New Testament Process in our “putting on” the

Lord Jesus Christ

The Golden TriangleThe Golden Triangle

Process in our “putting on” the Lord Jesus Christ

Faithful acceptance of everyday problems

•By enduring trails with patience, we can reach an assurance of the fullness of heaven’s rule in our lives. •James 1:2-4•Every single thing Jesus taught us to do was something he had put into daily practice•In the trails of Jesus’ everyday existence, in family and village life, he verified the sufficiency of God’s care for those who simply trust him and obey him.

Faith

ful a

ccep

tanc

e of

eve

ryda

y pr

oble

ms

Process in our “putting on” the Lord Jesus Christ

Interaction with God’s Spirit in and around us

•Galatians 5:25

•The presence of the Holy Spirit can always be recognized by the way He moves us toward what Jesus would be and do (John 16:7-15).

Interaction with God’s Spirit in and around us

•Life in the Spirit manifests itself in 2 ways–Gifts of the Spirit

•enable us to perform some specific function•These gifts serve God’s purposes among His people, but they do not necessarily signify the state of our heart.

–Fruit of the Spirit•Gives a sure sign of transformed character •When our deepest attitudes and dispositions are those of Jesus, it is because we have learned to let the Spirit foster his life in us. (Galatians 2:19-20)

Interaction with God’s Spirit in and around us

•The outcome of Christ living within us through the Spirit is fruit (Galatians 5:22-23)•Both gifts and fruits are the result, not the reality, of the Spirit’s presence in our lives.•What brings about our transformation into Christ-likeness is our direct, personal interaction with Christ through the Spirit.•2 Corinthians 3:18

Faith

ful a

ccep

tanc

e of

eve

ryda

y pr

oble

ms

Interaction with G

od’s Spirit in &

around us

Process in our “putting on” the Lord Jesus Christ

Spiritual Disciplines•Special activities, many engaged in by Jesus himself, such as solitude and study, service and secrecy, fasting and worship.

•Emphasis upon our efforts.

•Colossians 3:12-14

Spiritual Disciplines•We should not only want to be merciful, kind, unassuming, and patient persons but also be making plans to become so.

•We are to find out, that is, what prevents and what promotes mercifulness and kindness and patience in our souls, and we are to remove hindrances to them as much as possible, carefully substituting that which assists Christ-likeness.

Spiritual Disciplines•We “put on” the new person by regular activities that are in our power, and we become what we could not be by direct effort.•If we take note of and follow Jesus in what he did when he was not ministering or teaching, we will find ourselves led and enabled to behave as he did when he was “on the spot.”•The single most obvious trait of those who profess Christ but do not grow into Christ-likeness is

Spiritual Disciplines•We “put on” the new person by regular activities that are in our power, and we become what we could not be by direct effort.•If we take note of and follow Jesus in what he did when he was not ministering or teaching, we will find ourselves led and enabled to behave as he did when he was “on the spot.”•The single most obvious trait of those who profess Christ but do not grow into Christ-likeness is their refusal to take the reasonable and time-tested measures for spiritual growth.

Faith

ful a

ccep

tanc

e of

eve

ryda

y pr

oble

ms

Interaction with G

od’s Spirit in &

around us

Spiritual Disciplines

Process in our “putting on” the Lord Jesus Christ

Philippians 2:12-15

12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to

work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act

according to his good purpose.     14Do everything without complaining or

arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a

crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe

Philippians 2:12-15 (NIV)

12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I

am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God

with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the

power to do what pleases him.    14 Do everything without complaining and

arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining

like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

Philippians 2:12-15 (New Living Translation)

12 -13What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you've done from the

beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I'm separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic

in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him

the most pleasure.    14 -16Do everything readily and cheerfully—no

bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and

polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving

Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living

proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing.

Philippians 2:12-15 (The Message)

The Great Omission: The Essential Teachings of Jesus,

Dallas Willard

Thanks and appreciation to Dr. Dallas Willard for permission in using “The Golden Triangle”