Principles Taught by Jesus and his Apostles

The teachings of Jesus and his apostles are not a set of prescriptive laws or commandments, but principles which we need to apply in the circumstances of our life. This is how we live by faith not by law.

• Believing in Jesus means doing what he says. We must follow the teachings of Jesus and his apostles.

  John 13:17, 15:14, Matthew 7:21, 28:20, Luke 6:46-49, Philippians 3:17, James 2:22-25, 1 John 2:4

Principles Concerning God

• Love God as your first love and secondly your neighbour.

  Matthew 22:35-39

• Fear and reverence God.

  Matthew 10:28

• Glory in God not mankind.

  1 Corinthians 3:21, 2 Corinthians 10:17

• Imitate God’s kindness to the undeserving.

  Matthew 5:45-48, Ephesians 5:1

• Pray to God always with brevity and simplicity without an open show.

  Luke 18:1, Matthew 6:6-7, 7:7, 26:41, Ephesians 6:18, Philippians 4:6, Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 1 Timothy 2:8, Hebrews 2:8, 4:16

• Trust in God in faith to provide what you need. Cast your care upon him.

  Mark 11:22, Matthew 6:25, Philippians 4:6, 1 Peter 5:7

• Give yourselves to his service without reserve

  Matthew 6:24, Romans 12:1

• In everything give thanks to him

  Ephesians 5:20, Colossians 3:15, 17, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Hebrews 13:15

• Recognise his will in all that we do

  James 4:15, Proverbs 3:6

• Be separate to him from the world.

  2 Corinthians 6:14-17

Principles Concerning Christ

• Let Christ dwell in your hearts by faith.

  Ephesians 3:17

• Give him a higher place than anything else.

  Luke 14:26, Matthew 10:37

• Set your attention on him and not the things of this present life in the world.

  Colossians 3:1-4, 1 John 2:15

• Do not let him slip from your memory or affections.

• John 15:7, Hebrews 2:1

• Remember him each first day of the week by partaking of bread and wine.

  Matthew 26:26-27, 1 Corinthians 11:24-26, 16:2, Acts 2:42, 20:7

• Do not be ashamed to confess him before others.

  Luke 12:8, Mark 8:38, 2 Timothy 1:8, Matthew 7:6

• Be in a state of continual readiness for his coming.

  Matthew 24:44, Luke 12:35-37, 14:26, 2 Peter 3:14

• Patiently endure temptation and trials to the end.

  Matthew 24:13, 2 Timothy 2:3

• Hold fast your confidence and rejoicing in him.

  Revelation 2:10-25, Hebrews 3:14

Principles Concerning Brothers and Sisters in Christ

• Love one another with a pure heart.

  John 13:34, Romans 12:10, Ephesians 5:2, Colossians 3:14, 1 Thessalonians 4:0, Hebrews 13:1, 1 Peter 1:22, 4:8, 1 John 3:14-19

• Do not exercise lordship over your brothers and sisters but lead by serving them.

  Matthew 23:11, Luke 22:26-27, John 13:13-17

• Do not be angry with your brothers and sisters.

  Matthew 5:22, Ephesians 4:26, Colossians 3:8

• Seek reconciliation with your brothers and sisters and forgive to the utmost extent.

  Matthew 5:24, 18:35, Colossians 3:13

• If your brother or sister sins seek to recover them to the right way, first privately and then with the help of others if needed. Do not gossip about it to others.

  Matthew 18:15, Galatians 6:1, James 5:19-20

• Do not hold a grudge or condemn your brothers and sisters.

  Matthew 7:1, Romans 14:13, 1 Corinthians 4:5, James 4:11

• Provide relief to those in need.

  Acts 20:35, Romans 12:13, James 2:16, Galatians 6:10, 1 John 3:17

• Seek the welfare of your brothers and sisters as well as your own.

  Philippians 2:4, 1 Corinthians 10:24, Galatians 6:2

• Be of one mind and make peace.

  1 Corinthians 1:10, 2 Corinthians 13:11, 1 Peter 3:8, Romans 14:19

• Confess your faults to each other.

  James 5:16

Principles Concerning Those Around You

• Be a witness to the Word of Life.

  Matthew 5:16, 10:32-33, Philippians 2:16, Revelation 22:17

• Agree with your adversary quickly.

  Matthew 5:25, 1 Corinthians 6:7, Romans 12:18-19

• Do good to all as the opportunity arises, even to those who do you wrong.

  Galatians 6:10, Luke 6:27-28, 10:37, Romans 12:20, Matthew 5:44

• Do not retaliate to those who do you wrong but respond with good.

  Matthew 5:39-40, Luke 6:29-30, Romans 12:14-21, 1 Thessalonians 5:15, 1 Peter 3:9

• Do to others as you would that they do to you.

  Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31

• Do not participate in the evil things of the world around you.

  Ephesians 4:17, 5:7-11, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 6:17

• Be honest to all.

  1 Thessalonians 4:12, 1 Timothy 5:14, Philippians 2:15

Principles Concerning Your Character

• Be holy in your behaviour.

  1 Peter 1:15-16, Hebrews 12:14

• Be gentle, kind and compassionate.

  Matthew 10:16, 18:25, Philippians 2:15, Ephesians 4:32, 5:15-17, 2 Timothy 2:24, Titus 2:2, Colossians 3:12,

• Be sincere and moderate.

  Philippians 4:5, Titus 2:2, 7, 1 Peter 1:13, 5:8

• Do everything to the Lord.

  Romans 12:1-2, Colossians 3:23

• Be vigilant and courteous.

  1 Corinthians 16:13, Philppians 4:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 8, 10, 2 Peter 1:5-7

• Be empathic and sympathetic.

  Romans 12:15

• Be humble and not proud or arrogant.

  Luke 14:11-13, Romans 11:20, 12:3-16, Philippians 2:3, Colossians 3:12, 1 Peter 5:5-6

• Be patient and long-suffering.

  Romans 12:10, 14:1 15:1 1 Thessalonians 5:14, Ephesians 4:31, 1 Peter 2:11

• Do what is right and true and not what is wrong.

  Philippians 4:8, Romans 12:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:22

• Do not have a reputation amongst others for wrong and bad things.

  Ephesians 5:3-4, Galatians 5:19-21, Philippians 2:3

Principles Concerning Your Actions

• Do all to the honour and glory of God.

  1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:17

• Do not be self-indulgent. Live in righteousness to God and be dead to sin.

  1 Peter 4:2, Romans 6:11, Ephesians 6:6, 2 Corinthians 5:15

• Be diligent to do good.

  Titus 2:14, 1 Corinthians 15:58, 1 Thessalonians 4:1, Hebrews 6:11, Galatians 6:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:13

• Be wary of those with false teachings.

  Matthew 7:15, Philippians 3:2, 1 John 4:1

• Do not be covetous.

  Luke 12:15, Matthew 6:19, Titus 3:1, Hebrews 13:5

• Be a cheerful giver.

  Matthew 5:42, Romans 12:13, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, Hebrews 13:16, James 1:27

• Do good to others privately and not for recognition from others.

  Matthew 6:1-4

• Be content with what you have and do not seek to be rich.

  1 Timothy 6:8, John 6:27, Matthew 6:19

• If you become rich, be careful not to indulge yourself but use them for the service of God.

  1 Timothy 6:10, 17-19, Luke 12:18-21, 16:9-13, 1 Peter 4:10

• Transform your mind to be like Christ.

  Galatians 5:16-26, Ephesians 4:24, 5:8-19, Colossians 3:9

• Do not be immoral.

  2 Corinthians 7:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 6:15-20

• Be peaceable with others.

  Hebrews 12:14, Romans 12:18, 14:19, 1 Corinthians 13:11, Ephesians 4:3

• Seek for the good of others.

  Romans 15:2, 1 Corinthians 10:33

• Do not complain.

  Philippians 2:14

• Don’t speak evil of others.

  Titus 3:2

• Be quick to hear and slow to speak.

  James 1:19

• Depart from iniquity.

  2 Timothy 2:19, 1 Peter 4:15

• Be prepared to suffer for Christ’s sake.

  1 Peter 4:19, 1 Thessalonians 5:15, 1 Peter 4:13

• Don’t follow after our sinful desires.

  1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:22

• Let the word of Christ dwell in you.

  Colossians 3:16, 1 Peter 2:2, 1 Timoty 4:15

• Pay your debts.

  Romans 13:7-8

• Be subject to the government and the law of the land except where it conflicts with the principles of Christ.

  Titus 3:1, 1 Peter 2:13-17, Romans 13:6, Acts 4:19

Principles Concerning Your Thoughts and Speech

• Sinful intent is the same as sinful action.

  Matthew 5:27-28

• Be dead to sin but alive to righteousness in Christ.

  Colossians 3:5, Galatians 5:24, 1 Corinthians 9:27

• Remove anything in our life that may cause us to sin.

  Matthew 5:29, Hebrews 12:1

• Let your speech be gracious and edifying.

  Matthew 5:37, Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 3:8, 4:6, Titus 2:7-8, 1 Peter 4:11, James 3:10

• Always speak the truth.

  Ephesians 4:25, Colossians 3:9

Adapted from “The Commandments of Christ” by Robert Roberts