Living by Faith: Embracing Christ as Our Life

In this message, I shared a profound reflection on the nature of life, death, and the eternal consequences of our choices. I began with a story of a young man who contemplated suicide but realized that death is not the end; it is a transition into another life. This realization kept him from taking his life, highlighting the importance of understanding the eternal implications of our earthly decisions. I then recounted a tragic tale of a ship that almost reached its destination but was lost due to a misjudgment, drawing a parallel to how many people come close to salvation but miss it due to a lack of commitment or understanding.

The heart of the message is the transformative power of Christ living within us. When we accept Christ, He becomes our life, and we are called to live by faith in Him. This is not about external help but about Christ being our very life, guiding us in every situation. I emphasized that true Christianity is not about performance or external adherence to the law but about being in Christ, where His righteousness becomes ours. This union with Christ is the essence of salvation, and it is through this relationship that we are justified before God.

I also shared personal experiences to illustrate the importance of being right with God and the futility of relying on our own efforts. The story of my near-death experience at sea served as a metaphor for the urgency of being in Christ and the futility of trying to save ourselves through our own strength. The message concluded with a call to examine our hearts, to ensure that our lives are truly centered on Christ, and to live by faith in Him, allowing His life to be expressed through us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Eternal Perspective: Understanding that life does not end with death but transitions into eternity can profoundly impact our choices. This perspective encourages us to live with purpose and urgency, knowing that our earthly decisions have eternal consequences. [00:29]
• 2. Nearness to Salvation: Like the ship that almost reached safety, many people come close to salvation but miss it due to misjudgment or complacency. It is crucial to fully commit to Christ and not rely on our own understanding or efforts. [05:56]
• 3. Christ as Our Life: True Christianity is not about external adherence to rules but about Christ living within us. This internal transformation is the essence of salvation, where His righteousness becomes ours, and we live by faith in Him. [31:11]
• 4. Union with Christ: Being in Christ means that His life is expressed through us. This union is not about asking for external help but about allowing Christ to live His life through us, guiding us in every situation. [38:57]
• 5. Urgency of Commitment: The message calls for a deep examination of our hearts to ensure that our lives are centered on Christ. It challenges us to live by faith, allowing His life to be expressed through us, and to commit fully to His will. [47:21]
  ** [47:21]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:13] - The Young Man's Realization
• [01:04] - The Tragic Flight
• [02:00] - Sydney Harbor Story
• [03:27] - The Mistaken Gap
• [04:50] - The Pilots' Inaction
• [06:11] - The Church's Responsibility
• [07:25] - Christ Living in Us
• [08:29] - Jesus as the Church Planter
• [09:02] - Doing the Will of God
• [13:34] - Are You Right with God?
• [16:09] - Righteousness Through Christ
• [18:16] - The Near-Death Experience
• [22:04] - Being Accounted Righteous
• [25:56] - The Pivotal Question: Are You in Christ?
• [31:11] - Christ as Our Life
• [38:57] - Living by Faith in the Son of God
• [47:21] - A Call for Commitment

1. Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
2. Philippians 3:8-9 - "What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith."
3. Colossians 1:27 - "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

1. What realization did the young man in the sermon come to about life and death, and how did it impact his decision? [00:29]
2. How does the story of the ship that almost reached its destination illustrate the concept of "nearness to salvation"? [05:56]
3. According to the sermon, what does it mean for Christ to be our life, and how is this different from external adherence to rules? [31:11]
4. What personal experience did the pastor share to emphasize the urgency of being right with God? [18:16]

1. How does the concept of "Christ living in us" change the way we approach challenges and decisions in our daily lives? [38:57]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that many people come close to salvation but miss it? What factors contribute to this? [05:56]
3. How does the pastor's near-death experience at sea serve as a metaphor for the futility of relying on our own efforts for salvation? [18:16]
4. What does it mean to be "in Christ," and how does this union affect our standing before God? [23:36]

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you are relying on your own efforts rather than allowing Christ to live through you? How can you shift your focus to living by faith in Him? [31:11]
2. The sermon emphasizes the urgency of commitment to Christ. What steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with Him and ensure your life is centered on Christ? [47:21]
3. Consider the eternal perspective shared in the sermon. How does understanding that life transitions into eternity influence your daily choices and priorities? [00:29]
4. Have you ever experienced a moment where you felt "almost there" in your spiritual journey but missed the mark? What can you learn from that experience to ensure full commitment to Christ? [05:56]
5. The pastor shared a personal story about being right with God. How can you examine your own heart to ensure you are in right standing with God? What changes might be necessary? [18:16]
6. How can you practically live out the truth that Christ is your life in your interactions with others this week? [38:57]
7. Identify one area in your life where you need to let go of control and allow Christ to guide you. What specific action will you take to surrender this area to Him? [31:11]