Lifestyle and Other Questions

[NuclearTurtle029]

Greetings!

I haven’t posted here in quite awhile. I’m 19 years of age, pursuing a college degree at this time. I just have a few questions.

I’ve been thinking about scripture, and I’ve been wondering about lifestyle.

I’ve noticed that I am not immune to sin, but instead, am hyper-aware of it. Every time I make a mistake, a part of me feels like I’ve failed.



I try to be a friend for those who don’t have any, and try to be known as a “Nice dude” in a mean world. But am I supposed to strive for perfection? I feel like I’m in a constant battle to please God with my life, knowing and believing that Christ “took the bullet meant for me” upon the cross.

Ladies and Gentlemen, am I doing something wrong here? Also, a bigger question: How should a Christian live their lives?

 

[Hekuran]

From what you've written, it doesn't sound like you're doing anything wrong.

Something I would urge you to do is to keep focused on Jesus rather than on your sinfulness, possibility of perfection or your lifestyle. If you meditate constantly on Jesus, his teaching and his action and shape your thoughts and actions around him, you might find the issues around sin and lifestyle resolve themselves.

An analogy on following someone. If you are following someone on a busy street, you should keep your eyes fixed on them. If you spend time looking at where you are putting your own feet and focus on how well you are following, you could well lose track.

Put Jesus at the centre of your thoughts and let everything else revolve around him.

Hope that's helpful. Blessings

 

[Dave M]

2 Peter 1

5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,e and virtue with knowledge,
6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,
7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
8 For if these qualitiesf are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
10 Therefore, brothers,g be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.


Studying Gods word, self control, practice,

1 Thessalonians 4:3
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;



most colleges this is a lifestyle to see who can "hook up" yet God puts the sexually immoral and drunkards in the same category as Murders, so here is some scripture to tell you what NOT to do. Sorcery is drug use

Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Revelation 21:8
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

 

[Gregoryp]

If you enjoy camping, then do it, if you love music and go to concerts , do it. Its how you respond to life and where your focus is on that matters, that inner knowing. No one is denying you the right to go out and enjoy life. Heck, here in my city, the city council placed a new footbridge over a stream, there were over 40 people there watching and videoing the crane placing the bridge on its foundations. I went and rode on the new tram network that day it opened to the public, as did thousands of others. enjoy life and embrace it.

 

[Sue D.]

@Gregoryp -- To a certain extent, yes, enjoy life and embrace it. But God has given us guidelines for living a Godly life, that we should be following.

 

[Gregoryp]

@Gregoryp -- To a certain extent, yes, enjoy life and embrace it. But God has given us guidelines for living a Godly life, that we should be following.

yes, thats our mantra, or way of living. I was implying sitting in the bedroom and talking to Jesus isnt necessary al the time.

 

[Sue D.]

Yes, we Are meant to live life.

 

[KingJ]

Greetings!

I haven’t posted here in quite awhile. I’m 19 years of age, pursuing a college degree at this time. I just have a few questions.

I’ve been thinking about scripture, and I’ve been wondering about lifestyle.

I’ve noticed that I am not immune to sin, but instead, am hyper-aware of it. Every time I make a mistake, a part of me feels like I’ve failed.

I try to be a friend for those who don’t have any, and try to be known as a “Nice dude” in a mean world. But am I supposed to strive for perfection? I feel like I’m in a constant battle to please God with my life, knowing and believing that Christ “took the bullet meant for me” upon the cross.

Ladies and Gentlemen, am I doing something wrong here? Also, a bigger question: How should a Christian live their lives?

We are all aware of sin because of God giving us intelligence and Adam exposing us to the knowledge of good and evil Gen 3.

Thus, by default, all mankind is born with the inner conflict of choosing to do what is good or wicked.

When we choose to do what is good and hate what is wicked, we are after God's heart Rom 12:9. God Himself is good Psalm 136:1. Righteous in all His ways Psalm 145:17. Light with no darkness in Him at all 1 John 1:5.

God draws close to those who draw close to Him James 4:8. Those who pass God's judgment of heart and mind Jer 17:9 receive a revelation of Jesus from the Holy Spirit 1 Cor 12:3, Matt 16:16-17 and are grafted into His family Eph 2:11-13.

Now as a Christian, lifestyle is different to the common default position. A Christian is a changed person 1 Cor 5:17. Dead to sin Rom 6:11. Not controlled by sin, rather a slave of righteousness Rom 6:18.

IE A Christian's '''normal / default'' position is to do what is good. There is a lot less battle with doing ''right or wrong''. The unsaved mind discerns mostly based on self gain. The Christian mind, on what pleases and displease God.

As you grow as a Christian, the Holy Spirit teaches you why God made the laws He did. You will start seeing things from His perspective and like all the prophets grasped, also grasp that God is good and worthy of all the praise and glory we can muster up.

I try to be a friend for those who don’t have any, and try to be known as a “Nice dude” in a mean world. But am I supposed to strive for perfection? I feel like I’m in a constant battle to please God with my life, knowing and believing that Christ “took the bullet meant for me” upon the cross.

When you are a Christian you have met the requirement to be with God and all ''proving'' yourself can stop.

Jesus laid His life down for you, does He still need to prove Himself to you? He shouldn't. Laying down your life is the greatest act of love possible John 15:13. Likewise becoming a Christian is on your part an act on par with that.

Many today sadly don't properly teach this. They will rather teach saying magically words makes you a Christian.

To pass God's judgement of heart and mind, He has to see ''true'' repentance. True hatred of what is wicked. Paul sinned, continued in sin, but he hated it Rom 7:15.

Consider also the fact that in the tribulation the only way to salvation for many is going to be torture and death Matt 24:9. Only those who endure death for Jesus will saved Matt 24:13.

When you are a Christian, you move from trying to prove yourself to God, to living for God. An ambassador for Jesus 2 Cor 5:20.