AIC 10: Committing Myself to a Godly Lifestyle

Objectives

  1. List the characteristics of our new life in Christ from the Scriptures.

  2. Explain your responsibility for making a willful decision to live out your new identity in Christ.

  3. Identify one area in life which could be positively influenced by your new identity in Christ.

  4. Share the Spirit-filled life booklet with someone who is already a ‘Christian.


Look Up

Bible Study

The word “gospel” means good news. Think of three reasons why the Christian message is good news to you personally.

Many think the gospel refers only to the fact that a Christian is delivered from Hell. God has done far more than that in bringing us into a right relationship with Himself.

HE HAS REDEEMED US

Redemption means “to deliver by paying the price”. Only a free person can pay the price and purchase a slave’s freedom. In this case, Jesus has redeemed us from he slavery of sin by the payment of His death on the cross.

HE HAS JUSTIFIED US

Justification is a judicial act of God whereby He justly declares righteous the one who believes in Jesus Christ. Literally, God credits Christ’s righteousness to our account, therefore, we are as acceptable to God the Father as Christ is. God does it all because of His grace.

This is good news.

Observation/ Interpretation

Read Romans 6:1-16.

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Romans 6:1-16

How is old identity described?

How is the new identity described?


The Greek word at the root of our word “baptize” in Romans 6:3 is “baptizo” meaning “to deep into”. It is the same word that is used in 1 Corinthians 12:13 and Romans 6:3 it was used in Greek military term to describe the rite in which a soldier preparing for battle would dip his sword into the blood, identifying his sword with the battle. It was also a common household term used to describe the dyeing of a garment by dipping it into the dye.

1. Verse 11 says that we are to consider (think of, reckon, count) ourselves dead to sin. What are some ways that you could explain what “dead to sin” means?

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Romans 8:12-17

2. What are some things this passage tells us about the key to experience our identity in Christ?

3. Explain the following diagram in light of Romans 8:12-17.

Application

  1. In light of the free will God has given us, what is your responsibility in living out your new identity?

  2. CASE STUDY: Imagine that you are in a situation where Satan is working to weaken your standards and purity. You are very vulnerable to say yes to premarital sex (or an illicit relationship with a married person or a homosexual relationship)
    What would you do to get out of the situation and strengthened your resolve to walk with God?

  3. What are some creative and practical ways to develop a godly and righteous lifestyle based on your new identity with Christ?

Quick Quiz

  1. Give examples of characteristics of your new life in Christ form Romans 6:1-16.

  2. What is your responsibility in living out your new identity in Christ?


Look Forward

Training

How to the "Have You Made the Wonderful Discovery of the Spirit-Filled Life?" Material:

1. After sharing the Four Spiritual Laws, if the person indicates that his life is represented by the circle with Christ on the throne:

  • First of all, say “That is great! Tell me about. When did you ask Christ to come into your life?” this will give him an opportunity to share his testimony, and will give you an opportunity to make sure he understands what is involved in receiving Christ as Savior and Lord.

  • If you are convinced that he has personally received Christ into his life, you can say, “There is a third circle that relates to the Christian life. This little booklet explains how you can live a consistent Christian life.. Have you made the wonderful discovery of Spirit-filled life?”

  • Then you can share the booklet with him. If the person desires to be filled with the Holy Spirit, lead him in prayer, phrase by phrase aloud.

2. If You are talking to someone whom you know to be a Christian. You can introduce the Spirit-filled life booklet by saying one of the following:

  • “Have you made the wonderful discovery of the Spirit-filled life?”

  • “I have a booklet that really makes sense in telling how to live the abundant Christian life. I would like to share it with you.”

  • “I have found how it is possible to live the Christian life without being on an up and down spiritual experience.”

3. Be sure to use the Spirit-Filled Life booklet correctly.

  • Keep your introduction simple and direct so that you do not waste time talking around the subject. Get to the heart of the message.

  • If there is any area of doubt in your mind concerning the person’s relationship with Christ, always be sure to share the Four Spiritual Laws before introducing the Spirit-filled life booklet.

  • Share how you learned to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and the change He has made in your life.

  • Each time you share the booklet, make sure you ask the questions indicated in the material, and give the person the opportunity to pray the prayer and make this commitment in his own life.

  • Each time you share the Spirit-filled Life material, make sure you also explain the section on “How To Know That You Are Filled With The Holy Spirit” and the principle of Spiritual breathing.

  • When time is a factor, you can share the principles of the Spirit-filled life in the booklet without reading all of the Scripture references. Simply call his attention to the references with the suggestions that he look them up and read them at a later time.

  • When you talk about confession of sin under point four of the booklet, you can suggest the helpful idea of making a written list of everything in his life which he knows to be displeasing to God, writing 1 John 1:9 across the list, claiming its promise by faith, and then destroying the list.

Assignments and Reminders

  1. Complete Lesson 1, Lesson 2, and Lesson 3 of Ten Basic Steps to Christian Maturity Step 2 (The Christian and the Abundant Life).

  2. Read and take note of key points in Transferrable Concept #4 (How To Walk In The Spirit).

  3. Share the "Have You Made the Wonderful Discovery of the Spirit-Filled Life?" Material with another person this week.