For the next three weeks we are going to look at the meaning of “what a Christian is”. We have talked about how you become a Christian, through belief in Christ Jesus as our savior, and the only key to our salvation. But now we are going to talk about being a Christian and what that should look like on a daily basis. We will break this up into 3 devotions: Christianity the Soldier, The Armor of God, and the Duties of the Christian Ranks.
I like using the analogy of comparing Christians to a soldier. Paul used the same analogy multiple times through his writings, probably because like many of us he was a soldier and can relate to that life. Most people when they first hear of Christianity think of it as a peaceful religion full of Pastors, Monks, and Nuns. Christianity is peaceful, loving and forgiving to all people, but at the same time Christians are in a constant battle against spiritual forces unseen. Ephesians 6: 12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” When God chooses to save us, and we choose to follow God down this path of faith, we are choosing to enlist in his elite fighting forces. We are choosing to depart from living for ourselves and the pleasures of this world to radically changing our lives to live for our God.
We chose to no longer live by our earthly/fleshy desires, but choose to battle against those desires and live a life of righteousness. 1 Peter 4: 1-6 “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.” Understanding what it means to turn our lives away from sin and too God is one of the most overlooked aspects of modern Christianity. Most people believe that to be a Christian that you just need to say a simple prayer, maybe get baptized, but for the most part this all you need to do to be saved. Now millions of people walk through life believing that a simple prayer has saved them from the scary place called hell when they die. They have a peace of mind about the eternal security of their soul and decide to continue to live their lives doing the same sinful acts they have always done. People look at this prayer as a magic spell that gives them the freedom to live however they want and be safeguard from the consequences from their choices on Earth. This is 100%, absolutely incorrect, and could not be more deceptive or an evil way of thinking.
Deciding to become a Christian is very much like joining the military. A recruiter tells you about the branch, opening your eyes to all the possibilities. You decided to join and sign yourself up, and like most you have big dreams and fantasies of what the military life is like. Then you go to Boot Camp, and realize your whole life is going to be torn apart, and rebuilt to serve a new and better purpose. This is what being a christian is like. For those who say a prayer an/or get baptized (without changing their actions, choosing to stop serving themselves and serve God) and think they have received the keys to heaven, would be comparable to those who go to a recruiter, sign the paperwork, go home and tell the whole world they have joined the military, but never actually leave for Boot Camp. They become fakes, they steal the valor and honor that comes from the lives of men and woman who actually serve and have given their lives to serve. When we call ourselves a Christian, but do not allow God to change our lives, we are the same as a person with stolen valor walking through the mall with mixed match ribbons and metals. Now I know many of you will want to stop reading at this point, because it probably goes against what most of you have been taught. I know what that’s like, it was the same for me the first time I discovered this. I encourage you to continue reading and draw your conclusion at the end.
When we truly become a christian we are transformed. God changes our hearts, and we change the way we live. No longer living in the sinful ways of our flesh, but making an active and daily effort to turn from those things, to live dedicated to God. 1 Corinthians 5: 16-17 “From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” When we choose to follow Christ we are choosing to have our sinful, dirty, hurt, broken, evil lives destroyed, and be raised up into a new life in Jesus. We choose to no longer live for ourselves, but we allow Christ to live in us, and we live for him Galatians 2:20. I can try to explain this all day, but I think it is already explained pretty well here in Colossians 3: 5 - 17 “5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
I don’t know how many of you are like I was. Someone who said a magic prayer and thought I had a free pass to live my life however I wanted guilt free. For years I believed in God not because I wanted to serve him, not because I wanted to know him. Instead I wanted a safeguard to keep me from the place called Hell, and live my life thinking I had a get out of jail free card in my back pocket. God was just a giant safety net for me, and nothing more. I called myself a Christian, went to church, prayed a little here and there, and I just figured I was good to go. I had no idea that being a Christian was not just a hashtag on the end of a tweet, or a cross on a chain we wear around our neck. Christianity is a commitment of death to our old lives, and a dedication to a new life glorifying God.
We are all born as sinners, into this world of darkness. No matter how good we think we are, no matter how good or the number of good deeds we do, we are all sinners and destined to join the evil forces of this world in eternal condemnation and separation from God. You can be as sweet and seemingly perfect as Mother Theresa, or physically detached as Gandhi, but if you do not know Christ as your savior then you will not be saved from the death that waits for you. John 3:16-17 “16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” Only Gods love can save us, and he demonstrated that love through the sacrifices of his Son Jesus, who died for our sins. We are literally born into this world as the enemies of God, and do not deserve to be saved, or spend eternity getting to know God, and serve him. Even though with all the evidence against us, even though we were sinners and enemies of God, God still came to save us. Romans 5:10 “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by rhis life.” God reconciles us to him. He fixes the sin and removes the barrier that was created by sin, so that we may have a relationship with God and in return be saved from eternal separation from him. He transforms us, literally giving us a new spiritual heart transforming us into a new person. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” When you are saved, it starts with belief, it does include a prayer (a conversation with God), you ask for forgiveness from your sin, you ask to be apart of his will, you seek to be changed by him, and you allow God to change your life into a new creature of his design.
Being a Christian is not just a phrase you say, or a tagline on your Facebook, or the religion on your Dog Tags. Christianity is a life changing commitment. Something I love about the Marine Corps is, the fact that once you are a Marine you are always a Marine. When you enlist to be a Marine you go through extensive training through Boot Camp or OCS. The Marine Corps instructors break you down, and change the way you think, act, and do basically everything. Then when you have become a new person, a Marine, they allow you to keep the title and to live changed, expecting that your changed life has not only made you better, but will make the USA better as a result. Being a Christian soldier is not much different. Christ will destroy your old self and remake you into something new. A new creation that can serve God. You will be able to have a relationship with the God that created the Universe. And have this relationship for all of eternity, but I warn you being a Christian is not an easy life. Making the commitment to follow Christ means you are also making the commitment to go to war. You will be enemies of this world and will have to fight against the unrighteous acts of this world As it talks about in Colossians 3: 5 - 17 above. When we live in the world as Christians, we are enemies to the world, we become like a soldier stuck behind enemy lines. James 4:4 “…Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” We must understand that to live as a Christian we must be willing to live in opposition to the world and readily be prepared for the possibility of our physical death. While we live here on Earth we live as strangers, but when we die we are welcome into our new home with Christ where we belong. 2 Corinthians 5: 6-8 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
Ok this week we discussed what it means to be a Christian Soldier. Walked through what a Christian is and how to become one. Next week we will actually look at what being a Christian looks like on a daily basis and the tools God gives to live a changed life. Remember being a Christian is not just one moment of prayer and you’re done. Christianity is a commitment forever. A life changing commitment that comes with the promise of being in communication with a perfect Father, having your sins forgiven, allowing you to be healed and at peace, given a new life, and one day living in perfection for all of eternity. I encourage you, if you have any questions on being a Christian, please reach out to us at Triple Hares, you can reach us by Facebook, Twitter, Email, or submit a request own the ministry page of our website. We would love to talk with you. If you do not feel comfort with speaking with us, then I encourage you to reach out to a local church pastor, or a friend who you know to be a Christian. One of my favorite parts of being a Christian is the fact that I’m not alone in it. When you become a Christian you are being brought into a family, a family that extends around the world and transcends time itself. So as a Christian, don’t live your life alone, but get immersed with your family of believers. If you need help finding a church in your local area, feel free to reach out and we will help get you established in a church near your.
Below are this weeks discussion questions. Please grab a journal and write your answers down. Its always amazing to me when I look back at my past journal notes and see how much God has transformed me over the years. Please feel free to leave your answers or any questions in the comments of this blog, and I will be more than happy to respond. Some of these questions will help prepare your mind for next weeks devotion.
Are you a Christian? Have you made the commitment to follow Christ, Seek his forgiveness, submit to his will, and be transformed by him?
Do you believe, but not sure what you need to do to grow and be transformed by God?
Do you seek God in prayer on a daily basis?
Do you study his word?
Are you plugged in to a church family near you?
Do you have a Bible? Do you know how to study it? (If not please reach out we will ensure you receive a Bible and instruction on how to study it)
Do you still find yourself falling back into the same sinful habits you did before you were a christian?
What are you personally struggling with, that you feel is holding you back?
Have you spoken to anyone about your struggles, and have you prayed to God about them?
Thank you for joining us this week. Please feel free to reach out if you need anything. Leave us a comment and any suggestions you might have for future devotions. If you have a prayer request please reach out and our dedicated prayer team will be praying for you.
God Bless!
Kyle Statham
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