Why do Christians live a certain way?

Intro

Why are there certain things that Christians do and don’t do?

Why do Christians go to church, read their bible, serve other people, etc.....

Why don’t Christians swear, lie, cheat, steal, do all the “bad stuff”

Do they get some sort of prize? Does God love those people more? Is it to prove that they are worthy of God’s love? Are they scared of God’s punishment if they don’t?

Body

James 2:18-26

James writes that our faith is shown by our actions, the way we live

“You believe that God is one…Even the demons believe that and they shudder”

Belief in who God is doesn’t get you anywhere

You can believe that God is real, and not have faith in Christ

Example: If I believe that Jacquelyn is my wife, does that automatically mean that I treat her well?

Just because I believe God is real, doesn’t automatically mean that I follow Him

Examples of Abraham and Rahab

Story of Abraham and Isaac

That story goes a lot differently if Abraham doesn’t follow through on what God has told him to do

Story of Rahab

That story ends a lot differently if she doesn’t tie a scarlet cord on her window

It’s one thing to have a set of ideas and beliefs in your head, but without those beliefs informing how you live, the reality is you don’t truly believe them

Christians live in a way that reflects what they believe to be true about Jesus

John 15

Jesus calls himself the true vine

Every branch that doesn’t bear fruit God takes away, every branch that bears fruit he prunes so that it bears more fruit

He says “Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me”

Bearing fruit = Living a life in obedience to God that produces good things

Christians live a certain way because we believe that apart from Jesus and the teachings of Scripture humans cannot do anything good

So we learn Scriptures, we learn Jesus’ words so that we can bear fruit and grow in our faith

Share the Gospel with friends, live lives that honor God in all things, etc.

Application

If you claim to follow Jesus, are you attempting to grow in your faith? To gain a deeper understanding of who God is and what it means to follow him? And are you taking that knowledge and living it out?

What are areas in your life where what you know about God’s teaching and how you live don’t line up? Are you willing to humble yourself and admit your sins and wrongdoings?

Are there certain things that God commands of Christians that you don’t do? Are you willing to make them part of your life?

Again, not so that God loves you more, or so that you earn anything from Him. Rather, out of obedience to the one who is the Way, the Truth and the Life?

If you don’t claim to follow Jesus, what are you living for?

Conclusion

Christians live according to God’s teachings as evidence of their faith. We trust that God knows what is right for us, so we submit and obey his Word. Not that it gains us anything special, but because it is how God calls us to live