The ABC’s of Christianity
INTRODUCTION.
A. When our children are young, we teach them the alphabet. Each letter of the alphabet plays a specific part in our language. Without those letters, we would not have a language as we know it today.
B. As Christians, there are certain basic characteristics and building blocks that we all must possess. The following list might be referred as to “The ABC’s of Christianity.”
I. THE ABC’S OF CHRISTIANITY.
A. Abide in the Doctrine of Christ. (II John 1:9)
1. Doctrine of Christ = the teachings about and of Christ. This would include the teachings of His apostles.
2. Abide in = to remain in the teachings of Jesus.
3. Abiding in the doctrine of Christ, obeying His words, is equal to walking in fellowship with God. (I John 1:5-7)
B. Bear One Another’s Burdens. (Galatians 6:1-2)
1. Bear = “1) to take up with the hands . . . 3) to bear, to carry” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)
2. Burdens = “heaviness, weight, burden, trouble” (Ibid.)
3. Burden in verse 5 = “a burden, load” (Ibid.)
4. Compare this with Hebrews 12:12-13.
C. Casting All Your Cares Upon Christ. (I Peter 5:7)
1. Consider the parable of the sower and the seed that fell among thorns. Jesus said, “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22, NKJV)
2. Casting your cares upon the Lord is crucial to resisting the devil. (I Peter 5:6-9)
D. Depart from Evil. (Psalms 34:14)
1. Depart = “to turn aside, depart” (Ibid.)
2. Depart is to walk away from evil.
3. Illustrate the leaving one point and going to another point.
E. Endure Temptations. (Matthew 10:21-22; James 1:12)
1. Endure = “1) to remain 1a) to tarry behind 2) to remain i.e. abide, not recede or flee” (Ibid.)
2. Temptation = “1) an experiment, attempt, trial, proving” (Ibid.)
F. Fight the Good Fight of Faith. (I Timothy 6:11-12)
G. Grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ. (II Peter 3:17-18)
H. Humble Yourself in the Sight of the Lord. (James 4:7-10)
1. Humble = “to make low, bring low” (Ibid.)
2. Lift = “to lift up on high, to exalt” (Ibid.)
I. Inward Man is to be Renewed. (II Corinthians 4:16-18)
1. Faint (KJV) = “to be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted” (Ibid.) We are to “faint not.”
2. Renewed = “to cause to grow up, new, to make new” (Ibid.)
J. Judge not Hypocritically. (Matthew 7:1-6)
K. Keep Yourself in the Love of God. (Jude 1:20-21; John 14:21)
L. Let Brotherly Love Continue. (Hebrews 13:1)
M. Mind Not High Things. (Romans 12:15-16)
N. Not Forsaking the Assemblings. (Hebrews 10:24-27)
O. Overcome Evil with Good. (Romans 12:21)
P. Pray without Ceasing. (I Thessalonians 5:17)
1. Jude 1:20; Romans 8:26
2. Through prayer, we offer thanks to God, we pray for others, and we pray ourselves. (I Timothy 2:1)
Q. Quit You Like Men, Be Strong. (I Corinthians 16:13)
1. quit you like men (KJV) = 1) to make a man of or make brave 2) to show one’s self a man, be brave” (Ibid.)
2. “ . . . be brave, be strong . . .” (NKJV)
R. Redeem the Time. (Ephesians 5:15-16)
1. Redeem = “ . . . 2) to buy up, to buy up for one’s self, for one’s use 2a) to make wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good, so that zeal and well doing are as it were the purchase money by which we make the time our own” (Ibid.)
2. Time = “1) due measure 2) a measure of time, a larger or smaller portion of time, hence: . . . 2b) opportune or seasonable time 2c) the right time . . .” (Ibid.)
S. Seek the Things that are Above. (Colossians 3:1-4)
T. Think on Things That are Right. (Philippians 4:8)
U. Unmoveable: The Stance of a Truth Christian. (I Corinthians 15:58)
1. Steadfast = “2) firm, immovable, steadfast” (Ibid.)
2. Immoveable = “1) not to be moved from its place, unmoved 2) metaph. firmly persistent” (NKJV)
V. Visit the Fatherless and the Widows. (James 1:27)
1. Visit = “to look upon or after, to inspect, examine with the eyes” (Ibid.)
2. Fatherless = “bereft (of a father, of parents)” (Ibid.)
3. Affliction = “1) a pressing, pressing together, pressure 2) metaph. oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits” (Ibid.)
W. Watch and Pray. (Matthew 26:41)
1. “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” (I Corinthians 16:13, NKJV)
2. “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” (I Thessalonians 5:6, NKJV)
3. Do not forget to pray for strength and “perfect vision” as you watch.
X. eXamine Yourself. (II Corinthians 13:5)
1. Examine = 1) to try whether a thing can be done . . . 2) to try, make trial of, test: for the purpose of ascertaining his quantity, or what he thinks, or how he will behave himself” (Ibid.)
2. Test (prove, KJV) = 1) to test, examine, prove, scrutinise (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals 2) to recognize as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy” (Ibid.)
Y. Yield Yourselves Unto God. (Romans 6:12-14)
1. Present (yield, KJV) = “1) to place beside or near . . . 2) to stand beside, stand by or near, to be at hand, be present” (Ibid.)
2. Dominion = “1) to be lord of, to rule, have dominion over . . .” (Ibid.)
Z. Zealous of Good Works. (Titus 2:11-14)
CONCLUSION.
A. While there are many other attributes for which Christians should strive, these are twenty six to consider.
B. How many Christians know God’s word as well as they do the alphabet?
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The ABC’s of Christianity -- April 21, 2002 -- File # 1423
by John M. Duvall -- Lawton ,OK