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1 Timothy 4:12
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12 Let [kataphroneo] no man [medeis] despise [kataphroneo] thy [sou] youth; [neotes] but [alla] be thou [ginomai] an example [tupos] of the believers, [pistos] in [en] word, [logos] in [en] conversation, [anastrophe] in [en] charity, [agape] in [en] spirit, [pneuma] in [en] faith, [pistis] in [en] purity. [hagneia] KJV-Interlinear
12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. NASB
A life lived by example is the best way to demonstrate to others how the Christian way of life is lived. But it is not the exterior life that others see that we are talking about, but the life of principle that they can understand, and then apply to themselves, that you want to project, for them to understand. Namely, to live in accordance with the mandates and procedures that God has prescribed in the scriptures.
The scriptures give us a mechanism of living perfect. However, the realities of life are such that we cannot live a perfect life due to the sin nature within us. Doctrine makes up the difference.
If you try to live an exemplary life and promote yourself as exemplary, then there will always be those who will look at you, roll their eyes and snicker, and judge you. Family members are good for that sort of thing.
Even to attempt to do this, would cause you to dress and act and conduct yourself as though you lived in a remote monastery. And that is not how most people live.
Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Job, Samson, Ruth, Mary and others, all had different personalities, and conducted themselves in different ways in life. And that is true about you. You are different than me and vice versa. Those folks had multiple wives, mistresses, made disgusting decisions and so forth, but they still were blessed because of their adherence to doctrine. Their flaws are not an excuse or an example for you to follow, but their faith is.
You can be a rocket scientist, or a home mom, a preacher, or a dock worker. Your occupation, your dress, your personality, your likes or dislikes, your vocabulary, etc., are all irrelevant to your function in your spiritual life.
And Paul gives us several examples of spiritual conduct (not personal conduct), to help us develop within our spiritual life.
Remember that your spiritual life is all to do with your spiritual conduct and nothing to do with your personal conduct (works). Of course when your spiritual life comes into alignment, then your personal life will follow, so the personal side becomes a mirror of your spiritual side, when you advance to spiritual maturity.
Youth, ‘neotes,’ can mean young in age or new to Christianity regardless of age. In any case, the believer needs to not be embarrassed because of his age or newness to Christianity. Confidence and credibility and respect, come with time, consistency, and knowledge and wisdom.
The believer is to be an example to others in word, ‘logos,’ conversation, ‘anastrophe,’ charity, ‘agape,’ spirit, ‘pneuma,’ faith, ‘pistis,’ purity, ‘hagneia.’
Remember that personal conduct is not the issue, spiritual conduct is. If you want to find bad examples of Christians, you don’t have to go too far to find people with flaws. We all have them. Judging Christianity by the acts of people is incorrect. Christianity should be judged on its principles.
Word, is more than what is said, it is the reasoning, the discernment, the poise, the temperament. People can always go around saying holy this’ or ‘praise that,’ which phrases mean nothing. What you say is a reflection of what you think, and discerning people can tell if you are pretending or being deceitful, or true and consistent to your beliefs.
Conversation means behavior. Do you say one thing and do another? Do you say and do the same things? Are you a hypocrite, or a sincere and honest person, at least making an effort.
Charity, is typically giving, but here it is the principle of truth or doctrine, behind the action. Are you true to your beliefs, or do you have ulterior motives? Are you trying to take advantage of others for your own advantage, or do you truly want to help?
Spirit, is the breath or the inhale and exhale function of your soul. This is your day to day dedication to the study of the Word of God. You cannot live by something that you know nothing about. And when you dedicate yourself to obedience to Christ, then you obey His mandates which include a daily study of His Word. Far too many folks say that they love Jesus, but they really do not. Their words have no substance behind them, in their life. Breathing exists constantly around the clock in your body, it should exist constantly in your soul as well.
Faith is your conscious adherence to that which is taught. Your learning of principles and then your living by them. Faith is your adoption of Gods word into your day to day life. Your moral conviction, your belief, your blueprint which you use as the pattern of your day to day life. You cannot say that you are a loyal Christian and then adopt some other form of lifestyle that is not based on Christian principles.
Purity is cleanliness, chastity, wholesomeness, but this has a sacred connotation. This is not a shower with soap, or sweet perfume, or a pleasant personality. Purity here means spiritual purity, which means absence of filth or flaws and so forth. And there is but one way to be pure (absence of sin) in this earthly life, and that is through confession of sin and living within the fellowship sphere as God has defined it.
Your spiritual life functions only while you are in fellowship. Your learning, your growing, your production, everything that you do, will only have spiritual consequences when you are in fellowship.
Living your life in fellowship is the key to your entire spiritual life.
You can do a good deed, study, or whatever, when out of fellowship and that is human works, wood, hay, and stubble, or useless carnal production, gaining you nothing.
You can do the same good deed, study, or whatever, when in fellowship and that is spiritual production, gold, silver, and precious stones, which have intrinsic value and contribute toward your eternal reward.
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