Keeping His Commandments
Each commandment comes with a promised blessing.
A bishop once said he was attempting to know each of the biblical commandments because he wanted to obtain the promised blessings that come from keeping each of them.
I would suggest that may be a valid pursuit, but start by being obedient to those contained in the Bible's New Testament first, if you aspire to be a good Christian.
While Christ declared that he didn't come "to change one jot or tittle of the law," He did declare those commandments which he was taught by God to teach on earth.
The Law
You can start with Moses' Ten Commandments
Are God's commandments, as given to Moses, even in the New Testament?
Certainly by implication (from Christ's remark that He had not come to change the law) his disciples knew they were expected to keep the Ten Commandments, but He taught what the spirit of those commandments was meant to be.
If we took each of those ten commandments and searched the New Testament to see what Christ taught about each of them, we would find that He taught and clarified each of them by example, by parable, and directly.
Church Buildings
Walking The Walk
It has been said that thinking you are a Christian because you can occasionally be found inside a church, is like thinking you are a car because you are occasionally inside a garage.
If we are reverent only in moments of prayer, or when we are inside a church, we may have misunderstood what being reverent entails.
Some football fans revere a favorite player. They will stick up for him whenever the player's contributions to the team are questioned. They watch the games the player plays in, and they avidly read articles about him. Doing so defines a devoted fan.
Christians revere God and His Son. They will stick up for them whenever their contributions are questioned. They see their handiwork in daily life. They read and study what is written about them, and their actions display how devoted they are.
Study Aids
Faith And Action
For a Christian, even in the midst of persecution there can be peace and calm.
That peace and calm is derived from faith in God the Father, Jesus the Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. The light of a Christian's countenance shines forth love for all of God's creations, including for even those who have sworn to be their enemies.
Many Christians accept to become missionaries part time and full time, not for money and status in this world, but for the glory of God and their testimonies of Christ their master.
Other Christians are found in every endeavor, testifying of Christ by their example, and in loving service freely given to others. Their friendship shines in their countenances, too, and they sweat for many worthwhile causes while believing that "actions speak louder than words" and that "Christians are believing 'doers not doubters."
As with anything that improves with constant practice, even those new to their own Christian beliefs will find that keeping Christian commandments becomes easier, even automatic, the more they practice them in their daily walk with Christ.
And in their growing joy, their peace and their calm, they will be the first to share their joy, peace, and calm with others they meet in their life's journey.
© 2018 Demas W. Jasper
Comments
AUTHORDear Eric,
Aw, shucks!
D.
I love the comments here. You are a fine man in my book of life Demas.
- AUTHOR
Dear Audrey,
You are right. Few things give a better feeling than does knowing you are and were in the right place doing the right things for unselfish reasons that contributed something another human being needed.
Keep it up. Demas
Thank you Demas for this superb message. Actions do speak louder than words and a good example of this is when we take action to serve one another.
I like the simple, straight-forward message here. It reaches deep into the core of our humanity and touches us in ways we know are true.
- AUTHOR
Dear Venkatachari,
Yes, Eric could write one of his Sunday Sermons just by reviewing the biblical scriptures which discuss our countenances. I suspect they become the outward light of the love we have within, for it is discernible by others in the way that you have mentioned.
Thanks for your friendship from one of the world's great democracies. Demas
- AUTHOR
Dear Dora,
It seems to me that any religion can be as complicated as individuals allow it to be, whereas Christianity need not be.
Christ once boiled it down to the two great commandments Eric alluded to in his Comment, namely to love God with all our heart, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as we love ourself.
Thanks for your friendship, and for taking your time to comment.
- AUTHOR
Dear Yves,
"Actions speak louder than words" is a saying that brings to mind the biblical writing about showing our faith by our works. Being even as He is, that is our challenge in this life.
Thanks for your friendship and input.
- AUTHOR
Dear Eric,
I suspect that playing "a little loose" with honesty could be considered a step in the wrong direction, almost as bearing false witness would be.
The rest makes good sense, especially a family home being like a church. Certainly our bodies are meant to be temples for our own spirits. So why not a collection of worthy temples being like a church?
We need not go to a church to find a sermon (many weeks are favored with one you write right here.) There are other good reasons for gathering in a church on a Sabbath, or any other day for righteous purposes.
Thanks for your online friendship. Demas
- AUTHOR
Dear Charlie,
I reflected on this statement from your Comment: "All church members that GO TO church are following apostate men and do not have the real Spirit of the real God therefore cannot be "of Christ" and cannot be sons of God because the sons of God ARE THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST AND THEY CARRY THE SPIRIT OF GOD WITH THEM WHEREVER THEY MAY GO TO MAKE DISCIPLE OF CHRIST. "
By virtue of your Comment that such people" carry the spirit of God with them wherever they may go," the rest of your comment that those who go to church cannot be real Christians, fails your own definition.
Think about it for a minute, and realize that some of those you define as "real Christians" carry that spirit with them whenever they participate in a church gathering.
That applies even to Christ who declared that wherever two or more are gathered in His name, He is also there.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
I am still praying for you.
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A very beautiful message to all. It's true that a person's countenance shines forth the light of love for all beings equally when he is truly noble, wise, and caring, following the path that is shown by God.
Thanks for sharing your insight on this important topic. I love this paragraph: "As with anything that improves with constant practice . . . the more they practice them in their daily walk with Christ."
Had Jesus been born in this modern day, I believe he would have appreciated the phrase, "Actions speak louder than words."
Your hub is beautiful and elegant in its simplicity. Very well done.
For the most part our home is like a church.
We certainly do not use the Ten Commandments as a base line. Bad words are not used, except butt and boobies which still make us all laugh. Anger is quite rare. We all pray morning and night.
We actually argue about our positions. Not what they are but how and why we feel they are supported by scripture. Or just plain the two greatest commandments.
We do play a little lose with Dishonesty. But it is not deceit. It is more like saying yes yes I will get to that today and we do not.
I think if one of us missed an opportunity to help someone in a day we would confess it at night.
anyone that that is a real disciple of Christ is filled with the Holy Spirit of God and following Christ. All others are not of Christ, All churchmembers that GO TO church are following apostate men and do not have the real Spirit of the real God therefore cannot be "of Christ" and cannot be sons of God because the sons of God ARE THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST AND THEY CARRY THE SPIRIT OF GOD WITH THEM WHEREVER THEY MAY GO TO MAKE DISCIPLE OF CHRIST. A disciple of Christ NEVER goes to church because they know they ARE the church and whenever and wherever they meet He is there with them.
The word of God says all that try to serve 2 masters (a church of men and Christ) can not be His . because all that are church members are not following Christ but men and no man can serve 2 masters. And because all of the churchmen churches are founded on division which God Hates. A man that tries to serve 2 masters is unstable in all his ways and is not to be trusted. In the true church of Jesus Christ, the real one not the jesus of the churches of men that is a satanic substitute, there is no need for a clergy or missionaries or collections or salaries etc because the real disciples of Christ are according to Peter are a royal priesthood and are required to GO and make all disciples of Christ. ALL so called "churches" that are led by man are an abomination before God whether a denomination or a non denomination.
The 10 commandment given only to Israel and only for a season is not and never has applied to disciples of Christ as He gave a higher law and example for His to follow.
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