We are encouraged in church to daily study scriptures, pray, fellowship etc, and we might be tended to ask, to what end, after all we feel it is not changing our circumstances. How does it apply to us? What is it all about? It is all to the end that we can grow and live vibrant Christian lives. It is not to the end that we can merely accumulate knowledge, or be able to minister to others, but to the end that our lives are changed. It is to the end that we love God and mankind, just as Jesus summed up the Law in Matt 22:39-40, Luke 10:27. Our Christianity is towards the same end – it is about producing a lifestyle of loving God and people. In the foregoing vein, James 2:14-26 is pertinent. This portion of scriptures has been the source of much controversy. However, it is needless. James was not contradicting Paul who asserted that salvation is by grace, or that we are saved by grace alone (Eph 2:8-9). What James is concerned about is faith that is authentic or genuine, and that genuine faith, from human perspective, is proved by works. In other words, if a man CLAIMS to know God or have faith, then such a person should back up the claim by his/her lifestyle. If the lifestyle does not back up such claims, it brings doubts as to whether the person truly knows God or about the genuineness of such a person’s salvation.
To live a vibrant Christian lifestyle, understanding and knowledge is fundamental. David was a person who broke virtually all the Ten Commandments, yet God called him a man after His heart. It was not because God did not hate his sins, but because he understood the Person of God. He fell many times, sinned severally and his sin even tore the kingdom of Israel apart. He understood God beyond the Law of ‘Dos’ and ‘Donts’. Many of us have the Spirit of God and we do not have that kind of understanding, many of us think because we are saved by grace, it does not matter how we live our lives. However, how we live our lives does matter, “For, brethren, ye have been called to liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” (Gal 5:13, Darby). The way we live our lives is crucial, for as it is popularly said, we may be the only bible that others would ever read. Our lives will either bring praise and glory to God, or blaspheme His name. Whether we know it or not, the world holds us to a higher standard because we are Christians, and when we fall short, they deride us, even though they may be guilty of the very same things. This does not mean our aim should be to live according to people’s standards or expectations, but just to stress the fact that the way we live our lives does matter.
The way we live our lives stem from our motives. Why do we read our bibles, prophesy, etc. Many of us have developed a church face, some form of outward piety which belies what we do when we are away from church. When in church and among other believers, we look good on the outside, say the right things, wear the right clothes, but outside church we are different. We need to pay a closer attention to what drives us – our motivations. Are we trying to please God or men? If it is about God, then there will be consistency and there will be no need to masquerade and have two different personalities.
There is usually a lot of emphasis on the doctrinal, which is good. At times, however, a pre-occupation with the doctrinal has directed focus away from the practice or a lot that God’s word has to say about the kind of life we should live. Examples of these teachings are those on the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22), how to use our bodies (1 Cor 6:13-20), not stealing (Eph 4:29). Many of us even think that because we are under a New Testament translates to lawlessness, and that it does not have principles that we should live by. There are indeed such principles, and certain things God expect us to display if we are to be adjudged as living right. These principles span various facets of our lives such that for nearly every circumstance we find ourselves in life, we can find a New Testament principle that guides what we should do – even though some say that life is not always in black and white. The aim of these all is to ensure that we lives as Christians that are vibrant and fruitful – the kind of lifestyle expected of us in 2 Pet 1:2-10
2 Pet 1:2-10, speaks of what we should add to our faith to the end that we will not be barren or unfruitful, or fall. We are exhorted to give all diligence to make our calling and election sure. From this passage, we can see that it is possible to be a Christian, to have knowledge and yet to be barren, unfruitful, or fall. It does not necessarily mean such a person is not born again. It may mean that such a person is short-sighted, blind and has forgotten his salvation. The key point is that in adding the things listed in 2 Pet 1:5-7, we are to do it with a particular attitude – diligence. Diligence connotes zeal, earnestness, carefulness, haste, quickness to do and desire to do something. In essence, when Bible tells us to add to our faith, it is a call to show or exhibit our faith by the factors/qualities described below.
VIRTUE: Virtue means moral excellence or goodness – that which is morally good and right. With respect to this, it is important to avoid two extremes that Christians can be caught in – those that think nothing of morality on the one hand (1 Cor 6:12-13,15-18, Jude 1:4), and on the other, those that try to do it in accordance with their own standards, knowledge or in the power of the flesh, just like the Jews Paul described (Rom 10:1-3). The right course is that virtue must be exhibited, but in accordance with right knowledge and standard in accordance with the word of God.
KNOWLEDGE – The knowledge here speaks of the knowledge of God as revealed in His word.
SELF-CONTROL: This means the ability to keep in check our appetites, emotions and desires under the rule of the Holy Spirit e.g. Bible says be angry, but sin not (Eph 4:26). It is not every time you are hungry that you must eat. Keep your emotions, appetites and desires in check by cooperating with the Holy Spirit.
PESERVERANCE: This is termed “patience” in the King James Version of the Bible. It means endurance or persistence under trials and bearing fruit to God. It is having staying power in the face of contrary circumstances. A good example of this virtue is the athlete who strains every muscle to get over the finish line in a sprint, or the endurance of a marathoner. If you are trying to get your anger under control, and you are not seeing results, if you persevere and are not weary in well-doing (Gal 6:9), eventually the results woud come. It is not as if the result is the motivation, rather it is our love for God (2 Cor 5:14-15), which drives us on to persevere and to be tenacious.
GODLINESS: Godliness means piety. It is an attitude which avoids irreverence towards God. It is a quality of seeking and having an eagerness to please God in all that we do.
BROTHERLY KINDNESS: This means love of the Brethren/fellow believers. This focuses on our attitude towards other Christians. It is an attitude of affection, like that which is shared amongst brothers (brotherly love). We should not have the attitude of not being able to stand any believer. Brotherly love will motivate us to cultivate interest in what is happening in the lives of other believers, to share their burdens and develop strong relationships with them
LOVE: This is the one of the most misused and misunderstood words in our world today. The Greek word for ‘love’ here is agape, and it is the kind of love that had not been described before the advent of the New Testament. It is a kind of love that is innate, and not based on feelings, natural inclinations, the worthiness or unworthiness, actions or inactions of its object, but a love that stems from obedience to the word of God. It comes from knowing God and having God on the inside (Rom 5:5). It seeks the welfare of every one. This is the kind of love we are expected to display.
The qualities above are similar to that which Paul gave in Gal 5:22 – 23, against which he stated that there was no law. There is no law made against those that do right (1 Tim 1:9), although we might suffer from people for doing so. However, the satisfaction of having pleased God should outweigh it all. We are expected to pursue the exhibition of these qualities with the attitude of diligence, and anchored on a proper understanding and knowledge of God’s word. If this is not displayed in our lives, at least four conclusions may be made: (a) that we are blind (2 Pet 1:9) (b) that we cannot see afar off (short-sighted) (2 Pet 1:9) (c) that we have forgotten that we have been cleansed from our old sins (2 Pet 1:9) (d) that we may not be genuinely saved (2 Pet 1:10). However, if we pursue and exhibit these qualities it will guarantee the following: (a) Non-barrenness (b) Fruitfulness (c) Never falling (d) abundant entrance into the kingdom
Practical ways to ensure the foregoing
Flee all appearance of evil (1 Thes 5:22): Many times we make the mistake of thinking we can handle something, and that we can take care of ourselves in compromising situations. We feel we are immune and above certain kind of temptations and that they have no effect on us or on our minds. We would avoid a lot of issues by simply obeying the biblical admonition to flee. There is no point seeing how far we can go or push the boundaries before we get ensnared like James described (James 1:13-15), when in practical terms no one would naturally want to know how close they can get to the edge of a canyon or mountain before falling off. Sadly, that is what a lot of Christians do, when the biblical admonition to flee would have been best obeyed.
A life of personal obedience: A life of personal obedience to God is also crucial. It is true that there are things that the Bible may not have expressly classified as wrong(e.g going to cinemas, what colour of car to buy, watching television), some of which may not be wrong intrinsically, but a life of personal obedience to God will help a Christian determine what is right from what is wrong. The inner nudging of the Spirit of God and a conscience that is tender and open towards God is critical. Personal obedience is therefore key. If we do not have that kind of lifestyle, when we alerted that something is wrong and we disobey, it would become progressively easier to disobey till are consciences are seared and we quench the promptings of the Spirit within us. It is therefore important to maintain a tender and soft conscience towards God and remain open to God.
Efe Fagbeja