28/09/2914

Mal Hardiker

In view of Our Own Eternal Life in Christ , How Should We Live in This Life? Outline
three main Points.

The life of a Christian should be clear cut. The Old Testament was full of rules to follow in
order to please God and be acceptable to Him in this life. ‘Don’t do this or that; don’t eat this
food or that food, bring the required sacrifices and so forth. In Old Testament times animal
sacrifices covered the sins of the people. This was the required atonement for sin. A
foreshadow of the perfect sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross where He covered our sins by
the shedding of His own blood on Calvary.

As Christians in this life we must keep very short accounts with God. Repentance is a true
gift. We can go to God ourselves without the mediation of a priest or the sacrifice of animals
and bring Him our sins and contrite hearts.

When we became Christians we entered into the eternity of God. God was there before He is
now and He always will be. Jesus is Lord of all yesterdays, todays, and tomorrow. He is the
Alpha and Omega the first and the last.

Revelation 1:8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to
come, the Almighty.
Revelation 21:6
He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the
thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.
Revelation 22:13
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
John 6:47
47
Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.

John 17:3
3
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you
have sent.

The three main points up for discussion are: The cross, the shepherds crook and the crown

1. The cross is where Jesus suffered and died in obedience to the Father. Jesus made
atonement for our sins thus making us clean and sanctified. Jesus takes our old nature
that which is of the flesh, our carnal nature and exchanges it for our heavenly nature
to make His family in His likeness. Christians should keep ‘short accounts with God.
Repentance is a gift to be used. Psalm 22 speaks of the death of Jesus and what He
went through many centuries prior to His birth.
 a. Psalm 22
b. 1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust,
that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive
by the Spirit.”
c. .Romans 6:4 “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that
the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves
of sin.
2. The shepherd’s crook
a. Psalm 23.
b. Follow Jesus He is our Shepherd. Jesus leads and we follow. There is a story
called Footsteps clarifying the issue of following a true shepherd and how the
shepherd is all caring and watchful for His sheep. Christians follow Jesus
closely but there are time when He carries us. Jesus leads us down the paths
that are right for us. Disciples follow and learn.
c. Jesus guides us, leads us, cares for us, protects us and watches over us. Jesus
helps us, councils us throughout our lives.
3. The crown-the crown of victory, the crown of Kingship (King Jesus)
a. Psalm 24
b. 1 Corinthians 15:57 [Full Chapter]
but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
c. Revelation 17:14
[ Victory for the Lamb ] These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will
overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are
with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.

Victory. Walk as victorious Christians. Life is full of many battles and we have to fight but
Christ has already won the victory in the eternal sense. Jesus is with us and gives us the
weapons and armour to fight with. Fight with head held high in confidence. Live a
victorious Christian life not some downtrodden parody od a Christian who is beaten by
circumstances. In all circumstance Jesus is there. Faithful, strong and victorious. We belong
to Him and Jesus has given us His Spirit. Jesus equips us with weapons and armour to fight.

2 Corinthians 10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful
for the destruction of fortresses.

Ephesians 6:13-17 13
Therefore, take up the full armour of God, so that you will be able to
resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore,
HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF
PEACE; 16 [b]in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to
extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and
the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Christians can live a life of confidence knowing that Jesus has brought us into His eternal life
through His blood shed on the cross. Christians should not live as victims but in the victory
that Jesus already won. Victorious Christian lives. Jesus came to give us an abundant life
now-eternity is now not something we wait for in the life after death. Keep our eyes on Jesus
our focus on Him. Christians have a relationship with God and we should enjoy and do our
part in this wonderful relationship.

Where the Lord leads we should follow. We listen for His guidance through the Holy Spirit
who talks to us, councils us, anoints us and gives us all we need. Listen to Him, take note of
what the Lord says to us. Walk tall in the victory Jesus has won for us.

Sin has no authority over us we have the gift of repentance and the Holy Spirit is renewing us
body, soul and spirit all the time.

Titus 3:5
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to
His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

References

 Biblegateway: NASB. NIV

 Footsteps Poem-Mary Stwvenson
 what does it mean to live a victorious Christian life-Yahoo webpage