Accepting the life of Jesus Christ came with several benefits that are far beyond human understanding. Some of which include being loved with everlasting love, forgiven, saved, redeemed, empowered, etc. However, one of the most important is that you have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. But most times, people find it hard to relate to how this kingdom of light operates, how the believer is supposed to walk, its lifestyle, etc. Therefore, in this article, you shall learn about the kingdom of God and how to walk in the newness of life.
The Kingdom of God
To fully understand the kingdom of God, you need a basic understanding of the term kingdom and how it operates. A kingdom simply means terrain or area governed by a king or any royal family member. For any realm to be recognized as a kingdom, it must have a king who is the ruler and most powerful person. It must also have a citizenry, constitution, law, culture, etc. All this applies similarly to the kingdom of God; the king is Jesus, its citizenry are believers, the constitution is the word of God, the law is the law of the Spirit, the culture is to walk in the newness of life.
The Culture of the Believer
Every community has a culture, whether rural, urban, or suburban. Culture is a broad term that encompasses the social behavior and norms found in a society. It also includes the knowledge, beliefs, customs, and habits of the individuals who belong to these societies. Every kingdom has a culture, and the kingdom of God is no exception. In the kingdom of God, there is a culture or a lifestyle expected for every believer. According to the bible, the believer’s culture is to walk in the newness of life.
Walking in the Newness of Life
Walking in the newness of life simply means living and expressing the reality of the kingdom of God. As earlier explained, when you accept the life of Jesus, there is a translation that occurs. You have transited from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13). In this kingdom of light, there is a culture or an acceptable way of living. You are no longer expected to live the same way anymore. This is because all things have become new. Your past has been nailed to the cross, and you are alive only to serve the king’s purpose.
How to Walk in the Newness of Life
Jesus, in his crusade, taught that he has come to give abundant life to everyone that believes in him. To walk in the newness of life, God has outlined from scriptures that every believer needs to put on the new man created in righteousness and true holiness. Here are some ways to do so;
Be merciful:
To be merciful is to be kind, especially to the poor. It also means a tendency to forgive or sympathy for others who have wronged you. One way you need to walk in the newness of life is that you recognize that you have received mercy from God and tend to extend that same mercy to others. Taking laws into your own hands through vengeance is entirely beyond the kingdom of God. Paying evil for evil is simply the devil’s domain. If you’ve been doing it previously, you must stop now since all old things must die. It benefits you more than the recipient when you demonstrate kindness to someone. The compassionate will be rewarded with mercy. (Matthew 5:17)
Show Kindness:
Good deeds and devotion go hand in hand when one is kind. To put it another way, being nice is a willingness to help others. Learn to treat others well as a new creation in Christ. Consider the feelings and opinions of others while making decisions. Treat everyone the same way, without bias of any kind. Don’t wait to be asked before stepping in to help someone who is truly in need. The locals on the island were exceptionally courteous to us. Because it was rainy and freezing, they constructed a fire and welcomed us all. (Acts 28:2)
Humbleness of mind:
The humbleness of the mind refers to your heart’s condition. Despite their outward modesty, many people are actually brimming over with self-righteous pride. They treat everyone with contempt. It’s funny, but if you run across one of those folks, they’ll lay down on the ground for you. You’re shredded in their mouths as soon as you leave their vicinity, or they leave where you are, though. They only show respect with their lips, which is a sign of low self-esteem. You can’t live like this if you’re a Christian because God sees through the eyes of a person’s heart, and he knows the contents of every heart.
Meekness:
Meekness is one of the requirements for a perfect relationship with God. Walking in the newness of life means that you are not boastful concerning any of your possession, whether it be physical or spiritual. Moses was said to be the world’s meekest man because regardless of his position with God and leadership capacity, he was still humble and available to everyone.
Longsuffering:
The term “longsuffering” refers to a patient or tolerant attitude. Faith requires patience, which is essential. As a powerful force, faith can transform a seemingly insurmountable problem into a concrete reality. However, it takes time for its effectiveness to be shown in the life of any individual. In other words, patience is a measure of your faith’s legitimacy and durability. Patience is the only thing that can protect you from losing hope because faith is unable to deliver without hope.
Tolerance:
Tolerance is a necessary component that cannot be omitted. Tolerance simply means allowing for the excesses of others without resentment or retaliation. The truth is that for you to be recognized as a believer, you need to tolerate the excess of people in your everyday interactions. Jesus demonstrated how to walk in the newness of life when he was on earth. He did sit, eat, and communicate with sinners. He tolerated people that were around him despite their repeated errors. So, you expected to behave in likewise manner as the king.
Love:
The bible says that “love or charity is the bond of perfectness (Colossians 3: 14)“. Also, in the book of 1 Corinthians 13:13, the bible says, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is the charity. Therefore, God is love, and every believer is expected to behave in likewise manner as God. You are to love your neighbor as yourself.
In conclusion, walking in the newness of life is about following the footstep of the master. This is because as Jesus is, so are every believer in this world (1 John 4:17). You too can live a life that is free from the shackles of the old man and start living victoriously today.
