The second foundational truth for any pursuit of God is about how to live after we’ve trusted Jesus for our salvation. The Bible teaches that once we’re saved, we live a new kind of life.
Foundations Truth #2: We Live to Honor God
The Christian life is not just a free pass to live however we want. We’re new people, from the inside. And that means a change on the outside.
2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
2 Corinthians 5:9 So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.
But how does it happen? How do we practically pull off this new kind of life? Are we left to ourselves to try to do it? Not at all. God gives us three things:
The Spirit Leads Us
The Bible says that at the moment of faith God himself – by the Holy Spirit – takes up residence in our lives (Ephesians 1:13). That means that our new desire to honor God will be fulfilled not just by our own will power, but by God himself.
Ezekiel 36:26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.
This is good news. We don’t have to rely on our willpower to live a God-honoring life. Our power comes from the inside and works its way out in our everyday actions, thanks to God the Spirit working in us.
[Related: All About Walking by the Spirit]
The Bible Guides Us
But there’s more. God also has given us the Bible – which is his very Word, handed down to us through the ages and kept pure by his own power. As Christians, we don’t just follow our hearts to know what is right. We trust his Word over our own – or anyone else’s – opinions.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
Christians navigate through life with a biblical worldview, always working to see the world like Jesus does. That’ll take the regular discipline of reading the Bible.
Other Believers Help Us
The final great resource for the Christian life is other Christians. Faith is not a solo thing; we need each other. It’s a team sport. That’s why every Christian should connect regularly with a mentor and/or a small group.
Galatians 6:1-2 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.
Hebrews 10:24-25 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another….
[Related: How Groups and Mentoring Work]
Discussion Questions:
- Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
- What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
- If you’re a Christian, talk about how your life has changed since you came to faith. Give a few specific examples.
- Read 2 Timothy 3:16. Share a scripture verse that has been “useful” for you.
- Share a teaching from the Bible that surprised you when you first heard it. Did you obey it? Why or why not?
- Read Ezekiel 36:26. Describe the difference between a “stony” heart and a “tender” heart.
- Give an example of how the Spirit empowers us to live to honor God. How is this different from sheer will power?
- Read Galatians 6:1-2. Share a time when another believer helped you on to the right path.
- Talk about why everyone needs a mentor. Do you have one?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
