INTRODUCTION: One writer, when commenting on why Christians seem to have little impact in the world, said, "It has never ceased to amaze me that we Christians have developed a kind of selective vision which allows us to
be deeply and sincerely involved in worship and church activities and yet almost totally pagan in the day in, day out guts of our business lives and never realize it."

How should we live as children of God?

BODY

I. WE SHOULD LIVE LIKE WE ARE NOT PERMANENT CITIZENS OF THIS WORLD.

A. We are seeking a better land, where God is ready to receive us as His children.

1. We are like Abraham, who looked for a heavenly land.

a. Hebrews 11:13-16 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them."

2. 1 Peter 2:11 - "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,"

B. We should realize that this world is temporary, while those spiritual things are real and eternal.

1. 2 Corinthians 4:18 - "while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

2. 1 Peter 1:24-25 "All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever."

C. We must not become entangled in the things of the world.

1. 2 Timothy 2:4 - "No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier."

2. 1 John 2:15 - "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, 1he love of the Father is not in him."

A. God's word tells us what is required of us.

1. Deuteronomy 10:12-13 ""And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?"

B. We are to put God above everything else in the world.

1. Matthew 22:37 - "Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'"

2. Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

A. We are to live our lives righteously toward those who are outside the body of Christ.

1. We are to be careful concerning our relationships with those who are not Christians.

2. Colossians 4:5-6 "Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."

3. 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 "that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing."

4. 1 Peter 2:12 - "having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation."

5. Titus 2:12 - "teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,"

6. We are to conduct ourselves in such a way as to not bring shame and reproach upon the body of Christ.
 

B. We are to live separate lives from the world.

1. This doesn't mean that we have nothing to do with the world, but it means that our lives must be different from the sinful lives of the world.

2. 2 Corinthians 6:16-17 "And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people. Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.""

C. We are to love those who are lost.

1. Romans 10:1 - "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved."

2. Jude 22

3. We are to have a burning zeal for lost souls.

a. 1 Corinthians 9:22 - "to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."

IV. HOW DO WE LIVE TOWARD THOSE IN THE FAMILY OF GOD?

A. We are to have an attitude of love and compassion toward each other as brothers and sisters.

1. 1 Peter 3:8 - "Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;"

B. We are to forgive one another.

1. Ephesians 4:32 - "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you."

2. Colossians 3:13 - "bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do."

C. We are to have a genuine concern for a brother who turns from the way.

1. James 5:19-20 "Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins."

Conclusion: One army sergeant, who was addressing a group of soldiers going into a foreign town on leave for the first time, wanted to impress upon them the importance of proper behavior. He said, "Men, you are the United States. These people will think either badly, or positively of our country, based on your conduct!" This is true so often of Christianity. What people think of Christ and Christianity is often based upon what they see in us.