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Highland Church of Christ
Our aim is to serve Him in ways that He desires, learn about God, grow closer to Him and help you discover God for yourself. www.highlandcofc.org

How to Know Christ is in You

There is one thing that helps you to understand if you have Christ in your life more than anything else: how you are living. Paul wrote about the kinds of attitudes and behaviors that a Christian exhibits in the end of Ephesians 4.

Ephesians 4:24–32 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (25) Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. (26) Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, (27) and give no opportunity to the devil. (28) Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. (29) Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (30) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (31) Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. (32) Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

We have to work each day to live out Christ in our lives so that the world may see Christ in us, through our actions. How do we compare to these things that Paul talks about?

  • Speak truth (Ephesians 4:25). That means to put off any falsehood. A spiritual conscience must grow because you are a child of Christ. Former habits can have a lasting effect in our lives if we allow them. For example, if we used to sell items and not reveal all the facts about them, or by telling your family member that you’re not home when someone calls. Lying is not the answer. People can use flowery speech to cover up unpleasant things. The Christian is not out to speak where there is no need, but when the truth needs to be made clear the Christian has the obligation not to cloud truth. When people find they have been cheated, are lead to believe something other than the truth or straight out been lied to, they lose trust in you. Therefore, speak truth.
  • Control emotions (Ephesians 4:26 & 31). It’s not wrong to be angry because sometimes it is called for but we must not let our anger get out of control. We shouldn’t cherish it or allow it to remain in our hearts. That’s why Paul goes on to say to put away anger (vs 31), after saying it’s OK to be angry. That means we need to control our emotions. Don’t let your anger go beyond a controlled state because it will. When we work to have Christ in our lives, we don’t let emotions rule our actions.
  • Be a person of integrity (Ephesians 4:28). Too many people want things handed to them when they have the ability to apply themselves in their integrity. Paul even said that if a man doesn’t work (someone who is capable) he shouldn’t be given a handout (2 Thess 3:10). Integrity means to work for that which is good, work with your hands, work for God (Philippians 2:4, Galatians 6:10). In doing so we help ourselves, our families and even to look toward the good of others.
  • Be encouraging (Ephesians 4:29). Only those things that are good should come out of your mouth. “Corrupt communication” are things that tear down. In other words, don’t be a negative person who brings others down. Sometimes we have to take an honest look at difficult situations but that should only lead us to work to make things better, not to make things worse through running people down. Discouragement suppresses the Lord’s work. We could spend all our time hanging our heads and listing all the problems in life and the church but that’s not a life that has Christ in it. Christ pointed out problems that need to be addressed in the lives of people but He encouraged people to change. Christ prayed for people to be better and for God to bless — that’s not a prayer of discouragement. We always have room to rejoice because of a relationship with Christ Jesus.
  • Walk in a manner pleasing to the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). We must allow Godliness to come into our lives by the inspired word of God. It explains the best things to live for and the best ways to live. When we don’t live in accordance with the inspired teachings of the Spirit, we grieve Him much like a parent is grieved by a disobedient child. If Christ lives in your life, you live in a way pleasing to the Spirit.
  • Kind, tenderhearted, forgiving (vs. 32). A person who’s life is in Christ lives with concern for others. Christ was moved with compassion toward the people (Matthew 9:36). Treat other people the way the Lord does you. The Lord says “let whosoever will, come.” The Lord says, “come to me and I will give you rest.” Put on that new man that abounds in grace toward your fellow man (Col 3:12–13). A tender heart is a heart that imitates Christ.

If we have Christ in our lives, we are followers of God and our lives will show that we obviously walk in love toward others. Of course, there are many other passages in Scripture with similar lists of qualities that Christians should embody. With that in mind, let’s leave the topic by considering the following:

  • James 4:17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
  • Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

Based on a lesson by Robert Moss.

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1201 Sycamore School Rd
Fort Worth, TX 76134