What Does It Mean to Live a Christian Lifestyle?

Direct Answer

Yes — to Les Feldick, living a Christian lifestyle means living by faith in God’s Word and walking in the power God gives through salvation.

It is not based on feelings or visible changes; believers know salvation's work happened because the book says so. God both saves and empowers, gives changed appetites, and expects discipline, separation, and a testimony that reflects the new life.

Key Scriptures

Romans 1:16-17 — Paul defines the gospel as the power of God unto salvation and says the just shall live by faith — the basis of the Christian lifestyle.

Romans 8:12-13 — This verse directly addresses how believers live: not after the flesh, but through the Spirit, mortifying the deeds of the body.

Romans 12:2 — It commands non-conformity to the world and transformation through renewed minds, which is the outworking of a Christian lifestyle.

What Does the Bible Say?

Scripture describes the Christian life as a life of faith that rests on the gospel — the power of God unto salvation for every one that believeth (Romans 1:16). It is a life in which the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith: 'The just shall live by faith' (Romans 1:17). The believer is a debtor, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 'For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live' (Romans 8:12-13). Scripture contrasts those who are after the flesh with those who are after the Spirit (Romans 8:5). It also commands believers not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so they may prove what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2).

What Does Les Feldick Teach About Christian Lifestyle?

Les Feldick teaches that a Christian lifestyle begins with faith in what God's book declares, not with feelings or visible changes. When a person believes, God instantly accomplishes an all-inclusive work — forgiveness, justification, sanctification, glorification, baptism into the body, sealing and filling with the Holy Spirit. You won't feel glorified or see a halo, but you know it happened because the book says so. This is the faith by which believers live and walk. The Christian life is not about outward rule-keeping. Les says it is impossible to force the unsaved world to live a Christian life by laws; it takes God's act of transformation to make a new creation. The Christian life does involve discipline — through the Spirit, believers mortify the deeds of the body — but appetites change, so it is not a matter of grudgingly giving things up. Genuine believers will still fall and trip, but God is like a patient mother: He picks them up, says 'You're forgiven, you're cleansed, now move on.' Les emphasizes that believers are to be different from the world — separated, though not oddballs — and joyful because of what God has done. The word 'Christian' has been degraded, and not everyone claiming to be one truly is. A genuine Christian lifestyle produces busyness, testimony, and concern for lost people. Believers are left here to remind lost people that it is not what you do, but what you do in the area of faith. God reveals His will through Scripture, prayer, fellowship with believers, and circumstances.

How Do Believers Begin to Live This Lifestyle?

The Christian lifestyle begins at the moment of belief. Les teaches that people often say 'I'll get saved when I can live it,' but the truth is you can't live it until you're saved. Salvation is an instant, all-inclusive work of God on the believer's behalf, and the believer is not to live by feelings but by faith in what the book says. God gives the power to live a life pleasing in His sight to those who genuinely believe.

Does This Lifestyle Mean Perfection?

No. Les says genuine believers will fall and trip, but God is patient and never gives up. He forgives and cleanses and tells the believer to move on. The Christian life does involve discipline — through the Spirit the believer mortifies the deeds of the body — but it is not a joyless effort. Because appetites change, believers no longer want what they once loved.

How Is a Christian Lifestyle Different From the World?

Les uses Israel's separation from Egypt as a picture: believers are to be a separated people, different from those around them. However, he clarifies that being different does not mean being oddballs or walking with a long face. Believers have the most reason to be joyful in a perplexing world. The lifestyle cannot be imposed on unsaved people by laws; it comes from God's transforming work in the believer.

What Should a Christian Lifestyle Produce?

Les says that when someone truly believes, everything Christ was and is has been placed on them by faith. Naturally, the believer gets busy, becomes a testimony, and gains a concern for lost people. New converts often become overwhelmed with the lost condition of their family and neighbors. Les also points out that God shows His will as believers search the Scriptures, pray, and fellowship with other believers, and as circumstances open and close doors.

From the Teaching

Salvation and Faith

Les teaches that salvation is an all-inclusive act of God that happens instantly at belief, and believers live by faith in what the book says rather than by feelings.

God's Power to Live

Les teaches that when a person genuinely believes, God gives the power to live a life pleasing to Him, and though believers fall, God forgives and says move on.

Transformation and God's Will

Les teaches that the unsaved cannot be forced to live a Christian life by laws; God transforms believers, and He shows His will through Scripture, prayer, fellowship, and circumstances.

Discipline and Changed Appetites

Les teaches that the Christian life involves discipline, but appetites change so believers no longer love the things they once loved.

Separated Lifestyle

Les teaches that believers are to be different from the world — separated, not oddballs, and joyful.

Genuine Christianity

Les teaches that the word 'Christian' has been degraded, and not everyone who claims to be a Christian is one.

Salvation Precedes Living

Les teaches that you cannot live the Christian life before salvation; after believing, God gives the power to live it.

Fruitful Testimony

Les teaches that a true believer gets busy, becomes a testimony, and is concerned for lost people, because believers are left here to remind them of faith.

Bible Verses

Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Shows that the gospel itself is the power that saves, which is the foundation for the Christian life.

Romans 1:17: For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Connects the Christian lifestyle to continuing faith — the just live by faith.

Romans 8:5: For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Distinguishes two ways of living: according to the flesh or according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:13: For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Gives the biblical principle of discipline and living through the Spirit.

Romans 12:2: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Calls for non-conformity to the world and transformation as part of the Christian lifestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to feel different to know I am living a Christian lifestyle?

No. Les teaches that salvation's work is done instantly and invisibly — you won't feel glorified or see a halo. You know it has happened because the book says so, and that is what living by faith means.

Can I live the Christian life before I am saved?

No. Les says people often say they will get saved when they can live it, but you can't live it until you're saved. When you believe, God gives you the power to live it.

Does the Christian life mean never sinning?

No. Les acknowledges that believers will fall and trip, but God forgives, cleanses, and tells them to move on. The life does involve discipline and changed appetites.

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Source Video

Watch the Teaching: What Does "Saved by Faith" Really Mean? Romans 1:16-17