Statement of Faith
Christian Living
“Christians are called to holiness in thought, word, and deed and to express faith in Christ through devotion to God and godly interaction with others. As a result—not a cause—of redemption, believers should 1) Develop relationship with God through Bible reading and study, prayer, fasting, worship, and obedience; 2: relieve the physical and spiritual needs of humanity by compassionate social action and gospel witness; 3) oppose pride, envy, indolence, lust, covetousness, and other evils in the spirit; 4) refuse immoral amusements and practices such as pornography, sexual immorality, and homosexuality in the flesh; and 5) observe these Bible principles: give tithe and freewill offerings for the support of the church and its gospel ministry; eat for food only those meats the Bible describes as “clean”; regard participation in physical warfare as contrary to a Christian’s humanitarian calling; avoid intermixing Christianity with extra-biblical practices, as in the common observances of Sunday, Christmas, Easter, Lent, and Halloween.” Church of God (Seventh Day) Statement of Faith.
How do we follow the five points of “Christian Living” listed above? We must understand and know deep in our hearts that Christian “living” is all about Christian “giving”. God is love and love is simply unselfish outgoing concern for others. To be true and faithful to God and to live a life of “Christian Living” we must be full of love- “unselfish outgoing concern” for the welfare of others. It is about how we treat people, act around people, care for people. It is the “Royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself, ye do well” (James 2:8 [KJV]). As Christians we are called to be a “Royal Priesthood” (I Pet. 2:9-10) we should act like it! Fellowship with other Christians is another key to Christian living (Heb. 10:25).
What should we be doing? Keep the law (Matt. 19:17-22; John 14:15; 15:10), love one another to point of laying down our lives even for our neighbor (John 15:12-14, 17). We must have faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is Charity (LOVE) (I Cor. 13 all, emphasis on verse 13). To show true Christian Living we must visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27 Pure Religion and undefiled before God). The four points of Christian Living are to honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king (I Pet. 2:17). Love and hospitality (I Pet. 4:7-10).
Romans 12 is the chapter of “Spiritual Principles”. Our Christianity is outlined in this chapter and Paul makes the following points about Christian Living in Romans 12. We need to be a “living sacrifice”, not to conform to this world, humility, showing mercy, be cheerful, love, work hard in business, sharing, do not seek vengeance (vengeance is God’s prerogative, see verse 9), feed our enemies and overcome evil with good.
To be living the life of a Christian we must be kind to others- showing love to all people. Jesus summed up Christian Living when he said, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if you have love one to another” (John 13:34-35). Jesus, God in the flesh told us so! This is how we live the five points listed above, 1) a relationship with God, 2) compassionate social action and gospel witness, 3) opposing pride, envy, sin, 4) refuse to participate in immoral activities and 5) observe Bible principles of living such as tithing, eating clean foods, avoiding warfare and not mixing extra biblical holidays with God’s pure religion. We live Christianity by the Royal law of Love, unselfish outgoing concern for our fellow man, this “Royal Law” of love is what Christian Living truly is.
Warning: Be careful not to be righteous over much. Self-righteousness is simply pride and pride is a deadly sin (Eccl. 7:16). Being overly righteous in our own minds, lifted up with pride and envy, will poison all of the above.
COSCOG7 Mike Wallace Staff Christian Living
