4 Ways To Live Out Our Faith

4 Ways To Live Out Our Faith


Romans 12:1 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

The Truth about a saving faith:

Through Christ we will be free from the consequences of sin and eternal death. God’s loving grace will help free us from the continuous cycle of foolishness and worldly thinking. Entering into a personal relationship with God is the only way that will fill the void in our lives with eternal truth and perspective, and give us a new sense of purpose. We will discover that God's love never fails even when we are faced with the most difficult of circumstances. The reason this is true is because of time. Our physical time is limited. Our spiritual time is eternal. God has made us both a physical being and a spiritual being. So even when our bodies die, our soul, or better yet the immortal part of who we are, lives on either with God or without Him. 

Ultimately, having a free will, plays a part in which direction we go. God allows us to choose what we desire more. If we choose saving faith then a whole new world opens up to us while we are still in our earthly bodies. If we reject God we are left with only what we can produce for ourselves. Humanity has many limitations which include sin and imperfect love. With God's perfect love as our new identity, the bondage of sin no longer hampers and deceives us. With our new saving faith we now have God's help to live and work in ways that are pleasing to Him and fulfill His good purpose. He empowers us to breathe new life and new hope into a broken and turbulent world. 

Here is the good news about the choice to receive Jesus' gift of eternal life:

John 10:28 New Living Translation  
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me.

The Apostle Paul tells us:

Colossians 2:13 New International Version 
When you were dead in your sins and in the un-circumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,

No matter what our circumstances, We have this assurance from God's Word that all that God has promised will be fulfilled. There is much evidence in the Bible to back this up.

In the book of Colossians chapter 3 I found some passages to apply to my daily life. Following these principles can make a difference in how abundantly I can live out my faith. By turning my heart toward God and by listening and acting on the Holy Spirit's direction, I can influence the world with the goodness of God and display a strong faith and new perspective that has truly set me free. You can too!

Here is what I have found:

Principle 1: Focus on the things of God

Colossians 3:1-2 NIV

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Here our eyes need to be focused on Jesus. Our hope is based on our salvation and not how well for example, the financial markets happen to be doing that day. We need to have an eternal perspective on life as opposed to giving in to the temptation to live and fulfill the sinful desires of our heart, leading to deception and folly. Walking with God everyday has its benefits. If we are looking for discernment and wisdom we need to stay focused on God’s Word. The Bible tells us how we can live abundantly. Just reading the Words that Jesus spoke can provide the insight we need to live a life that can have a beneficial eternal impact for ourselves and for God’s kingdom. The next step would be the application of that insight. Try applying this next passage and see how God provides for you.

Matthew 7:7-8 NIV

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Principle 2: Put to death our earthly nature

Colossians 3:5 NIV

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Sin separates us from God so we need to avoid it. In fact we need to run from it. Sin is like a disease,

it Seriously Infects our Nature and requires drastic re-calibration of our minds and hearts in order that temptation no longer can motivate us to sin. This was made possible through Christ, and by His sacrifice which freed us from the controlling factor sin can play in ones life. 

Along with our new freedom in Christ, we now have the Holy Spirit to help us withstand that controlling power of sin. The Holy Spirit will also teach us God’s Word and help strengthen us to obey it.  

Principle 3: Be truthful and Christ-like

Colossians 3:9-10 NIV

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

We need to be truthful and Christ-like. We are changed when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit now dwells in us. We are on a new journey of hope and trust in God’s promises. As we grow in our knowledge and faith in Christ we need to continue to allow God to continue to change us. This will require us that we continually set ourselves apart to God. 
In fact, this is our exhortation if we want to be effective in sharing the Good News to others.

1 Peter 3:15 NIV  
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Our Character, our integrity and our honesty should be at forefront of everything we do. Our heart for the lost should reflect a Christ-likeness that speaks directly to the heart in a loving, gentle, kind and concerned way that can make inroads even those who are extremely far from God.

Principle 4: Model your faith with action

Colossians 3:12-17 NIV

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Warning: Don't try to preach your way into someones heart

Colossians 3:21 NIV

Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged

The above verses speak volumes to me as a parent. I am the supreme lecturer and at times I will torture my sons with my Godly wisdom.  Sometimes they just need to be heard and need to feel loved. They definitely needs boundaries and discipline, but I need to model my new self in Christ in order for them to see clearly that what I say and what I do does not clothe itself in contradiction. The last thing I want to do is to cause my sons to stumble over their faith because of the way I am living my life.

The point of all this is that God has rules/principles in place for our benefit.  If we want to help change the world, the best way to begin is through our faith and obedience to God's commands. The next step is to share what you have learned with gentleness and respect:

1 Peter 3:15 New International Version (NIV)

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect

I am thankful that God’s Word has made great inroads into my life. His rules/principles that I used to reject are now the main guiding principles of my everyday life. I do not do this perfectly. I am flawed and still struggle with my earthy nature. But I am OK with struggling as long as I know God is present in my circumstances. I have faith He will never abandon His promises. 


Faith is only as Good as the object we have faith in.

Jesus is the perfect Son of God. 

Through Jesus we are saved and rescued from the consequences of our sin nature. 

Through Jesus we have assurance of salvation.

Hebrews 11:1 New International Version (NIV)

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

The Good News:

John 10:28 New Living Translation  

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me.

So let's take this good news to heart and live out our faith, love God and love one another!

Just Sayin……………..Dave