Characteristics of a Christ-Centered Life
This post will focus on the characteristics of a Christ-centered life. The main points are taken from the book ‘Reflections of a Discerning Christian’ by Nelson Thomas. I have also added a few of my own points after meditating on the same verses.
1 John 2:6 - He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
To have a Christ-centered life means to abide in Christ. To abide in Christ means to walk as He walked. Not just in our words, but in our actions and thoughts. We must live our lives in obedience to His words and love for His commands.
Death
Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me
One of the first steps to have a Christ-centered life, is to identify with Christ - in His death, burial, and resurrection. That means putting to death themselves, the world, and the devil
When we accept Christ, our old life died on the cross with Him so that now we have a new life and are able to live with Him.
Believers who experience this spiritual death daily refuse to respond to the constant advancement of the spiritual foes
2 Corinthians 4:10-12 - always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.
Paul’s reference here is that the life of Christ should be evident in his own life. That means that Christ’s death worked in his spiritual life. Paul endured suffering as part of his ministry. He accepted the death of himself and the luxuries of this world for the sake of Christ and His call.
Dedication
Romans 6:13 - And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
Christ secured our freedom through His death on the cross. We are called to live and walk in that freedom. First, we must not allow our body to be used for sin. Second, we must cling to Christ and act in accordance to His will. This is done by:
Constant surrender to Christ
Listening to the voice of the Spirit of God
Being obedient to His Word
Matthew 11:29 - Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
By taking on the yoke of Christ, we are being guided by Him.
A life of learning from the Lord
A life of constant walk with Him
A life of serving along with Him
Brokenness
Titus 2:11,12 - For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
Grace brings salvation. We do not go out and get salvation, it is a gift that is offered to us. Grace teaches us to renounce things that are ungodly and how to live in a godly manner.
A true believer has a broken and contrite spirit. He is aware of his vulnerability, the weakness of the flesh, and the deceptions from Satan. They constantly acknowledge the amazing grace that was bestowed on them and how it strengthens and sustains them.
Humility
James 4:6 - But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
A Christ centered individual is aware of the folly of pride and arrogance
Humility doesn’t earn us the grace of God. It just allows us to be in a position to receive the gift He freely offers. God will never allow man to take glory for what He has accomplished
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 - For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.
The world’s wisdom and education does not bring a person to salvation. The Corinthians were known for their philosophers and scholars. They would have thought that the message of Christ was foolish, but in their pride they were rejecting the truth.
God chose the weak things first to show His power and might. He showed the shepherds His birth before the wise men. He called the fisherman to be His disciples, before the educated like Paul.
Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Boldly in this context does not mean with pride or arrogance. It means that we can come to Christ with confidence, at any time, for anything, no matter what. Christ is more than approachable, He invites us to Him.
