About

Big Apple Chapel is a New Testament based church in New York City, modeled after the pattern of the early church, with a strong emphasis on following Christ as a community of His disciples.

Services
  • Sunday - 10:30 am
  • 520 8th Ave, 16th floor
    New York, NY
  • phone: +1 (973) 837-1041
 

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Living Biblically

2008-06-01 Mt 22:37

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Mt 22:37 Jesus said to him: You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind

 

Loyally Living vs Legalism (see Heb 10:1 Law and Legalism Part II)

Legalism = deriving a sense of temporal worth and value from external conformity to laws, doing or not doing what others do.

 

Living Biblically= Drawing on God’s grace to Know Feel/Value Do in relationship with God & His authenticated revealed will for my life

 

Intellectually: develop a Biblical lens, embracing God’s general perspective about life1 & His specific purpose for my life2

                                               

     1This world is not all there is; it’s the proving ground for the next. 2I can give God/myself grief or glory by my response to Him

 

Emotionally: my greatest good and delight is found in valuing unreserved heart, mind, soul, and body obedience to Truth

                               

                Volitionally: training my self to habitually desire and do what God has revealed is in my highest interest, regardless of…

                                                                                               

     If we’re seeking and doing God’s objective will, we will be able to know and do His subjective will. Jn 7:17; Phil 2:13

 

I. Learn the Truth

 

Jer 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart for…

 

It is impossible to live Biblically without having a firm conviction of what God has revealed and expects (otherwise it’s just tradition)

Jn 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32  and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Eph 5:8  you were once darkness, but now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

 

Acts 26:18  to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me  Heb 11:6 without faith impossible to please God..reward..seek

 



 

Dt 10:12 And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good? Mt 15:9 in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commands/traditions of men

 

Eph 4:21…taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22  that you put off…23  and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24  and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. 25…for we are members of one another


 

II. Live the Truth

 

Ps 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

 

It is impossible to live Biblically without denying yourself and submitting to Christ’s Lordship & Body in both actions/reactions & ambitions.

1Jn 1:7 if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.



Since self-centered independence is the essence of sin, submissive interdependent service is the quintessential quality of holiness

Phil 2:2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, of one accord, of one mind. 3  Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. BODY

1Cor 1:10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. Eph 5:21submit…in fear of God

 

Contented reactions to disappointments hallmark saints 1Thess 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.



 

III. Love others with the Truth

Js 2:8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; 12  So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 4:17 to him who knows to do good and does not do, to him it is sin

 

It is impossible to live Biblically without loving others and desiring that they experience God’s perfect plan for their life.

Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectionate/devoted  to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another cf 9:3

 



We help folks move from self-centered lust to other-centered love  Rm 14:18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

 

Loving others involves understanding the what and why of another’s “obstacles” and overcoming them with grace and truth.

Rom 10:2 I bear them witness that they have a  zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

 

 


 

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response

1. How does living Biblically differ from legalism? What gives someone the desire to live Biblically? What sidetracks them?

2. Can one be a believer in Christ and not live Biblically? Do most Christians think they live Biblically? How can one be deceived?

3. Is living Biblically an all or nothing proposition? How can we be living according to Truth in one area and not another? Motivation?

4. What are some of the most difficult Truths to embrace for someone seeking to live Biblically?

5. What can you do to ensure that you start and continue to live more Biblically in one area this week?