New Year...New Beginnings...New Life in Christ

Characteristics of the New Life in Christ
(Matt.4:17; Jn. 3:1-16 ; Rom. 6; 2 Cor.5:17; Eph. 4:17ff.; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Pet. 1:13-17; 1 Jn.2:15-17)

· Christ-centered vs. self/man-centered (Gal.2:20; Phil.1:21; 3:4b-11; Col.1:10, 15-18ff.)

· Spirit-empowered vs. ‘flesh’-dominated (Gal. 5:16ff.; Rom.8)

· Gospel-driven (grace) vs. performance-driven (works) (Gal.2:20-21)

· Word-obeying vs. worldly wisdom following (Deut. 8:3 à Matt.4:4; 28:18-20; 2 Tim.3:16ff; Jas. 3:13-18 ; 1 Cor.1:18-2:6; 1 Jn.2:3-6) I simply don’t know what to make of professed Christianity that seems indifferent as to whether or not it’s truly Scriptural. Because it’s in the Word that we hear His Voice. And it’s in the Bible that we have authentic Christianity (worship, experience, fellowship, witness, etc.) described in ‘black and white.’

· Others-loving vs. self-serving (Matt. 20:24-28; Mark 8:34-37; Jn.13:34-35; Matt.22:34ff.)

· World-denying vs. culture-conforming (Rom.12:1-2; 1 Jn.2:15-17)

· Holiness-pursuing vs. ‘self-fulfilling’ (Heb.12:14 ; 2 Pet.1:5ff.

· Father-glorifying vs. man-pleasing (Mt.5:16; 1 Cor. 10:31)

· The way of peace vs. the way of the transgressor (Matt.11:28-30; Rom.3:15-17)

All these different facets are interdependent and ‘synergistic’ – they are to be maintained and experienced together.