Life Principle 24
To live the Christian life is to allow Jesus to live His life in and through us. (Gal 2:20)
To live the Christian life is to allow Jesus to live His life in and through us. (Gal 2:20)
Life’s Questions
What troubles your heart today? What concern is consuming you with fear and doubt? Do you realize that it’s not your place to worry about that person, situation, or issue? Have you come to the understanding that everything that concerns you is Christ’s responsibility to care for rather than yours, and that your job is simply to obey Him? David wrote in Psalm 138:7–8, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble ... Your right hand will save me. The LORD will perfect that which concerns me.”
You may be so used to taking care of yourself and/or others that this is a difficult truth to accept. However, if you will embrace Life Principle 24--To live the Christian life is to allow Jesus to live His life in and through us—then you will experience all of the peace, joy, confidence, and assurance that are rightfully yours in Jesus Christ. If you don’t, then you’ll continue being distracted by issues that were never yours to worry about, and you will miss the blessings of the abundant life that God planned for you.
*** The Jerusalem Council (see Acts 15) was the first conference held by the early church. It addressed the concerns of the Judaizers, who trusted Jesus as their Savior, but also believed that Christians should keep the law in order to attain salvation. Of course, Christ made no such requirement for salvation.
What the Bible Says
Read Acts 15:1–5 and Galatians 2:11–13. Why did Paul criticize Peter? What was the dispute?
Read Galatians 2:14–21. What is Paul’s counsel to Peter (14)?
How is a person justified or saved (16; also see Acts 15:7–11)?
*** When Peter spoke of the salvation of the Gentiles, he was referring to what had occurred as he was preaching to Cornelius and his household (see Acts 10).
Why do you think our tendency is to be distracted by the law, good deeds, and religious activities (17–19)?
What is the true proof that you are saved (20)?
What does it means to allow Christ to live through you? Is there anything specific that you should be doing (20; also see Rom. 6:5–13)?
Is allowing Christ to live through you easier or more difficult than following a set of rules? Why?
When you go back to living by the law or religious rituals instead of by God’s grace, what are you really saying (21)?
What It Means
The Judaizers probably believed that they were guarding the faith. However, what they were really doing was being distracted by issues that weren’t important and creating conflict within the church. Peter rebuked them by saying, “Why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved” (Acts 15:10–11). What is distracting you from following God? What is creating a yoke of bondage on you that shouldn’t be there? Are you worried that you’re not doing enough to deserve a relationship with God? Are you concerned by some other issue and failing to trust God’s sovereign hand in it? Then you need to return to the basic truth that your salvation is through faith in Christ, and your whole life must be, as well.
Life Examples
Read Matthew 16:24–27. What does it mean to take up your cross (24)?
How do you lose your life for Christ’s sake (25)? What life is it that you find (25–26)?
Why is it important that you guard your soul?
What promise do you have if you allow Christ to live through you (27)?
Living the Principle
God does not call you to an adequate life. He wants your life to be extraordinary. However, for you to experience the life that He planned for you, you must stop being distracted by peripheral issues and focus your attention completely on Him. Can you trust Jesus to live His life through you and take care of all that troubles you?
Of course you can! The God who saved you can teach you how to live for Him. The Lord who forgave your sins and gives you a home in heaven can surely attend to that person or situation that is causing you so much concern. And the Savior that you trusted for your eternity is more than capable of taking care of all the matters that burden you daily. Therefore, die to your worries so you can experience true life in Him.
*** Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. (Heb. 12:1–2)
How will you live out Life Principle 24 this week? Discuss the distractions that have been troubling you and submit them to God. Then spend time in prayer, asking God to draw you into intimate communion with Himself and to transform your life, so that you can affect the world for the sake of His kingdom.
Life Lessons to Remember
What troubles your heart today? What concern is consuming you with fear and doubt? Do you realize that it’s not your place to worry about that person, situation, or issue? Have you come to the understanding that everything that concerns you is Christ’s responsibility to care for rather than yours, and that your job is simply to obey Him? David wrote in Psalm 138:7–8, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble ... Your right hand will save me. The LORD will perfect that which concerns me.”
You may be so used to taking care of yourself and/or others that this is a difficult truth to accept. However, if you will embrace Life Principle 24--To live the Christian life is to allow Jesus to live His life in and through us—then you will experience all of the peace, joy, confidence, and assurance that are rightfully yours in Jesus Christ. If you don’t, then you’ll continue being distracted by issues that were never yours to worry about, and you will miss the blessings of the abundant life that God planned for you.
*** The Jerusalem Council (see Acts 15) was the first conference held by the early church. It addressed the concerns of the Judaizers, who trusted Jesus as their Savior, but also believed that Christians should keep the law in order to attain salvation. Of course, Christ made no such requirement for salvation.
What the Bible Says
Read Acts 15:1–5 and Galatians 2:11–13. Why did Paul criticize Peter? What was the dispute?
Read Galatians 2:14–21. What is Paul’s counsel to Peter (14)?
How is a person justified or saved (16; also see Acts 15:7–11)?
*** When Peter spoke of the salvation of the Gentiles, he was referring to what had occurred as he was preaching to Cornelius and his household (see Acts 10).
Why do you think our tendency is to be distracted by the law, good deeds, and religious activities (17–19)?
What is the true proof that you are saved (20)?
What does it means to allow Christ to live through you? Is there anything specific that you should be doing (20; also see Rom. 6:5–13)?
Is allowing Christ to live through you easier or more difficult than following a set of rules? Why?
When you go back to living by the law or religious rituals instead of by God’s grace, what are you really saying (21)?
What It Means
The Judaizers probably believed that they were guarding the faith. However, what they were really doing was being distracted by issues that weren’t important and creating conflict within the church. Peter rebuked them by saying, “Why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved” (Acts 15:10–11). What is distracting you from following God? What is creating a yoke of bondage on you that shouldn’t be there? Are you worried that you’re not doing enough to deserve a relationship with God? Are you concerned by some other issue and failing to trust God’s sovereign hand in it? Then you need to return to the basic truth that your salvation is through faith in Christ, and your whole life must be, as well.
Life Examples
Read Matthew 16:24–27. What does it mean to take up your cross (24)?
How do you lose your life for Christ’s sake (25)? What life is it that you find (25–26)?
Why is it important that you guard your soul?
What promise do you have if you allow Christ to live through you (27)?
Living the Principle
God does not call you to an adequate life. He wants your life to be extraordinary. However, for you to experience the life that He planned for you, you must stop being distracted by peripheral issues and focus your attention completely on Him. Can you trust Jesus to live His life through you and take care of all that troubles you?
Of course you can! The God who saved you can teach you how to live for Him. The Lord who forgave your sins and gives you a home in heaven can surely attend to that person or situation that is causing you so much concern. And the Savior that you trusted for your eternity is more than capable of taking care of all the matters that burden you daily. Therefore, die to your worries so you can experience true life in Him.
*** Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. (Heb. 12:1–2)
How will you live out Life Principle 24 this week? Discuss the distractions that have been troubling you and submit them to God. Then spend time in prayer, asking God to draw you into intimate communion with Himself and to transform your life, so that you can affect the world for the sake of His kingdom.
Life Lessons to Remember
- God desires an intimate, daily relationship with you in which you experience His presence, trust His wisdom, and rely on His strength (see Isa. 58:2).
- The Spirit-filled life is marked by purpose, power, and effectiveness (see Rom. 8:14–17).