Understanding the Christian Way of Life

The Christian way to upholding the truth is especially important when those entrusted with oversight in the congregation are able to handle the “word of the truth” aright. Proper use of God’s Word enables True Christians to combat false teaching in the congregation, instructing “those not favorably disposed; as perhaps God may give them repentance leading to an accurate knowledge of truth.”

The disciple James wrote: “who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show out of his fine conduct the works with a meekness that belongs to wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.”

The Christian way to seeking true understanding is through prayer to God: “Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed I shall observe it with my whole heart. The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting; Give me understanding, and I shall live.” (Ps 119:34, 144) This is the right Christian motive. The apostle prayed for the Colossian Christians that they might be “filled with knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding in order to walk worthily of the Lord.” (Col 1:9-10)

For the Christian congregation to be “a pillar and support of the truth,” the Christian members thereof must, through fine conduct, manifest the truth in their lives. (Eph 5:9) They have to be consistent and undeviating in right conduct, as if “girded about with truth.” (Eph 6:14) Besides maintaining personal purity, Christians must be concerned about congregational purity. When emphasizing the need to keep the Christian congregation clean from the defilement of lawless persons, the apostle Paul wrote: “Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Cor. 5:7-8)

By God’s helping with our Christian way, one can come to an “understanding heart,” that is, to learn right motive and also be able to discern bad motives, one’s own or those of others (Prov 8:5), and by adhering to right motivation can avoid being distracted, misled or sidetracked into a devious and foolish course, and instead can be upright and head straight for one’s goal. (Prov 15:21)

What it means to follow the Christian way is this: Jesus extended the invitation to be His follower, saying: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matt 16:24) Those who are true Christian have full faith that Jesus is God’s specially Anointed One and only begotten Son, the Promised Seed who sacrificed His human life as a ransom, was resurrected and exalted to the right hand of God, and the one who received authority to subdue his enemies and vindicate God’s name.(Matt 20:28) Christians view the Bible as the inspired Word of God, absolute truth beneficial for teaching and disciplining mankind.(Matt 17:17) and (2 Tim 3:16)

More is required of true Christians than mere confession of faith through the Christian way. It is necessary that belief be demonstrated by works. (James 2: 17, 26) Born as sinners, those who follow the Christian way and repent, (turn around) dedicate their lives to God’s worship and service, and submit to water baptism.(Matt 28:19) From then on they keep themselves clean from fornication, and idolatry. (Acts 15:20, 29) They strip off old personalities with their fits of anger, obscene talk, lying, stealing, drunkenness, and “things like these,” and bring their lives into accord with Bible principles.(Gal 5:19-21)

Peter wrote to Christians, “Let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a busybody in other people’s matters,” (1 Pet 4:15) Our Christian way is to be kind and considerate, mild tempered and long-suffering, lovingly exercising self-control. (5:22-23) Christians provide and care for their own and love their neighbors as themselves. (1Tim 5:8) and (Matt 22:36-40) The main identifying quality by which true Christians are recognized is the outstanding love they have toward one another. “By this,” Jesus said, “all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.” (John 13:34-35

Christianity is the way of the truth (2 pet 2:2) and those who assist others in furthering the interests of the Christian way become “fellow workers in the truth.” (3 John 8) The entire body of Christian teachings, which latter became part of the written Word of God, is the “truth” or the “truth of the good news.” Adherence to or ‘walking’ in this truth is essential for an individual to gain salvation. (Rom 2:8 2, Cor 4:2, Eph 1:13) In the case of those who conduct themselves aright, the truth, the conformity of their Christian ways to God’s Word and the actual results of their course, testifies to the fact that they are examples worthy of imitation.(3 John 11-12)

True Christians imitate Jesus’ example as the Great Teacher and Faithful Witness of God. (John 18:37) “Go make disciples of people of all the nations, teaching them to do the same things I taught you to do,” is their Leader’s command, and in carrying it out Christians urge people everywhere to put their hope and confidence in God’s Kingdom. (Matt 28:19-20)