7 Christian Principles
LOVE
What exactly is this Christian love? In its fully developed state, it is the most elevated, powerful and radiant of all human feelings. It is manifested as an experience of special spiritual and moral n... [+]7 Christian Principles
LOVE
What exactly is this Christian love? In its fully developed state, it is the most elevated, powerful and radiant of all human feelings. It is manifested as an experience of special spiritual and moral nearness, of a most strong inner gravitation of one person to another. The heart of a loving person is open to the one who is loved, and is ready to receive him to itself - and ready to give itself to the other. "You Corinthians," Apostle Paul wrote to his beloved spiritual children, "Our heart is enlarged for you ... there is room for you in us..." "Thus all will know that you are my disciples if you will have love among you" (Jn.13:35) said the Lord Jesus Christ to His Apostles (and through them to all of us).
FAITH
Faith is trusting God. It is living in a relationship with God that is motivated and sustained by one’s conviction that God does keep his word. Faith is believing that God keeps his promises and then accepting his grace from Jesus, his Son. Faith is living in this relationship of trust moment by moment in accord with God’s will. Both God’s grace and faith are his gifts to those who believe.
HOPE
Hope is the birthplace of Christian self-sacrificing love. That's because we just let God take care of us and aren't preoccupied with having to work to take care of ourselves. We say, "Lord, I just want to be there for other people tomorrow, because you're going to be there for me."
If we don't have the hope that Christ is for us then we will be engaged in self-preservation and self-enhancement. But if we let ourselves be taken care of by God for the future—whether five minutes or five centuries from now—then we can be free to love others. Then God's glory will shine more clearly, because that's how he becomes visible.
OBEDIENCE
Obedience requires two parties: the one obeying, and the one obeyed. The Christian obeys God. Christian obedience is not some sort of purity detached from relationship to God. We do not pursue a self-contained morality, as if virtue in itself meant something. “Getting better” at obedience (a.k.a. sanctification) is becoming submissive to God. Either we are righteous for God’s sake, or righteous for the sake of self (self-righteous, which is to say unrighteous).
PRAISE
In John 10:10 Jesus said, The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy but I came that they may have life and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows) Amplified Bible.
As Christians we know that the thief he is referring to is the Devil. All evil comes from him. He is here to steal, kill and destroy us and our dreams if he can. But, through the power of Christian Praise, we are able to stop the fiery darts of the devil as we learn to lift our voices in praise to God who loves to pour his blessing upon all of His Children.
PRAYER
We are God’s children and need to learn to communicate with Him and let Him speak to us. When we are babies we let our parents know we need something because we cry. As we grow up we learn to speak and communicate our needs or answer questions. Prayer is talking with God, an exercise of faith, having communion with God, and admitting our need.
WORKS
A Christian work ethic is one in which work is viewed as a virtuous duty that has been mandated by God both before and after the fall of man. Idleness is viewed as a vice. Because we live in a fallen, sinful world, there will be times that work will involve a degree of strict self-denial. Workers should also receive satisfaction and maintain a spirit of joy. A Christian work ethic requires a commitment to excellence in the task. [-]