You Can Know You Have Eternal Life
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672 – Man's Search for Inner Peace (86)
Honorable Citizenship in Jesus’ Kingdom (8)
by Jim Mettenbrink

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     Regarding the conduct of citizens of Jesus kingdom, the apostle Paul not only set forth 16 attitudes and behaviors (nine of which are some aspect of division) which prevent a Christian from going to heaven, but also challenged them to grow in the fruit of the Spirit, traits of Christlikeness.  We have considered the magnum opus of Christian character called love (agape), joy and peace.  Paul’s next facet of this sterling gem-like character, the fruit of the Spirit, is patience (Galatians 5:22, 23; 1 Corinthians 13:13).

     The common usage of the English word patience is how much time we allow to pass before we become impatient and all which goes with being impatient, such as putting one’s hand on his hip and grumbling about one’s dissatisfaction and...worse.  This is not the meaning of the original Greek New Testament (NT) word often translated “
patience.

     That it has also been translated longsuffering and forbearance hints this patience is a different character trait.  First the impatience we all experience is a selfish trait.  In reality patience is the control of our selfishness.  When we become impatient, we unleash, “You can’t do that to me, after all I am me!”  Selfishness unleashed!

     To a degree, the biblical word includes this control of selfishness, but it is much more.  The word translated patience is used 14 times in the NT.  Paul wrote regarding God’s mercy toward him, considering himself the chief of sinners – “
Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life” (1 Timothy 1:15, 16).  God withheld the punishment Paul deserved because of His forbearance.  Note this patience had no quality of selfishness on God’s part, but rather withholding of justice for Saul’s killing Christians (Acts 7:54-60; 22:20; Galatians 1:13).  God’s endurance of this opposition against Him is patience.

     Paul wrote Jesus patience was an example for citizens of His kingdom.  At no time during the trials leading to His crucifixion did Jesus strike out against His executioners.  He is truly the image of “
longsuffering.”  The Old Testament prophets are set forth as examples of longsuffering (James 5:10).

     Another aspect of patience is never quitting.  Jeremiah is the supreme example of a prophet who never quit the divinely appointed task to warn Judah of their persistence in idolatry and the consequent destruction of their homeland and God’s temple, and their 70 year exile into Babylon.  He endured ridicule, attempted murder, prison and being kidnaped, but never sought revenge, nor did he quit (e.g., Jeremiah chapters 20, 28, 38).  This is the fruit of the Spirit Jesus expects of the citizens of His kingdom.

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      © Jim Mettenbrink; used by permission. rev.151105
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