“So whatever you wish others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12) These familiar words of our Lord are often quoted by the worldly and spiritually minded alike. Nevertheless, His admonition is often disregarded by many of those doing the quoting. Some of the difficulty lies in the fact that this practice requires taking the initiative. Jesus does not say that we should treat others how we have been treated, instead we ought to treat others the way we ideally would prefer to be treated (even if we are rarely ever treated that way). This means not giving to another what I would not want, which does raise the question of whether what I want is good, but there are several basic good things the vast majority of humans desire. In seeking to give these things to others, there is a sense, though, in which we are giving what we have already gotten. “Every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17) It is important to remember in our giving, that we can only give to others the good that God has already given to us. It is equally important to remember that we could never give to others any amount that would equal the good that God has already given to us.

What does it mean to make something one’s practice? What do we mean when we say things like “practice makes perfect”? According to Merriam-Webster, to practice anything means to “carry out, apply; to do or perform often, customarily, or habitually.” Therefore, when we practice anything, we are taking what we know in principle and practically implementing it. Practicing any skill, then, requires some knowledge to be applied. If it is something done often enough to be habitual, then we can safely conclude that practicing anything requires time, energy, and commitment to both acquire the knowledge that is to be applied and to train ourselves to apply it consistently. No one who begins to learn any new skill does so with immediate mastery. Is this not also true with growth as an obedient child of God?

In 1 John 2:29; 3:4-9, we read of two different practices: sin and righteousness. John tells us that those who practice sin also practice “lawlessness.” He continues by saying that those who make a practice of sin are “of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.” John juxtaposes the one who practices sin with the one who practices righteousness, saying that “whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous.” Unlike the one who practices sin and refuses to be directed by God’s law, the righteous person has “God’s seed” (the seed is the word of God, according to Luke 8:11) abiding in him.

Why is it so important to stress that righteousness is something we practice? Perhaps the answer to this question becomes clear when we consider the sinfulness of all men, “for there is no one who does not sin.” (1 Kings 8:46) In the context of this passage in 1 Kings, Solomon is praying to God on behalf of the people of Israel. Is Solomon being pessimistic by already assuming that the people will sin against God? Does he have no vote of confidence in his Jewish brethren? Or is Solomon being realistic? People sin. It is not a question of whether or not the righteous person sins, but rather a marked difference in what the righteous person does about his sin, as he continues to practice righteousness. Solomon is petitioning God to be merciful as long as the people sincerely acknowledge and forsake their sins and turn to God. John echoes this when he says, “no one who abides in Him keeps on sinning,” yet “if we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10; 3:6) Jesus says, “whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” (John 3:21) But what if the light reveals that my works have not, in fact, been carried out in God? James reminds us that looking into God’s word which shows us for who we really are is like looking at a mirror, the implication being that the righteous person will correct themselves based on what God’s word reveals. (James 1:21-25) Practicing righteousness does not mean we begin with certain mastery over ourselves and our desires, perfectly handling God’s word, and resisting every temptation that comes our way. This implies, however, that we must grow in knowledge, that we must consistently apply what we learn from God’s word, and that we must continue to acknowledge and forsake the sins we do commit.

Some have misinterpreted and misused this particular section in 1 John to attempt to prove that once one is saved by the blood of Jesus, s/he can do nothing to lose that salvation. This is both ironic and inconsistent with what John is teaching, as he is refuting a false doctrine that encouraged its disciples to live sensual and worldly lives, with a belief that they could still maintain a relationship with God. While going so far as to say that I do not sin or cannot lose my salvation is wrong, it is just as false to conclude that my past sins preclude my capacity to live a righteous life in the present. Paul reminds us that the gospel has the power to save us, revealing God’s righteousness to build our faith in Him and bring about our obedience, since practicing righteousness requires that we live by such obedient faith. (Romans 1:5; 16-17) What, then, does the gospel teach us about God’s righteousness and what we must learn, trust, and practice?

We must trust that God justifies us by His abundant grace that we receive through faith, not by keeping track of all the good that we do in His service. (Romans 3:21-26; 5:20-21) If we have learned this, then we ought to practice expressing our thankfulness to God and sharing the joy of our salvation with others. We must trust that God’s word really does contain everything we need to live as godly people. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) If we truly believe this, then we ought to desire and make time to study, discuss, and implement His word each day we are blessed with life. We must trust that God is merciful to those who seek His forgiveness, and that Jesus’ blood really does have the power to “cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) If we know this, then we ought to practice confessing our sins to God and continue to confidently “walk in the light, as He is in the light,” knowing that “as He is so also are we in this world.” (1 John 1:7; 4:17)