Introduction:

Our relationship with one another should arise from our Life in Christ (Philippians 2:5 NEB). Clearly implicit in this statement is the expectation of God that the Christian would live their life, day to day, out of their Life in Christ.

What does that mean?  What is the “Life in Christ?”

The Apostle Paul said that Christ lives His life through him as Paul lived his life through faith in Jesus. (Galatians 2: 19-20)  Paul was talking about two aspects of the Christian faith that when they come together constitute the Life in Christ.

First, Paul experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit in his life and he allowed the Holy Spirit to guide and direct his life. Second, Paul’s life was based on the life and teachings of Jesus. Through his faith in Jesus Paul also was a son of God and he lived his life out of that identity.

Think of it this way.  From the time you arise in the morning until you go to sleep at night what is it that is the driving force in your life? What is it that has the most influence over you as you make decisions about what to do and as you interact with people through out the day?

I knew a man that loved to play shuffleboard. He would tell you he played shuffleboard 6 ½ days per week, taking time off only to go to church on Sunday morning. What was the motivating force in his life? Right, to be successful at playing shuffleboard. For most of us the motivating force in our life may not be that extreme or obvious but if we think about it we can identify what it is that we most want in life, what it is that influences our decisions and relationships through out the day.

The Apostle Paul’s identity was completely in Christ and thus he was living the life Jesus described when Jesus said that God is working in our lives to bring us to the place where we both will and do that which is pleasing to God.

This is God’s will for all of us.  God wants us to draw our power for life from his Holy Spirit. God want us to know ourselves as His beloved child and to draw our inspiration and principals for life from the life and teachings of Jesus. This is the life in Christ.

These Ten Keys help us keep balanced in our Christ life.  Just as we monitor our weight and blood pressure etc. to keep our physical lives in balance, so also we need to monitor these spiritual keys to keep our Christ Life in balance.

Key Nr 10