POSITIVE QUALIFICATIONS:

(Elders are to be)

1. WITHOUT REPROACH: blameless, unimpeachable character. Known for a pure life and spotless character. Irreprehensible, unasailable. Enemies may bring all manner of accusations, but these charges are proved to be empty whenever fair methods of investigation are applied. This does not mean sinless perfection, for all sin. 1 Jno. 1:8; Rom. 3:23. (All Christians are to be without reproach) 1 Tim. 6:14; Phil. 2:14,15; 3:6.

2. TEMPERATE: Able to deny self; able to restrain appetites and passions, a non-drinker. The gospel is a message of righteousness, temperance, and the judgment to come. Acts 24:25. Temperance is a fruit of the Spirit. Gal. 5:23. Using all acceptable things of life in moderation, so as to blend the faculties to the highest degree of activity. Not given to excess, but moderate, well-balanced, calm, careful, steady, and sane. This pertains to the physical, moral, and mental tastes and habits. (All Christians must be temperate) Titus 2:2; 1 Cor. 9:25; Prov. 23:20.

3. SOBER-MINDED: Of sound mind, not flippant or flighty, but earnest and sincere. Solemn, grave, sedate, thoughtful, considerate, good judgment, prudent, dignified, quiet, sensible, serious. The gospel contains words of truth and soberness, Acts 26:25. The mind must be girded up with soberness, 1 Pet. 1:13. (All Christians must be sober-minded) Titus 2::4,5; 1 Pet. 5:8.

4. ORDERLY: Of good behavior, decent in conduct, well behaved, the outward life should show forth the inward man, kind, considerate. Well disciplined. Paul told of the apostle's orderliness, 1 Thes. 2:10-12; 2 Thes. 3:6-9. Well-mannered, well-behaved in dress and habits. (All Christians are to conduct themselves orderly) 1 Tim. 3:15; 2:9; 1 Pet. 2:11,12. The word 'seemly' comes from the word 'kosmios' meaning orderly, well-arranged, becoming.

5. GIVEN TO HOSPITALITY: Entertaining strangers is frequently impressed as a Christian virtue. Friendly, sociable. Generous reception of guests, Heb. 13:2. Taking people into one's home, not just the visiting preacher but members who are weak and may be encouraged through association with stronger members of the church. Non-members also should receive the utmost in hospitality. Those who are in need should be welcomed into the home. Share food and shelter, Rom. 12;13; 1 Jno. 3:17; 1 Pet. 4:9. (All Christians should show hospitality) Heb. 13:1,2; Rom. 12:13; 1 Pet. 4:9; 1 Tim. 5:10.

6. APT TO TEACH: Qualified to instruct in the Word of God, Titus 1:9; Acts 20:28. His work is to feed the flock with the Word of God. In order to do this he must know the truth. It is very important that elders should have aptitude for teaching both privately and publicly, 2 Tim. 2:24-26. Such requires patience and perseverence. Christianity is a taught religion. The early church ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ, Acts 5: 42. (All Christians are to grow into teachers, either publicly or privately) Mt. 28:18-20; Acts 8:4; 1 Pet. 3:15; Col. 3:16; Heb. 5:11-6:2.

7. GENTLE: 'Sweet reasonableness', kind, meek; willing to be taught. Not bitter and impatient, but kind in manners even unto the froward adn unpleasant. He helps keep discussions from becoming heated quarrels. Though he never compromises with respect to the truth of the gospel, he is willing to yield when it comes to his own rights, in the spirit of 1 Cor. 6:;7. Yieldedness, fairness, helpfulness, and generosity. ( All Christians should be gentle) 1 Thes. 2:;7; Phil. 4:5; Jas. 3:17; 1:21; Mt. 5:6.

8. GOOD TESTIMONY FROM WITHOUT. Good reputation from even those outside the church, no one being able to impeach his works or name--bringing respect even from the people of the world. If a man is just and upright in his walk and kind and merciful to the needy, without ostentation or display, the wicked world will at least give him credit for such. He must be respected by all who know him. Honest and fair in all his dealings. A man of character, a man against whom it is not possible to level any just charges of moral turpitude. [All Christians must be of such character that they will not bring reproach upon the church, but will draw good testimony even from those outside the church] Col. 4:5; 1 Thes. 4:;12; Rom. 1218; Gal. 6:10.

9. LOVER OF GOOD: Loves good things; promotes virtue, having a simpathizing and merciful heart. Loves good people as associates. Loves good and wholesome places. He abstains from every form or appearance of evil and holds fast to that which is good, 1 Thes. 5:21,22. We can know much of the character of a person by knowing what kind of companions and activities he desires. [Every Christian should be a lover of good things] Phil. 4:8; Rom. 12:16,17; 1 Thes. 5:15,21; Rom. 12:9,21.

10. JUST: Equitable, fair, honest, justice to all men. Exact, conformable to divine and human laws, with the divine law taking precedence. No partiality shown by favoring one member over another. He allows no corruption to persuade him to do otherwise. A man in whom all the members can have confidence. They must know that in him they will always be treated squarely and fairly. [ All Christians need to be just with all men ] Mic. 6:8; Rom. 12:17; Acts 3:14; 2 Cor. 8:21.

11. HOLY: Devoted to God, pious. The three words, --SOBER, JUST, and HOLY, present the three sides of human duty. Duty to oneself, duty to men, and duty to God. Pure, dedicated. His body is presented to God as a living and holy sacrifice, Rom. 12:1,2. He does not defile himself with corrupt, filthy and vile habits, for his body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, 1 Cor. 3:16,17. He lifts up holy hands in prayer, 1 Tim. 2:8. He knows that he is called unto a holy calling, 2 Tim. 1:9. He leads others to holiness because he is holy, 1 Pet. 1:15,16. [ All Christians need to live holy lives. They need to be devoted to God in all things. Giving thanks to God the Father for the privilege of offering themselves to Him as a living sacrifice] Rom. 12:1,2; 1 Pet. 1:15,16.

12. SELF-CONTROLLED: Power over self to control eyes, tongue, ears, hands, and feet. Holding all his desires and appetites in restraint, to moderate their gratification. Not radical. Don't over-indulge even in lawful things. Of sound mind, discreet. [ All Christians should control themselves in all of their appetites. Certain things that the flesh desires should be forbidden altogether] Gal. 5:23; 2 Pet. 1:6; 1 Pet. 3:10-12; Jas. 3.

13. AN EXAMPLE: Elders were told to first take heed to themselves and then to the flock, Acts 20:28. The qualifications of elders cause them to be the best examples possible to other members and to the world about them, 1 Pet. 5:3. Elders are actually selected because of the good examples they set before others in qualify- ing themselves to ;be elders. The church is willing to follow them because their lives are good examples. [All Christians are to let their lights so shine as to cause people to glorify God by seeing their good works ] 1 Tim. 4:12; Mt. 5:13-16.

14. HOLDING FAST THE FAITHFUL WORD: Convicting the gainsayer. He might not be able to convert the gainsayer, but he can with the Word of God show him wherein he is wrong; in what he is doing, and that he will cerainly be condemned if he continues in such gainsaying. By holding on to the truth, he can admonish, exhort, rebuke, refute, and convict. He must be able to teach both believer and non-believer. He must be able to meet opposition with the Word of God. He must be able to guide the church into the paths of righteousness by teaching sound doctrine. [ All Christians are to be stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord ] Titus 2:1; 1 Pet. 4:11; 2 Tim. 1:13; Jas. 1:21.

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