This article is written to let you know what a Christian life is and how to lead a Christian life. First, it is absolutely impossible for an ordinary or average man (sinner) to live a Christian life. Only a Christian can live a Christian life. A monkey lives a life of monkey. A lion does not and cannot live a life of monkey. A bird cannot live a life of fish. Every animal lives according to its own life. Sinners live a sinful life. Only a Christian can live a Christian life. Before you can live a Christian life, you must first become a Christian. 

Jhn 3:5-8, “ Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the   Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.   Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.    The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 

Note: Water refers to the Word of God. Truly, truly, unless one is born of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which born of the flesh is flesh, man is born of the flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. A Christian is a born again by the Word and the Spirit. A Christian has a spiritual life which a sinner does not have. Without the Holy Spirit living inside, no one can live a Christian life.

Mat 4:4 , “But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘ MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE , BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’” 

Note: A Christian does not live on bread alone, but live on the Word of God. 

Luk 7:25 ,   “But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces! ” 

Note: How true it is that luxuries are found in royal palaces. There are so many useless and worthless peoples who live in luxuries.

Live in luxury does not mean to live a Christian life. Something is seriously wrong with preachers who live in luxury.

Luk 15:32 , “But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and  was   lost and has been found.’” 

Note: A sinner’s life is spiritually dead. You have not begun to live until you are born again and receive a new life in Jesus Christ. The life in Christ is to live forever. Lest you start in the wrong way, you cannot live a Christian life unless you have the Spirit of Christ living in you.

Jhn 11:25  , “ Jesus said to her, “ I AM the Resurrection and the Life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies. ” 

Note: Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He who believe in Jesus will live even if he dies because true believers will have the resurrection in spiritual, glorious and eternal body. 

Act 17:28, “ for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’   ” 

Note: On earth now all children of God in Christ live and move and exist. For me to live is Christ, to die is gain. 

Rom 6:8 , “Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.” 

Rom 8:12 -13 , “So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.   ” 

2Ti 3:12, “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ   Jesus will be persecuted. ” 

The world hates Christians because they live godly in Christ.

Rom 14:8 , “ for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. ” 

2Co 13:4, “For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you. “

No one can live a Christian life without the power of God directed toward him.

Gal 2:19 ,   “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.   ” 

Note: What is a Christian life like? Christians live in Christ, live with Christ, live for Christ, and live to God. 

I.  How to be saved 

What must I do to be saved?  

The Jailer Converted 

Act 16:30-32, “and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “ Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the Word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.   ” 

Note: This jailer is a typical person how he and his household were saved. Jailer knew he was a sinner. He wanted to be saved. So he asked Paul and Silas who were imprisoned, what must he do to be saved. The way of salvation is the way of God. All other religions teach the way of salvation is the way of man. 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ says,  Eph 2:8 , “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves,  it is  the gift of God.” 

Note: Grace in is chariswhich means unmerited favor; loving-kindness; mercy; good will; benefit; bounty; unmerited divine assistance; – which occurs 159 times in the New Testament. Faith in Greek is pistis which means belief; conviction that Jesus Christ is the Messiah; reliance; trust; – which occurs 243 times in the New Testament. Save in Greek is  sōzō which means to rescue from death and destruction; to make whole; to deliver or protect literally and figuratively; to preserve; to save body and soul from Hell;- which occurs 123 times in the New Testament. Gift in Greek is  dōronwhich means present; offering; something given freely; – which occurs 19 times in the New Testament.  Salvation is the gift of God, no one can earn it. So it is by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ you may be saved, and it is not what you have done. It is what Christ has done for you and me. 

What does salvation through Christ involve? 

Jhn 3:17 ,  “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that   the world might be saved through Him. ” 

Note: Jesus Christ the Son of God came into the world the first time to save sinners. Jesus Christ is coming again the second time to judge the world. 

Jhn 10:9 , “I am the Door;  if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. ” 

Note: Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He is the Door of salvation. If anyone enters through Jesus Christ, he will be saved. Salvation is only in Christ. 

Jhn 14:6 , “Jesus said to him, “I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.   ” 

Note: Jesus Christ is the Way, there is no other way to God. All man-made religions lead people astray. No man can find God by science or his efforts. This is the Truth. To believe in Jesus Christ is to receive eternal life. 

Rom 3:22 , “even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction .” 

Rom 3:24 , “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus .” 

Sinners are unrighteous in the sight of God, but sinners can be justified as a gift by God’s grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ redeems sinners by dying on the cross for our sins. So we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Simply by believing in what Jesus Christ has done for you, you may obtain the righteousness of God and be justified, it means God counts not as sinner but as righteous.

Phl 3:9 , “and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith .” 

Note: From the law no one can be justified because if you violate one law you violate all laws. So sinners need the righteousness from God on the basis of faith, not work.

There is no distinction whether you are male or female, free or slave, of any color or class. If you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Savior of mankind, you will awarded the righteousness of God. By His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, a sinner can be justified as a gift of God. 

Rom 5:1 , “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ   .” 

Note: God considers every sinner an enemy. Having been justified by grace, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. A saved believer no longer fears God might hurt him. 

Rom 5:9 , “ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God     through Him.   ” 

Note: Having now been justified by the precious blood of Jesus Christ (redemption), we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. The wrath of God in the judgment to come will fall upon the wicked and unbelievers. 

Rom 5:10 , “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.   ” Jesus Christ rose again from the dead by the power of God, He is able to save those who come to Him to the end. For Jesus Christ lives forever and ever.

Note: Sinners are enemies of God. The wages of sin is death. For that reason we all have to die, sooner or later. Through the death of His Son, we are reconciled to God, and having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Our Redeemer lives forever to save believers to the end. 

Rom 8:11 , “ But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.   ” 

1Pe 1:3 , “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead   .” 

Note: The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in believers. God who raised Christ Jesus from the dead also gives life to our mortal bodies through His Spirit who lives in us. In Christ we have a living hope. 

Eph 1:7 , “ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace .” 

Eph 2:18 , “for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. ” 

Eph 3:6 , “to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the Body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. ” 

Note: Redemption in Greek is  apolytrōsis  which means deliverance;  liberation procured by the payment of a ransom; according Strong’s Concordance,   deliverance effected through the death of Christ from the retributive wrath of a holy God and the merited penalty of sin   ; – which occurs 10 times in the New Testament.  In Christ we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses (sins), according to the riches of God’s grace. Through Christ we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. Through the Gospel, Gentile believers are fellow heirs and fellow members of the Body of Christ, and fellow partakers of the promises in Christ. 

Heb 7:25  , “ Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.   ” 

Heb 9:12, “and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” 

Note: Jesus Christ is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, through His own blood, He has obtained eternal redemption. Believers have been sanctified once and for all through the body of Jesus Christ. 

The process of obtaining salvation : 

1.  Repent. 

Mat 4:17 , “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “ Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” 

Mar 1:15 , “and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the   Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the   Gospel.” 

Note: The Kingdom of Heaven is the Kingdom of God. Repent in Greek is metanoeō  which means to change one’s mind; to be sorry for one’s past sins; to think differently; to turn around; to turn from sin to God; to turn from darkness to light; turn away from idols to the living God; – which occurs 32 times in the New Testament. 

Why should one repent? 

Luk 13:3 , “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.   ” 

Note: Perish in Greek is apollymi which means to be destroyed; ruin; to be put to death; to be lost; to put an end to; to give over to eternal misery in Hell; – which occurs 94 times in the New Testament. Sinners will die in their sins and perish in Hell.  Mat 10:28 ,   “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.   Luk 12:4 -5 ,   “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do.   But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into Hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! ” 

Act 17:30 , “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people  everywhere should repent .” 

Note: Overlook in Greek is hyperoraō which means to wink at; to take no notice of; excuse; not attend to; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. Ignorance in Greek is agnoia  which means lack of knowledge; moral blindness; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. Declare in Greek is apaggellō  which means to tell; show; bring word; to proclaim; to make known openly; to announce; – which occurs 47 times in the New Testament. Ignorance cannot be excused anymore. God overlooked your past times of ignorance, but now God is seriously declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent. All people means you and you and you and me and everybody. 

Zaccheus Converted 

Luk 19:2-10, “And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich.   Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way. When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly.   When they saw it, they all    began     to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”   Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.”  And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” 

Note: Zaccheus in Greek is    Zakchaios  which means   “pure”; but his life was corrupt. Although he was small in stature, he was big in determination. So he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed up into a tree in order to see Jesus. He overcame the problems of crowd and his short stature. The crowd grumbled that Jesus had gone to be a guest of a sinner. Zaccheus repented of his sins and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.” This is an example of faith in action, the result of true repentance. It is not possible for a man who believes in Jesus and not to repent.  Act 26:20 , “but  kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also     at Jerusalem and then  throughout all the region of Judea, and even  to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.” He who repents and turns to God will perform deeds appropriate to repentance.  Mat 3:8 ,   “Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” In keeping with in Greek is axios, which means worthy; to meet; corresponding to; befitting; deserving; comparable or suitable; – which occurs 41 times in the New Testament. Jesus says, Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 

Many church members believe repentance is only once when you accepted Jesus. 

Rev 2:5  , “Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent. ” 

Note: A saved believer still can fall. Just do not fall from grace. Repent and do the deeds you did at first when you accepted the Lord as your Savior, when you first loved the Lord. 

Rev 3:3 , “So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it,  and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. ” 

Note: Keep what you have received and heard the Word of God and repent. Wake up from your spiritual slumber. 

Eph 4:25-32 ,  “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you  WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.  BE ANGRY, AND yet  DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,and do not give the devil an opportunity.  He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have  something   to share with one who has need.   Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment,  so that it will give grace to those who hear.   Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. ” 

Note: Do you lie? Repent and speak the truth. Do you get angry? Do not sin and repent. Do you steal? Repent and steal no longer. How many employees steal from their employers? I know a head-nurse who stole from her hospital. How many managers and executives steal from their corporations. One man told me he was in the Army, so many stole from the warehouse of Army. How many managers and executives use company petty cash as their own. Do you use curse and filthy word? Repent and use good word. How many times we grieve the Holy Spirit? Report and obey the Holy Spirit. Do you practice bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and slander with malice? Repent and put them away from you. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has forgiven us. Do you see we Christians need to repent whenever we fall short or miss the mark. 

Why Jesus has not come yet? 

2Pe 3:9 , “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.   ”

Note: Repentance in Greek is metanoia which means a change of heart or mind; sorry for one’s sin; compunction (for guilt); turn to the right path; change of mind to abhor sins and misdeeds; a recognition of sin and sorrow for it; remorse for one’s misdeeds or shortcomings; – which occurs 22 times in the New Testament.

Act 2:38 , “Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.   ” 

Act 26:20 , “ but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and  also   at Jerusalem and  then  throughout all the region of Judea, and even  to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance. ” 

2.  Believe. 

Faith is necessary for new birth, participation of divine nature, a new life. Faith is still necessary when a Christian ends his journey on earth and dies. Faith follows a Christian through his life. 

Rom 10:17 , “ So faith comes  from hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ. ” 

Note: Preaching the Gospel of Christ is of greatest importance. Without hearing the Word, people cannot believe. For faith comes from hearing the Gospel. 

Mar 1:15  , “and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the   Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the   Gospel.” 

Note: Repent of sins and believe in the Gospel go together. Those who repent of their sins must believe in the Gospel, those who believe in the Gospel must repent of their sins. 

Luk 8:12 , “Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. ” 

Note: The process of salvation is to repent of your sins, believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and you will be saved. 

Jesus says,  Jhn 5:24 ,   “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My Word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. ” 

Note: He who hears the Word of Christ, and believes God who sent Jesus, has eternal life, and does not come into judgement (because his sins are forgiven), but has passed out of death into life. To be saved is to have passed out of eternal death into eternal life. 

Rom 10:9 , “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus  as    Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; ” 

Note: If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

Heb 11:6, “ And without faith it is impossible to please    Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and    that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. ” 

Why faith? Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Do you know unbelief is a great sin that can send anyone to Hell?   Jhn 16:9  , “   concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me .”     Jhn 8:24  , “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He,  you will die in your sins.”    Jde 1:5 , “ Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.” 

1Jo 5:13 , “ These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. ” 

The Bible is written so that people who believe in the name of the Son of God may know that they have eternal life. 

Heb 11:3, “ By faith we understand that the universe   was formed by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.   ” 

Note: Form in Greek katartizō which means to make perfect; frame; fit out; prepare; perfectly joined together; put in order; arrange; – which occurs 15 times in the New Testament. Scientists only study the things visible, even that, with all scientific instruments and tools, not very well and often fallible. The invisible is beyond scientific inquiry.   In human knowledge you understand and then believe. In spiritual knowledge by faith we understand. We understand the worlds (universe) were prepared or created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of thing which are visible. Faith is seeing the invisible. Scientists with all instruments, telescope and microscope, cannot see the invisible. 

Gal 3:26 , “ For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ” 

1Co 2:5 , “ so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. ” 

Rom 1:17, “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed   from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS   man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” 

Rom 3:28 , “ For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. ” 

Rom 4:5 , “ But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness .” 

Note: Through faith in Jesus Christ we become sons of God. Our faith rests on the power of God, not wisdom of men. Believers live by faith. A man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. No one can be justified from works of the Law or his own merit. The one who believes in Christ who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness. 

Rom 5:1-2 , “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.   ” 

Note: Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ we also obtained grace in which we stand. No one can stand before God without grace. Believers exult in hope of the glory of God when Jesus Christ returns to earth. 

Mat 9:28 , “When He entered the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” 

Note: Faith is simply believes that Jesus Christ is able to save sinners, not only to heal all diseases and pains. Blessed is the person who says, “Yes, Lord.” To say yes to the Lord, you need to say no to the devil. 

Mar 9:20 -24, “They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming    at the mouth. And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.  It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us! And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” 

Note: The boy’s father was wise to cry out to Jesus, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” The man is wiser than many unbelieving scientists, theologians and philosophers. A man is hopeless if he does not realize he needs help. 

Jhn 1:12 , “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” 

Note: As many as who believe and receive Jesus Christ, to them God gives the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. 

Jhn 3:18, “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.   ” 

Note: He who believes in Jesus Christ is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son God. You need not to be a killer, robber, and liar to be judged. Your unbelief has been condemned and judged already, it is a matter of time to be sent to Hell for eternal punishment. Do you see how serious is the difference between belief and unbelief, between life and death. 

Jhn 6:29 , “Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” 

Note: No one can be saved by his good deeds. This is the work of God, if you believe in Jesus Christ whom God has sent. 

Jhn 8:24 , “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” 

Note: You will die in your sins; for unless you believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, you will die in your sins. 

Jhn 9:38 , “And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him. ” 

Note: All who believe in Jesus Christ worship Him, for He is our God and Savior. 

Jhn 10:26, “But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.” 

Note: There are people who are so proud and arrogant that they declare they do not believe in Jesus Christ, not knowing they seal their own fate–eternal death. You do not believe because you are not of Jesus’ sheep. You live in this world without God and without hope. 

Jhn 20:31 , “but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. ” 

Note: The Holy Scriptures have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. 

3.   Confess. 

Rom 10:8 -11 , “ But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,  that if you confess with your mouth Jesus  as  Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.   For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” 

Note:  Confess in Greek is  homologeō which means to profess; make confession; assent; to agree with; declare; not to deny; to admit; acknowledge; concede; to declare faith in; adhere to; – which occurs 27 times in the New Testament. All Christians confess with their mouths that Jesus is the Lord. Believe in Greek is pisteuō  which means to have confidence; to accept the word of; to fave a firm conviction; to put in trust with; to have faith in; to think to be true; to trust in Jesus or God for salvation; – which occurs 244 times in the New Testament. To confess Jesus is the Lord you use your mouth, to believe that God raised Jesus from the dead you use your heart. A person believes with the heart resulting in righteousness, and confesses with the mouth resulting in salvation. 

Mat 10:32 , “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in   Heaven.” 

Luk 12:8 , “And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God .” 

Note: It is vital to confess Jesus Christ before men, so that Jesus Christ will confess us before the Father who is in Heaven. 

2Co 9:13 , “Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the  Gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all.” 

Note: In addition to the confession that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, Christians also have obedience to and make confession of the Gospel of Christ. To make confession of the Gospel of Christ is to proclaim to the people. Heb 4:14     , “ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ” Hold fast in Greek is  krateōwhich means to lay hold on; lay hand on; get possession of; take hold of; seize or retain; not to let go; to continue to hold; – which occurs 58 times in the New Testament.  Heb 10:23 , “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful   .” Hold fast in Greek is  katechō  which means to possess; keep; retain; keep secure; keep firm possession of; seize on; – which occurs 25 times in the New Testament. So Christians hold fast to the confession of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and our confession to the obedience of the Gospel of Christ. 

Not only we need to confess our Lord Jesus Christ, confess our faith, we also need to confess our sins.  Not to confess our sins to a Catholic priest, but to God.

1Jo 1:9 , “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ” 

After a Christian is saved from everlasting death, he still has to confess his sins as long as he lives in this world. 

4.   Accept. 

Mar 4:20 , “And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the Word and accept it and bear fruit , thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” 

Note: Accept in Greek is   paradechomai   which means to receive willingly; to take up; to delight in; to acknowledge as one’s own; to believe; to say yes; – which occurs 6 times in the New Testament. Those who hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and accept it in an honest and good heart will bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. 

Mar 10:15 , “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all. ” 

Luk 18:17 , “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it  at all.    ” 

Note: Receive in Greek is  dechomai which means to accept gladly; to take up; to take hold of; to get; to acquire; – which occurs 56 times in the New Testament. Child in Greek is    paidion  which means little child; young child; little one; figuratively an innocent and unsophisticated person; – which occurs 52 times in the New Testament. We must receive the Kingdom of God with the innocence and simplicity and sincerity of a child. No one can come to Jesus Christ as president, politician, or prime minister. However, you may come to Christ as pimp or prostitute, thief or robber. All must come to Christ as sinners.

Jhn 12:48 , “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.   ” 

Note: He who rejects Jesus Christ and does not receive His sayings, the word Jesus spoke is what will judge him at the last days. 

Act 26:18  , “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’ 

Note: The Holy Spirit opens the eyes of those who believe so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have be sanctified by faith in Christ Jesus. 

2Th 2:10 , “and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. ” 

Note: Those who perish believe in all the deception of wickedness, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. They believe what is false and take pleasure in wickedness. 

Heb 12:28 , “ Therefore, since we receive a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.” 

Note: To believe in Jesus Christ not only to receive forgiveness of sins, salvation and sanctification, but also receive the Kingdom of Heaven which cannot be shaken. Christians ought to show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe. 

II.  How to grow 

An infant grows because it has life. A doll cannot and does not grow, because it is dead. For a Christian to grow his spiritual life, he needs to study the Word of God, to pray to God, and imitate Christ. 

1Pe 2:2 , “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the  Word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.” 

1Co 3:2 , “ I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it.  Indeed, even now you are not yet able .” 

Note: If you take a doll and an infant, how can you tell the difference. A doll has no life in itself, will never grow. An infant has life in itself, it can breath and cry and eat. New converts are like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, so that by it may grow. Just as babies cannot eat solid food, so young converts are not able to receive solid doctrine like sanctification and sacrifice. 

2Pe 3:17-18, “ You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge    of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.   ” 

Note: Not only God knows everything; God knows the end from the beginning. Time and space do not restrict and limit the knowledge and foreknowledge of God. The Word of God always warns and forewarn believers beforehand. Be on guard in Greek is  phylassō which means to keep one’s self; beware; keep watch; observe; have an eye open; to preserve, observe, avoid; – which occurs 33 times in the New Testament. Carry away in Greek is synapagō  which means to lead away with;  sweep away; condescend; – which occurs 5 times in the New Testament. Error in Greek is planē  which means deceit; delusion; deception; falsehood; mental straying; fraud; wandering away from truth; wrong opinion; leading astray from the right way; – which occurs 10 times in the New Testament. There are many doctrinal errors and wrong opinions spread by false prophets and false teachers. Roman Catholicism is an error. Evolution is an error. Secularism is an error. Liberal theology is an error. Unprincipled in Greek is  athesmos     which means wicked; lawless; unscrupulous; evil; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. Beware the error of the wicked which can carry people away and make people fall. Do not fall from grace. Steadfastness in Greek is  stērigmos  which means firm condition; moral and mental stability; – which occurs 1 times in the New Testament. It is possible for you to fall from steadfastness, therefore be on your guard. The following is a good advice for all believers of all times and places: 

Eph 6:11-13, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ” 

Note: Armor in Greek is  panoplia  which means whole armor; panoply; full armor includes   shield, sword, lance, helmet, greaves, and breastplate ; – which occurs 6 times in the New Testament. The full armor of God includes   THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,   the shield of faith   ,   THE HELMET OF SALVATION   , and   the sword of the Spirit   .  Scheme in Greek is   methodeia  which means wile; cunning arts; deceit; trickery; craft; deceitful devices; design; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Schemes of the wicked are the schemes of the Devil and more. The schemes of the devil are wicked and evil schemes and schemes of iniquity.The schemes of the devil are to take advantage of you. 

Luk 2:40 , “ The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.”  

Note: The Child Jesus can be a model for young converts. A young convert needs to continue to grow by feeding on the pure milk of the Word of God so he can become strong, increase in wisdom, and grow in the grace and knowledge of God. 

Col 1:23 , “ if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. ” 

Note: Young believers need to continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, having root. Focus on the hope of the Gospel. 

1Ti 4:6 , “In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly     nourished on the Words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.” 

Note: A good servant of Jesus Christ,   in speech, conduct, love, faith and  purity ,  needs to show himself an example of those who believe. Constantly nourished on the Words of the faith and of the sound doctrine he is able to instruct young believers. A preacher of prosperity gospel who loves money and the world is not a servant of Christ. 

Phl 1:25 , “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith   .” 

Note: As his faith grows, a true believer will show progress and joy in the faith. 

1Pe 1:7 , “so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ .” 

Note: A true believe has the proof of his faith, being more precious than perishable gold, even though tested by fire (tribulations), may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the second coming of Jesus Christ. 

Eph 4:15 , “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the Head, even Christ .” 

Note: Christians do not and cannot lie, but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects conforming to the image of Christ who is the Head of the Church. Not a few preachers or pastors try to make their members their disciples. Christians are disciples of Jesus Christ, not any man no matter how famous he is. 

2Pe 3:18 , “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. ” 

Note: Christians are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christians want to be rich in the faith, rich in good work. The supreme goal of a Christian life is to Jesus Christ be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. 

For Christians to grow, we need to study the Bible, pray to God, imitate Christ, testify for Jesus Christ, and do good deeds. 

(A.)  How to study the Bible. 

The Holy Bible is not like any other book. The Bible is the sole Book whereby Christianity is built and based upon.   The Bible or the Scripture claims to be the Word of God, although holy prophets and holy apostles were moved and wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Bible never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit and wrote them down. The Bible is right because God cannot be wrong. It simply means the Bible is not the teaching of man; it is the revelation of God. The Bible is divided into two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is the basis of Judaism, mainly the Mosaic Law and the Prophets – from Genesis to Malachi, a set of 39 books. The New Testament is the basis of Christianity, written by apostles after the ascension of Jesus Christ – from Matthew to Revelation, a set of 27 books. Thus, the Bible is composed of 66 books. Unfortunately, the Jews still wait for the Messiah, they do not know or believe that Jesus Christ was the Messiah who was God and became Man some 2,000 years ago. For this reason the Jews believe only the Old Testament. Christians believe in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is fulfilled in the New Testament because Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law of Moses. All the prophets spoke about the Messiah fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. The Bible is not like other books, it is the message of God to mankind. The central message of the Bible is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was sent into the world to die for our sins, rose from death for our justification. He ascended to Heaven sitting at the right hand of God, and He is coming again to reign with the saints forever and ever. Some humanists and modernists and unbelievers out of their evil heart of unbelief want a ‘different and better Bible’. There is no other Bible, there is no better Bible, there is only one Bible which is the Word of the Lord. Men may fake a Good Book. There is no other Good Book, the Bible is the only Good Book because it has the Word of life, and it teaches the Way of God in truth.   

The Bible was not conceived by man, or woman, or men. The Bible was not invented by human being or human beings. The Bible was not made by an institution or institutions. The Bible was not a product of culture, tradition, religion, custom, experience or experiment, discovery or wisdom of human beings. The Bible was not a fable, fiction, composition, novel, anthology, essay, philosophy of human mind. The Bible is the Holy Scripture, the Word of God. 

Jhn 10:35 ,“If he called them gods, to whom the Word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken).” The Bible, the Scripture and the Word of God are synonymous. Word in Greek is  logos which means speech, a living voice, a conception or idea, what is said, decree, dictum, mandate, declaration, instruction, reason, revelation, oracle or utterance, the sayings of God, the moral precepts given by God, doctrine, teaching, the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal Wisdom and Power in union with God; – it occurs 334 times in the New Testament. The Word of God came to holy prophets and apostles. 

What to Do with the Word of God.  

Peoples of the world and Christians are at least told to do the following. The Word of God speaks two groups of people: believers and unbelievers. What the Word of God tells Christians to do, unbelievers cannot do.   

(1.)  Hear the Word. 

Isa 28:14 , “Therefore hear the Word of the LORD, you scornful men, who rule this people who are in Jerusalem.” 

Isa 66:5 , “Hear the Word of the LORD, you who tremble at His Word: Your brethren who hated you, who cast you out for My name’s sake, said: Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy. But they shall be ashamed.” 

Jesus says, Mat 13:9 , “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” 

Rom 10:17 ,  “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” 

Note: Hear the Word means to listen to what God says and obey the Word of God. The Holy Bible is the Word of God.

(2.)  Pay attention to the Word. 

2Pe 1:19 ,  “And we have the Word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” 

Note: Pay attention in Greek is  prosechō   which means to turn the mind to, attend to be attentive, give attention to, take heed, devote thought and effort to; – it occurs about 24 times in the New Testament. You do well to pay attention to the Word of God which a light like the morning star that shines in your hearts. 

(3.)  Believe the Word. 

Act 4:4 , “However, many of those who heard the Word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.” 

Note: Believe in Greek is  pisteuō   which means to think to be true, to be persuaded of, place confidence in, trust in Jesus or God as able to aid; – it occurs about 248 times in the New Testament. To believe the Word is to take God at His Word. 

Act 15:7 ,“And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the Word of the Gospel and believe.” 

Note: It is the duty of man to hear the Word of the Gospel and believe. 

Eph 1:13 ,  “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the Word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” 

Note: To hear the Word of truth, the Gospel of our salvation and believe is to be sealed to receive the Holy Spirit. 

(4.)   Receive the Word. 

Act 8:14 , “Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.” 

Note: Receive in Greek is  dechomai which means to take hold of, take up, give ear to, embrace, approve, make one’s own; – it occurs 59 times in the New Testament. We must receive the Word of God. 

Act 17:11 , “These were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” 

Note: Readiness in Greek is  prothymia which means readiness of mind, eagerness, zeal, spirit, inclination; – it occurs only 5 times in the New Testament. Search the Scriptures and receive the Word with readiness of mind and eagerness. 

1Th 1:6, “And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the Word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit.” 

Note: For followers of Jesus Christ to receive the Word in affliction means to suffer for the Lord and to be with joy of the Holy Spirit. 

1Th 2:13, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” 

Note: The Word of God is the Word of truth. 

(5.)   Desire the Word. 

1Pe 2:2 , “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby.” 

Note: Desire in Greek is epipotheō which means to long for, pursue with love, long after; – it occurs only 9 times in the New Testament. As newborn babes desire the milk so Christians should desire the pure milk of the Word. The Word is vital for spiritual growth. Christians are to grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ. Knowledge of and obedience to the Word of God are essential for Christian growth. 

(6.)   Taste the Word. 

Hbr 6:5 , “And have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the age to come.” 

Note: Taste in Greek is  geuomai which means to try the flavor of, partake of, enjoy, feel and experience; – it occurs about 15 times in the New Testament. The taste of the Word of God is good because of its promises and blessings. If you are a child of God, you must have experienced the divine providence and how God has blessed and helped you in many ways. 

(7.)   Keep the Word. 

Luk 11:28 , “But He said: More than that, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it!” 

Note: Keep here in Greek is  phylassō which means to guard, watch, keep watch, guard i.e. care for, take care not to violate, observe; – it occurs about 30 times in the New Testament. 

1Jo 2:5 ,  “But whoever keeps His Word, truly the love of God is perfected in Him. By this we know that we are in Him.” 

Note: Keep in Greek is  tēreō  which means to attend to carefully, take care of, observe of God’s or Christ’s command; – it occurs about 75 times in the New Testament. To keep the Word is to obey the commandments of God and do the will of God. 

(8.)   Remember the Word. 

Jhn 15:20 ,  “Remember the Word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My Word, they will keep yours also.” 

Note: Remember in Greek is  mnēmoneuō   which means to be mindful of, call to mind, hold in memory, keep in mind, make mention of; – it occurs about 21 times in the New Testament. Christians must remember the Word that Jesus said in the New Testament and keep it. To remember the Word of Christ you have to keep it in your heart. Here “yours” refers what the apostles later said and wrote in the New Testament. It does not mean what church leaders, theologians or pastors say. 

(9.)  Obey the Word. 

Jos 24:24 , “The people said to Joshua: We will serve the LORD our God and we will obey His voice.     ” 

Note: Obey in Hebrew is shama`which means to hear, listen to, consent, agree, yield to, be obedient, give heed; – it occurs about 1,159 times in the Old Testament. God’s voice and God’s word mean the same. To obey God’s voice is to obey His Word. 

2Th 1:8 , “Dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus.” 

Note: Obey in Greek is hypakouō which means to be obedient to, submit to, harken to a command; – it occurs 21 times in the New Testament. To obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus is to obey the Word. Those who do not obey will receive retribution. Retribution in Greek is  ekdikēsis which means vengeance, punishment; – it occurs only 9 times in the New Testament. What punishment for those who do not obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ says,     Mat 25:46 ,  “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Punishment in Greek is    kolasis  which means correction, penalty; – it occurs only 2 times in the New Testament. What is eternal punishment? Body and soul suffer in Hell forever. 

(10.)  Be doers of the Word. 

Jam 1:22 , “But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” 

Note: Doer in Greek is  poiētēs which means a performer, practitioner, one who obeys or fulfills the law; – it occurs only 6 times in the New Testament. One who hears the Word, but does not do it, deceives himself. A good illustration is the Western powers that claim to be Christian, but they practice imperialism, colonialism, capitalism, and hegemonism which are totally contrary to the Word of God. 

Luk 6:46 , “Why do you call Me: ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” 

Be doer of the Word is to do what the Lord says. 

(11.)   Hold firm the Word. 

Phl 2:16 ,  “Holding out the Word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” 

Note: Hold out in Greek is  epechō which means to have or hold upon, hold toward, hold forth; – it occurs only 5 times in the New Testament. 

Tts 1:9 ,“Holding firm the faithful Word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.” 

Note: Hold firm in Greek is  antechō  which means to hold to firmly, cleave to; – it occurs only 4 times in the New Testament. Believers must hold out and hold firm the Word of life in this ungodly world. 

(12.)   Speak the Word. 

Act 4:31 ,  “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.” 

Note: Speak in Greek is  laleō  which means to utter a voice or emit a sound, use the tongue or the faculty of speech, talk, tell, use words in order to declare one’s mind and disclose one’s thoughts, make known by speaking; – it occurs about 296 times in the New Testament. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is not meant to speak in tongues, but to speak the Word of God with boldness. Boldness in Greek is  parrēsia which means freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech, open, frankly, free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, assurance; – it occurs about 31 times in the New Testament. 

Act 16:32 ,“Then they spoke the Word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.” 

Phl 1:14 ,  “And most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the Word without fear.” 

Note: What is the difference between speaking the Word and preaching the Word. Speaking the Word is informal, preaching the Word is formal. We should pray that the Word of God can be proclaimed everywhere without fear. In some countries that have state religion, you will lose your life or your head to preach the Word of God. If one of their citizens is converted to Christianity, he/she will be beheaded. That kind of oppressive religion should be outlawed in all civilized nations. Religious freedom should mean preaching and practicing the Gospel of Jesus Christ without fear. 

(14.)   Preach the Word. 

Act 8:4 , “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Word.” 

Note: Preach in Greek is  euaggelizō which means to evangelize, bring good news, announce glad tidings, proclaim glad tidings; – it occurs about 55 times in the New Testament. There is a wrong idea among believers. They think to preach the Word is only the job of preachers. Christians everywhere must preach the Word to unbelievers. 

Act 8:25 ,“So when they had testified and preached the Word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the Gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.” 

Act 15:35 ,“Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word of the Lord, with many others also.” 

2Ti 4:2 , “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” 

Note: Here the word preach is kēryssō which means to be a herald, to officiate as a herald, publish, proclaim openly; – it occurs about 61 times in the New Testament. The Gospel of Jesus Christ can be preached by TV, radio, movie, printed matter, record, DVD, and the Internet. 

(15.)  Spread the Word. 

Act 13:49 ,“And the Word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.” 

Note: Spread in Greek is diapherō  which means to bear or carry through any place, carry in different directions, to different places, spread abroad; – it occurs about 13 times in the New Testament. Preachers must preach the Gospel; all Christians must spread the Word. Today the Internet is the most effective and fastest means of spreading the Word of the Lord throughout the world, and the cheapest means. 

(16.)  Bear witness to the Word. 

Act 14:3 ,“Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the Word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.” 

Note: Bear witness in Greek is  martyreō  which means to testify, affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, be a witness of the truth; – it occurs about 79 times in the New Testament. Every born-again Christian is a witness to the Word of His grace; even most believers do not have the gift of performing signs and miracles. A Christian life is a living testimony to the grace and power of God. 

(17.)   Teach the Word. 

Act 18:11  ,“And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them.” 

Note: Teach in Greek is  didaskō  which means to hold discourse with others in order to instruct them, deliver didactic discourses, impart instruction, instill doctrine into one, explain or expound a thing; – it occurs about 97 times in the New Testament. Not everyone can teach the Word. Ministers must be equipped to teach sound doctrines. The strangest things are professors of theology and ministers who do not know the Word but teach everything to deny and repudiate the Word. Such are false teachers. You wonder why they exist in seminaries and churches today. Actually it is a fulfilled prophecy, 

Jud 1:4 , “For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

2Pe 2:1 ,“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” Any doctrine that denies Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world is a destructive heresy and false doctrine. 

(18.)   Labor in the Word. 

1Ti 5:17 ,“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who  labor in the Word and doctrine.   ” 

2Ti 2:15 , “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 

Note: This task is assigned to the preachers and Bible teachers. Labor in Greek is  kopiaō which means to toil with wearisome effort; – it occurs about 23 times in the New Testament. What I am trying to do is to put the Word and fundamental doctrines of Christianity on the Internet absolutely free, rightly dividing the Word of truth, proclaiming and promoting the Kingdom of God and Christ. Rightly dividing in Greek is   orthotomeō  which means to make straight and smooth, to handle aright, to teach the truth directly and correctly; – it occurs only once in the New Testament. To explain the differences between law and grace, between work and gift, between reward and punishment, between heaven and hell, between this life and the life to come, between things below and things above, between the worldly and the spiritual, between the eternal life and eternal punishment, etc. is rightly dividing the Word of truth. Among those who labored in the Word and doctrines that I admire most are G. Campbell Morgan, J. C. Ryle, John Bunyan, etc. 

(19.)   Glorify the Word. 

Act 13:48 ,“Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the Word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.” 

Note: Glorify in Greek is doxazō which means to praise, extol, magnify, celebrate, honor, do honor to, hold in honor, make glorious, adorn with luster, clothe with splendor, render it excellent or illustrious; – it occurs 62 times in the New Testament. There is nothing like the Holy Bible because it is the Word of God. There is nothing like the Word of God because it is truth, nothing but the truth, trustworthy to accept and believe. To glorify the Word of the Lord is to glorify God. Those who glorify the Word of God do not commit idolatry (bibliolatry). To glorify the Word of God you cannot glorify the words of men. Those who glorify the words of men are guilty of idolatry. The church of Jesus Christ must obey the Word of God. 

Ezr 7:6 -12 , “ This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was   a scribe skilled in the law of Moses,    which the LORD God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all he requested because the hand of the LORD his God was     upon him. For Ezra had   set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to   teach   His  statutes and ordinances in Israel. Now this is the copy of the decree which King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest,  the scribe,   learned in the words  of the commandments of the LORD and His statutes to Israel: “Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace. And now ” 

Note: Ezra in Hebrew is Ezra’ which means   Ezra = “help” , he was a co-worker with Nehemiah; – which occurs 22 times in the Old Testament. Ezra was a most remarkable learned man, gifted, a scribe and priest, learned in the Words of the commandments of the Lord and His statutes to Israel. Ezra was a model student of the Word of God. He who studies the Bible must set his heart.  Set in Hebrew is  kuwn which means to prepare; to make ready; to be securely determined; to apply one’s mind to do something; to direct;   – which occurs 237 times in the Old Testament. Heart in Hebrew is  lebab which means mind; soul; the seat of senses, affections, and emotions of the mind; the mode of thinking and acting; the seat of will and purpose; intellect and wisdom; – which occurs 250 times in the Old Testament. Study in Hebrew is darash  which means to search; seek with care; enquire; investigate; to apply oneself; – which occurs 167 times in the Old Testament. Practice in Hebrew is `asah  which means to do; perform; execute; keep; maintain; accomplish; bring about; put in order; follow; fulfill; work about; – which occurs 2,642 times in the Old Testament. Ezra set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it because he wanted to teach God’s statutes and ordinances in Israel. 

2Ti 3:14 -17 , “You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Sacred Writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 

Note: Timothy was blessed to have known the Sacred Writings from childhood. I am grateful to have studied the Bible from childhood. Convince in Greek is pistoō  which means to be assured of; to be firmly persuaded of; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. Christians are convinced the Word of God is true, and Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. Sacred in Greek is hieros  which means Sacred Scriptures because inspired by God; holy; pertaining to God; consecrated to God; worthy of veneration; deserving respect; – which occurs 74 times in the New Testament. Writing in Greek is  gramma  which means Scriptures; a document or record; that which has been written; the sacred writings of the Old Testament; – which occurs 13 times in the New Testament. The Sacred Writings are able to give us the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Scripture in Greek is  graphē  which means   the Scripture, used to denote either the book itself, or its contents ; a certain portion or section of the Holy Scripture   ; Holy Writ; – which occurs 51 times in the New Testament.   Inspire in Greek is theopneustos  which means to be given inspiration by God; divinely breathed in; to influence by divine inspiration; to communicate supernaturally; to bring about; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Luk 24:27 , “Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” From Moses to all the prophets, they speak concerning Jesus Christ. Profitable in Greek is  ōphelimos which means helpful or serviceable; advantageous; beneficial; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. A Chinese philosopher said, It is profitable to open a book. Although I had studied the world’s great masterpieces, I can assure you there is nothing more profitable or beneficial than the study of the Holy Bible. All the more a servant of Christ must master the Word of God in order to be adequate, and equipped for every good work. 

Jhn 5:39 , “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me .” 

Note: Search in Greek is  eraunaō  which means to examine into; to seek; to investigate; to look into carefully; – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament. Testify in Greek is   martyreō  which means to bear witness; bear record; to give honest testimony; attest; – which occurs 96 times in the New Testament. The Scriptures testify about Jesus Christ. Everything we know about Jesus Christ we learn from the Scriptures. 

Years ago when I was young, an American professor advised me: Study the Gospel of John 100 times. Study the Book of Romans 100 times. Now I am old, it was a good advice. Here is a plan for your self-study of the Bible. You begin by reading carefully the Gospel of John, do it consecutively, do not skip chapter. Read every verse, pay attention to every word. If you study the Gospel of John carefully, you will have the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the central message of the Holy Bible. Then read the Book of Romans the same way you read the Gospel of John. If you study the Book of Romans, you will understand the Christian faith. When you finish the Book of Romans, then start with the Gospel of Matthew and finish the whole New Testament. Afterwards you begin with Genesis and finish the whole Old Testament. Since the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New Testament, it is profitable that you focus more on the New Testament. You do not need to use commentary. Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you and lead you into all truth. If you are acquainted with the Scriptures, probably you will find many commentaries are wrong with private interpretations. Of course you may need a good dictionary to find the meanings of a word or the words you do not know. You can study the Bible, book by book, chapter by chapter, and verse by verse. You can also study the Bible by topics, such as atonement, baptism, confession, faith, forgiveness, glorification, grace, judgment, justification, reconciliation, redemption, regeneration, repentance, salvation, sanctification, etc. To do topic or word study, you need a concordance. The best concordance is  Strong’s Concordance,  it is provided free on line on the Internet. 

Strong’s Concordance with  
Hebrew and Greek Lexicon http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html 

Those who make  Strong’s Concordance  available and free on line is doing a good work. I cannot do my studies and writings about many subjects published on the Internet absolutely free without Strong’s Concordance ; otherwise it will take a long time and much greater efforts. 

(B.)  How to pray. 

It must be said that we pray to God only — never pray to Mary, Apostles, Angels, Saints, dead people (including your parents or loved ones), ancestors, demons or spirits, sun, moon, stars, animals, trees, mountains, rivers, seas, idols, images, statutes, etc. 

Many are confused about what a prayer is. Even preachers think reporting to God is prayer. Some preachers even preach to God when they pray. Prayer is not reporting to God, for God knows everything and He does not need anyone to report to Him what is happening in the world. Preachers should not use prayer as a sermon, preaching to God and men. Preachers should not pray long prayers during Sunday service as if long prayers were indicative of their devotion. Old people are unable to stand up for long prayers. Do not confuse public prayers with private prayers. Preachers may pray all night alone by themselves in their own homes.  

Luk 6:12 , “It was at this time that He (Christ) went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.”  

When the Lord taught His disciples to pray, the prayer was not long.  Pastors should not pray long prayers in public and let old people stand a long time. Some preachers mistake long prayers for devotion. Preachers and believers can pray long prayers in their own rooms alone. 

See   Mat 6:9-13.  Basically,  praying is asking God, asking God for a favor or mercy. 

The Bible teaches us how to pray : 

(1.)  Pray at all times in the Spirit. 

Eph 6:18, “Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” 

Note: Prayer is supplication. To pray is to make supplication. To pray at all times in the Spirit does not require bowing your head, closing your eyes, and saying your prayer audibly. It is making your heart’s wish in the Spirit to the Lord at all times. Let your spirit get in touch with the Spirit of God with sighing and supplicating. To pray to God is simply to ask God for mercy, for help, for salvation, for forgiveness of sins. You can pray: God, have mercy on me!

(2.)  Always offering prayer with joy. 

Phl 1:4 , “Always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all.” 

Note: To pray with joy is to pray with delight. It is a joy that believers can pray to God about anything at any time. 

2Th 1:11 , “To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power.” 

(3.)    In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. 

Phl 4:6 , “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” 

Note: To pray with thanksgiving is to pray with gratitude. To pray is to make known your requests to God. Christians ought to be anxious for nothing, be prayerful in everything, and be thankful for everything. 

(4.)  Continue steadfastly in prayer. 

Col 4:2 , “Continue steadfastly in prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.” 

Note: Prayer is not a one time performance. We need to continue steadfastly in prayer. 

1Th 5:17 , “pray without ceasing.” 

(5.)  Be watchful in your prayer. 

1Pe 4:7, “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound mind and watchful in your prayer.   ” 

Note: To be watchful is to keep alert. Why is it necessary to be watchful in your prayer? The end of all things is near. We live in perilous times. The coming of the Lord is near. 

(6.)  Pray in every place. 

1Ti 2:8 , “Therefore I want the men in every place to pray   , lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.   ” 

(7.)  Pray in the Holy Spirit. 

Jde 1:20  , “ But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit . ” 

What is to pray for?  

There are endless things we can pray for, but pray for most important things. 

(1.)  Pray that the Word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified. 

2Th 3:1 , “ Finally, brethren, pray for us that the Word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you .” 

(2.)  Pray for believers to be filled with the knowledge of His will. 

Col 1:9 , “For this reason also, since the day we heard of it,    we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you   may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding .” 

(3.)  Pray that the fellowship of Christian faith may become effective. 

Phm 1:6, “ and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake.   ” 

(4).  Pray for believers to prosper and be in good health. 

3Jo 1:2 , “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you   may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.   ” 

(5.)  Pray to have a good conscience and conduct ourselves honorably. 

Heb 13:18 , “Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably    in all things.   ” 

(6.)  Pray for those who are suffering, including the sick. 

Jas 5:13 , “ Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.   ” 

(7.)  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. 

Psa 122:6 , “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 
“May they prosper who love you.   ” 

(8.)  Pray for those who persecute you. 

Mat 5:44 ,   “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” 

(9.)  Pray for those who mistreat you. 

Luk 6:28 , “bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ” 

(10.)  Pray for all the saints. 

Eph 6:18 , “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints .” 

Note: The saints mean all living believers (brothers and sisters) on earth now, not dead Christians who are with the Lord. 

(11.)  Pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened. 

Eph 1:18 , “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” 

(12.)  Pray that your love may abound still more and more. 

Phl 1:9 , “ And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment.” 

The physical posture of prayer includes sitting, standing and kneeling. Here are some important points to remember: 

Mat 14:19 , “Ordering the people to sit down on the grass   , He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward Heaven , He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds   .” 

Luk 22:41 , “And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray.” 

Mat 6:5 , “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.   ” 

Mat 6:6, “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room   , close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. ” 

Mat 6:9 , “ Pray, then, in this way: 
‘Our Father who is in Heaven, 
Hallowed be Your name.   ” 

Mat 14:23  , “ After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.   ” 

Mar 6:46 , “After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.   ” 

Luk 6:12 , “It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray , and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. ” 

Luk 9:28 , “Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.   ” 

Note: Jesus often went off to the mountain to pray without fear. We must have common sense. Jesus was not afraid of any danger, beast or robber. The safest way is to pray in your room alone. 

Act 10:9  , “On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. ” 

Luk 18:1 , “ Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart .” 

Luk 18:9-14 , “And He also told this parable to some people who   trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:  Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’But the tax collector, standing some distance away   , was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘ God, be merciful to me, the sinner !’  I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” 

Luk 22:40 , “ When He arrived at the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 

Rom 8:26 , “ In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words   .” 

1Co 14:15 , “ What is the outcome  then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. ” 

Eph 6:18  , “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit , and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” 

(C.)  How to imitate Christ. 

To imitate Christ is to learn from Christ. 

Mat 11:29 , “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. ” 

Note:   Yoke in Greek is  zygos which means metaphorically, used of any burden or bondage, it is so transferred to the commands of Christ unlike the Mosaic Law; – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament. I believe it spiritually refers to the cross. So Jesus says,  Mat 10:38, “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. ” Gentle in Greek is  praÿs which means mild, kind, meek; not violent; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament.  1Pe 3:4 , “but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. ” Humble in Greek is tapeinos    which means lowly, lowly in spirit, of low degree, not arrogant or haughty; – which occurs 8 times in the New Testament. In heart means not in appearance. As a comparison, there was an American prosperity gospel TV evangelist. He was so arrogant that he pushed a flight attendant and declared, Do you know who I am? Those who learn from Christ and take up the cross to follow him will find rest for their souls. 

Heb 12:2 , “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Endure in Greek is    hypomenō   which means to suffer, to take patiently; to persevere ;  under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one’s faith in Christ  ; – which occurs 20 times in the New Testament. To learn from Christ is to take up the cross, endure the cross, fixing our eyes on Jesus and follow after Jesus. 

(1.)  Christians must learn the obedience of Christ. 

Heb 5:8 , “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. ” 

Note:  Learn in Greek is  manthanō which means to understand, to increase one’s knowledge; to gain knowledge or understanding; – which occurs 26 times in the New Testament. Obedience in Greek is  hypakoē   which means compliance, submission, act of obeying; – which occurs 15 times in the New Testament. We can learn obedience from sufferings.  To suffer is to feel pain. Sufferings cause pain. Pain makes man think. We learn many things from sufferings. Psa 119:71, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. ” 

2Co 2:9 , “For to this end also I wrote, so that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. ” 

Note: Can we put ourselves to the test to prove our trustworthiness? Christians must learn to be obedient in all things the Lord commands. 

Rom 15:18 , “For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed.” 

Note: What Christ has accomplished for us are tremendous and precious and eternal. What Christ has accomplished through His servants are recorded in Heaven. What we have accomplished for Christ will be remembered forever. Our obedience to Christ must be proved by word and deed. 

2Co 9:13 , “Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for  your  obedience to your confession of the Gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all.” 

Note: Our obedience is to our confession of the Gospel of Christ. Our obedience to the Gospel of Christ glorifies God. 

2Co 10:5 , “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and    we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 

Note: All speculations and imaginations against the knowledge of God must be destroyed and we are taking everything thought captive to the obedience of Christ. To obey Christ we must reject all speculations and lofty ideas of unbelieving theologians and philosophers raised up against the Word of God. I have studied the so-called lofty ideas of theologians and philosophers, they are vain and not worthwhile. 

(2.)  Christians must learn from the humility of Christ. 

Phl 2:8 , “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ” 

Note:   Humble in Greek is  tapeinoō which means to make low, bring low, metaphorically to bring into a humble condition; to abase one self by humble living; to have a modest opinion of one’s self; to behave in an unassuming manner; – which occurs 18 times in the New Testament. Our glorious Lord became Man in appearance as a man; obeyed the will of the Holy Father by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Death on a cross was the cruelest form of Roman empire punishment. 

Phl 2:5-7 , “Have this mindset in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,  but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant,  and being made in the likeness of men. ” 

Note: Humility of Christ is revealed in the mind of Christ,   Mind or mindset in Greek is phroneō which means thought, opinion, view, concern, affection; the complex of elements in an individual that feels, perceives, thinks, wills, and especially reasons; mentality; intellectual ability; mental capabilities; a mental attitude or inclination; a person’s way of feeling and thinking; – which occurs 36 times in the New Testament. God wants believers to have the mind or mindset of Christ, to deny oneself.  Christ preexisted in the form of God, but He emptied Himself. Grasp in Greek is    harpagmos which means to rob, seize, hold fast, retain; to clutch; to lay hold of; to take or seize eagerly; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Unbelievers live and labor to grasp fame and fortune, money, power, and pleasure. Empty in Greek is  kenoō which means to make void, to make of no reputation, to abase; to lay aside; – which occurs 9 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ emptied Himself so as not to grasp equality with God. 

Christians must have the mind (or mindset) of Christ. We must learn to empty ourselves – empty our pride, position, pleasure, power, possession, privilege, prerogative, perspective, prejudice, preconception, prejudgment, presumption, pretext, purse, knowledge; etc. To be filled with the Holy Spirit, we must first empty ourselves. 

2Co 10:1, “By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! ” 

Note: Humility in Greek is  praÿtēs which means meekness, gentleness of spirit, mildness of disposition, lack of pride or arrogance; – which occurs 11 times in the New Testament. The exalted Son of God has humility. 

Act 20:19 , “serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews.” 

Note: Serving the Lord requires all humility. 

Col 3:12 , “So, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” 

Note: The elect of God must put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 

Tit 3:2 , “to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. ” 

Note: Most people think you need to show all humility to the rich and powerful and people of high position. Christians in imitating Christ show all humility to all men. Humility is a special quality: If you think you are humble enough, you are not humble at all. 

1Pe 5:5, “You younger men, likewise, be subject to    your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.     ” 

Note: The reward of humility is the blessing God gives grace to the humble.       

(3.)  Christians must learn from the sufferings of Christ. 

Phl 3:10 , “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” 

Note: To have fellowship of the sufferings of Christ is a higher level of knowing and following Christ. Fellowship in Greek is  koinōnia which means communion, communication, joint participation, sharing, intimacy, partnership, social intercourse, association; companionship; – which occurs 19 times in the New Testament. To deny oneself is to be conformed to His death. 

Why we must learn from the sufferings of Christ?     At least 4 reasons: 

(1.) Col 1:24, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my   share on behalf of His body, which is the Church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.” 

Note: To do our share of sufferings on behalf of the body of Christ which is the Church is to fill up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. This is a high spiritual truth. The meaning is what is wanting in Christ’s affliction on behalf of His body the Church is to be borne by me willingly in order to repay for all the benefits freely I have received from the Lord. Affliction in Greek is thlipsis which means tribulation, persecution, trouble, anguish, oppression, burden; – which occurs 45 times in the New Testament. To share Christ’s afflictions is to suffer with Him. 

(2.) 1Pe 4:13, “but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ , keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.     ” 

Note: To share the sufferings of Christ is a guarantee to rejoice with exultation at the revelation of His glory. To suffer for Christ now is to rejoice with Christ when He comes in great power and glory. 

(3.) 2Co 1:5, “For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.” 

Note: To have sufferings of Christ in abundance is to have abundant comfort through Christ. This is the abundant spiritual life. 

(4.)  Rom 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ” 

Note: It is important to know what is worthy or not worthy. How can one know what is worthy or not worthy? By comparison. Comparison is to judge of one thing in connection with another. Comparison is a a measure to wear the merit or value of something against another thing. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. So it is worthy to suffer for Christ. 

1Pe 1:22, “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart .” 

Note: Purify in Greek is  hagnizō which means to make pure, cleanse; to sanctify morally; – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament. Obedience to the truth can purify our souls. Not only we must know the truth, believe in the truth, speak the truth, testify to the truth, listen to the truth, practice the truth, walk in truth, and we must also obey the truth. We must learn obedience to the truth.  Jhn 17:17, “ Sanctify    them in the truth; Your word is truth. ” The more you know the truth in Jesus Christ the more you can be sanctified. 

Heb 12:10 , “For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He  disciplines us for  our good, so that we may share His holiness.  ” 

Note:   Discipline in Greek is  paideuō which means to train up, chasten, chastise, teach, instruct, correct, educate, penalize, punish; – which occurs 13 times in the New Testament. God disciplines His children for our good so that we may share His holiness.    Heb 12:14, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. ” Without holiness no one will see the Lord. 

Act 26:18 , “ to open their eyes so that they may  turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an    inheritance  among those who have been  sanctified by faith in Me. 

III.  How to Develop Christian Character. 

It is not enough for one to be born again, to be saved, he needs to develop the Christian character. Just as it is not sufficient for a baby is born, he needs to grow up to be a mature man.

Rom 5:3-5, “And not only   that,   but we also   exult   in tribulations, knowing that   tribulation    produces perseverance;   and   perseverance   produces    character; and   character   produces   hope.   Now   hope   does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.   ” 

Note: Tribulations (sufferings) produce perseverance, and perseverance produces character. Exult in Greek is  kauchaomai  which means to rejoice; glory; boast; vaunt; to leap for joy; to express great happiness; – which occurs 39 times in the New Testament. Tribulation in Greek is    thlipsis  which means suffering; affliction; trouble; anguish; persecution; oppression; distress; pressure; – which occurs 45 times in the New Testament. Perseverance in Greek is  hypomonē  which means patience; endurance; steadfastness; constancy; continued effort to be or do despite difficulties; continued determination; tenacity; – which occurs 33 times in the New Testament.   Character in Greek is dokimē  which means tried character; proof; experience; a specimen of tried worth; trustworthiness; approvedness; distinguished attributes; distinctive characteristics or qualities; main or essential nature; – which occurs 10 times in the New Testament. Hope in Greek is  elpis  which means expectation of good; joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; – which occurs 54 times in the New Testament. Hope in Christ will never disappoint. The hope in Christ is glorious. Disappoint in Greek is  kataischynō  which means to be put to shame; dishonor; disgrace; confound; to fail to meet expectation; – which occurs 16 times in the New Testament. There is no disappointment in Christ. There are too many disappointments in this world. Unless you are born again, you do not know the experience or meaning of the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has given to us. All unsaved people are without the Holy Spirit. All unbelievers live without God and without hope in this world, no matter whether he is king, queen, prince, princess, president, prime minister, general, tycoon. 

1Co 15:33 , “Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character .” 

Note: Bad company corrupts good character. A man is known by the company he keeps. Bad in Greek is kakos    which means evil; harmful; wicked; wrong; worthless; depraved; troublesome; injurious; pernicious; baneful; destructive; ill; of a bad nature; – which occurs 56 times in the New Testament.   Company in Greek is homilia which means companionship; communion; intercourse; association; fellowship; – which occurs 1 times in the New Testament. Corrupt in Greek is phtheirō which means to defile; to destroy; to perish; to ruin; to shrivel or wither; to degrade; to spoil; to rot; – which occurs 10 times in the New Testament.   Character in Greek is ēthos  which means manners; custom; moral habits; good morals; distinctive character; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. 

Phl 1:11 , “May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.   ” 

Note: Christian character (or righteous character) is produced in Christian life by Jesus Christ, the fruit of salvation. The righteous character will bring much glory and praise to God. 

Heb 1:3 , “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and   He sustains everything by the mighty power of His command. When He had cleansed us from our sins, He sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in Heaven. ” 

Note: Jesus Christ the Son of God radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God. Christians conform to the Image of Christ should also radiate the character of Christ. Before we have the Christian character, Jesus Christ had cleansed us from our sins. 

Rth 2:1 , “Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side. He was a prominent man of noble character from Elimelech’s family. His name was Boaz.   ” 

Note: Boaz was a prominent man of noble character. Nowadays the richest the man, the worst is his character. 

Rth 3:11, “Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character. ” 

Note: Ruth was a woman of noble character because she was a woman of virtue and excellence. Boaz was a man of noble character and 
Ruth was a woman of noble character, their marriage was made in Heaven. 

Pro 12:4, “A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones. ” 

Note: A wife of noble character is a virtuous woman, an excellent wife, a worthy wife, a noble wife, a good wife, a worthy woman. 

Pro 31:10 , “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.   ” 

1Ki 1:52 , “Then Solomon said, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground, but if evil is found in him, he dies.” 

Note: Character in Hebrew is chayil  which means virtue, uprightness, fitness, and integrity; – which occurs 245 times in the Old Testament. Solomon said if Adonijah is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground, if evil is found in him, he dies. 

Act 17:11 , “ The people here were of more noble character   than those in Thessalonica, since they received the   Word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.   ” 

Note: Noble character in Greek is  eugenēs  which means well born; noble-minded; high in rank; outstanding qualities; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. Those who received the Word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so are of more noble character. 

Eph 5:4 , “Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character    – but rather thanksgiving. ” 

Note: Out of character is Greek is anēkō which means not fitting; not proper; not convenient; unbecoming; discreditable; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. Christians cannot use vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting — all of which are our Christian character. 

2Co 2:9 , “ I wrote for this purpose: to test your character to see if you are obedient in everything.   ” 

Note: Character in Greek is dokimē  which means approved, tried character; trustiness; proof; approvedness; distinctive attributes or qualities of an individual; – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament. The proof of Christian character is to be obedient to God in everything. 

Phl 2:22 , “But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the Gospel ministry like a son with a father. ” 

Note: You can know a person by his proven character. Timothy has proven his character because he has served with Apostle Paul in the Gospel ministry like a son with a father. To serve with Paul in the Gospel ministry is never to live in luxury, but to suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal, and endure persecutions and afflictions. 

Heb 13:5 , “ Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,” 

Note: Character in Greek is  tropos  which means manner of life; conduct; way; fashion; deportment; mode or style; turn of mind; distinctive qualities or features of an individual; – which occurs 12 times in the New Testament. The Christian character is free from the love of money and being content with what one has. Content in Greek is  arkeō  which means to be satisfied; to be sufficient; to be enough; to be contented; happy and satisfied; – which occurs 8 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ will never desert Christians, nor will He ever forsake us. 

1Pe 1:7 , “so that the proven character of your faith    — more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire — may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.   ” 

Note: The proven character of faith is more valuable than gold, may result in praise, glory, and honor at the coming of Jesus Christ. 

An ordinary person corrupted in the world by lust cannot have Christian character, just like a monkey cannot have human blood. Having become partakers of the divine nature, Christians are equipped to build or develop Christian character. All Christians need to develop Christian character. Character is built by the process of addition. Christian character is built by adding one Christian virtue to another. Only Christians can have Christian character. It takes Christian character to live the Christian life. 

1Pe 1:2-3, “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 

Note: Foreknowledge in Greek is  prognōsis  which means forethought; pre-arrangement; divine knowledge beforehand; supernatural knowledge; divine knowledge of all events before they happen; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. God knows everything from the beginning to the end. God knows all things beforehand and before they happen. Predestination has something to do with the foreknowledge of God.  Jhn 6:64,   “But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.   ”Jesus has foreknowledge and knew from the beginning that Judas would betray Him because Jesus is God. Christians are God’s special people. A Christian is a chosen one according to the foreknowledge of God, by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, according to God’s great mercy caused to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to be purified by His precious blood in order to obey Jesus Christ. 

2Pe 1:4 , “For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become    partakers of   the  divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. ” 

Note: Promise in Greek is  epaggelma which means a self-committal; a binding declaration of assurance that something is given or to be done; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Precious in Greek is timios  which means especially dear; honorable; of great value; of great price; highly esteemed; very valuable; – which occurs 15 times in the New Testament. God’s promises are more precious than precious stones. Magnificent in Greek is    megistos  which means exceeding great; very great; greatest; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. Partaker in Greek is  koinōnos  which means partner; sharer; associate; companion; fellowship; – which occurs 10 times in the New Testament. Divine nature is the opposite of human nature. Corruption in Greek is  phthora  which means destruction; perishing; what is perishable; moral decay; ruin; eternal misery; – which occurs 9 times in the New Testament. Lust in Greek is  epithymia  which means desire for what is forbidden; concupiscence; unholy longing or craving; – which occurs 38 times in the New Testament. The love of money, power and sex is the lust in the world. Granted by God’s precious and magnificent promises, believers may become partakers of the divine nature. With the divine nature, believers can produce the Christian character. 

2Pe 1:5-9 , “And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your   faith   virtue; and to   virtue    knowledge;    and to   knowledge self-control   ; and to   self-control    patience; and to   patience    godliness;   and to   godliness     brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness   love.  For if these   qualities   be in you, and abound, they make    you that ye shall    neither    be    barren nor unfruitful in the    true    knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But he that lacks    these things is   blind, and cannot see afar off, and has    forgotten that he was purified from his old sins.   ” 

Note: Add in Greek is  epichorēgeō  which means to add as a supplement; furnish; present; aid or contribute; provide; – which occurs 5 times in the New Testament. Apparently the Christian character is the addition of some excellent qualities. 

The Scriptures identify 8 qualities of Christian character: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.  Christian character is adding quality to quality, quality upon quality.   Faith in Greek is pistis  which means belief; assurance; moral conviction of the truth; belief that Jesus is the Messiah; trust in God or Christ; fidelity; according Strong’s Concordance: “a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the   Kingdom of God” ; – which occurs 243 times in the New Testament.   Virtue in Greek is  aretē  which means moral excellence; moral goodness; modesty; purity; an eminent endowment; a virtuous course of thought, feeling and action; – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament.   Knowledge   in Greek is  gnōsis which means the general knowledge of Christian faith; science; general intelligence or understanding; the fact of knowing something; – which occurs 30 times in the New Testament.   Self-control in Greek is  egkrateia which means temperance; the virtue of mastering one’s desires and passions; self-restraint; continence; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament.   Patience   in Greek is    hypomonē  which means perseverance; enduring; steadfastness; endurance; constancy; unswerved from original purpose; loyalty to faith and piety even facing greatest trials and sufferings; steadfast waiting for; sustaining; – which occurs 33 times in the New Testament.   Godliness in Greek is  eusebeia  which means holiness; moral righteousness; reverence; piety towards God; the quality of being godly; – which occurs 51 times in the New Testament.   Brotherly kindness in Greek is  philadelphia    which means brotherly love; the love which Christians cherish for each other; fraternal affection; – which occurs 12 times in the New Testament.   Love in Greek is  agapē    which means charity; affection or benevolence; – which occurs 117 times in the New Testament. 

Faith  is the first and foremost basic quality of Christian character. Faith can be little or great, weak or strong. Believers obtain the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ. By grace believers have been saved through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God. Faith can grow strong and increase. If you have faith you do not doubt. Have faith in God, not the world, wealth, power or man. Christians become obedient to the faith. Believers must continue in the faith. Believers stand firm in the faith. Our faith does not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. Christians walk by faith, not by sight. Christians live faith in the Son of God. Believers received the promise of the Holy Spirit through faith. We are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.   By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.    Without faith it is impossible to please God. Just as the body without    the    spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.    Christians are told to fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life. 

Virtue  is moral excellence.   Phl 4:8 , “ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things  are  of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is  anything    praiseworthy   —     meditate on these things. ”  2Pe 1:3 , “   as His divine power has given to us all things that    pertain  to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” 

Knowledge of good and evil we all have. Knowledge can increase. He who hears the Words of God has the knowledge of the Most High. Wisdom and knowledge are necessary for a ruler. The workers of wickedness have no knowledge. The Lord teaches man good discernment and knowledge. The youth lacks knowledge and discretion. The LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come  knowledge and understanding.  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,  and the knowledge of the Holy One is   understanding. Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,    but he who hates reproof is stupid. A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly. Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays folly. The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly. He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.  Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,   and he who hurries his footsteps errs. There is gold, and an abundance of jewels;  but the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing. Apply your heart to discipline   and your ears to words of knowledge. A wise man is strong,  and a man of knowledge increases power. Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge  results in    increasing pain.  Those who believe in Jesus Christ have the knowledge of salvation, and the forgiveness of their sins. Through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.   Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!   Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.   For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit.   For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.   We are    destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are  taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ . That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.    And to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.    Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.    Secular academics, unbelieving theologians and scientists have   what is falsely called “knowledge”.  And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment.  For this reason also, since the day we heard  of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. That their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and  attaining  to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding,    resulting     in a true knowledge of God’s mystery,    that is,     Christ    Himself.     In Christ  are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.    And have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— . God our Savior desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. And I pray  that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake.  Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him  be  the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 

Self-control  has a lot to do with one’s destiny. A man   will   die for lack of self-control;   he will be lost because of his great foolishness. Better to be patient than powerful;   better to have self-control than to conquer a city.  A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.  Governor Felix became frightened as Apostle Paul reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control.  Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.  There is no law against the fruit of the Spirit, such as self-control.  So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach.   In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do.   You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!   Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience. So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 

Patience   in Chinese is a knife in the heart which is unbearable.  By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.  Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride.   Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well?  Should you talk that way, O family of Israel? 
Will the LORD’s Spirit have patience with such behavior? 
If you would do what is right, 
you would find my words comforting. 

May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.   We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.   But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,   gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!   We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy.   Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  But God had mercy on me    (Paul)  so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of   His great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance.  Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience. For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—. 

Godliness   is divine quality.   As for you, if you will follow Me with integrity and godliness, as David your father did, obeying all My commands, decrees, and regulations, then I will establish the throne of your dynasty over Israel forever. For I made this promise to your father, David: ‘One of your descendants will always sit on the throne of Israel.’   May   Your priests be clothed in godliness;   may   Your loyal servants sing for joy. The godliness of good people rescues them;  the ambition of treacherous people traps them.   Godliness guards the path of the blameless,  but the evil are misled by sin. Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. The LORD detests the way of the wicked,   but He loves those who pursue godliness.   Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest. Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward,  and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind.  Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.  But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God.  These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.  Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 

Brotherly kindness   can be defined as sincere love of the brethren. 

The affection of Christ Jesus produces brotherly kindness.   What is desirable in a man is his kindness,    and    it is     better to be a poor man than a liar.  He has told you, O man, what is good;    and what does the LORD require of you    but to do justice, to love kindness,    and to walk humbly with your God?    I believe brotherly kindness can be defined by  Zec 7:9,   “Thus has the LORD of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother.” 

Love is the greatest for God is love. Love is the greatest motivation.   Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments.  Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.   Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD and so  bring wrath on yourself from the LORD?     Hate evil, you who love the LORD, Who preserves the souls of His godly ones; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.   I love the LORD, because He hears    my voice    and     my supplications.   Hatred stirs up strife,   but love covers all transgressions.  Better is a dish of vegetables where love is  than a fattened ox    served    with hatred.  Better is open rebuke    than love that is concealed.   For love is as strong as death,   jealousy is as severe as Sheol.   Hate evil, love good,   and establish justice in the gate!   He has told you, O man, what is good;    and what does the LORD require of you    but to do justice, to love kindness,   and to walk humbly with your God?    So love truth and peace.  “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Jesus’ ideal is the highest moral.   “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” 

And Jesus said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”   A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”   But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.   Let     love    be    without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of  the law.   Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.  Love is patient, love is kind    and is not jealous; love does not brag    and    is not arrogant. Love never fails.   But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual    gifts,    but especially that you may prophesy.  Let all that you do be done in love. 

If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha. 

For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;   and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.   The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.   Through love serve one another. So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;  and  that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.  From whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.   Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;   and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the   Church and gave Himself up for her.   Beyond all these things  put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.   May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.  But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.   Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but    rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and   purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.   For the love of money is the root of every evil; which some having aspired after, have wandered from the faith, and pierced themselves with many sorrows.    So that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children. And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.   Let love of the brethren continue.   Make sure that  your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU.”   Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart.   Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.   Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.    But whoever keeps His   Word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him.   Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.   See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such  we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.   By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. 

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.  We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.   Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.   This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.   We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.   For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.  And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.    Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.   Those whom I (God) love, I (God) reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 

IV.   How to Bear Fruit. 

Mat 3:8 , “Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance   .” 

Note: In keeping with in Greek is    axios    which means worthy;   having the weight of another thing of like value;    worth as much ; befitting; corresponding to; deserving; comparable or suitable; agreeing with; – which occurs 41 times in the New Testament. Believers must bear fruit agreeing with repentance as   Zaccheus   did. 

Rom 7:4 , “ Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.   ” 

Note:   Join in Greek is    ginomai   which means to be married to; to become a man’s wife; to come together with one accord; – which occurs 536 times in the New Testament. Christians are married to Jesus Christ through the body of Christ the Church, spiritually speaking. Believers are joined to Christ who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 

Mar 4:20 ,   “And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” 

Note: Believers bear fruit in different degree, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. One should not be satisfied with the least. 

Luk 8:15 ,   “But the    seed  in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.   ” 

Note:   Perseverance in Greek is    hypomonē    which means patience; enduring; patient waiting; patient continuance; steadfastness;   loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings   ; constancy;   unswerved from    purpose; – which occurs 33 times in the New Testament. To bear fruit one needs to hold fast the Word in an honest and good heart with constancy and patience. 

Jhn 15:2 ,   “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every   branch    that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.   ” 

Note: Jesus Christ is the True Vine, believers are the branches. Prune in Greek is    kathairō    which means to purge; to cleanse of filth and impurity; to expiate; to remove the superfluous; to cut away what is unwanted; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. I believe the Lord disciplines believers as a vinedresser cultivates and prunes grapevines.  Pro 22:15 , “ Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;    the rod of discipline will remove it far from him.   ” The rod of discipline removes foolishness bound up in our heart.  Heb 12:10-11 , “For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He  disciplines us for    our    good, so that we may share His holiness.  All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” The Lord disciplines us because He wants us to bear more fruit, to train us to share His holiness, and to yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness. 

Jhn 15:4 ,   “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither   can   you unless you abide in Me.   ” 

Note: Abide in Greek is    menō    which means to remain; dwell; not to depart; to continue to be; to endure; to stand; to maintain unbroken fellowship; to hold fast; – which occurs 118 times in the New Testament. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so Christians cannot bear fruit unless we abide in Christ. Independence for a Christian is death.  1Co 1:30 , “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.” 

Jhn 15:16,   “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and   that    your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.   ” 

Note: We did not choose Christ but Christ chose us. No one can by his efforts or wisdom find God.  Heb 12:27 , “ This   expression,    “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.   ” 

Remain in Greek is   menō   which means to abide; continue; endure; not to perish; to survive, live; to last; – which occurs 118 times in the New Testament.   If you do something good for yourself, it may last for a life time. If you do something good for mankind, it may last several generations. If you do something good for Christ, it would last for eternity. Power, position, possession, money, wealth, mansion and all worldly things can be shaken. The good fruit in Christ would remain which cannot be shaken. The good deeds in   Christ would remain.     Heb 13:14 , “ For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking    the city which is to come.   ” The City which is to come and eternal is the New Jerusalem, the Holy City.     1Co 13:13, “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.   ”     1Jo 2:17, “ The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” 

Hear ye, hear ye: 
The one who does the will of God lives forever. 

1Co 3:12 -15 , “Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is    to be    revealed with fire, and   the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.     If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.   ” The work genuinely, sincerely, and honestly done for Christ will remain and receive a reward. 

Rom 7:4 , “Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.   ”     Jhn 15:8     ,   “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and    so     prove to be My disciples.   ”     Phl 1:11     , “   having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which    comes     through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.   ” Christians do not bear fruit for self-glory, but for God. The fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ is to the glory and praise of God. 

Jhn 15:8 ,   “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and    so     prove to be My disciples. 

Note: Christians have two purposes in bearing much fruit, first to glorify God and second to prove we are disciples of Jesus Christ. 

Rom 7:4  , “Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might   bear fruit for God.   ” 

The Bible explains various kinds of fruit:  

Heb 13:15 , “   Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is,   the  fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. “ 

Note: Most church members do not know that the fruit of lips that give thanks to God is offering up a sacrifice of praise to God. The fruit of our lips must continually give thanks to His name. 

Gal 5:22-23 , “But   the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,     gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.   ” 

Note: Fruit in Greek is    karpos which means work, act, deed; fruit as plucked literally or figuratively; an effect, result; advantage, profit, utility; product; – which occurs 66 times in the New Testament. 

The fruit of the Spirit includes 9 virtues:

Love   in Greek is    agapē    which means charity, affection, good will, benevolence, brotherly love, kindness; – which occurs 117 times in the New Testament. Love is a big word in Christianity. 

1Jo 4:7-8    , “Beloved, let us love one another, for   love is from God   ; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.   The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.   ” Hate is from the devil. Liars, killers and robbers cannot be children of God. Warmongers, imperialists, militarists, capitalists, monopolists, supremacists, racists, and terrorists do not love, do not know God and they are children of the devil.     1Co 13:4     , “   Love is patient, love is kind    and    is not jealous; love does not brag    and     is not arrogant   .” 

Joy    in Greek is    chara    which is gladness; cheerfulness; calm delight; happiness; bliss; – which occurs 59 times in the New Testament. The state of early Christians,     Act 13:52     , “   And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.   ” Christianity is not pessimistic like Buddhism. Christ enabled Paul and Silas after having been beaten with rods, struck with many blows, thrown into prison, and their feet fastened in the stocks; b   ut about midnight   they    were praying and singing hymns of praise to God.   Phl 4:4  , “   Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!   ” 

Peace    in Greek is    eirēnē     which means rest; quietness; a state of tranquility; harmony; concord; felicity;   exemption from the rage and havoc of war   ;   the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ   ; fearing nothing from God; – which occurs 92 times in the New Testament.     Jhn 14:27     ,   “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”     If your heart is troubled and fearful, you have no peace.   The peace of Christ can be portrayed in a fierce gale of wind, the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up, Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion.     Jhn 16:33     ,   “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”    Jesus has overcome the world, Satan, and death. 

Patience    in Greek is    makrothymia    which means long-suffering; endurance; perseverance in bearing troubles and ills; forbearance; steadfastness; longanimity; fortitude; constancy; – which occurs 14 times in the New Testament.     Jas 5:10     , “As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.   ” It is well for us to study the prophets as an example.     Jas 5:11     , “ We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and   is    merciful.   ” Endurance in Greek is    hypomonē which means patience, enduring; steadfastness; not swerved from faith even in the face of trials and tribulations; – which occurs 33 times in the New Testament.     Heb 10:36     , “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.” 

Kindness    in Greek is    chrēstotēs    which means moral goodness; gentleness; benignity; the quality of being generous and helpful; usefulness; moral excellence; – which occurs 10 times in the New Testament.     Eph 4:32     , “   Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.   ” 

Goodness    in Greek is    agathōsynē    which means uprightness of heart and life; virtue or benevolence; kindness; beneficence; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament.     Phm 1:14     , “but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.   ” Good deed must be done by free will, not by compulsion. All who become rich by fraud, theft and monopoly eventually become philanthropists to compensate their guilt. To raise $100 in the name of charity, keep $99 and give out only $1 is not good deed, it is robbery. In the name of Gospel to establish a foundation to enrich oneself is not goodness, but religious theft. 

Faithfulness    in Greek is    pistis    which means fidelity; assurance; loyalty; trustworthiness; conscientiousness; dependability; character that can be relied on; – which occurs 243 times in the New Testament.     Lam 3:23     , “   They    are new every morning;   Great is Your faithfulness.   ” The faithfulness of God is great.     Pro 25:19     , “    Like    a bad tooth and an unsteady foot    is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.   ” Ask yourself how many persons you can count on in time of trouble. 

Gentleness    in Greek is    praÿtēs    which means meekness; mildness of manners or disposition; humility; quality of being gentle; – which occurs 11 times in the New Testament.     Jas 3:13     , “   Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.   ” 

Self-control    in Greek is    egkrateia    which means temperance; the virtue of mastering one’s desires or passions; self-discipline; self-restraint; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament.     1Co 7:5     , “   Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.   ” A good example of self-control is Joseph:     Gen 39:7      -10    , “ It came about after these events that his master’s wife looked with desire at Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”   But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, with me    here,    my master does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he owns in my charge.   There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this   great evil and sin   against God?”   As she spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to lie beside her or  be with her.” 

Eph 5:8-9 , “ for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light     (for the fruit of the Light  consists  in all   goodness and    righteousness and truth).” 
Note: Children of Light bear the fruit of the Light. The fruit of the Light consists of three virtues: goodness, righteousness and truth. 

Goodness    in Greek is    agathōsynē,    the same original word used in    Gal 5:22-23 ,     one virtue of the fruit of the Spirit.

Righteousness    in Greek is    dikaiosynē which means the condition acceptable to God; integrity; virtue; purity of life; correctness of thinking, feeling and acting; justice; what ought to be; moral correctness; – which occurs 91 times in the New Testament.     Phl 3:9     , “   and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from   the    Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which   comes    from God on the basis of faith.” 

Note: No one can have a righteousness of his own derived from the Law, for no one can fulfill the the righteousness of the law all the time. Through faith in Christ we obtain the righteousness which comes from God by grace.  1Jo 2:29 , “ If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.” Everyone who practices righteousness is born of God. Warmongers, aggressors, dictators, robbers, imperialists, militarists, capitalists, monopolists, supremacists, racists, and terrorists practice unrighteousness. So they cannot claim to be Christians.     1Jo 3:7     , “Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.” Christians, make sure no one deceives you. The one who practices righteousness is righteous.     1Jo 3:10     , “By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.” The children of God practice righteousness and love the brotherhood. The children of the devil do not practice righteousness and hate the people. The children of the devil lie, kill, and rob. 

Truth    is a virtue of the fruit of the Light. Truth is Greek is  alētheia    which means verity; objectively what is true; in reality; in fact; things as taught in the Bible; things pertaining to God or Christ; that which is free from falsehood, deceit, pretense, or simulation; everything as it is really is; the body of real facts; factuality; – which occurs 110 times in the New Testament.     Psa 119:160     , “   The sum of Your word is truth,     And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.   ”The sum of God’s Word is truth.     Jhn 1:14     , “   And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.   ” God became MAN in the person of Jesus, and Jesus is the Truth.     2Co 13:8     , “   For we can do nothing against the truth, but   only    for the truth.   ” Those who do evil and walk in darkness do not practice the truth. 

Phl 1:11 , “having been filled with    the fruit of righteousness    which    comes     through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Christians are filled with the fruit of righteousness. The fruit of righteousness comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. 

Heb 12:11 , “ All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields   the peaceful fruit of righteousness.   ” Warmongers, aggressors, dictators, imperialists, militarists, supremacists, and terrorists do not bear the peaceful fruit of righteousness.     Jas 3:18     , “   And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.   ” Those who make peace bear the fruit of righteousness. 

How Christians should walk in this world?  

Col 1:10 , “so that you will   walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,    to please    Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” 

Note: Walk in Greek is    peripateō     which means to make one’s way, to progress; to live; to conduct oneself; to behave; to regulate one’s life; to be occupied with; – which occurs 105 times in the New Testament. Figuratively, to walk is to live.   Those who walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bear fruit in every good work and increase in the knowledge of God.     Jhn 8:12     , “   Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world;   he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness   , but will have the Light of life.”    Those who follow Jesus will not walk in the darkness. Warmongers, aggressors, oppressors, dictators, imperialists, capitalists, monopolists, supremacists, racists, and terrorists walk in darkness so they do not follow Jesus. 

Rom 6:4 , “ Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might   walk in newness of life.   ” 

2Co 5:7 , “ for we walk by faith, not by sight—.” 

Gal 5:25 , “If we live by the Spirit, let us also  walk by the Spirit. ” 

Eph 5:2 , “ and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. ” 

Eph 5:8 , “ for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.” 

Eph 5:15 , “ Therefore be careful how you  walk, not as unwise men but as wise.” 

Col 2:6 , “ Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him   .” 

1Th 2:12 , “ so that you would  walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own Kingdom and glory.” 

1Th 4:1 , “ Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us  instruction   as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. ” 

Note: Please in Greek is areskō  which means to strive to please; to accommodate oneself; to seek to be so; to be agreeable; to give pleasure or satisfaction; to gratify; to submit to the will of; – which occurs 18 times in the New Testament.  This instruction is clear. Christians ought to walk and please God. Something is wrong in our walk if it does not please God. 

1Jo 1:7 , “ but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. ” 

Note: Walk in the Light means to walk as children of the Light,   walk in the light of  God’s  countenance, walk in the light of the Lord. Fellowship in Greek is    koinōnia    which means communion; communication; contribution; association; joint participation; social intercourse; having the share; partnership; – which occurs 19 times in the New Testament.     1Jo 1:3, “what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. ” Cleanse in Greek is  katharizō    which means to make clean; to purge; to purify from wickedness; to sanctify; to remove stains and dirt; to free from the defilement of sins and faults; to consecrate; to free from the guilt of sin; – which occurs 35 times in the New Testament.   Self-abasement, self-affliction,   self-mortification   ,   self-inflicted acts of ascetical practices  of Roman Catholicism and monasticism such as    castration     and     flagellation , etc.   cannot cleanse us from our sin. Thank God the precious blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 

1Jo 2:6 , “ the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” 

Note: This is the highest standard, to walk in the same manner as Jesus walked. That is to walk in Jesus’ steps.

2Jo 1:6 , “ And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments.  This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it. “  ”

Note: Commandment in Greek is    entolē which means an order, precept, command, a prescribed rule; an injunction; – which occurs 67 times in the New Testament. Mar 12:29    -31  , “Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD;  AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’  The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”  Jhn 13:34 ,   “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ”  Jhn 14:21,  “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” 

Rev 3:4 , “ But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.” 

Note:   A few in Greek is    oligos    which means a small number; a little quantity; puny number; not many; – which occurs 49 times in the New Testament. Those who worthy are few. Soil in Greek is    molynō     which means to defile, stain, pollute, contaminate;   used in New   Testament    of those who have not kept themselves pure from the defilements of sin, who have soiled themselves by fornication and adultery; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. A few people have not soiled their garments.  Mat 17:2 , “And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became   as white as light. ”   This is the highest reward: those who have not soiled their garments will walk with Jesus Christ in white. There is nothing black or dark in Heaven. There is glory and holiness everywhere, no darkness anywhere. 

The purpose of serving the Lord is gathering fruit for life eternal. 

V.   How to serve the Lord. 

Deu 10:12 ,   “Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” 

Note: The Lord God requires all His children to fear the Lord, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord our God with all our heart and all our soul. 

Mat 6:24 , “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.   ” 

Note: No one can serve two masters. We cannot serve God and wealth (money). If we love God we will hate wealth. If we serve God we will be devoted to God and despise wealth. Prosperity gospel preachers and followers want to serve two masters. If you are a servant of God, you cannot be a servant of wealth. If you are a servant of money, you cannot be a servant of God. 

Act 26:7 , “the promise  to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve  God  night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews. ” 

Note: Christians must earnestly serve God night and day. 

Rom 1:9 , “For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the  Gospel of His Son, is my witness as to   how unceasingly I make mention of you.” 

Note: To serve God you must serve in your spirit, not lips.     Jhn 4:24  ,   “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 

Rom 7:6 , “ But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. ” 

Note: To serve God in your spirit is to serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. 

1Th 1:9 , “For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living true God.”serve a living a

Note: To serve the living and true God, you must turn from idols to God. Primitive peoples worship idols of their work made of fingers and hands, made of silver and gold, wood and stone, etc. 

2Ti 1:3 , “ I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day.” 

Note: To serve God, we must serve with a clear and good conscience. There are world leaders who are liars, killers and robbers and yet they think they serve God who have evil conscience, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,both their mind and their conscience are defiled. 

Heb 9:14 , “how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” 

Note: Those who serve the living God, their conscience must first be cleansed from dead works by the blood of Christ through the eternal Spirit. 

Gal 5:13 , “ For you were called to freedom, brethren; only  do     not    turn     your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ” 

Note: Christians not only serve God, Christ, but through love serve one another. 

Col 3:24 , “ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” 

Note: To serve the Lord Christ we will receive the reward of the inheritance. 

To serve the Lord Christ, one must live in Christ, live for Christ, live with Christ, and live through Christ. 

(1.)  Live in Christ 

Gal 2:20 ,   “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the   life    which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.   ” 

Note: Crucify with in Greek is    systauroō     which means to impale in the company with literally or figuratively; to put to death by nailing to a cross; to mortify; – which occurs 5 times in the New Testament. To crucify with Christ means it is no longer I live, but Christ lives in me. The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and died on the cross for me. 

Eph 3:6, “    to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the   Gospel.” 

Note: To live in Christ means to be fellow heirs and fellow members of the Body of Christ, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. 

2Ti 3:12 , “   Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.   ” 

Note: If the world loves you and you are popular, it proves you do not live a Christian life. Godly in Greek is   eusebōs   which means piously; devoutly; righteously; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament.   Persecute in Greek is    diōkō     which means to suffer persecution; to trouble, harass or molest one; to be mistreated; to put to flight; to treat people unfairly and cruelly; – which occurs 47 times in the New Testament.   All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 

Phl 1:21 , “ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.   ” 

Note: Gain in Greek is   kerdos    which means advantage; lucre; profit; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. Apostle explains: 

Phl 3:7-8,  “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as   loss    for the sake of Christ.   More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but   rubbish    so that I may gain Christ   .” To live is Christ is to gain the surpassing values of knowing Christ Jesus. To gain Christ is to gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.     2Th 2:14     , “   It was for this He called you through our Gospel,  that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ” 

THIS IS THE SECRET OF HOW TO LIVE A CHRISTIAN LIFE  

Phl 4:11-13, “ Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live  in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

Note: Learn in Greek is   manthanō     which means to increase one’s knowledge and experience; to understand; to be apprised; to be imbued with  knowledge; to gain knowledge and experience; – which occurs 26 times in the New Testament. The Christian life is a process of learning and growing. Christians have many things to learn: learn to fear God, learn to observe, learn what it is and why it is, learn God’s righteous judgments, learn God’s commandments, learn God’s ways, learn to do good, learn righteousness, learn the meanings of God’s words, learn from Christ, learn what is pleasing to the Lord, learn to practice piety, learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, etc. Content in Greek is    autarkēs  which means to be   contented with one’s lot, with one’s means   ; to be sufficient for oneself; to be strong enough to need no aid or support; to be independent of external circumstances; – which occurs 1 times in the New Testament. Circumstance is event or condition. Circumstance controls men, and no man controls his circumstance. God is greater than any circumstance. Paul had learned to be content in whatever circumstances he was. Learning to be content in whatever circumstances is more valuable than getting a Ph.D. Get along in Greek is    tapeinoō     which means to bring low; to bring into a humble condition; reduce to meaner circumstances; to abase oneself by humble living; to bring down one’s pride; to have a modest opinion of oneself; to behave in an unassuming manner; to humiliate;   to submit oneself in a lowly spirit to the power and will of God   ;   – which occurs 18 times in the New Testament. Do you know why secular academics and scientists, theologians and philosophers cannot be saved? They are unwilling to submit themselves in a lowly spirit to the power and will of God. Paul knew how to get along with humble means. To live in prosperity is easy, to get along with humble means is difficult. A man’s biggest problem is he does not know how to live. Warmongers, aggressors, dictators, oppressors, liars, killers, robbers, imperialists, militarists, capitalists, monopolists, supremacists, and terrorists do not know how to live.    In everything and in all things Paul had learned the secret. What is the secret? “   I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.   ” Strengthen in Greek is  endynamoō which means to be made strong; to increase in strength; to enable; to empower; – which occurs 9 times in the New Testament. Christians can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthen them.   “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.” 

Eph 3:16-19, “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;  and  that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,  and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. ” 

Note: Grant in Greek is    didōmi    which means to give; to supply, furnish; to furnish, endue; to permit, commission; bestow as a gift; offer; hand out; – which occurs 414 times in the New Testament. According to the riches of His glory, Jesus Christ grants believers to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. The inner man means our soul, within. To be rooted is to be grounded, to be firm. To ground is to lay a basis for; to establish; to make stable. Christians who are rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge. Comprehend in Greek    katalambanō     which means to apprehend; to attain; obtain; to lay hold of; to take possession of; to understand, perceive, learn; to appropriate, seize upon; – which occurs 18 times in the New Testament. Surpass in Greek is hyperballō     which means to exceed; excel; pass; to transcend; to throw beyond the usual mark; to throw over and beyond; – which occurs 5 times in the New Testament. Poor secular academics and unbelieving scientists do not realize there are things beyond and over their knowledge and they cannot comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of the Divine attributes and power such as the love of Christ, the wonder of creation, t   he depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God   , etc. Just as an ameba cannot comprehend man, so man cannot comprehend God. The fullness of God is greater than the expanding universe. 

1Pe 4:11, “ Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so   as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 

Note: To live in Christ is to do so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. 

(2.)  Live for Christ. 

Rom 14:8 , “ for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.   ” 

Note: For Christians, if we live we live for the Lord, or if we die we die for the Lord. Therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. Christians belong to the Lord. This is the meaning of living for Christ. 

2Co 5:15 , “ and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.   ” 

Note: Why Christians no longer live for themselves? Jesus Christ died for believers in order to save them, so that they live no longer for themselves, but for the Lord who died and rose again on their behalf. 

1Pe 4:2 , “so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.   ” 

Note: To live for Christ is to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. The will of God is the supreme goal or purpose of a Christian life. 

Heb 11:13 , “ All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. ” 

Note: To live for Christ is to confess that we are strangers and exiles on the earth. 

1Ti 6:9-12, “ But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a  snare  and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into   ruin and destruction.   For   the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.   But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.  Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 

Note: How should a man of God live for Christ? The cited Scriptures provide the instructions. A man of God or a servant of Christ should never want to get rich. That is exactly the problem of prosperity gospel preachers and followers. They love money and the world. The bankruptcy of the Crystal Cathedral pierced themselves with many griefs. Man of God or servant of Christ must pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life, and make good testimony of Jesus Christ to many. If your pastors do not follow the Scriptures cited, separate from them. 

1Ti 4:12 , “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but  rather  in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. ” 

Note: Young preachers should show themselves in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity as an example of those who believe. There are somethings seriously wrong with preachers and evangelists who live in luxury: own mansion of multi-million dollars; drive Mercedes, wear $10,000 suit, whose wives wear $30,000 mink coat, eat $1,000 dinner; fly private planes, and have large sums of money in bank accounts. 

Th 1:3 , “constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father.” 

Note: Christians who live for Christ, do the work of faith and labor of love. Maintain steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father. 

Heb 12:2 , “ fixing our eyes on Jesus, the   Author and   Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. “ 

Note: Christians fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith. It is wrong to fix your eyes on man, whoever it is. Jesus set an example for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God. We look to Jesus. 

(3.)  Live with Christ 

Mat 28:20 , “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” 

Note: Jesus returned to the Father, ascended to the highest Heaven. He did not abandon His disciples and said them: Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the word. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to dwell with believers of all generations until the end of the world. At the end of the world, the Lord will return to establish the Kingdom of Heaven to reign with the saints forever and ever. 

2Ti 2:11 , “ It is a trustworthy statement: 
For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him.” 

Rom 6:8 , “Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.” 

2Co 13:4 , “ For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God    directed     toward you.   ” 

1Th 5:10 , “ who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.   ” 

Note: Jesus is with us while we are awake on earth. When we are asleep (die in Christ), we will be with the Lord in Paradise. 

1Th 5:13 , “ and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.   ” 

Note: While we are alive, Jesus Christ is with us. The Lord also wants us to live in peace with one another. Christians must not be divided. 

(4.)  Live through Christ 

Jhn 1:3 , “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.   ” 

1Jo 4:9 , “By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.” 

Note: Manifest in Greek is    phaneroō    which means to show; to be made known; to appear; to make visible; to render apparent; to make evident or certain; – which occurs 57 times in the New Testament. It is the love of God that Jesus Christ came into the world to die for sinners on the cross.   Through in Greek is dia    which means by, with, for sake of; for the cause of; because; by the means of; by reason of; on account of; for the reason of; thereby; by way of; by means of; – which occurs 512 times in the New Testament. Jesus saved us so that we might live through Him. 

Rom 8:11 , “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.   ” 

Note: In our mortal bodies Christ lives in us through the Spirit of Christ who dwells in us. 

2Co 1:5 , “For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.   ” 

Note: Although the sufferings of Christ in this world are ours in abundance, so also our comfort in abundant through Christ. 

2Co 3:4 , “Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.   ” 

Note: We have confidence through Christ toward God. 

Why do we have confidence toward God? 

Rom 5:1 , “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ   .” 

Note: We have confidence toward God because we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Mediator between God and men. 

2Co 5:17-18 , “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.  Now all    these     things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” 

Note: God reconciled believers to Himself through Christ. The old things passed away, behold, new things have come from God. 

Heb 13:20-21 , “Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the   Great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant,    even     Jesus our Lord,  equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom    be     the glory forever and ever. Amen.   ” 

Note: The Great Shepherd through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus Christ our Lord, equips children of God in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight. To live in Christ, to live for Christ, to live with Christ and to live through Christ is to be equipped in every good thing to do God’s will, working is us that which is pleasing in the sight of God, and to the glory of God forever and ever. Amen. 

1Co 8:6 , “yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.   ” 

Note: For Christians there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things. We exist or live for God. There is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things. We exist or live through Jesus Christ. 

VI.   How to Testify for Christ. 

Many church members think to testify for Christ you testify with words. More important Christians testify Jesus Christ with their lives. 

Jhn 13:35 ,   “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

Note: If Christians have love for one another, by this all men will know we are the disciples of Jesus Christ. Loving for one another is the hallmark of Christians. 

Jhn 15:8 ,   “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and    so     prove to be My disciples.   ” 

Note: Prove in Greek is    ginomai    which means to become; to begin to be; to be made; to come into being; to be established; to show oneself; to verify; to make it clear; – which occurs 536 times in the New Testament. Christians bear much fruit, by this God the Father is glorified, and to make it clear they are the disciples of Jesus Christ. If the proof of pudding is in the eating, a believer is proved to be a disciple of Jesus Christ by bearing much fruit. A good tree bears good fruit. 

Jhn 8:31 , “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word,    then    you are truly disciples of Mine   .” 

Note: If we continue in the Word of Jesus, then we are truly disciples of Jesus. A disciple does what the Master says. 

Jhn 14:23 , “ Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.   ” 

Note: If anyone loves Jesus, he will keep the Word of Jesus. God loves those who keep the Word of Jesus. God will be with them. 

Act 4:13 , “Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and    began     to recognize them as having been with Jesus.   ” 

Note: Observe in Greek is    theōreō     which means to see; behold; look on; perceive; consider; to be a spectator; look at; take a view of; discern; find out; take note; to watch carefully; – which occurs 53 times in the New Testament. The world is watching carefully what Christians do, not only what they say. Confidence in Greek is    parrēsia    which means boldness; freedom in speaking; free and fearless confidence; cheerful courage; all out-spokenness; certitude; a feeling of having no doubt; – which occurs 32 times in the New Testament.     Psa 71:5     , “   For You are my hope; O Lord GOD,    You are    my confidence from my youth.   ” Uneducated in Greek is    agrammatos     which means unlearned; illiterate; unlettered; without learning; having no formal schooling; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. Untrained in Greek is    idiōtēs     which means ignorant; rude in speech; unlearned; unskilled in any art; – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament. The word idiot is derived from the Greek word. It is interesting that the Jewish rulers and elders and scribes and the high priest understood that Peter and John were uneducated and untrained men. They may lack formal schooling and unsophisticated, but John wrote the Gospel of John which is a masterpiece in Greek. I consider the Gospel of John the greatest book in the Holy Bible, of course Apostle John was inspired by the Holy Spirit. Amaze in Greek is thaumazō    which means to have admiration; marvel; wonder; showing great surprise; – which occurs 45 times in the New Testament. Recognize in Greek is    epiginōskō    which means to take knowledge of; perceive; acknowledge; understand; to know well; denote; signify; – which occurs 48 times in the New Testament. The Jewish religious establishment understood and recognized that Peter and John had been with Jesus, they had been associated with Jesus, they had been under Jesus. Anyone who has been with Jesus would be understood and recognized by the world. 

Many think to testify or witness for the Lord is through the word only. We have shown above the importance of testifying through the deed. 

Who should testify?  

Jhn 15:26-27  , “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father,    that is     the Spirit of   Truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, and you  will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.   ” 

Note: Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit, that is the Spirit of Truth, to the disciples from the Father, who testifies about Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the sole Representative of Christ on earth, not the pope an impostor. The Spirit of the Lord dwells in the Church, the Body of Christ, and in believers.     Jhn 16:13     ,   “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.   ” Disciples would testify also, because they had been with Jesus from the beginning. The twelve special disciples were the Apostles.     Mat 10:1     , “   Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.   ”     Mat 11:1     , “   When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.   ” 

Luk 6:13, “And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles: ” 

Note: Jesus chose twelve disciples and formally names them Apostles. Disciple in Greek is    mathētēs    which means a follower, pupil, learner, one who follows one’s teaching; adherent; – which occurs 261 times in the New Testament. Apostle in Greek is    apostolos    which means messenger; he that is sent; constant companion; delegate; an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ; specifically the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ; – which occurs 80 times in the New Testament. Judas lost his position, Jesus called Paul to be an apostle. 

Luk 10:1, “Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.   ” 

Note: In addition to the original twelve disciples, who were appointed Apostles, Jesus also appointed seventy other disciples, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where Jesus Himself was going to come to preach the Gospel and heal the sick. 

Luk 6:17, “Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place; and    there was  a large crowd of His disciples, and a great throng of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon.” 

Luk 19:37, “As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen .” 

Note: Large crowds of believers and followers were also called disciples. 

Jhn 4:1-2 , “Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John  (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were).” 

Note: Soon Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John, although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His twelve disciples were. 

Jhn 6:66 , “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.   ” 

Note: Even in the ministry of Jesus, many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. It is nothing a surprise if some believers backslide and turn away from the truth. 

Mat 28:16-20 , “But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated.   When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in   Heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”  

Note: After the Resurrection and just before the Ascension, the Eleven disciples (Judas committed suicide) proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. There Jesus gave His great commission. Authority in Greek is  exousia     which means power, right, command; jurisdiction, privilege, force, ability and strength, divine authority over all; rule; the power to control; might; the power of authority and right; – which occurs 102 times in the New Testament. All authority has been given to Jesus Christ in Heaven and on earth. So everything and everybody is subjected to Jesus Christ in Heaven and on earth – the whole universe. All disciples from the twelve to the present, must go therefore and make disciples of all the nations. Make disciple in Greek is    mathēteuō     to teach; instruct; to be disciple; to become a disciple; to enroll as a student; to follow instructions; – which occurs 8 times in the New Testament. When you win a believer or follower of Jesus Christ, you make him disciple of Jesus Christ. It is most shocking to see there are megachurch preachers or TV evangelists who try to make people their disciples. John the Baptist said,     Jhn 3:30     ,   “He must increase, but I must decrease.   ” False preachers try to increase themselves at the expense of Jesus. Nation in Greek is   ethnos    which means the human family, Gentiles, peoples; people group; race; – which occurs 162 times in the New Testament. Baptism is conducted in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus validates the doctrine of Trinity, the Holy Father, the Holy Son, and the Holy Spirit – the One True God, there is no other. The Roman Catholic Church which is the apostate church committed the blasphemy by adding the Holy Mother. Mary was not and is not the Holy Mother. Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit to give birth to Jesus. God is Self-Existent and Eternal, He cannot have a mother. And lo and behold, the Lord Jesus is with all believers always, even to the end of the world. Jesus is coming again at the end of the world. 

Act 6:7 , “ The Word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.   ” 

Note: By spreading the Word of God, the number of the disciples continued to increase from Jerusalem to the end of the world. Many Jewish priests were becoming obedient to the faith. A Jew can be converted to become a Christian. A Christian cannot become a Jew. An atheist can be converted to become a Christian, a Christian can never become an atheist. A homosexual can be converted to become a Christian, a Christian can never become a homosexual. A Muslim can be converted to become a Christian, a Christian can never become a Muslim. An evolutionist can be converted to become a Christian, a Christian cannot become an evolutionist. A warmonger can be converted to become a Christian, a Christian can never become a warmonger. A terrorist can be converted to become a Christian, a Christian can never become a terrorist, etc. 

Act 11:26, “ and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.   ” 

Note: Historically, disciples of Jesus Christ were first called Christians in Antioch to this day.  Antioch was then the capital of Syria. 

What to testify ? 

Luk 24:45-48,     “ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.   And   He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,  and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.   And you are witnesses of these things.   ” 

Note: Mind in Greek is    nous    which means understanding;   the faculties of perceiving and understanding and those of feeling, judging, determining   ; the capacity for spiritual truth; – which occurs 24 times in the New Testament. Jesus opened their minds so that they can understand the Scriptures. Secular academics, unbelieving scientists and theologians and philosophers do not believe and cannot understand the Scriptures because     2Co 4:4     , “in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the   Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.   ” The Apostles, disciples of past and present, are witnesses of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the Gospel of repentance and forgiveness of sins. 

Jhn 10:25 , “Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. ” 

Note: Testify the works that Jesus did.     Luk 7:22     , “   And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.   ” The primary work of Jesus was to come into the world to save sinners, the secondary work was to heal the sick and perform miracles to the glory of God. 

Jhn 1:29, “   The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!   ” 

Jhn 1:34 ,   “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.” 

Note: John the Baptist testified that Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He also testified that Jesus is the Son of God. 

Rom 1:16, “   For I am not ashamed of the   Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Gentiles .” 

Note: The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, Jews and Gentiles. 

1Jo 4:14 , “   We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son    to be     the Savior of the world.   ” 

Note: The Apostles testified that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. 

Act 1:22, “   beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these    must     become a witness with us of His resurrection.” 

Note: The Apostles and disciples testified of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Act 8:25 , “ So, when they had solemnly testified and spoken the   Word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching the Gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.   ” 

Note: Solemnly testify in Greek is    diamartyromai    which means to testify earnestly; to seriously affirm; to give serious testimony; to attest earnestly; – which occurs 28 times in the New Testament. Preaching the Gospel is no joking matter. It is a matter of life or death: to believe it you live, to reject it you die.   The Apostles solemnly testified and spoke the Word of the Lord, and they were preaching the Gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. 

Act 10:38-43,   “You know of  Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and  how  He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.     We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God,   that is,  to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.   And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.   Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” 

Note: The Apostles testified of the Risen Christ, who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ receives forgiveness of sins. 

Act 14:21, “ After they had preached the  Gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.” 

Note: The disciples obeyed Jesus Christ to preach the Gospel to all nations. 

1Co 15:1-11,     “ Now I make known to you, brethren, the   Gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,   by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the   Word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.  For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that   Christ died for our sins    according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that   He was raised on the third day    according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.   After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;  then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;   and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the   Church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. Whether then    it was    I or they, so we preach and so you believed.” 

Note: Paul made known the Gospel of first importance is that Christ died for our sins and rose again from the dead. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. 

1Jo 1:1-3 , “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us—what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. ” 

Note: The Apostles testified and proclaimed what was from the beginning, what they had heard, what they had seen with their eyes, what they had looked at and touched with their hands the Word of Life, so that we (all believers and followers) too may have the eternal life and have fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true historical Jesus. 

How to testify?  

Luk 24:49 ,   “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” 

Note: Endue in Greek is endyō    which means to put on; to clothe with; to have on; to invest with; to provide; endow; – which occurs 32 times in the New Testament. The Apostles and disciples cannot witness for Christ until they receive power from on high. Just visit many dead churches today where the occupational pastors put the congregation to sleep. Some churches have money, but they don’t have power. A preacher filled with the power of the Holy Spirit can reach many souls. At the Pentecost, Apostle Peter preached and   those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 

1Co 12:27-28 , “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.     And God has appointed in the   Church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations,  various kinds of tongues.   ” 

Note: The Church is the Body of Christ, and Christ is the Head of the Church, not the pope, an impostor. All disciples and believers and followers of Jesus Christ of all generations are individually members of the Church, not a local church. God has appointed the hierarchy of the Church, first Apostles. But Peter is not the keeper of the Heavenly gate. 

1Ti 3:15 , “but in case I am delayed,    I write     so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the   Household of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.   ” 

Note: A preacher ought to know how to conduct himself in the Household of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. Many false preachers think they are exempt from judgment, they can do anything they please. 

Phl 1:27, “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the   Gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel.” 

Note: Those who preach the Gospel must conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ. Crystal Cathedral was the center of prosperity gospel which is false gospel, at first attracted many who wanted to get rich, finally it went bankrupt and was sold to the Roman Catholic Church for many millions of dollars. The ministry of its founder was discredited. Prosperity gospel is a version of capitalistic gospel which appears fashionable in America. There have been quite a few prosperity gospel preachers who fell from grace and disgraced themselves and even went to jail. Gamaliel advised, “   for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown;   but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”     But the Church that Jesus Christ builds, the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 

Tit 2:10 , “not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.   ” 

Note: Adorn in Greek is    kosmeō    which means to embellish with honor; to garnish; to put in order; to honor; to gain honor; to ornament; to enhance; to make more attractive; – which occurs 12 times in the New Testament. All believers, disciples and followers of Jesus Christ stop stealing, but in showing good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect. By good behavior we can honor the Gospel. 

1Pe 3:1-2  , “In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any    of them    are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.   ” 

Note: Christians win souls not by word alone, it is just as important to win people by good behavior. Wives submissive to their husbands may win them with their chase and respectful behavior. 

Gal 2:20 ,   “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the    life     which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.   ” 

Note: To have Christ lives in you is a powerful testimony for Christ. 

1Ti 6:12 , “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.   ” 

Note: Christians make good confession by fighting the good fight of faith and taking hold of the eternal life. To witness for Christ may require suffering for Christ and suffering with Christ. 

1.   Suffer for Christ. 

Phl 1:29 , “   For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” 

Note: Most Christians may not know this truth. Grant in Greek is    charizomai    which means to do a favor to; to freely give; to bestow; to show oneself gracious, kind, and benevolent; to permit as a favor; to allow; – which occurs 27 times in the New Testament. God has granted graciously salvation to those who believe for Christ’s sake, not only to believe Him, but also to suffer for Christ’s sake. Suffer in Greek is to    paschō    which means to bear pain; to undergo evils; to experience hardship or trouble; – which occurs 41 times in the New Testament. Why? God grants that those who suffer with Christ will glory with Him. 

Mar 8:31 , “And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer     many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.   ” 

Note: Jesus the Son of God suffered many things, rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and died on the cross. After three days Jesus rose again from the dead. 

Heb 5:8 , “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.   ” 

Note: The Son of God learned obedience from the things which He suffered. Learn in Greek is   manthanō    which means to understand; to increase one’s knowledge; to be imbued with the knowledge of Christ; – which occurs 26 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ does not need to increase His knowledge for He knows everything. For Christians to suffer for Christ will be imbued with the knowledge of Christ. Obedience in Greek is    hypakoē     which means obeying; submission; compliance; – which occurs 15 times in the New Testament. Why did Christ learn obedience through sufferings? The answer is found in the following Scriptures: 

Phl 2:8-11 , “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.     For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,     so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,   and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.   ” To the glory of God the Father. 

2.    Suffer with Christ. 

2Th 1:5, “This is     a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the   Kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.   ” 

Note: Experiences of suffering with Christ may indicate of God’s righteous judgment so that we will be considered worthy of the Kingdom of God. 

Jde 1:3 , “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.   ” 

Note: To contend earnestly for the faith is not easy, it may entail persecution and suffering. But don’t lose heart. 

1Jo 5:4 , “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 

Note: By faith Christians will overcome the world and have victory in Jesus Christ. 

In conclusion  

To live a Christian life is to live in Christ, for Christ, with Christ and through Christ. To live in Christ means you have the new life born of the Spirit. To live for Christ means you follow Christ and imitate Him willingly to serve Christ and suffer for Him. To live with Christ means you hold fast to the faith and the presence of Christ is with you day by day. To live through Christ means Christ enables you to testify for Him and do the good deeds and do the will of God.

You cannot live a Christian life. First you have to become a Christian. To become a Christian you need to repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Let the Holy Spirit into your heart to give you a new life. That is to be born again.

Do you want to receive a new life in Christ? You can do it right now.

WILLIE WONG THOUGHT
WILLIE WONG
AUGUST 9, 2025
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