Salvation depends upon the assimilation of the mind to the divine ideas, principles and affections, exhibited in the Scriptures.  This process commences with a belief of the Gospel, but is by no means completed thereby;  it takes a life-time for its scope, and untiring diligence for its accomplishment.  The mind is naturally alien from God and all His ideas (Romans 8:7    1 Corinthians 21:4), and cannot be brought at once to the Divine likeness.  This is a work of slow development, and can only be achieved by the industriousness application of the individual to the means which God had given for the purpose - that it, the expression of His mind in the Scriptures of truth - the BIBLE.

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Among the many chapters and verses that the Bible contains, which give both pleasure and profit, it is particularly incumbent upon us to think deeply and continually upon the Commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ, and his apostles - for he said about his apostles "he that heareth you  heareth me" (Luke 10:16).

 

The following are therefore a list of those commandments that the disciple should strive earnestly to keep.  They run counter to the natural inclinations of our nature, and it is not an easy task to conform to them.  Nevertheless, they become the test of discipleship.

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• Love your enemies; do good to them that hate you. (Matthew 5:44)

• Resist not evil:  if a man smite thee on one cheek, turn to him the other also. (Matthew 5:30-40)

• Avenge not yourselves:  rather give place unto wrath:  and suffer yourselves to be defrauded. (Romans 12:18-19)

• If a man take away thy goods, ask them not again. (Luke 6:29-30)

• Agree with your adversary quickly, submitting even to wrong for the sake of peace. (Matthew 5:25 1 Corinthians 6:7) 

• Labour not to be rich:  be ready to every good work, give to those who ask:  relieve the afflicted. (1 Timothy 6:8  Romans 12:13  Hebrews 13:16  James 1:27)

• Do not your alms before men:  let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.  (Matthew 6:1-4)

• Recompense to no man evil for evil:  overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17)

• Bless them that curse you:  let no cursing come out of your mouth. (Matthew 5:44  Romans 12:14)

• Render not evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing (1 Peter 3:9)

• Pray for them that despitefully use you and afflict you.  ( Matthew 5:44)

• Grudge not;  judge not;  complain not;  condemn not.  (James 5:9  Matthew 7:1)

• Put away anger, wrath, bitterness, and all evil speaking.  (Ephesians 4:3  1 Peter 2:1)

• Confess your faults one to another.  (James 5:16)

• Be not conformed to this world:  love not the world. (Romans 12:2  1 John 2:15)

• Deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts.  If thy right hand offend thee, cut it off.  (Titus 2:12  Matthew 5:30)

• Servants, be faithful, even to bad masters.  (Ephesians 6:5-8)

• Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.  (Romans 12:16)

• Owe no man anything.  (Romans 13:7-8)

• In case of sin (known or heard of). speak not of it to others, but tell the offending brother of the matter between thee and him alone, with a view to recovery.  (Matthew 18:15  Galatians  6:1)

• Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart.   (Matthew 22:37)

• Pray always;  pray with brevity and simplicity;  pray secretly.  (Luke 18:1  Matthew 6:7)

• In everything give thanks to God and recognise Him in all your ways.  (Ephesians 5:20  Proverbs 3:6)

• As ye would that men should do to you. do ye also so to them.  (Matthew 7:12)

• Take Christ for an example and follow in his steps.  (1 Peter 2:21)

• Let Christ dwell in your heart by faith. (Ephesians 3:17)

• Esteem Christ more highly than all earthly things:  yea, than your own life.  (Luke 14:26)

• Confess Christ freely before men.  (Luke 12:8)

• Beware lest the cares of life or the allurements of pleasure weaken his hold on your heart.  (Luke 21:34-36  Matthew 24:44)

• Love thy neighbour as thyself.  (Matthew 22:39)

• Exercise lordship  over no one.  (Matthew 23:10-12)

• Seek not your own welfare only, nor bear your own burdens merely, but have regard to those of others.  (Philippians 2:4  Galatians 6:2)

• Let your light shine before men:  hold forth the Word of Life.  Do good to all men as ye have opportunity.  (Matthew 5:16  Philippians 2:16  Galatians 6:10)

• Be blameless and harmless, as the sons of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.  (Philippians 2:15)

• Be gentle, meek, kind-hearted, compassionate, merciful, forgiving.  (2 Timothy 2:24  Titus 2:2  Ephesians 4:32)

• Be sober, grave, sincere, temperate.  (Philippians 4:5  1 Peter 1:13 and 5:8)

• Speak the truth every man with his neighbour:  put away all lying.  (Ephesians 4:25)  

• Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as unto the Lord, and not unto men.  (Colossians 3:23)

• Be watchful, vigilant, brave, joyful, courteous and manly. (1 Corinthians 16:13  Philippians 4:4  1 Thessalonians 5:6-10)

• Be clothed with humility:  be patient towards all.  (Colossians 3:12  Romans 12:12)

• Follow peace with all men.  Hebrews 12:14)

• Sympathise in the joys and sorrows of others.  (Romans 12:15)

• Follow after whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseful.  (Philippians 4:8)

• Refrain utterly from adultery, fornication, uncleanness, drunkenness, covetousnes,  wrath, strife, sedition, hatred, emulation, boasting, vainglory, envy, jesting and foolish talking.  (Ephesians 5:3-4)

• Whatever you do, consider the effect of your action on the honour of God's name among men.  Do all to the glory of God.  (1 Corinthians 10:31 and 3:17)

• Reckon yourselves dead to all manner of sin.  Henceforth live not to yourselves, but to him who died for you, and rose again.  (Romans 6:11  2 Corinthians 5:15)

• Be zealous of good works, always abounding in the work of the Lord, wearying not in well doing.  (Titus 2:14  Galatians 6:9)

• Speak evil of no man.  (Titus 3:2)

• Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.  (Colossians 3:16)

• Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt.  (Colossians 3:8 and 4:6)

• Obey rulers;  submit to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake.  (Titus 3:1)  [unless they conflict with obeying the Laws of the Lord Jesus Christ]

• Be holy in all manner of conversation.  (1 Peter 1: 15-16)  

• Give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.   (1 Timothy 5:14)

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