Paths to Christian Living – Part Three
Welcome to part three of our ongoing series on the paths to Christian living. Over the past two weeks, we’ve been exploring what it means to truly live as believers, and today, we’ll continue diving deeper into this vital topic.
Since the beginning of the year, we’ve been studying Christian living in a variety of ways, and we’ll continue to do so throughout the rest of the year. Why? Because knowing how to live as a follower of Christ is crucial. It’s not enough to simply know the Lord—we must also live for Him. Knowing God and living for Him are deeply connected. You can’t live for God if you don’t know who He is, and knowing Him should naturally lead us to live differently.
Living Up to God’s Holy Standards
In the previous parts of this series, we discussed what it takes for a Christian to live up to God’s holy standards. We asked ourselves: why should we live in a way that brings honor and glory to God? The big idea we’ve been focusing on is this:
True fulfillment comes from a deliberate pursuit of God’s desires, a humble submission to His authority, and a radical embrace of our new identity in Christ, transforming how we live each day for Him.
We’ll continue to explore this big idea today while looking at passages from Psalms, James chapter 4, and Galatians.
Belief and Action: Two Sides of the Same Coin
One important truth we’ve uncovered is that Christian living requires both belief and action. Even though knowing God is essential, it’s only half the equation. To reach the goal that God has set before us, we must not only learn about Him—we must also live out what we learn. If we’re not living out the truths God has revealed to us, then we haven’t really learned them to begin with.
Last year, our focus was on “Knowing God,” and that series helped us understand Him more deeply. I encourage you to revisit those teachings, as they lay the foundation for what we’re discussing now. Again, we see that belief must translate into action. It’s not enough to say we believe in God—we must act on that belief.
Hearing and Doing the Word
Today, many of us regularly attend church, listen to sermons, and walk away moved or inspired. Sometimes we learn something meaningful; other times, we may not. But the real test comes after the message—do we act on what we’ve heard? Do we take the knowledge we’ve gained about God and allow it to shape our lives?
The more we learn about God, the more accountable we are to live according to His will. It’s not as though God hasn’t given us enough instruction. For years, through scripture and teaching, God has shown us how to live for His glory. We are truly without excuse.
Is Our Faith Genuine?
We say we believe in Christ, in His word, in His strength, and in all the things to come—His second coming, eternal life, and more. We study theology, memorize biblical truths, and understand doctrine. But if our lives don’t reflect what we’ve learned, we must ask ourselves: is our faith genuine?
True Christian living is about action. God has given us the full counsel of His Word—historical accounts, moral lessons, prophetic warnings, the life and teachings of Jesus, the early church, and letters that shape Christian doctrine. All of it is meant to teach us and guide how we live.
The Challenge Before Us
The challenge is this: will we just hear the word and walk away saying, “What a great message,” or will our lives show that we were listening? Will our actions reflect that we have paid attention to what God is saying?
Ultimately, no one else is responsible for how we respond—not pastors, not evangelists, not missionaries. They can proclaim the message, but it’s up to each of us to live it out. Our lives should reflect our commitment to God’s truth.
Pursuing a Life that Glorifies God
Christian living is not just about belief. It’s about belief that leads to action—a faith that moves us to live for God’s glory. Let’s continue to pursue both, diligently and intentionally.