New Life Patterns You Need to Live for God

This is the concluding part of the book, and it emphasises the new life patterns to live. Christians are called out of the world to live for Jesus Christ. They are to be Christ’s representatives in the world. Their quality of life should manifest Jesus Christ and point people to Christ.

The hymn “Let Others See Jesus in You”, BH 348, written by B.B. McKinney, reflects new life patterns all Christians must pursue, especially as we await the second coming of Jesus Christ.  These two stanzas of the hymn are good examples.

While passing through this world of sin,

And others your life shall view,

Be clean and pure without, within,

Let others see Jesus in you.

Ref: Let others see Jesus in you, /2x

Keep telling the story, and be faithful and true.

Let others see Jesus in you

Your life is a book before their eyes,

They’re reading it through and through;

Say, does it point them to the skies,

Do others see Jesus in you?

A Life That Manifests His Godliness (2 Peter 3:11)

Peter uses the picture of how this world will end as described in 2 Peter 2:10 to admonish his readers to live their lives purposefully, emphasising holiness and godliness. The word “dissolve”, as used in 2 Peter 3:11, NKJV, carries the idea that the world is already being destroyed. All that we need is new life patterns.

The World’s dissolution

The process of the world’s dissolution of the world is already in motion. Material things are temporary and fleeting; therefore. Christians should prioritise things that count in time and eternity. They should pursue things that are of eternal value. This is what prompts the question, “What kind of people ought you to be?”(2 Peter 3:11). Therefore, Christians must:

Live Holy Lives

Holiness means to be separated from the world and set apart for God’s glory and His exclusive use. God is holy, and the fountain of holiness (Revelation 4:8, Leviticus 19:1-2). When man fell into sin, he lost the capacity for holiness, but in Christ Jesus, God makes provision for man to regain the capacity to live a holy life.

A life of holiness is what man was created and re-created for. With holiness, Christians operate in the power of God because they have His life. They are to overcome sin, for a life of fruitfulness, to dominate, and be empowered to reign with Christ in heaven. To live holy lives, they are, therefore, to cultivate the following:

1. They must constantly study God’s Word (1 Peter 2:2, John 17:17).
2. They are to develop intimacy with Jesus Christ. It is not enough to have Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. We must pursue a life of intimacy with Him through quality quiet time.
3. They are to grow in the Holy Spirit by bearing the Spirit’s fruits (Romans 8:14, Galatians 5:22-23).
4. They are to get disconnected from the world through solitude (Romans 12:2). Several things expose believers to the world and make them vulnerable to sin.

It could be friends we keep, films we watch, computer games we love, books or magazines we read, and places we visit regularly. Christians must flee the life of sin (2 Timothy 2:22) and things that may invoke sin.

Live Godly Lives

Godliness describes a person devoted to pleasing God. It speaks of the believer’s relationship with God, that is, the believer’s dependence on Him, His love, desires for God, knowledge of God’s will, and resolution to do His will. Godly people acknowledge God’s claims over their lives and seek to live by His will alone.3 Benefits of godly living include:

1. A life that brings glory and honour to God.
2. A life that attracts God’s favour.
3. A life that helps believers to stay focused since they stay within the will of God.
4. A fruitful and impactful life.
5. A life that brings joy and fulfilment.

Holy and godly living is God’s will for every Christian who has escaped the world’s corruption through their union with Jesus Christ. They must yield daily to the Holy Spirit’s work and live by His leading. Holiness and godliness open believers up to the inflow of the Holy Spirit’s power, and they are empowered to be vessels through which God’s glory finds expression.

Live Lives in Readiness of His Second Coming (2 Peter 3:17).

Christians cannot and should not remain ignorant about the second coming of Jesus Christ and God’s judgment on the world. They must have new life patterns.  They have been instructed and warned not to become complacent with their faith(1 Corinthians 10:9-12). The teachings of the Bible on the second coming of Jesus Christ were not new to Peter’s audience and must not be new to believers of all ages. What necessitated the warning informs the injunction “Be on your guard” in 2 Peter 3:17 (NIV).

Be on Your Guard

The phrase “Be on your guard” means to stay awake and be on the lookout. To be led away can be illustrated with the torrent of a flowing flood sweeping away everything on its way.4 Christians must watch their lives and what they have received and learned from Christ so that no one will plunder them.

Avoid False Teaching

Each time you listen to a false teacher, you risk being swept away by false teachings. Concerning the second coming of Jesus, every Christian must be on guard. Christians must be watchful and protect themselves from the evil that is in the world. The following are the reasons you must be on guard.

1. That you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless one (2 Peter 3:17).
2. You will not fall prey to the Devil lurking around looking for whom to devour (1 Peter 5:8).
3. That you will not stray from the pathway of life and miss eternity (Colossians 2:8).
4. That you will avoid the pollution and corruption in the world (Matthew 16:6, 11).

Ready for the Second Coming of Jesus

1. Live each day as if it will be your last day on earth (2 Peter 1:10-11,1 John 3:2-3).
2. Stay away from spiritually toxic places that could easily lure you into sin.
3. Pursue the life of Christlikeness.
4. Be devoted to teaching the Word, fellowship of believers, and service to the Master.
5. Hold on to the faith you professed in Christ, resist the enemy(Satan) and stand firm (1 Peter 5:9).
6. Concentrate on doing good works, you were made for (Ephesians 2:8-10; 5:15-16).
7. Be committed to holiness, flee worldliness, and prioritise the kingdom business (2 Peter 3:10-14, Lk 21:34-35).
8. Be spiritually alert and sensitive, bearing in mind that it is in our moment of complacency that we are most vulnerable to the attack of the enemy.
9. Be submissive to the Lordship of the Holy Spirit and always follow His leading.

Life of Unstoppable Growth(2 Peter 3:18)

As Peter concludes his letter, he makes one more appeal to his readers, which sums up the central theme of the entire epistle. His admonition is that believers should grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ(2 Peter 3:18a). The Christian life is purely a function of grace.

We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).To grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ means to grow in our salvation. Only living organisms grow. Jesus Christ is the source of the grace and object of knowledge, which Peter is admonishing his audience to grow in. The process of growing in grace and knowledge includes:

Union with Jesus Christ

“If any branch does not maintain a connection with the vine, it withers”(John 15:6). It is not enough for a person to receive Jesus as the Lord and Saviour. He must maintain intimacy with Jesus Christ; he must abide in Jesus Christ.

Feeding on the Word of God (1 Peter 2:2, Psalm 1:1-2)

Christians must crave the Word of God the same way babies crave milk to grow in their salvation. The Scriptures contain all the knowledge that Christians need to learn of God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Feeding on the Word of God consists of reading, studying, meditating, and applying its principles in our daily engagements. Peter’s admonition demands that Christians must grow in Christ, grow up unto Him, and grow to become like Him (Ephesians 4:15). To get this achieved, Christians must connect with Christ and be rooted in His Word and prayer (Colossians 3:16,1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Connection to the Body of Christ through Fellowship and Ministry

The Christian life was never meant to be lived in isolation but rather in the assembly of fellow believers (Acts 2:42). God, through the Holy Spirit, has bestowed grace upon individual members of the local assembly for the common good of the members (1 Corinthians 12:7-11, Ephesians 4:11-16).

Within the body of Christ, we must help each other to grow, and eventually, together, we can become a healthy and robust family.

Pursuing Righteousness

Righteousness means right standing with God (Psalm 1:3; 92:12-14). No man can work to earn God’s righteousness; it is a gift of faith that God makes available to as many who receive it through faith in Christ. To be righteous is to be made right with God by placing faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22). Noteworthy is the fact that:

The righteous will grow like a cedar of Lebanon (Psalm 92:12, Ephesians 3:17)

The new life patterns of Mary will also be a good example. It is not surprising that the Bible likens the growth of the righteous to the cedar of Lebanon. Cedar is regarded as “The king of trees”. It can grow up to 120 feet, and to sustain its height, its roots grow down deeply into the ground. Cedar is known for its height and firmness of roots.

The righteous is positioned for unusual growth because he or she is rooted in Christ. Amidst unfavourable conditions, the righteous will stand out because he or she draw from a source that does not run out.

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree (Psalm 92:12)

Palm trees, likewise, are known for their height, straightness and productivity. It takes a long time for palm trees to mature, but they can live for many years and bear fruit. Like the palm trees, the righteous do not stop growing. They maintain an unbroken union with the Lord. They are ever in the court of the Lord, having communion with the risen Christ.

They are ever fresh and green (Psalm 92:13-14). The secret of their consistent growth is in their union with the Lord.

Growth and Increase

Growth is commanded, and an increase is demanded of all Christians. The more intimate we are in our walk with God, the more we will know Him and the more we will grow up unto Him. Revelation is crucial to knowledge and growth. More about a similar post may be located on this page.

This explains why we must pant and thirst for the Lord in our hearts (Psalm 42:1). When we seek God wholeheartedly, He will reveal Himself to us more; we will know Him more and grow up to Him more. We must understand that Christian growth:

1. It is a function of an intimate relationship with Jesus.
2. It will not occur in isolation but in the community of faith.
3. Takes consistency to attain.
4. It is a must to become like Christ.
5. It is a lifetime pursuit. Once growth stops, death commences.
6. It will be at a great price.
7. It will not just happen; deliberate efforts must be made.
8. It will prevent you from falling into error and preserve you until the coming of Jesus Christ.

Reflection

1. Discuss the quality of life every Christian must live in an ungodly world while they await the second coming of Jesus Christ.
2. The Bible teaches that material things are temporary and fleeting, yet many Christians are obsessed with material things. What could be responsible for this? How does an obsession with material things hinder Christian growth and witnessing?
3. Explain why Christians should not stop growing in their salvation.