About the Series
This series examines what the Bible teaches about Godly decision making.
In part 1 we learned that it is important for believers to know what they believe.
We talked about how those who are able to articulate Biblical, God-honoring responses to challenges to Biblical authority will be able to mature in Christ and stand firm.
In part 2, we learned about Christian servanthood, and its implications for Godly decision making.
Today we will learn about how God and the Christian are one, and how that ought to influence us to make Godly decisions; namely decisions that are in accordance with God’s goals for us.
Remember That You and God Are One
Another precept to remember that can help you make Godly decisions when your beliefs are challenged is to remember that you and God are one with each other. (1 Cor. 6:17)
Christians are blessed to enjoy a relationship with God in the most intimate sense.
In fact, the Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s sons and daughters and joint-heirs with Christ. (Rom. 8:14-17)
The lost cannot enjoy any such relationship, in fact the lost are enemies of God. (Col. 1:21, Rom. 5:10)
In addition, the back-slidden have their fellowship with God broken and those who follow man-made religions cannot come anywhere close to a relationship with God, nor can any human relationship compare to that between a child of God and his savior.
Why is the Christian’s relationship with God so profound? It is because those who are saved are “in Christ” and indwelt with the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 8:1, 1 Cor. 3:16, 2 Cor. 1:22)
Additionally, believers no longer live as they once did but Christ lives in them. (Gal. 2:20)
Jesus’s death on the cross was for all who would come to him for salvation. And believers share in the process of his death and resurrection.
“Though we live in the flesh, we do not have to live by the flesh.”Believers were crucified with Christ when he died, thus we died with him, but likewise we are also raised to new life when we become saved just as he rose again on the third day. (Rom. 6:4-6)
Thus Christ becomes life itself for the Christian. This is true even though we live in the flesh, because though we live in the flesh, we do not have to live by the flesh. (Rom. 8:5, Col. 3:1-3)
We do not have to live by the flesh because we are regenerated and in relationship with Christ forever. (Col. 3:4)
Moreover, the believer’s relationship with Christ can never be broken, nor can the Christian thrive in Jesus’s absence. (Jn. 10:28)
In fact, Jesus said that without him we can do nothing, and that we must abide in him as a branch to a vine. (Jn. 15:5)
We are united and in an inseparable relationship with Jesus. This means then that the actions and trajectory of our Christian life, including the decisions we make this side of heaven, are directly correlated to the extent to which we accept, acknowledge and understand that we are one with God.
We must realize that God so close to us that he works in each believer both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Phil 2:13)
“Making Godly decisions then means doing those things that are both commanded by him and that are pleasing in his sight.”God ordained that we should walk in his ways as his children and the actions we take as Christians are the fulfillment of his sovereign plan and promises. (Eph. 2:10)
Moreover, God owns us and has sealed us. (2 Cor. 1:22, Eph. 1:13, Eph. 4:30) Therefore, we are to be set apart and to live an authentic Christian life in obedience and service to him.
This includes glorifying God in our spirit and body, which are both his and not ours. (1 Cor. 6:20)
Making Godly decisions then means doing those things that are both commanded by him and that are pleasing in his sight. (1 Jn. 3:22)
Remember, it is God’s will that we be sanctified and made more like him and he’s the one who helps us do just that. (1 Thess. 4:3, Rom. 8:13, Rom. 8:9)
Only God can and will transform us into the likeness of Jesus and he will use our decisions to help in that process. (2 Cor. 3:18)
Thus we become more like Jesus as he progressively sanctifies us until we can enjoy fellowship with him in heaven where no sin will any longer keep us from becoming who has created us to be.
Moreover, he will present us and all believers to God the Father as “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph. 5:27)
Therefore, authentic, set apart Christian living is especially important because believers are citizens of both earth and heaven, and we live between the here and the “not yet” of heaven and Christ’s return.
“The Christian who makes decisions with God at his side and in accordance with his goals is well equipped to make Godly decisions.”Put simply, we strive to be more like God through the many facets of his relationship with us on earth, and in light of what is to come. What we do now matters, both for this life and the next. (Matt. 6:20)
The decisions we make now matter. We must make decisions in light of the reality that we are not our own, that we are in union with Jesus Christ and are being made to be more like him through our actions.
Ultimately, the Christian who makes decisions with God at his side and in accordance with his goals is well equipped to make Godly decisions.
Stay tuned for Part 4!
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