Living as a Christian, how the Bible teaches us to live

Luke 2:25-27 [25; Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

26; And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

27; And he came in the Spirit into the temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the Law.]

It is clear from Luke 2:25-27 that the Holy Spirit rests and works mightily on people but not any kind of people. The Bible says in Luke 2:25, that Simeon was righteous and devout and the Spirit of God was on him.

1 Timothy 4:1 [Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,]

A rare belief has sprung up and some have clung to it so strongly thinking that it is the right way meanwhile God is teaching His will through His Word. This notion they say is that since Jesus Christ has died for our sins, no work is required on the side of the believer for God to be glorified.

    1 Peter 2:24 [He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.]

Christ has saved the world through his death which brings us back to God and in the presence of God is His glory. If a person claims to be saved or a Christian and yet is found condemnable in any kind when the Word of God says there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ then the glory of God isn't present in such a person. God is holy.

What does the holiness of God mean?

1 Peter 1:16 [Since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."]

Matthew 5:48 ["You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.]

So, perfection in everything is part of God's holiness. He is just in all things.

1 Peter 2:22 [He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.]

What is deceit and what is sin?

If Jesus Christ who is fully God and fully man came to this world in the flesh as we do but lived without deceit in his mouth, then continue living the way you think is right and not as he did.

Proverbs 16:25 [There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.] Every one is made by God and only Him has the right way He wants us to live not the way a person thinks on his own is right.

Proverbs 3:5 [Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.]

Taking a decision on your own is very dangerous when you claim you are for Christ because it caused the lives of Nadab and Abihu when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD. Leviticus 10

Jesus Christ taught the people that before they can follow him, they needed to deny themselves and no one can please God without His help because the strength to do so belongs to him.

Indeed, there is a distinction between a self-centred life and Christ-centred life. Roman 12:2 [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.]

Luke 3:8 ["Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father'. For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.]

Moreover, it is expedient for everyone who believes in Jesus especially to keep with repentance and salvation in Christ Jesus to bear good fruits. Before Abraham was said to be the father of faith we can clearly recall the account of the Bible about his God-fearing nature and his obedience to God. "For I tell you God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham"

In fact, be very convinced that following Christ in order to become Christ-like is not only a matter of confession but it also entails walking with him, in him, and for him.

1 Thessalonians 4:7 [For God has not called us for impurity but in holiness.] If we claim to be God's and still harbor worldliness, then who are we deceiving?

2 Corinthians 5:17 [Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.]