The Traits of the Christian Life
12:9-13
In this passage, Paul lists behaviors and attitudes that should be present in a Christian’s life. These are instructions and commandments.
First, we should love with genuine love. We do not fake it. We love even the unloveable. We love those with whom we disagree. We love those who struggle.
Paul describes this love for us in detail in 1 Corinthians 13. And he tells us that, of the faith, hope, and love that abide, love is the greatest. It is mandatory. Jesus commanded it: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another”. (John 13:34)
It is important. That is why Paul lists it first in this passage and devotes 1 Corinthians 13 to it. Love is also the first fruit of the Spirit listed by Paul. (Galatians 5:22)
Our churches and our denominations need more of it. It is vital to our witness. Jesus said: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”. (John 13:35)
In addition to love, we are to abhor (hate or be disgusted by) evil and hold on to what is good. Our culture, and then the church, are constantly confronted by evil things and told to accept them. Generally, over time, many become accustomed to these things and gradually come to accept
them.
We must guard ourselves against this. God does not change. In Malachi 3:6, God said “I, the LORD, do not change”. Hebrews 13:8 says: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”. This is part of the doctrine of divine immutability.
We are to show honor to each other. (10) In fact, rather than seeking more honor for ourselves, we are to outdo each other in showing honor to others. We do not ridicule others or “put them down”. We do not discriminate based on wealth or appearance.
We are to serve the Lord with zeal. J. C. Ryle, a 19th century evangelical Anglican bishop, described zeal this way:
“Zeal in Christianity is a burning desire to please God, to do His will, and to advance His glory in the world in every possible way. It is a desire, which is not natural to men or women. It is a desire which the Spirit puts in the heart of every believer when they are converted to Christ…This desire is so strong, when it really reigns in a person, that it impels them to make any sacrifice-to go through any trouble-to deny themselves anything-to suffer, to work, to labor, to toil, to spend themselves and be spent, and even to die-if only they can please God and honor Christ.”
The next three are connected. We are to rejoice in the hope of eternal life (12), to be patient in tribulation, and to pray constantly. No matter how difficult the problems of this life are, the believer has hope. Biblical hope is a confident expectation and desire for something good in the future. A Christian believes in the blessing and bliss of eternal life. Even in struggles, that hope gives us the ability to rejoice.
That also helps us to be patient in tribulation. If you are a believer, you will experience tribulation. Do not be fooled by the prosperity gospel’s teaching that you can avoid suffering by faith. Jesus said it plainly: in this world you will have tribulation. (John 16:33) Paul taught it to Timothy: “…all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”.
But, tribulation is temporary as this life is temporary. The older you get, the more you understand the shortness of this earthly life. But we can be patient because we know what comes next. Walt Harrah captured this thought in his song, “No More Night”:
No more night. No more pain.
No more tears. Never crying
again. And praises to the great "I
AM." We will live in the light of
the risen Lamb.
The last of this triad is the instruction to be constant in prayer. (12) It is prayer by which God supplies grace that is sufficient to for every trial and tribulation.
Paul experienced this first hand. God gave him a “thorn in the flesh”. He did not tell us what this was specifically, but it was painful enough that he prayed three times for God to remove it. God did not remove it, but gave him sufficient grace to endure it. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
We are also to contribute to the needs of our fellow believers (13). We treat their needs as our needs. Paul demonstrated this when he took up a collection from the Gentile European churches and delivered it to the church in Jerusalem. Likewise, he received support from various churches while he was in prison. We are to help each other during hardships.
We show hospitality. We are welcoming. We make people part of the group and fellowship with them.
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