Fine Christian Conduct!
Many today will identify themselves as Christian's, but when you closely examine their overall conduct, you find something appears to be missing; their Christianity is unspirited. It appears to be as the apostles James stated: "A body without Spirit." Of course James went on to say: "A body without Spirit is dead."
So much shame and disgrace, has been heaped upon this title Christian, one shudders at the mere thought of being identified as such in this World today, because even though this World's Christian's take that title to themselves, their conduct and actions over the years, belie their claim to being such, and show they have obviously missed seeing the truth of the Bible; because the way they comport themselves is certainly not the walk of the example set by Jesus, and his Apostles.
Just what did they say about how they walked?
"He that says he remains in union with him is under obligation himself also to go on walking just as that one walked." {1 John 2:6 NWT} So! It was no light matter! It was an absolute necessity to follow exactly in the footsteps of the Master. Who would know better than the early Apostles just how that walk was performed?
"For YOU yourselves know the way YOU ought to imitate us, because we did not behave disorderly among YOU 8 nor did we eat food from anyone free. To the contrary, by labor and toil night and day we were working so as not to impose an expensive burden upon any one of YOU."2 Thessalonians 3:7 NWT}
To start with, we notice, the Apostles of Christ never road on the Backs of their flock for their means of support as do Christendom's Clergy. In fact he would condemn the Clergy of Christendom today, for their greedy attitudes in not wanting to work at Jobs with their hands like Paul did to earn their own living. The Apostles were examples for the flock, unlike Christendom's Clergy. Was they to be around in Pauls day, not wanting to work, they wouldn't eat. That's how seriously he took it. They wouldn't be riding on anyones back for sure.
"Not that we do not have authority, but in order that we might offer ourselves as an example to YOU to imitate us. 10 In fact, also, when we were with YOU, we used to give YOU this order: "If anyone does not want to work, neither let him eat." {2 Thessalonians 3:9 NWT}
7 "For YOU yourselves know the way YOU ought to imitate us, because we did not behave disorderly among YOU 8 nor did we eat food from anyone free. To the contrary, by labor and toil night and day we were working so as not to impose an expensive burden upon any one of YOU." {2 THessalonians 3:7,8 NWT}
Quite a vast difference between the Apostles of Christ, and Christendom's Religious leaders wasn't there? No collection plates passed around by them. They had Christian Love for their Brothers, not the Money of their Brothers Pockets. Notice what Paul had to say about this Love, and how to display it:
"Therefore, become imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and go on walking in love, just as the Christ also loved YOU and delivered himself up for YOU as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling odor." {Ephesians 5:2 NWT} How did they display this Love for God, as beloved Children of God?
"By this we gain the knowledge that we are loving the children of God, when we are loving God and doing his commandments. 3 For this is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome," {1 John 5:2,3 NWT}
They took their Christianity very seriously didn't they? It was no mere lip service with them. They would have known without doing, and closely observing God's Commandments it would be impossible to show the love Jehovah expected them to show.
What did Jesus have to say about this love for God and the Children of God? Or Neighbor?
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 He said to him: "‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 The second, like it, is this, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments the whole Law hangs, and the Prophets." Matthew 22:36-40 NWT}
When they were doing this, actually practicing this Christian love what kind of fruitage would be produced in their lives that would make them out standing among those around them in the World, and show they really were true Christian's?
22 "On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Moreover, those who belong to Christ Jesus impaled the flesh together with its passions and desires." {Galatians 5:22-24 NWT} Notice the fruitage produced, by those who really were true Christian's and compare that with Religious Christendom.
By contrast what kind of fruitage would be produced by Religious Christendom being as they are a Body without Spirit? Practicing as they do an unspirited way of worship? Paul will show that:
But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, 3 having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, 4 betrayers, headstrong, puffed up [with pride], lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power; and from these turn away." {2 Timothy 3:1-5 NWT}
It is in actuality Christendom's Christian's that make the times hard to deal with and very critical. Sometimes not just hard to deal with but absolutely impossible; because of their mere form of Godly devotion, that proves false to its power. Because of the satanic spirit that does guide and direct them, we see by the words of Paul just why our time period is so difficult to deal with, because the following works Paul mentions in the foregoing are all around us today, as a result of the failure of Religious Leaders of Christendom to impress upon their followers, the need for fine Christian conduct, and to shun like the plague the filthy pracices Paul mentions here:
19"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." {Galatians 5:19-21 NIV} Very good reason for following the counsel and direction of the Apostle James, and if anyone needs to follow this counsel Religious Christendom most certainly does:
21"Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you."{James 1:21 NIV} All Religious Christendom has to do, is what James told them, because there is a healing for their unrighteous condition by doing that accepting. It will save them, if they want saving, that is.
Obeying the Commandments of Jehovah is a necessity for showing proper love for him, and for the Children of God; Commandments such as the following:
17 "Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thoughts. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. 19 They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more. 20 But that is not how you learned about the Messiah, 21 assuming you heard Him and were taught by Him, because the truth is in Jesus: 22 you took off your former way of life, the old man that is corrupted by deceitful desires; 23 you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds; 24 you put on the new man, the one created according to God's [likeness] in righteousness and purity of the truth."{Ephesians 4:17-24 HCSB}
1"THEREFORE, SINCE these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential] fear of God." {2 Corinthians 7:1 AB}
Was Religious Christendom showing reverential fear of God, while Slaughtering 100 Million of their own Brother's and Sister's during two World wars? Was the Atom Bombing of two Japanese Cities, an expression of the Christian love they were ordered to display? Was that what we'd call love of neighbor? Love of God? Were those things something that someone who had put on the new personality would involve them selves in? Was that showing reverential fear of God? Was that not a display of ignorance and calousness, and hardness of heart? Yes! It suely was! But why? Why would anyone who titles himself/herself , "Christian," even involve themselves in such a slaughter as that.
To those who understand their Bible, that answer to all of that is quite simple. It is satan who is 'god of this World!' He holds this entire World 'under his power!' He 'blinds' and 'misleads the entire inhabited earth.' {1 John 5:19} {2 Corinthians 4:3,4} {Revelation 12:9} Satan by his actions in the garden of Eden, murdered the entire human race, by causing Adam's Fall into sin; in so doing caused the death of all Mankind; because we all now inherit sin and death from the first Man Adam. {Romans 5:12} {1 Corinthains 15:22} He knows now, his time is getting very short, but being the Blood-Lusting murderer he is, his desire is to take as many along with him when he's finally put out of action for the thousand year period. When he will be chained and abyssed for the entire Thousand year reign of Christ. Revelation 20:1-3 Was he to have his way now, and from what I read in scripture, he will have, he will once again cause the death of everyone alive during the time of the coming of Christ in Kingdom Power. Read the Prophecy of Zephaniah 1:14-18 and you will learn my reasoning is sound. Isaiah too foretold the same World destruction as did Zephaniah. Jeremiah predicted the outcome of Armageddon, and not a very pretty picture.{ Isaiah 24:1-6 Jeremiah 25:31-37} It's true Christendom's Blood_guilt is very heavy and Jehovah will require an accounting. Does that mean the situation is hopeless? Those early Jews had murdered the very Son of Jehovah God, but Jehovah, even at that, was willing to foregive that murder. Would he tells us, if we did not not foregive others neither would he foregive us, if he himself was not willing to foregive others their sins? Of cours not! Correct?
Note Peters words to those who had murdered the Christ; and notice, the opportuniity was still there to get their sins wiped away.
14"You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. 17"Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. 19Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets."{Acts 3:14-21 NIV}
"Come now, let us reason together, says Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If you be willing and listen, you shall eat the good of the land; 20 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of Jehovah has spoken." {Isaiah 1:18-20 DT}
Opportunity for foregiveness, is still being offered, but was there ever a time to act, it would be right now! I would suggest you waste no time in doing that acting.
Make absolutely certain, you're walking in love, displaying that fine conduct the Christ gave us all an example of.
Just remember! If you listen! You Live! If you turn a deaf ear, and rebel, you die! Was I to be any of you, I'd make asbsolutely certain, my move would be done very quickly. That's not me saying that! Jehovah has said that to all of you. The Condition this entire World is in right now, is described by Paul in the following; and it's a very bad condition to be in at this time, because know it not, you're already dead in Jehovah's eyes. Paul will show you how, and why:
1"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath." {Ephesians 2:1-3 NIV}
The Ruler of the Kingdom of the air, is the devil, explaining why the Worship of this World's Christian's is unspirited.
It will only be those why DO THE WILL OF GOD who live forever.
17"The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." {1 John 2:17 NIV} It is in the doing of the will of God, one will manifest Fine Christian Conduct. Wannabe