Guidelines on the Life of Faith

Service in Truth and Blessing

Service is noble and valuable, but if we do not know the truth, God’s blessing is not promised to our service. However, God’s abundant blessings are promised to us when we serve in the truth. Now, let us look at God’s teachings to see with what kind of heart we should serve to receive even more blessings. 1. As One Who Serves The word service refers to the act of serving others with respect. Since the high cannot serve the low, to serve, one must position themselves lower than others. Jesus, who is God in nature, came in the flesh and took the form of a servant, setting an example of obedience and service (Lk 22:26–27). We must remember Jesus’s…

The Importance of the Covenant

Promises serve as the foundation of every aspect of human life: workplace interactions, marriages forming families, the simple act of buying and selling, and more. In the past, transactions were conducted through barter, but now they are completed using money or checks. Although some forms of currency might physically resemble mere tissue paper, they carry different values, such as a hundred-dollar bill or ten-dollar bill. This is due to the promises and agreements made between people. Similarly, our relationship with God is sustained by a covenant. 1. The Covenant Between God and His People Through Baptism Baptism, which is undergone at the beginning of one’s religious life, is a sign of the covenant between God and His people. Water itself…

Human Rules

If we are God's people, it is only natural to keep God's commandments. Today, many Christians, who claim to be God’s people, keep human rules, which are not found in the Bible, instead of God’s commandments. Here are some examples of human rules. 1. Sunday Worship God appointed the Sabbath as the day of weekly worship (Ex 20:8). However, today, many people keep Sunday worship instead of the Sabbath. Sunday worship originated from the pagan worship of the sun god. It is not in the Bible. It is a human rule. 2. Christmas People commonly believe that December 25 is the birthday of Jesus, and most churches hold celebrations on this day to commemorate His birth. However, Christmas on December…

Why We Must Keep God’s Commandments

If we consider ourselves God’s people, we must cherish and obey the commandments established by God. Let us explore through the Bible why it is essential for us to keep God’s commandments. 1. Those Who Love God Will Keep His Commandments When people meet someone they want to love, they go to great lengths to express their love in various ways—sometimes through letters, sometimes with roses, and sometimes with various gifts. Then, how should we express our love for God? God does not want us to express our love with letters, roses, or gifts; instead, He has stated that we express our love by keeping His commandments. “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.”Jn…

Glorify God Through Your Good Deeds

There are many unbelievers around us who hold preconceived ideas that Christians’ words, attitudes, and deeds must be superior to those of non-Christians. Therefore, we should strive to glorify God, recognizing that each of our words and deeds has the power to either conceal or reveal the glory of God. Jesus also taught us to glorify God through our good deeds. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Mt 5:16 If our good deeds lead many unbelievers to repentance before God, how pleased God will be! Apostle Peter exhorted us to live good lives as follows: Live such good lives among the pagans that,…

How Should We Greet the Sabbath Day?

Let’s find out how we should prepare and greet the Sabbath day to receive abundant blessings from God. First, we should prepare for the Sabbath day through the Preparation Day. The day before the Sabbath is called the Preparation Day meaning to prepare for the Sabbath day. We need to finish our private affairs by the day before the Sabbath, lest we should be hindered from keeping the Sabbath because of worldly things. “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” Jn 4:24 Second, we should be punctual for worship services. The Sabbath is a day to meet God who is the Ruler of the whole universe. If you have a chance to meet the…

Reasons We Should Study God’s Word

Why should we study God’s word? Let us understand the reasons through the Bible. 1. For our soul to live God’s word is spiritual food. Jesus said that man lives by the word of God. Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Mt 4:4 Can anyone live without eating? No. If we do not eat, we gradually become weak and eventually lose our life. Our souls are not different. If we do not eat spiritual food—God’s word, we weaken spiritually, losing our spiritual power, and eventually our spiritual life. Therefore, we must always eat spiritual food by studying God’s word, spiritual food. 2.…

The Reasons Members Should Serve One Another

God told us to “become the one who serves.” We, heavenly children, should please God by putting God’s teachings into practice. In the Bible, let us see the reason we should serve one another. First, it is because Christ Himself set the example of serving “…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mt 20:26–28 God is the most high and the most holy in the whole universe. Nevertheless, He came to this earth in human likeness and served us by sacrificing Himself…

How Should We Treat One Another?

God is pleased when His children are united (Ps 133:1; Php 2:1–2). However, if we are rude and inconsiderate of one another, it will be difficult to become one. Therefore, we ought to love each other, being polite and considerate, so that we can become united and please God. Let us see how we should treat one another. First, we should love one another by being courteous “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." Jn 13:34 God said we must love one another just as He loved us. We have become one body with God by receiving God’s flesh and blood through the New Covenant, and we…

Reasons We Should Endure

In our life of faith, there are many reasons why we must endure. 1. To be saved “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm [he that endureth, KJV] to the end will be saved." Mt 10:21–22 The Bible teaches us that only he who endures to the end will be saved. No matter how great our faith may have been in the past, if we leave the truth, failing to endure to the end, our faith becomes meaningless. We must receive the blessing of salvation by overcoming difficulties with endurance. “By…

The Forefathers of Faith Who Were Blessed by Having Patience

In the Bible, there are many records about the forefathers of faith, who were blessed through their patience. Let us look at what kind of patience we should have, through their deeds. 1. Patience of Job Job was faithful and righteous in the sight of God. He had many children and was prosperous; he had everything. Satan, who envied Job, brought upon him a test difficult to endure. Satan afflicted Job, causing him to lose all his property and even causing his children to die. However, Job did not grumble but rather praised God. . . . and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;…

What Kind of Words Should We Speak? (2)

We will continue to look into the kinds of words God wants us to speak. 1. Words of thanks But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. Eph 5:3–4 The Bible teaches us that we should speak words of thanks. God Himself came down to this earth to save our souls that were destined to die, by forgiving all of our sins, and He is leading us to Heaven full of joy, without death or pain. Thinking of this grace…

What Kind of Words Should We Speak? (1)

Our words reflect our personality, our thoughts and emotions. Therefore, as God’s children who have received the promise of salvation, we should glorify God with gracious and thankful words. Let’s find out what kind of words God wants us to use, by looking at the Bible. 1. We should throw away malice and speak good words Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate…

God’s Word Is Absolute

God’s Word is absolute, and there are no exceptions. The only way to receive God’s blessings and salvation is to regard God’s word as absolute. This is because God pours out blessings only upon those who absolutely obey His word. 1. Noah’s Ark God commanded Noah to build an ark, a wooden ship, on the top of a mountain, even though it had not rained up to that time. In fact, it was unimaginable to build an ark of this size; it was 450 feet (137 meters) long, 75 feet (23 meters) wide, and 45 feet (14 meters) high. In those days, it was almost impossible to build a ship of that magnitude. Of course, with modern-day technology it could…

Blessings and Curses as a Result of Our Words

The Bible records the history of people who received blessings or curses as a result of their words. Through their history, let us think of what kind of words we should speak. 1. Peter received the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven Jesus . . . “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon . . . I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Mt 16:13–19 When Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?”…

The Importance of the Words We Speak

There is a saying, “One word pays back a huge debt.” It means that the impact of a single word is great. God has also taught us many lessons about the importance of words. Let’s find out through the Bible. 1. A Word is like a mirror that reflects what is in our hearts “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in…

The Forefathers of Faith Who Overcame Temptation

Satan has been tempting the children of God with all kinds of evil schemes since the creation of the world. We have to overcome all Satan’s temptations to enter the eternal Kingdom of Heaven. There are many records of the forefathers of faith who were blessed after overcoming Satan’s temptations. Through their examples, let us learn about the kind of faith that we must have in order to overcome temptation. 1. Jesus After fasting forty days and nights, Jesus was tempted by Satan. Similarly, we will be tempted by Satan because we believe and follow Jesus. First, He was tempted with food, man’s weakest point. Jesus overcame the first temptation with the word of God, “Man does not live on…

Victory over Satan’s Temptations

Satan tries to weaken our faith and destroy our souls by tempting us with secular things such as possessions, narcissism, discord, hatred, power, wealth, desire, jealousy, envy, pride, and so on, in order to inhibit us from entering the Kingdom of Heaven. We must overcome all temptations from Satan. 1. How does the devil tempt us? Possessions when we are in need Doubting God’s administration Desire for the wealth and glory of this world Idolatry Hindrance through people around us Increased property and wealth Doubting the truth due to lies Obstructing our way to God through persecution Preventing unity by dividing and alienating Church members 2. How can we overcome Satan’s temptations? Praying continually (Mt 26:41) Standing firm in faith…

Why We Should Make Efforts to Gather in Zion

As parents rejoice when they see their children gather, God is pleased and blesses His people when they come together. “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Mt 18:19–20 “Where two or three come together in My name, there am I with them,” is not intended to discourage us from praying individually, but to encourage us to work toward gathering together. The Apostles also recommended for the saints to come together often. “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the…

What Should We Pray About?

We can accomplish everything with God’s help. God waits for us to ask Him for help (Mt 7:7–8), and gives ear to our prayers in the invisible world. Therefore, we should make every effort to pray earnestly (1 Th 5:17). What topics should we pray about? Through the Bible, let us learn one by one. Seeking His kingdom and His righteousness (Mt 6:25–34). To receive much wisdom (Jas 1:5). To not fall into temptation (Lk 22:40). Asking for the Holy Spirit (Lk 11:13). For God to open the door for preaching (Col 4:2–6). To fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel (Eph 6:18–19). To stand firm in faith and in the will of God (Col 4:12). For God to…