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Emphasizing Dependence on Christ in Christian Life Practices

Christian life practices are deeply rooted in dependence on Christ, encompassing various aspects of belief, conduct, and spiritual growth. This dependence is not merely a theological concept but a practical reality that shapes the daily lives of believers.

A foundational aspect of Christian life is the confession of Christ. The Holy Spirit is considered necessary for this confession [3]. Confessing Christ is seen as a test of sainthood and an evidence of union with God, essential for salvation, as articulated in Romans 10:9-10 [3]. This confession ensures that Christ will, in turn, confess believers before God [3]. The fear of human judgment should not prevent this confession, even in the face of persecution [3].

Dependence on Christ is also central to Christian conduct. Believers are called to follow Christ's example in various ways [4]. This includes believing in Christ, loving Him, and obeying His commands [4]. The Christian life involves living "to Christ," as expressed in Romans 14:8 and 2 Corinthians 5:15 [4]. This means living righteously, soberly, and godly [4]. The concept of "putting on Christ" signifies receiving His Spirit, adopting His interests, and imitating His manners [8]. Adam Clarke explains that to "put on the Lord Jesus" means to receive and believe the Gospel, taking its maxims for life's governance and having the mind of Christ [12].

Self-denial is another practice that emphasizes dependence on Christ. Christ Himself set an example of self-denial, as seen in Matthew 4:8-10 and Philippians 2:6-8 [2]. This practice is a test of devotion to Christ and is necessary for following Him, engaging in spiritual warfare, and achieving spiritual triumph [2]. Self-denial involves denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, controlling appetites, abstaining from fleshly lusts, and mortifying sinful desires [2].

The Christian life is characterized by diligence in seeking God, obeying Him, and striving for perfection [1]. This diligence extends to cultivating Christian graces, guarding against defilement, and making one's calling and election sure [1]. Christ serves as an example of diligence, as shown in Mark 1:35 and Luke 2:49 [1].

Hope, as one of the three main elements of Christian character alongside faith and love, is fundamentally centered on Christ [5]. Unbelievers are described as being "without this hope" [5]. Christ is the actual object of the believer's hope [5].

The indwelling of Christ in the hearts of believers through faith is a key aspect of this dependence [6]. This allows believers to be "rooted and grounded in love" [6]. The Christian life is understood as being based on the experience and personal knowledge of God’s grace and love in Jesus Christ [9]. This love is described as being "too great to understand fully" [9]. The believer's life is made complete when filled with the "fullness of life and power by the presence of Christ within" [9]. This leads to conformity to Christ's image and reflection of God [9].

The concept of "abiding in Christ" means continuing in a state of salvation and growing in faith [10]. Those who abide in Christ are expected to "walk as Christ walked," living a life of devotion and obedience to God, and benevolence towards others [10]. This involves following Christ's steps as an example [10].

Eternal life itself is revealed by and given through Christ [7]. To know God and Christ is eternal life [7]. It is given to those who believe in Christ and is found "in Christ" [7].

Paul contrasts self-reliance, or "flesh," with reliance on Christ and empowerment by the Spirit [11]. This highlights that Christian life practices are not about human effort alone but about a profound dependence on Christ's power and guidance. The work of a Christian involves both doing God's will and suffering His pleasure, with mortification of sin, living to God, sobriety, prayer, charity, and hospitality being key duties [13]. Living "godly in Christ" often entails encountering persecution, which should be viewed not as a stumbling block but as a mark of piety [14].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Confessing Christ — Influences of the Holy Spirit necessary to -- 1Co 12:3; 1Jo 4:2. A test of being saints -- 1Jo 2:23; 4:2,3. An evidence of union with God -- 1Jo 4:15. Necessary to salvation -- Ro 10:9,10. Ensures his confessing us -- Mt 10:32. The fear of man prevents -- Joh 7:13; 12:42,43. Persecution should not prevent us from -- Mr 8:35; 2Ti 2:12. Must be connected with faith -- Ro 10:9. Consequences of not -- Mt 10:33. Exemplified Nathanael. -- Joh 1:49. Peter. -- Joh 6:68,69; Ac 2:22-36. Man born blind. -- Joh 9:25,33. Martha. -- Joh 11:27. Peter and John. -”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
  5. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hope — One of the three main elements of Christian character (1 Cor. 13:13). It is joined to faith and love, and is opposed to seeing or possessing (Rom. 8:24; 1 John 3:2). "Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity (1 Pet. 3:15; Heb. 10:23). In it the whole glory of the Christian vocation is centred (Eph. 1:18; 4:4)." Unbelievers are without this hope (Eph. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:13). Christ is the actual object of the believer's hope, because it is in”
  6. Ephesians “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love, -- Ephesians 3:17”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Life, Eternal — Christ is -- 1Jo 1:2; 5:20. Revealed by Christ -- Joh 6:68; 2Ti 1:10. To know God and Christ is -- Joh 17:3. Given By God. -- Ps 133:3; Ro 6:23. By Christ. -- Joh 6:27; 10:28. In Christ. -- 1Jo 5:11. Through Christ. -- Ro 5:21; 6:23. To all given to Christ. -- Joh 17:2. To those who believe in God. -- Joh 5:24. To those who believe in Christ. -- Joh 3:15,16; 6:40,47. To those who hate life for Christ. -- Joh 12:25. In answer to prayer. -- Ps 21:4. Revealed in the Scriptures -- Joh 5:39. Results from Drinking the water of life. -- Joh 4:14. Eating the ”
  8. Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 3:27: As many of you as have been baptized into Christ - All of you who have believed in Christ as the promised Messiah, and received baptism as a public proof that ye had received Christ as your Lord and Savior, have put on Christ - have received his Spirit, and entered into his interests, and copied his manners. To put on, or to be clothed with one, is to assume the person and character of that one; and they who do so are bound to act his part, and to sustain the character which they have assumed. The profession of Christianity is an assumption of the character of Ch”
  9. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 3:19: 3:19 May you experience (literally know) the love of Christ: The whole Christian life is based on the experience and personal knowledge of God’s grace and love in Jesus Christ (see Rom 12:1). • it is too great to understand fully: Christ’s love is much greater than ordinary human love (see Rom 5:6-8). • The believer’s life is made complete when it is filled with all the fullness of life and power by the presence of Christ within (see Eph 1:23; Gal 2:20; Col 1:27). The believer then is conformed to his image and reflects God (see Eph 4:14, 24; 5:1-2; Rom 8:29; 2”
  10. 1 John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 John 2:6: Abideth in him - He who not only professes to have known Christ, but also that he has communion with him, and abides in his favor, should prove the truth of his profession by walking as Christ walked; living a life of devotion and obedience to God, and of benevolence and beneficence to his neighbor. Thus Christ walked; and he has left us an example that we should follow his steps. To be in Christ, Jo1 2:5, is to be converted to the Christian faith, and to have received the remission of sins. To abide in Christ, Jo1 2:6, is to continue in that state of salvation, grow”
  11. Philippians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Philippians 3:4: 3:4 in my own effort (literally in the flesh): Paul uses flesh here for self-reliance and human effort in contrast to reliance on Christ and empowerment by the Spirit.”
  12. Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 13:14: Put ye on the Lord Jesus - This is in reference to what is said, Rom 13:13 : Let us put on decent garments - let us make a different profession, unite with other company, and maintain that profession by a suitable conduct. Putting on, or being clothed with Jesus Christ, signifies receiving and believing the Gospel; and consequently taking its maxims for the government of life, having the mind that was in Christ. The ancient Jews frequently use the phrase putting on the shechinah, or Divine majesty, to signify the soul's being clothed with immortality, and rendered ”
  13. 1 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Peter 4 (introduction): The work of a Christian is twofold - doing the will of God and suffering his pleasure. This chapter directs us in both. The duties we are here exhorted to employ ourselves in are the mortification of sin, living to God, sobriety, prayer, charity, hospitality, and the best improvement of our talents, which the apostle presses upon Christians from the consideration of the time they have lost in their sins, and the approaching end of all things (Pe1 4:1-11). The directions for sufferings are that we should not be surprised at them, but rejoice in them, o”
  14. 2 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Timothy 3:12: Yea, and--an additional consideration for Timothy: if he wishes to live godly in Christ, he must make up his mind to encounter persecution. that will, &c.--Greek, "all whose will is to live," &c. So far should persecution be from being a stumbling-block to Timothy, he should consider it a mark of the pious. So the same Greek is used of the same thing, Luk 14:28, Luk 14:33, "intending (Greek, 'wishing') to build a tower . . . counteth the cost." live godly in Christ-- (Gal 2:20; Phi 1:21). There is no godliness (Greek, "piously") or piety out of ”
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