How Do Christian Live

We can ask four questions about Christian living:

1. What to do? - Instructional specificity
2. Where/when to do it? - Situational specificity
3. Why do it? - Proper motivation
4. How to do it? - By the Spirit

What to do? Where and when to do it?
When I first become a Christian, I wondered what I should do as a Christian. Must I go to church? Must I read the Bible? Is there anything else?

Eventually, I realized that it is not what I do, but a change in attitude and perspective toward life that is most important.
"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV)
"All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. (1 Corinthians 10:23 ESV)


Why do it?
Christian living is grace motivated. This is how we live.
We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 ESV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)
For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin's dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin's claims. (Romans 6:6-7 HCSB)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1 ESV)

Grace despite our sin
Grace destroying the guilt of sin
Grace defeating the power of sin
Grace compelling holiness
Motivating holiness by grace
Saving discipline (chastisement) not equals punishment
Grace is motivation for love of God

How to do it?

1. Knowledge is power;
2. Love is power

Knowledge
Know the imperatives
Know our nature

Our nature
Old nature - not able not to sin (because live for self)
New nature - real change is possible by the Spirit

Love
Sin does not have dominion over us.
However, we sin because we love it.
The power of sin comes from our love for sin.
Solution - the surpassing love of Christ

What about Christian disciplines such as going to church, daily Bible study, prayer etc?
Christian disciplines nourish our love of God, help us recognize the grace of God.
Christian disciplines do not earn God's favour, not a bargaining chip to get things from God or a leverage on God to answer our prayers.