Tuesday, May 29, 2012

What is the example of a believer in Christ?

1 Timothy 4:12…but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

The example of the words of a believer (how a believer talks) are not corrupt communication, profanity, or cursing. Sweet water and bitter water don’t flow from the same fountain. Even Jesus said out of abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A clean heart brings forth clean words and a clean tongue.

The example of the conversation of a believer is “the manner of life” or “lifestyle” of those who accept Christ as personal Lord and Saviour. Lifestyle can also pertain to sonship, parenthood, domestic life, social life, business life, religious life, etc. Believer’s in Christ live right in the eyes of God because the believing heart is made clean and holy by the Grace of God. Therefore, the manner of of living regardless of human status is made clean and holy.

Charity is the spiritual inclination of the believing heart. Charity is the love manifested when a believer in Christ gives from the heart. The example of charity is recognized in the eyes of God and is a witness for Christ to the unbelieving world.

The example of the spirit of the believing heart is an example of one who pays full attention to Christ and things that pertain to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The natural man doesn’ t know the things of the Spirit of God or Christ because they are foolishness to him. The Spirit man doesn’t do the things that he did in the old life before Christ. A spirit man “quits” his meanness. This example of the believer ”proves” what is acceptable to God.

The example of faith is the believers faithful life to Christ. Faithfulness to Christ proves rightstanding with God and the clean heart. Faithfulness to Christ allows God’s Spirit to work within the believing heart. God’s witnesses are faithful and true and eligible to testisfy and preach. This kind of example in the eyes of God also makes a statement to the unbelieving world, “The action of a child of God speaks louder than words”. That’s why the clean and holy heart (a gift from God) are so important.

The example of purity can only be manifested through the work of the Holy Spirit in the believing soul. Man cannot purify the human heart without the saving Grace of Salvation. Heart purity has nothing to do with human maturity or human growth. Purity is given freely from God when the believing heart is cleansed from sin and unrighteosuness. Purity is manifested in the life and the example of the child of God. The best example of heart purity I know of is when every sin of the past is forgiven and the Old Adam is crucified just like Christ. Newness of life is thus found because the believing heart is made clean and holy in the new birth. Heart purity breaks the bondage of sin. The moral make-up of and unbeliever is purified through belief in the truth about the person of Christ.

Being an example of a believer in Christ is a necessary tool to win the lost.

1 Timothy 4:12…but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

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