How do we live according to Christ?

How do we live according to Christ?

Definition: To live according to Christ is to live in a way that agrees with His will and purpose.

Most Christians, when asked this question, will turn to the four Gospels in the Bible, and point to all manner of verses that Jesus taught, from the Beatitudes to the parables.

Now, many things that Jesus taught can be applicable* for us in this Grace dispensation. For example,

• Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Matthew 7:12).
• Be merciful (Luke 6:36).
• Be pure in heart and be peacemakers (Matthew 5:8-9).
• Be humble (Matthew 18:4).

The list above has examples of what should emanate out of us by the overflow of the Word within us. The Word is Christ (Jn 1:14), so if the written Word abides in us, these characteristics will flow out from us inherently, simply because our hearts are full of the Word and are joyfully obedient to these godly instructions.

*But, what do I mean by applicable?

Well, the instructions we learn from the gospels should not contradict instructions that we learn about in the grace doctrine in Paul’s epistles. You see, Jesus was a minister of the circumcision (Rom 15:8) in His earthly ministry. A lot of what Jesus taught was specific to Israel under the law. Look at what Jesus taught concerning forgiveness for example,

Matthew 6:14-15, For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Though these are words Jesus spoke, they are not for us today, because they are under law. If you compare it with the doctrine we are to practice today, it is not applicable to grace. Let me elaborate. Notice the “if” statements in Jesus’ instructions. If you forgive, then God will forgive you. If you don’t, then God will not forgive you. These are conditional statements. This is how the law works. If you do this, then God will do that.

When Jesus taught this to Israel, He was 100% correct in doctrine. But because you and I are not under law, but under grace (Rom 6:14), this is outside of our context. Why? Well, notice in the verses from Paul’s epistles below, that we are already forgiven because we believe in the cross.

Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Col 1:14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Col 2:13  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Through believing in Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are utterly forgiven already. If there is nothing more to forgive, there is no condition necessary to perform for reward. Based on the verses above, the way we live, according to Christ, is to forgive freely because we have already been forgiven ourselves. You see, this is completely different to what Jesus instructed Israel to do. Although there are some things that Jesus taught that we can apply in grace, there are also things that Jesus taught that are contradictory to the grace doctrine. Let me say again, Jesus taught his followers correctly, but because he taught under the dispensation of law, it is applicable only to those under the law, Israel. For us, who are under grace, it is not the doctrine we follow. We follow after the doctrine that Paul received and wrote according to the risen and glorified Lord. A doctrine of grace through faith in the heavenly Christ, not the earthly Christ.

2Co 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 

The verse above, though shocking to some uninformed believers, tells us that we do not know Jesus according to His earthly ministry (for Israel). We must know Jesus according to His heavenly ministry, according to the inspired doctrine he gave to Paul. If we neglect this instruction, we will be living and practicing the wrong things, things that will not be under the blessing and will of God for us today.

The book of Romans contains the instructions that lays the foundation of our Christian living today. If we are to live according to Christ today, we live according to His instructions for us though the letters of Paul. It is critical to learn the foundational instructions of Romans first, as this will establish us in the correct faith and doctrine and allow us to build upon this the knowledge and instruction we are to practice in the rest of His epistles.

To live according to Christ today, we should get into Paul’s epistles and saturate ourselves with the grace doctrine so that the written Word can flow out of us, influencing our words, our actions, and our lives, to the glory of Christ.