Christian traits,
The apostle Paul wrote,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22,23.
What the apostle Paul is saying here is if God’s spirit is truly working in a believers life then they should be exhibiting, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
He notes there is no law against these attributes.
What that means as I read these words is believers in Christ Jesus should be tolerant and loving people. Living a life of peace.
The apostle Peter tells believers in Christ to,
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:12.
The early church was known for it’s peaceful living,
Pliny the Younger Roman governor of Bithynia in Asia minor was as I understand it was asked by the emperor Trajan to find something wrong about Christians. After looking at believers in Christ he wrote to Trajan,
"They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food--but food of an ordinary and innocent kind...” Pliny the younger.
Pliny could not find anything wrong with the believers in Christ he looked at. Certainly nothing worthy of putting them in prison or to death.
Now here’s a question for anyone reading this who claims to be a believer in Christ Jesus. If Pliny or his modern day equivalent was to look at you or the congregation you attend would he find your practices blameless?
Would he see, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?”
Please think about it.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22,23.
What the apostle Paul is saying here is if God’s spirit is truly working in a believers life then they should be exhibiting, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
He notes there is no law against these attributes.
What that means as I read these words is believers in Christ Jesus should be tolerant and loving people. Living a life of peace.
The apostle Peter tells believers in Christ to,
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:12.
The early church was known for it’s peaceful living,
Pliny the Younger Roman governor of Bithynia in Asia minor was as I understand it was asked by the emperor Trajan to find something wrong about Christians. After looking at believers in Christ he wrote to Trajan,
"They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food--but food of an ordinary and innocent kind...” Pliny the younger.
Pliny could not find anything wrong with the believers in Christ he looked at. Certainly nothing worthy of putting them in prison or to death.
Now here’s a question for anyone reading this who claims to be a believer in Christ Jesus. If Pliny or his modern day equivalent was to look at you or the congregation you attend would he find your practices blameless?
Would he see, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?”
Please think about it.
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