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ "www.ourGodanswers.com Examples of God answering prayers."
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