Understanding The Bible
STUDY REFERENCE
"The Christian's Duties"

G. Coleman Luck, Excerpt From: Bibliotheca Sacra Theological Journal, "Christian Ethics" -- Vol 118  #471 -- Jul 1961
The Christian's Duties

Duties toward God
        I.          Positive
                1.         Trust Him (Mark 11:22; John 14:1, ASV; Heb. 11:6).
                2.         Love Him and seek to know Him better (1 John 5:2; Phil. 3:10, 15; Jas. 4:8).
                3.         Be thankful to Him; worship and praise Him (John 4:23; Col. 3:15; Heb. 13:15.)
                4.         Serve Him (Rom. 12:6-8, 11; 1 Cor. 15:58).
                5.         Pray to Him (Luke 18:1; Rom. 12:12; Eph. 6:18; Phil. 4:6; Col. 4:2; 1 Tim. 2:2).
                6.         Live in accordance with His will (Rom. 12:1; Heb. 13:21; Jas. 4:7).
                7.         Walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16, 25; Eph. 5:18).
                8.         Hold fast to sound doctrine and contend for the faith (2 Tim. 1:13; Heb. 13:9; Jude 3).
                9.         Witness for Christ (John 15:27; Acts 1:8; 1 Pet. 3:15).
                10.       Do everything as unto Him (1 Cor. 10:31; Eph. 6:7-8; Col. 3:17, 23-24).
                11.       Be diligent in devotion and study of His Word (John 5:39; Col. 3:16; 2 Tim. 2:15; Jas. 4:8; 1 Pet. 2:2).

        II.        Negative
                1.         Do not have idols (1 Cor. 10:7, 14; Eph. 5:3; Phil. 3:19; Col. 3:5; 1 Tim. 6:17; Heb. 13:15; 1 John 5:21).
                2.         Do not receive false teachers (2 John 10).
                3.         Do not mock or speak against God (Gal. 6:7; Col. 3:8).

Duties toward Other Human Beings
        I.          Positive
                1.         Love all, especially our brethren (John 15:17; Rom. 12:10; 1 Cor. 16:14; 1 Pet. 1:22; 1 John 3:23; 1 John 4:7).
                2.         Be sympathetic and compassionate (Eph. 4:32; Phil. 2:4; Col. 3:12).
                3.         Forgive and forbear (Rom. 12:19; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13).
                4.         Deal honestly and fairly (Rom. 12:17b; Rom. 13:7; Rom. 13:13; 1 Thess. 4:12; Jas. 2:1).
                5.         Do good to all and help all (Rom. 12:13; Gal. 6:2, 10; 1 Thess. 5:15; Titus 3:1; Heb. 13:16; Jas. 4:17; 3 John 11).
                6.         Tell the truth (Eph. 4:25).
                7.         Be courteous and live peaceably with all (Rom. 12:18; 1 Pet. 2:17; 1 Pet. 3:8).
                8.         Treat others as we would like for them to treat us (Luke 6:31; Rom. 12:17a).
                9.         Provide a good example for others (1 Cor. 8:9, 13; Phil. 2:15).
                10.       Urge brethren to good works and seek to restore backsliders (Gal. 6:1; Heb. 10:24).

        II.        Negative
                1.         Do not lie or bear false witness (Eph. 4:25; Col. 3:9; Titus 2:3).
                2.         Do not steal (Eph. 4:28; 1 Pet. 4:15).
                3.         Do not murder (1 Pet. 4:15).
                4.         Do not commit adultery or fornication (1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Thess. 4:13).
                5.         Do not judge others or speak evil of them (Rom. 14:13; Titus 3:2; Jas. 4:11; cf. John 7:24).
                6.         Do not be unequally yoked with an unbeliever (2 Cor. 6:14).
                7.         Do not have fellowship with professing Christians who live in scandalous sin (1 Cor. 5:11; 2 Thess. 3:14).
                8.         Do not go to law with other believers (1 Cor. 6:lff).
                9.         Do not glory in men (1 Cor. 3:21).
                10.       Avoid troublemakers and useless disputes (Rom. 16:17; 2 Tim. 2:23; Titus 3:12).
                11.       Do not have unpaid debts (Rom. 13:8).

Duties toward Self
        I.          Positive
                1.         Be holy (1 Pet. 1:15; 1 Pet. 2:11; 2 Pet. 3:1).
                2.         Cleave to the good and do good to all (Rom. 12:9; 1 Thess. 5:15).
                3.         Study the Word of God and meditate on sacred things (1 Thess. 4:11; 2 Tim. 2:15).
                4.         Grow spiritually (2 Pet. 3:18).
                5.         Think on good things (Phil. 4:8).
                6.         Think soberly of yourself (Rom. 12:3).
                7.         Be ambitious in the right way (1 Cor. 12:31; 1 Cor. 14:1; 2 Cor. 5:4).
                8.         Be content with what God gives you (Heb. 13:5).
                9.         Rejoice in the Lord (Rom. 12:12; Phil. 3:1; Phil. 4:4; 1 Thess. 5:16).
                10.       Live in the light of the judgment seat of Christ (1 Cor. 9:24).
                11.       Judge yourself and confess sins to God (1 Cor. 11:31; 2 Cor. 13:5; 1 John 1:9).
                12.       Conserve time for good purposes (Eph. 5:11; Col. 4:5).
                13.       Cultivate your mind (1 Pet. 1:13).
                14.       Do useful work (Eph. 4:28; 2 Thess. 3:12).
                15.       Keep your body clean and in good health (1 Cor. 6:15; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; 1 Cor. 10:31; Rom. 12:1).

        II.        Negative
                1.         Abhor evil (Rom. 12:9; 1 Thess. 5:22).
                2.         Avoid pride (Rom. 12:3; Jas. 4:10; 1 Pet. 5:6).
                3.         Do not conform to or love the world (Rom. 12:2; 1 John 2:15).
                4.         Do not fellowship with evil (Eph. 5:11).
                5.         Do not sin through anger (Eph. 4:26).
                6.         Do not worry (Phil. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:7; 1 John 14:1, 27).
                7.         Do not be lazy (Rom. 12:1).
                8.         Do not use filthy speech (Eph. 4:29; Eph. 5:4).
                9.         Do not become drunk (Eph. 5:18).
                10.       Do not complain (1 Cor. 10:10; Phil. 2:14).

General Principles of Conduct under Grace
The above list certainly shows that there are many specific commands given to the Christian in the New Testament with regard to his conduct. Nevertheless life under grace is not defined down to the very last detail as was life under law. Instead grand principles are provided whereby we may test all things if occasion should ever arise where we were in doubt as to what we should do. For such principles the following verses should be carefully studied: Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 6:17; Ephesians 4:1; Ephesians 5:1, 8, 15; Colossians 1:10; Colossians 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 1 John 2:6.

Miscellaneous Duties
Beyond all that has been said in this article, there are still other duties which the earnest believer would do well to consider: duties toward the lower creation; responsibilities with regard to human government; special duties devolving upon particular classes, such as the unmarried, husbands, wives, children, servants.

2011-11-20