These are the basic concepts I first heard of when I was a young Christian. Over the years I’ve learned a lot about them and seen them in action and actually started doing them. I’m afraid that many never learned these things or forgot, so, I want to remind people at this late time.
Pride versus Humility is the base of the basic concepts. If we have pride in ourselves, or in an evil thing, it gives us permission for greediness, lying, theft, cruelty, etc. If we believe we’re good, we think we deserve to do all those despicable things that make people miserable. Jesus says that only God is good. “And, behold, coming near, one said to Him, Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life? And He said to him, Why do you call Me good? No one is good except One, God!” (Matthew 19:16&17) And humility is very difficult for us because we’re born to think only of ourselves and have to learn humility either from other humble people or, unfortunately, the hard way. But if you’re humble, you work better with others because you look up to them, and treat them well, instead of looking down on them. It’s physics. Or a law, like the theory of gravity.
Bossing versus Serving is another basic concept. Many keep forgetting. Or never learned. Jesus taught us to serve others, instead of bossing others around or serving yourself, or an evil thing, as he served men and women and God.
Punishing versus Forgiveness. Jesus said you will not go to Heaven if you don’t forgive. “For if you forgive men their deviations, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you will not forgive men their deviations, neither will your Father forgive your deviations.” (Matthew 6:14&15)
Strength versus Weakness. Mary the mother of Jesus is a strong woman to this day as the Bible states in Luke 1:46-55: “And Mariam (Mary) said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit exulted in God my Savior. For He looked upon the lowliness of His slave woman. For, behold, from now on all generations will count me blessed. 1Sam. 1:11 For the Mighty One did great things to me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is to generations of generations to those fearing Him. Psa. 103:17 He performed mightily with His arm; He scattered proud ones in the thought of their heart. He put down powerful ones from thrones, and lifted up lowly ones. He filled the hungry with good things, and He sent the rich away empty. He helped His servant Israel in order to remember mercy, even as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed to the age.”
Jesus was born the Son of God and Mary and died as God’s Sacrificial Lamb then, but is the Builder and Destroyer these days. The Bible says that he’d judge his church first, in 1 Peter 4:17: “Because the time has come to begin the judgment from the house of God; and if firstly from us, what will be the end of the ones disobeying the gospel of God?” and then the world in 2 Peter 3:9-12: “The Lord of the promise is not slow, as some deem slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, not purposing any to perish, but all to turn one’s self to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and being burning up the elements will be dissolved, and earth and the works in it will be burned up. Therefore, all these things being about to be dissolved, of what sort ought you to be in holy behavior and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the Day of God, through which the heavens being set on fire will be dissolved; and the elements being burned up?” Jesus is the Lamb and the Judge. And we are to judge – in a good way.