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Put Off, Be Renewed, Put on December 16, 2009
I came across some notes I took awhile ago. I wish I could remember what book I was reading at the time. But here they are anyway.
Every believer is called to “morph,” Ephesians 4:1-6 (Amplified Bible)
1I THEREFORE, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to and beg you to walk (lead a life) worthy of the [divine] calling to which you have been called [with behavior that is a credit to the summons to God's service,
2Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another.
3Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of [and produced by] the Spirit in the binding power of peace.
4[There is] one body and one Spirit–just as there is also one hope [that belongs] to the calling you received–
5[There is] one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6One God and Father of [us] all, Who is above all [Sovereign over all], pervading all and [living] in [us] all.
Christ’s defeat of sin, death and Satan makes “morphing” possible. Ephesians 4:7-10
7Yet grace (God’s unmerited favor) was given to each of us individually [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and bounteous] gift.
8Therefore it is said, When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive [He led a train of [a]vanquished foes] and He bestowed gifts on men.(A)
9[But He ascended?] Now what can this, He ascended, mean but that He had previously descended from [the heights of] heaven into [the depths], the lower parts of the earth?
10He Who descended is the [very] same as He Who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things (the whole universe, from the lowest to the highest).
The church is God’s primary agent of “morphing” in our lives. Ephesians 4:11-16
11And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers.
12His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church),
13[That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [[b]full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.
14So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of [c]unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead.
15Rather, let our lives lovingly [d]express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
16For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.
We achieve personal purity by God’s three fold principles of transformation: Put off, Be renewed, Put on
Ephesians 4:17-24
17So this I say and solemnly testify in [the name of] the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the heathen (the Gentiles) do in their perverseness [in the folly, vanity, and emptiness of their souls and the futility] of their minds.
18Their [e]moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. [They are] alienated (estranged, self-banished) from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness) that is [f]deep-seated in them, due to their hardness of heart [to the insensitiveness of their moral nature].
19In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand].
20But you did not so learn Christ!
21Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him],
22Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;
23And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],
24And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.
Transformation is a matter of spiritual training vs. trying harder – Ephesians 4:25-32
25Therefore, rejecting all falsity and being done now with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one body and members one of another.(B)26When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down.
27Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him].
28Let the thief steal no more, but rather let him be industrious, making an honest living with his own hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need.
29Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it.
30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God’s own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin).
31Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind).
32And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.
Consider these as well:
God has provided everything we need to live transformed, holy, and winsome lives. Our part is to appropriate His grace and power as we go into training in these areas. – Hebrews 12, Matthew 5:48
We can no longer life as we did before: Ephesians 4:17-24
We are called to over our bodies as living sacrifices to God as a spiritual act of worship and not conform to the world around us. Romans 12:1-2
A believer who’s life does not change is an oxymoron – You can not be a believer and your life not change (Book of John)
What Kind of Fruit Do You Have? December 16, 2009
I think that when we want to get back to the heart of God, we need to look to nature. We as humans have corrupted God’s original plans. So I want you to look at yourselves as trees. You know, Jesus saw us as trees. In Matthew 7:16-20 (AMP), He said,
16You will fully recognize them by their fruits. Do people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17Even so, every healthy (sound) tree bears good fruit [worthy of admiration], but the sickly (decaying, worthless) tree bears bad (worthless) fruit. 18A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit, nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear excellent fruit [worthy of admiration]. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. 20Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits.
So what kind of fruit are you bearing? What does your fruit look like? Let’s take time to look at some of the things God tells us will show that we are true Christians. I am not going to tell you how to do these things, nor what I believe they are, I am going to give you background information on the word and maybe some on the text. These are pages of Bible study notes, with very little of my opinion and comments.
Eph 4:1-3 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, “with all HUMILITY and GENTLENESS, with PATIENCE, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (ESV)
Jas 3:13-18 Who [is] wise and knowledgeable among you*? Let him show by his good conduct [that] his works [are] in humility of wisdom. But if you* have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your* heart, stop boasting and lying against the truth. This is not the wisdom descending from above _but_ [is] earthly, physical [or, unspiritual], [and] demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition [are], there is rebellion and every wicked deed. But the wisdom from above is first indeed PURE, then PEACEABLE [or, free from worry], considerate, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial [or, free from prejudice] and sincere. Now the fruit of such righteousness is sown in peace by the ones making peace.
One more thing to think on is how Satan could use various things for his good. We are at war, everyday, in a Spiritual warfare. If you like to read and are interested, C. S. Lewis wrote an interesting book of “letters” in the book titled, THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS. You can read some information on it at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Screwtape_Letters You can read the letter’s at The Screwtape Letters Honestly, I haven’t read it all yet. But I try to find something that might work with what I am researching at the moment. They tend to bring things to a visual point that is hard to miss. When you read “enemy” in the letters, it is referring to God. It is talking about a recent convert to Christianity. When looking through these pages and looking at the fruit on your tree, think about what he has written here. It may be useful to seek out some close family and friends that are willing to be honest with you and ask them to examine your fruit. Take their feedback and apply it. If you are not willing to do this, then you may be experiencing what is written about in this “letter” (III):
MY DEAR WORMWOOD,
I am very pleased by what you tell me about this man’s relations with his mother. But you must press your advantage. The Enemy will be working from the centre outwards, gradually bringing more and more of the patient’s conduct under the new standard, and may reach his behaviour to the old lady at any moment. You want to get in first. Keep in close touch with our colleague Glubose who is in charge of the mother, and build up between you in that house a good settled habit of mutual annoyance; daily pinpricks. The following methods are useful.
1. Keep his mind on the inner life. He thinks his conversion is something inside him and his attention is therefore chiefly turned at present to the states of his own mind—or rather to that very expurgated version of them which is all you should allow him to see. Encourage this. Keep his mind off the most elementary duties by directing it to the most advanced and spiritual ones. Aggravate that most useful human characteristic, the horror and neglect of the obvious. You must bring him to a condition in which he can practise self-examination for an hour without discovering any of those facts about himself ,which are perfectly clear to anyone who has over lived in the same house with him or worked the same office.
… to read more, visit The Screwtape Letters
PEACEABLE December 16, 2009
James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first indeed PURE, then PEACEABLE [or, free from worry], considerate, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial [or, free from prejudice] and sincere. Now the fruit of such righteousness is sown in peace by the ones making peace.
Peaceable, what is it? The Greek word used in this text is:
eirēnikos(i-ray-nee-kos’)
According to: Strongs Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries this word is:
From G1515; pacific; by implication salutary: – peaceable.
G1515 is eirēnē
Probably from a primary verb eirō (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication prosperity: – one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again.
The same Greek word also appears in the following New Testament passage which also mentions the fruit of righteousness:
Heb 12:11 Now indeed, all discipline for the present does not seem to be joyful, _but_ painful; but afterwards it yields [the] peaceful [or, free from worry] fruit of righteousness to the ones having been trained by it.
Variations of the word appear in:
Rom 14:19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
Heb 12:14 Be pursuing peace with all [people], and the holiness, without which no one will see the Lord,
A web search defining Peaceable has some the following meanings listed:
inclined or disposed to peace;
peaceful: not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war
in favour of peace; characterized by peace; peaceful
The International Standards Bible Encyclopedia has these definitions:
…. 2) It is to be cherished and followed by Christians. Jesus exhorted His disciples, “Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace one with another” (Mar_9:50); Paul exhorts, “Live in peace: and the God of love and peace shall be with you” (2Co_13:11; compare Rom_12:18; 1Co_7:15). (3) God is therefore “the God of peace,” the Author and Giver of all good (“peace” including every blessing) very frequently (e.g. Rom_15:33; Rom_16:20; 2Th_3:16, etc., “the Lord of peace”). “Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” is a common apostolic wish or salutation (compare 1Co_1:3; 2Co_1:2, etc.). …. (5) The peace that Christ brought is primarily spiritual peace from and with God, peace in the heart, peace as the disposition or spirit. He said that He did not come “to send peace on the earth, but a sword,” referring to the searching nature of His call and the divisions and clearances it would create. But, of course, the spirit of the gospel and of the Christian is one of peace, and it is a Christian duty to seek to bring war and strife everywhere to an end. This is represented as the ultimate result of the gospel and Spirit of Christ; universal and permanent peace can come only as that Spirit rules in men’s hearts.
Commentaries on the passages found in James and Hebrews:
Albert Barnes: Then peaceable – The effect of true religion – the wisdom which is from above – will be to dispose a man to live in peace with all others. See the Rom_14:19 note; Heb_12:14.
Robert’s Word Pictures: Old adjective from eirēnē (peace), loving peace here, bringing peace in Heb_12:11 (only N.T. examples). But clearly great as peace is, purity (righteousness) comes before peace and peace at any price is not worth the having. Hence Jesus spurned the devil’s peace of surrender.
At Biblegateway.com There is a commentary on James, Chapter 3, titled “Who Is Wise Among You? “
James summarizes in 3:18 (literally): “The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” This connects peacemaking and righteousness (cf. Jesus in Mt 5:9-10) and suddenly reveals why the disorder in 3:16 is so abhorrent to James. The opposite of the disorder is not a morally neutral order but a morally significant peace. James wants peace for the church because peace is the context in which righteousness can flourish. This is the positive side of what James said in 1:20, that human anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Again, James writes out of a passion for righteousness.
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It’s time to take a look at the opposite of Pure:
The Free Dictionary by Farlex lists the following as possible opposites of Pure: adulterated; contaminated; corrupt.
At Answers.com some of the words listed as the opposite of chaste are: corrupt, dirty, immodest, immoral, indecent, obscene, unchaste, vulgar
I also found impure and unclean listed as opposites.
The International Bible Standards Encyclopedia shows the opposite of Spiritually Clean as: Uncleanness, Purification, and Defilement. It states that: The adjective akathartos, “unclean,” occurs 31 times, … 4 times to moral uncleanness (three by Paul and one by John the revelator). So we will look at a few of these first.
2Co 6:17 For this reason, “Come out from [the] midst of them and be separated,” says the Lord. “And stop touching [any] unclean [or, defiling] [thing; or, person],” and _I_ will receive you*. [Isaiah 52:11; Ezek 20:34,41] (ASV)
Commentary on this passage points out the contextual meaning of this scripture.
Albert Barnes states: “In Isaiah, “touch no unclean thing;” that is, they were to be pure, and to have no connection with idolatry in any of its forms. So Christians were to avoid all unholy contact with a vain and polluted world. The sense is, “Have no close connection with an idolater, or an unholy person. Be pure; and feel that you belong to a community that is under its own laws, and that is to be distinguished in moral purity from all the rest of the world.”
John Gills states: ” It has no regard to touching, tasting, and eating any sort of food, which was forbid as unclean by the ceremonial law; for the difference between meats clean and unclean was now removed; but if anything is particularly designed by the unclean thing, it seems to be idolatry, and to be a prohibition of joining with worshippers of idols in their idolatrous practices, whereby a moral pollution is contracted; since in the beginning of the former verse it is said, “what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?” though it is rather intended in general, to forbid all communion and fellowship with unclean persons and things, not to touch them, to come nigh them, or have anything to do with them.”
Eph 5:1-5 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving, For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (ESV)
Matthew Henery states: “Filthy lusts must be rooted out. These sins must be dreaded and detested. Here are not only cautions against gross acts of sin, but against what some may make light of.”… “Those who allow themselves, either in the lusts of the flesh or the love of the world, belong not to the kingdom of grace, nor shall they come to the kingdom of glory. “…”But the grace of God wrought a mighty change in the souls of many. Walk as children of light, as having knowledge and holiness. These works of darkness are unfruitful, whatever profit they may boast; for they end in the destruction of the impenitent sinner. There are many ways of abetting, or taking part in the sins of others; by commendation, counsel, consent, or concealment. And if we share with others in their sins, we must expect to share in their plagues. If we do not reprove the sins of others, we have fellowship with them. A good man will be ashamed to speak of what many wicked men are not ashamed to do. We must have not only a sight and a knowledge that sin is sin, and in some measure shameful, but see it as a breach of God’s holy law.”
2Pe 2:9-11 [the] Lord knows [how] to be rescuing [the] godly out of temptation, but to be keeping [the] unrighteous being punished for [the] day of judgment, (10) and especially the ones going after [fig., indulging] the flesh in lust of uncleanness [or, unclean desires] and despising authority. [They are] presumptuous [or, reckless], self-willed [or, stubborn], not trembling when they speak evil of glories [fig., angelic beings], (11) whereas angels, being greater in strength and power, do not bring a slanderous judgment against them before [the] Lord.
Albert Barnes states: “It is a very remarkable circumstance, that those who have denied the essential doctrines of the gospel have been so frequently licentious [Lacking restraint, or ignoring societal standards, particularly in sexual conduct; Disregard for accepted rules] in their own conduct, and have inculcated [teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions] opinions which tended to licentiousness [careless wastefulness; shameless and immoral behaviour: unrestrained, by convention or morality, indulgence in sensual pleasure. Many of the forms of religious error have somehow had a connection with this vice. People who are corrupt at heart often seek to obtain the sanction of religion for their corruptions.”
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So, what do you think? Does your tree bear this fruit or do you see the fruit of those seen as the opposite? Maybe you have seasons where you bear this fruit and other’s where you don’t? Maybe you see this fruit but it is just a bit too small and needs to grow more? Just remember: All things are possible through Jesus Christ. If you don’t see this fruit, look to God’s Word and He will help you begin to bear this fruit.
PURE/CLEAN/CHASTE December 16, 2009
James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first indeed PURE, then PEACEABLE [or, free from worry], considerate, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial [or, free from prejudice] and sincere. Now the fruit of such righteousness is sown in peace by the ones making peace.
Pure, what is it? The Greek word used in this text is:
hagnos (hag-nos’)
According to: Strongs Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries this word is:
From the same as G40; properly clean, that is, (figuratively) innocent, modest, perfect: – chaste, clean, pure.
G40 is hagios
sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated): – (most) holy (one, thing), saint
The same Greek word also appears in the following New Testament passages:
Phil 4:8: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (ESV)
1 Tim 5:22:Be laying hands quickly on no one, nor be sharing [or, participating] in sins of others. Be keeping yourself pure. (ALT)
1 John 3: And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (ESV)
2 Cor 7:11: For this very thing, your* being caused to sorrow according to God [fig., in a godly manner], look how much diligence it produced in you*! [And not only this] _but_ [also] defense [fig., an eagerness to defend yourselves], _but_ [also] indignation, _but_ [also] fear, _but_ [also] longing desire, _but_ [also] zeal, _but_ [also] avenging [of wrong]! In every[thing] you* demonstrated yourselves to be pure in this matter. (ALT)
A web search defining Pure has some the following meanings listed:
free of extraneous elements of any kind
saturated: (of color) being chromatically pure; not diluted with white or grey or black
(used of persons or behaviors) having no faults; sinless
in a state of sexual virginity
free of flaws or imperfections; unsullied; free of foreign material or pollutants; free of immoral behavior or qualities
Referring to a supplement that contains nothing but the ingredients stated on the label.
made completely from one substance
Unmixed with any other matter.
Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible says this:
Is first pure – That is, the first effect of it on the mind is to make it pure. The influence on the man is to make him upright, sincere, candid, holy. The word here used (hagnē) is that which would be applied to one who is innocent, or flee from crime or blame. …
The meaning here is, that the first and immediate effect of religion is not on the intellect, to make it more enlightened; or on the imagination, to make it more discursive and brilliant; or on the memory and judgment, to make them clearer and stronger; but it is to purify the heart, to make the man upright, inoffensive, and good.
The first thing which it produces is to make the man himself pure and good; then follows the train of blessings which the apostle enumerates as flowing from that. It is true that a church should be pure in doctrinal belief, but that is not the truth taught here.
The “first” of the apostle does not indicate even preference of the pure spirit to the peaceful spirit, but only the order in which they are to be exercised. There must be no attempts to reach peace by overleaping purity.
Here is an audio teaching titled: The Bible III: Living A Pure Life, it’s only 3 minutes long, so take a listen to this.
“At Bible.org, there is an article titled: Blessed are the Pure in Heart, Matthew 5:8 by Imanuel Christian. In this article he makes these points:
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). That’s it! That’s the goal of the Christian life! That’s what we are living for – that we may live our life in such a way that we see God. If we see God, that will open up the treasure trove of all the blessings, not only for eternity, but also for life here and now. And the key to open that treasure trove is a pure heart!
This is the most central and the most significant of all the beatitudes mentioned in this fifth chapter of Matthew. You cannot be poor in spirit without having a pure heart. You cannot mourn for the things that displease God without having a pure heart. You cannot be meek, you cannot hunger and thirst for righteousness, you cannot be merciful, you cannot be a peacemaker or be prepared to stand persecution for the name of Christ without having a pure heart. Actually, this is one of the most central principles of the Christian life that we see in the whole Bible. The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.
You see, from the very beginning, it has not been the matter of outward observance of some rules and regulations; it has been the attitude of the heart toward God that was in focus. In the law, Moses said, “Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer” (Deuteronomy 10:16). Samuel asked Saul:
“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice and to heed is better than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22).
It is easier to follow rules and forget the matter of the heart. We are more careful to keep everything clean that is seen by others and forget about the things that only God can see. If my hands are muddy, nobody would want to shake hands with me, so I better keep them clean. If I were wearing a dirty shirt this morning, you would give more attention to my shirt and not hear what I am saying. We want to keep up appearances before man, but we forget about keeping straight before God.
That is why Jesus’ harshest and most scathing rebuke was reserved for the scribes and Pharisees, who thought themselves the purest of all people. They were extremely careful to keep their outward appearance clean before men, but they did not worry about their relationship with God. Jesus told them:
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness” (Matthew 23:25-28).
“You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34).
Quoting Isaiah, Jesus said,
“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men’” (Matthew 15:8-9).
Explaining to the disciples, He said,
“Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’…” (Matthew 15:19-20).
This is the impure heart.
How do we know if someone has a pure heart? The pure heart is evidenced by the way we live. As Peter says, a person devoted to the Lord “does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God” (1 Peter 4:2).
There is also a section on How we can have a pure heart, follow the link above if you would like to read more of this article.
In The Church of God Daily Bible Study, an article titled: A Pure Heart by Wayne Blank lists these bullet points outline what a Pure Heart is:
A “pure heart” was used as an analogy for the righteous
In the Messiah’s “parable of the sower,” those with a good “heart” were like seed planted in good soil
Paul expounded on the virtues of a “pure heart” that has been purged of carnal behavior
A “pure heart” is made by obeying the Truth (see also Believers) so as to not squander the Messiah’s Sacrifice
A “pure heart” is a matter of setting the right priorities in this temporary physical life, so to make it to eternal life
A future Gathering of Israel and Judah (see also Spiritual and Physical Gatherings) will involve God’s giving them a new “heart,” by means of the Holy Spirit, so that they will obey Him in Truth
Grandma Cherbear has a Valentine Message to Christians that talks about Pure Hearts written by Teresa Kindred. Some of her key points are:
A Pure Heart loves God: `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ Matthew 22:36-38
A Pure Heart knows that earthly possessions are not “true treasures”: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:20-22)
A Pure Heart thinks on pure things and speaks only words that are pure: “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man `unclean.’ Matthew 15:17-19
A Pure Heart is a confident heart: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” John 14:1-2
A Pure Heart is a giving heart, JOY (Jesus first, Others second, You third): “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8
A Pure Heart doesn’t worry about what men think: “On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.” 1
Thessalonians 2:3-5A Pure Heart is a loving heart: “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Timothy 1:4-6
A Pure Heart can handle chastisement: “And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as
sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you.” Hebrews 12:4-6A Pure Heart is filled with gratitude: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with
gratitude in your hearts to God.” 3 Colossians 3:15-17
On biblebb.com, there are Bible Study Notes from a sermon preached by Gil Rugh. Some excerpts are:
pure (hagnos) – This wisdom is undefiled and free from the corruption that characterizes ungodly wisdom. It is free from selfishness and the determination to have one’s own way. This describes both the condition of the heart and the manifestation of that condition in behavior. This is another quality of Christ produced in the heart and life of His children (cf. I John 3:3).
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It’s time to take a look at the opposite of Pure:
The Free Dictionary by Farlex lists the following as possible opposites of Pure: adulterated; contaminated; corrupt.
At Answers.com some of the words listed as the opposite of chaste are: corrupt, dirty, immodest, immoral, indecent, obscene, unchaste, vulgar
I also found impure and unclean listed as opposites.
The International Bible Standards Encyclopedia shows the opposite of Spiritually Clean as: Uncleanness, Purification, and Defilement. It states that: The adjective akathartos, “unclean,” occurs 31 times, … 4 times to moral uncleanness (three by Paul and one by John the revelator). So we will look at a few of these first.
2Co 6:17 For this reason, “Come out from [the] midst of them and be separated,” says the Lord. “And stop touching [any] unclean [or, defiling] [thing; or, person],” and _I_ will receive you*. [Isaiah 52:11; Ezek 20:34,41] (ASV)
Commentary on this passage points out the contextual meaning of this scripture.
Albert Barnes states: “In Isaiah, “touch no unclean thing;” that is, they were to be pure, and to have no connection with idolatry in any of its forms. So Christians were to avoid all unholy contact with a vain and polluted world. The sense is, “Have no close connection with an idolater, or an unholy person. Be pure; and feel that you belong to a community that is under its own laws, and that is to be distinguished in moral purity from all the rest of the world.”
John Gills states: ” It has no regard to touching, tasting, and eating any sort of food, which was forbid as unclean by the ceremonial law; for the difference between meats clean and unclean was now removed; but if anything is particularly designed by the unclean thing, it seems to be idolatry, and to be a prohibition of joining with worshippers of idols in their idolatrous practices, whereby a moral pollution is contracted; since in the beginning of the former verse it is said, “what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?” though it is rather intended in general, to forbid all communion and fellowship with unclean persons and things, not to touch them, to come nigh them, or have anything to do with them.”
Eph 5:1-5 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving, For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (ESV)
Matthew Henery states: “Filthy lusts must be rooted out. These sins must be dreaded and detested. Here are not only cautions against gross acts of sin, but against what some may make light of.”… “Those who allow themselves, either in the lusts of the flesh or the love of the world, belong not to the kingdom of grace, nor shall they come to the kingdom of glory. “…”But the grace of God wrought a mighty change in the souls of many. Walk as children of light, as having knowledge and holiness. These works of darkness are unfruitful, whatever profit they may boast; for they end in the destruction of the impenitent sinner. There are many ways of abetting, or taking part in the sins of others; by commendation, counsel, consent, or concealment. And if we share with others in their sins, we must expect to share in their plagues. If we do not reprove the sins of others, we have fellowship with them. A good man will be ashamed to speak of what many wicked men are not ashamed to do. We must have not only a sight and a knowledge that sin is sin, and in some measure shameful, but see it as a breach of God’s holy law.”
2Pe 2:9-11 [the] Lord knows [how] to be rescuing [the] godly out of temptation, but to be keeping [the] unrighteous being punished for [the] day of judgment, (10) and especially the ones going after [fig., indulging] the flesh in lust of uncleanness [or, unclean desires] and despising authority. [They are] presumptuous [or, reckless], self-willed [or, stubborn], not trembling when they speak evil of glories [fig., angelic beings], (11) whereas angels, being greater in strength and power, do not bring a slanderous judgment against them before [the] Lord.
Albert Barnes states: “It is a very remarkable circumstance, that those who have denied the essential doctrines of the gospel have been so frequently licentious [Lacking restraint, or ignoring societal standards, particularly in sexual conduct; Disregard for accepted rules] in their own conduct, and have inculcated [teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions] opinions which tended to licentiousness [careless wastefulness; shameless and immoral behaviour: unrestrained, by convention or morality, indulgence in sensual pleasure. Many of the forms of religious error have somehow had a connection with this vice. People who are corrupt at heart often seek to obtain the sanction of religion for their corruptions.”
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So, what do you think? Does your tree bear this fruit or do you see the fruit of those seen as the opposite? Maybe you have seasons where you bear this fruit and other’s where you don’t? Maybe you see this fruit but it is just a bit too small and needs to grow more? Just remember: All things are possible through Jesus Christ. If you don’t see this fruit, look to God’s Word and He will help you begin to bear this fruit.
PATIENCE/LONG-SUFFERING December 16, 2009
Eph 4:1-3 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, “with all HUMILITY and GENTLENESS, with PATIENCE, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (ESV)
Patience, what is it? The Greek word used in this text is:
makrothumia (mak-roth-oo-mee’-ah)
According to: Strongs Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries this word is:
From the same as G3116; longanimity, that is, (objectively) forbearance or (subjectively) fortitude: – longsuffering, patience.
G3116 is makrothumōs an Adverb of a compound of G3117 and G2372; with long (enduring) temper, that is, leniently: – patiently
The same Greek word also appears in the following New Testament passages:
But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace [or, freedom from anxiety], patience, kindness, goodness [or, generosity], faith, gentleness [or, considerateness], self-control. Against such there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23 ALT)
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (Col 1:9-12 ESV)
Therefore, put on as chosen [or, elect] ones of God, holy and beloved, bowels [or, hearts] of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness [or, considerateness], patience, putting up with one another and forgiving each other, if anyone shall be having a complaint against anyone, just as Christ also forgave you*, so also [should] you* [forgive]. (Col 3:12-13 ALT)
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2Pe 3:9 ESV)
Vincent’s Word Studies by Marvin R. Vincent, D.D. says about this word:
From , long, and, soul or spirit, but with the sense of strong passion, stronger even than, anger, as is maintained by Schmidt (“Synonymik”), who describes it as a tumultuous welling up of the whole spirit; a mighty emotion which seizes and moves the whole inner man.
Hence the restraint implied is most correctly expressed by long-suffering, which is its usual rendering in the New Testament. It is a patient holding out under trial; a long-protracted restraint of the soul from yielding to passion, especially the passion of anger.
Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible says this:
The virtue here required is that which is to be manifested in our manner of receiving the provocations which we meet with from our brethren. No virtue, perhaps, is more frequently demanded in our contact with others. We do not go far with any fellow-traveler on the journey of life, before we find there is great occasion for its exercise.
At gotQuestions?.org in an article titled, “What does the Bible say about patience?”, it talks about patience defined, developed, demonstrated, displayed, and declared. It has many scriptures.
On the website Christ In You Ministries, James A. Fowler has a great outline of Patience in the bible.
Wikipedia gives what Patience means in Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism
This is a great find, at RBC Ministries, you can see a pdf of a booklet by Dean Ohlman, titled, “What does the Bible Say about Patience.” You can also order the booklet if you would like.
In The Highway’s Article of the Month, Christian Patience by Abraham Knyper gives many great word pictures of patience. Such as: “Patience is not like a beautiful climbing rose that twines its blossom-laden branches about the cross of life; it is rather like the modest spice-bush, without beauty of form or color, which perfumes the air with pungent sweetness.” He also states that: “True patience is not meek submission to the inevitable, or apathetic drifting without resistance. True patience, Biblical patience, is energy, buoyancy. It is strength — a strength more than earthly in origin. It is endurance.
Thinkexist.com has many quotes on Patience, here’s one I like:
“Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow – that is patience.”
I could list a whole lot on patience – it is all over the net and all through the Bible. But I think with those that I have listed, you will have enough to figure out what it is, and if you have it or not.
At Quizmoz, you can take the Patient Test, Yep, they have tests on the net for seeing if you are patient or not! There is one at Brain IQ as well.
There are even cartoons about patience: Cartoonstock; Savage Chickens (WARNING, there are various ads that appear on here, I don’t know what you will see, mine were all good, I hope your’s are too.);
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It’s time to take a look at the opposite of Patience:
According to Answers.com, the opposite of Patience is: agitation, frustration, impatience, intolerance.
DesiringGod.com has and article on Battling the Unbelief of Impatience, I didn’t read the whole article, but what I did read was good.
Changingminds.org lists Patience (opposite of Wrath): Holding back anger, forgiving and showing mercy. Seeking peace over conflict.
At Our Devotions, there is an article on Patience and they list the opposites as cowardice or despondency. I found this an intersting comment: “”Patient” comes from a Latin word meaning to bear pain,
which is why we call a person in a hospital bed a patient.”
At AbideinChrist, there is an article that talks about Ephesians 4:1-3 and they list the opposite of Patience as being short-tempered with people.
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So, what do you think? Does your tree bear this fruit or do you see the fruit of those seen as the opposite? Maybe you have seasons where you bear this fruit and other’s where you don’t? Maybe you see this fruit but it is just a bit too small and needs to grow more? Just remember: All things are possible through Jesus Christ. If you don’t see this fruit, look to God’s Word and He will help you begin to bear this fruit.
One more thing to think on is how Satan could use patience or impatience for his good. If you like to read and are interested, C. S. Lewis wrote an interesting book of “letters” in the book titled, THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS. You can read some information on it at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Screwtape_Letters You can read the letter’s at The Screwtape Letters Honestly, I haven’t read it all yet. But I did come across this quote which seems appropriate for here. When you read “enemy” here, it is referring to God. It is talking about a recent convert to Christianity:
The only constructive passage in your letter is where you say that you still expect good results from the patient’s fatigue. That is well enough. But it won’t fall into your hands. Fatigue can produce extreme gentleness, and quiet of mind, and even something like vision. If you have often seen men led by it into anger, malice and impatience, that is because those men have had efficient tempters. The paradoxical thing is that moderate fatigue is a better soil for peevishness than absolute exhaustion. This depends partly on physical causes, but partly on something else. It is not fatigue simply as such that produces the anger, but unexpected demands on a man already tired. Whatever men expect they soon come to think they have a right to: the sense of disappointment can, with very little skill on our part, be turned into a sense of injury. It is after men have given in to the irremediable, after they have despaired of relief and ceased to think even a half-hour ahead, that the dangers of humbled and gentle weariness begin. To produce the best results from the patient’s fatigue, therefore, you must feed him with false hopes. Put into his mind plausible reasons for believing that the air-raid will not be repeated. Keep him comforting himself with the thought of how much he will enjoy his bed next night. Exaggerate the weariness by making him think it will soon be over; for men usually feel that a strain could have been endured no longer at the very moment when it is ending, or when they think it is ending. In this, as in the problem of cowardice, the thing to avoid is the total commitment. Whatever he says, let his inner resolution be not to bear whatever comes to him, but to bear it “for a reasonable period”—and let the reasonable period be shorter than the trial is likely to last. It need not be much shorter; in attacks on patience, chastity, and fortitude, the fun is to make the man yield just when (had he but known it) relief was almost in sight.
GENTLENESS/MEEKNESS December 16, 2009
Eph 4:1-3 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, “with all HUMILITY and GENTLENESS, with PATIENCE, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (ESV)
Gentleness, what is it? The Greek word used in this text is:
praotēs (prah-ot’-ace) After looking into this particular word, I will be using the word Meekness instead of Gentleness. You will see why as we continue.
According to: Strongs Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries this word is:
From G4235; gentleness; by implication humility: – meekness.
G4235 is: praos (prah’-os)A form of G4239, used in certain parts; gentle, that is, humble: – meek.
G4239 is: praus (prah-ooce’) Apparently a primary word; mild, that is, (by implication) humble: – meek.
The same Greek word also appears in the following New Testament passages:
“Happy [are] the gentle [or, considerate], because _they_ will inherit the earth. (Mat 5:5 ALT)
Now _I_, Paul, myself plead with you* by the gentleness and kindness of Christ, [I] who according to face [fig., in presence] indeed [am] humble [or, servile] among you*, but being absent, act boldly toward you*. (2Co 10:1 ALT)
And the fruit of the Spirit is: Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law; and those who are Christ’s, the flesh did crucify with the affections, and the desires; if we may live in the Spirit, in the Spirit also we may walk; let us not become vain-glorious–one another provoking, one another envying! (Gal 5:22-26 YLT)
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. (Gal 6:1 ESV)
And it is necessary [for] a servant of the Lord not to be fighting [fig., disputing; or, fig., quarrelsome], _but_ to be gentle towards all, skillful at teaching, tolerant [or, patient when wronged], in gentleness [or, humility] instructing the ones opposing, [if] perhaps God shall grant to them repentance [leading] to a full [or, true] knowledge [or, an acknowledging] of the truth, and they regain their senses [and escape] from the Devil’s snare, having been captured alive to [do] that one’s will. (2Ti 2:24-26 ALT)
Remind them to continue being subject to rulers and authorities, to be obeying, to be ready for every good work, to be speaking evil of [or, slandering] no one, to be peaceable, gentle [or, considerate], showing all gentleness to all people. (Tit 3:1-2 ALT)
Word Pictures in the New Testament by Archibald thomas Robertson says this about Gentleness/Meekness:
The meek (hoi praeis). Wycliff has it “Blessed be mild men.” The ancients used the word for outward conduct and towards men. They did not rank it as a virtue anyhow. It was a mild equanimity that was sometimes negative and sometimes positively kind. But Jesus lifted the word to a nobility never attained before. In fact, the Beatitudes assume a new heart, for the natural man does not find in happiness the qualities mentioned here by Christ. The English word “meek” has largely lost the fine blend of spiritual poise and strength meant by the Master. He calls himself “meek and lowly in heart” (Mat_11:29) and Moses is also called meek. It is the gentleness of strength, not mere effeminacy.
Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible says this:
The meek – Meekness is patience in the reception of injuries. It is neither meanness nor a surrender of our rights, nor cowardice; but it is the opposite of sudden anger, of malice, of long-harbored vengeance.
Meekness is the reception of injuries with a belief that God will vindicate us. “Vengeance is his; he will repay,” Rom_12:19. It little becomes us to take his place, and to do what he has promised to do.
In an article by John W. Ritenbaugh, Forerunner, “Personal,” November 1998 titled The Fruit of the Spirit we find a lot of information pertaining to “meekness” including the following:
In his comments on Galatians 5:22, William Barclay adds that meekness is “the most untranslatable of words in the New Testament” (p. 51).
Some have tried to use “humility” as its equivalent, but both Hebrew and Greek have specific words that are synonyms for humility. Besides, humility does not fully catch its meaning. Another word associated with meekness is “gentleness,” but the same is as true for gentleness as humility. Both are part of meekness, but it is not really either. Its characteristics and use are much more involved than either of them.
The Greek word, prautes, the one to which Barclay referred, is no easier. James Strong defines it only as “mildness; i.e., (by implication) humility” (#4240). Vincent’s Word Studies of the New Testament says that “Plato opposes it to fierceness or cruelty” (vol. 1, p. 37). In The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament, Spiros Zodhiates writes:
Prautes, according to Aristotle, is the middle standing between two extremes, getting angry without reason, and not getting angry at all. Therefore, prautes is getting angry at the right time, in the right measure, and for the right reason. . . . [I]t is a condition of mind and heart which demonstrates gentleness, not in weakness, but in power. It is a balance born in strength of character. (p. 1209-1210)
Godly meekness is impossible unless we first learn a just and lowly estimate of ourselves. (See the fruit of Humility).
Ephesians 4 teaches how to build and maintain unity within a more social context, and here, prautes appears with humility, patience, forbearance and love. Paul demands that, for unity to be built and maintained, we should receive offenses without retaliation, bearing them patiently without a desire for revenge. We are, in short, to have a forgiving spirit. Without it, we will surely promote divisiveness.
The association of humility and meekness is natural, and is yet another facet of meekness. Whereas humility deals with a correct assessment of his merits, meekness covers a correct assessment of personal rights. This does not in any way mean a lowering of the standards of justice or of right and wrong. Meekness can be accompanied by a war to the death against evil, but the meek Christian directs this warfare first against the evil in his own heart. He is a repentant sinner, and his recognition of this state radically alters his relations with fellow man. A sinner forgiven must have a forgiving attitude.
On the website Bible Tools (Church of the Great God), we find an article about Meekness by Martin G. Collins (Forerunner, “Bible Study,” September-October 1998 in a Question – Comment format.
Comment: The Holy Spirit enables us to produce meekness, a necessary attitude for understanding God’s Word. An added benefit to the meek is that God promises them the enjoyment of peace. A meek and quiet spirit is so very precious to God that he calls it an imperishable ornament, and He rewards the meek with inheritance of the earth.
The focus of true meekness is not in our outward behavior only or in our relationships to other human beings. Neither is the focus on our natural disposition. Rather, it is an inwardly developed tender-heartedness, and the performing of it is first and chiefly toward God. It is the attitude in which we accept God’s will toward us as good, and thus without disputing or resisting. Since true meekness is before God, we realize He permits and uses the insults and injuries that the world or others in the church may inflict for our chastening and purification.
In this Bible Study on Meekness – Love’s Humility there are a number of good comments and scripture. There is music on this site for those that might be up on a late night study 
.
Because meekness is the selfless aspect of love, it can only be manifested from a strength of character. Those with a weak character are always occupied with self and with what others think or say to them. When you know who you are in God, what people say to you or think of you, will not move you; you are not self-centered.
It is interesting, after viewing what meekness meant in Bible times, to view how our modern dictionary’s define meekness:
What a great find from Topeka, KS! It appears to be a newsletter from the Topeka City of Character Coordinator, wouldn’t it be great if EVERY city had one of these. This is a PDF document.
Meekness is not a lack of strength; meekness is exercising all the strength of skill and passion a person has, but applying them under the governing wisdom of good character; in short, avoiding being aroused to angry action.
This website at His Glory Ministries uses “The Runt” of a litter to talk about meekness.
Did you know … The Birch Tree is the symbol for meekness?
Flowers-both cultivated and those with a native nature-have become associated with sentiments, often with the purpose of conveying amorous thoughts.
In the 1600s in Constantinople (what is now Istanbul), flowers gained meanings which enabled lovers to convey messages to each other without having to write or talk.
This language of flowers was introduced to Europe by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, a celebrated letter-writer and society poet who, in 1716, accompanied her husband to the Turkish Court in Istanbul. During her stay, she sent a Turkish love letter to England which interpreted the meanings of some plants, flowers, and spices.
The wonder of flowers, she proposed, was that words and messages of love – even altercations – could be passed in a refined and subtle manner without ‘inking the fingers’.
The passing of messages via the floral code was then taken up by the French, only to return to England during the reign of Queen Victoria.
More than 800 flowers have special meanings associated with them. There are over 30 for roses alone.
The way in which the flowers were worn and presented had a meaning in addition to the sentiments attached to individual flowers. A flower bent towards the right would signify “I”, while one extending to the left would signify “you”.
Therefore a red rosebud leaning to the left would say: “You are pure and lovely”.
How about this one … A sermon by C. H. Spurgeon given on July 31st, 1859, titled: The Meek and Lowly One.
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It’s time to take a look at the opposite of Meekness, I wasn’t quite sure what would turn up since the world’s definition is different from the Biblical one:
The Christ Centered mall site uses Rebellion and pride.
This sermon from Jubilee Church has a number of opposites listed: self-assertiveness, self-interest, abrasiveness, selfish ambition.
This article at The Gospel Way on Meekness and Humility list the opposites as: self-will, self-interest, and self-assertiveness.
Restoring the Virtue of Meekness by John MacArthur lists violence and vengence as the opposite of Meekness.
Ray C. Stedman in his article, Put On the New, suggests rudeness and abrasiveness.
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So, what do you think? Does your tree bear this fruit or do you see the fruit of those seen as the opposite? Maybe you have seasons where you bear this fruit and other’s where you don’t? Maybe you see this fruit but it is just a bit too small and needs to grow more? Just remember: All things are possible through Jesus Christ. If you don’t see this fruit, look to God’s Word and He will help you begin to bear this fruit.
HUMILITY December 16, 2009
Eph 4:1-3 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, “with all HUMILITY and GENTLENESS, with PATIENCE, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (ESV)
Humility, what is it? The Greek word used in this text is:
tapeinophrosunē (tap-i-nof-ros-oo’-nay)
According to: Strongs Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries this word is:
From a compound of G5011 and the base of G5424; humiliation of mind, that is, modesty: – humbleness of mind, humility (of mind), lowliness (of mind).
G5011 is tapeinos (tap-i-nos’) which means: depressed, that is, (figuratively) humiliated (in circumstances or disposition): – base, cast down, humble, of low degree (estate), lowly.
G5425 isphrēn (frane) which means: (to rein in or curb; compare G5420); the midrif (as a partition of the body), that is, (figuratively and by implication of sympathy) the feelings (or sensitive nature; by extension [also in the plural] the mind or cognitive faculties): – understanding.
The same Greek word also appears in the following New Testament passages:
Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Act 20:17-21 ESV)
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (Php 2:3 ESV)
Let no one condemn you, delighting in humility and worship of the angels, pushing into things which he has not seen, being puffed up by the mind of his flesh without cause, (Col 2:18 LITV)
Which things indeed appear to be a matter of having wisdom in self-imposed worship and humility, and severity in abuse of the body, but are not of any value with regards to gratification of the flesh. (Col 2:23 LITV)
Put on therefore, as God’s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye: and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. (Col 3:12-14 ASV)
Likewise, younger [people], be subjected [or, submitted] to [the] elders. And all [continue] being subjected to one another. Clothe yourselves with humility, for, “God resists [or, sets Himself in opposition against] proud [people], but He give grace to humble [people].” [Prov 3:34] (1Pe 5:5 ALT)
I found this information at: http://www.brandonweb.com/gbt/sermonpages/luke28.htm There is more good information on this site such as more definitions, people who have been examples of humility, and what it takes to develop humility.
“Before Christ came into the world, the worst thing that could be said about a man was that he was humble. That was considered to be a quality of a slave, not a free man. Christ came teaching a new concept. The way up is down. To be exalted, men must humble themselves. He illustrated this principle throughout His life and ministry. One of the characteristics of this world today is selfishness and so few are truly humble. Today men can talk for hours about themselves and they are always the hero of their own stories. They never tell the tales about the times when they failed. A ball player talks about his home runs and tremendous catches that he made, but you don’t hear about the strike-outs, errors, and fumbles. This attitude is also found within the local church and its members.”
At http://www.ctlibrary.com/le/1984/winter/84l1118.html I found:
CHRISTIAN HUMILITY (January 1, 1984)
So often in our Christian life we misinterpret humility. I have had a growing appreciation of objective evaluation since doing about forty television shows with professional athletes who have a quiet evaluation of their own superiority. Listen on Sunday afternoon to the golfer who wins the tournament-he neither berates himself nor runs around slapping himself on the back. He simply admits he was hitting his putts firmly, getting his irons up to the pin, and keeping his drive in play. The church needs to develop this type of objective humility.
The best definition of humility I’ve ever heard is this: “Humility is not denying the power you have but admitting that the power comes through you and not from you.” If you deny the power you’ve been given, you lie. If you have a fine voice, to depreciate it is to show a lack of appreciation for it. If you’ve been given a talent for making money (and I believe it is a talent), then use it and be the trustee of it. If your talent is administration, then help things to happen. I don’t believe that God is giving any talent for irresponsibility, and that is what we are showing when we fail to recognize, appreciate, and use the talent that we have been given.
Ethel Waters said to a nervous friend of ours on the platform, “Don’t worry, honey. God don’t make no flops.” This is the spirit of assurance the church needs to recapture.
-Fred Smith
On http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humility there are a number of interesting things in regard to Humility:
Humility comprises the following behaviors and attitudes:
- submission to God and legitimate authority;
- recognition of the virtues and talents that others possess, particularly those which surpass one’s own, and giving due honor and, when required, obeisance;
- recognition of the limits of one’s talents, ability, or authority; and, not reaching for that which is beyond one’s grasp.
On The Christian Bible Reference Site at http://www.twopaths.com/humility.htm, I found a lot of information, including the following excerpts:
Humility or humbleness is a quality of being courteously respectful of others. It is the opposite of aggressiveness, arrogance, boastfulness, and vanity. Rather than, “Me first,” humility allows us to say, “No, you first, my friend.” Humility is the quality that lets us go more than halfway to meet the needs and demands of others.
Humility dissipates anger and heals old wounds. Humility allows us to see the dignity and worth of all God’s people. Humility distinguishes the wise leader from the arrogant power-seeker.
The Golden Rule, spoken by Jesus, is possibly the best known quote from the Bible, and contains a lot of wisdom in one short sentence. If we wish to be loved, we must first give love. If we wish to be respected, we must respect all persons, even those we despise. If we wish to be fulfilled in our lives, we must share generously with others.
Here are a whole lot of quotes in relation to humility, maybe one will strike a cord with you. http://thinkexist.com/quotations/humility/ Some that struck me:
I found this one humorous and a great picture to remember when thinking about humility:
“Humility is like underwear, essential, but indecent if it shows” – Helen NielsenThis is one to take to heart:
Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance. – Saint Augustine
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Ok, now a little on the opposite of humility, I think most people would automatically say pride, but apparently there are those that choose other words. Let’s take a look into the opposite of humility:
On The Dash Household website at http://www.dashhouse.com/darryl/2005/11/the_opposite_of_2.htm find someone discussing the fact that some say the opposite of humility isn’t pride, but conviction. I, personally, had never heard this, but here it is just the same.
Here’s a blog at http://lchan.blogspot.com/2006/02/humility-and-inadequacy.html which says that inadequacy could be the opposite of humility. There are several good quotes and dialog from a book by C. S. Lewis.
This commentary Bible Gateway.com – Commentary at Bible Gateway discusses, James 4 and the opposite of humility as arrogance.
This is a word document Humility and Exaltation Word document or you can view it as html at Humility and Exaltation HTML where it is discussing the opinion that Jesus sees the opposite of humility as exaltation.
Here’s one viewing pride as the opposite at http://thinkonitdevotions.wordpress.com/2008/03/18/opposite-of-humility/ it has a whole lot of scripture in regard to pride.
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So, what do you think? Does your tree bear this fruit or do you see the fruit of those seen as the opposite? Maybe you have seasons where you bear this fruit and other’s where you don’t? Maybe you see this fruit but it is just a bit too small and needs to grow more? Just remember: All things are possible through Jesus Christ. If you don’t see this fruit, look to God’s Word and He will help you begin to bear this fruit.
If you like to read and are interested, C. S. Lewis wrote an interesting book of “letters” in the book titled, THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS. You can read some information on it at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Screwtape_Letters You can read the letter’s at The Screwtape Letters Honestly, I haven’t read it all yet. But I did come across this quote which seems appropriate for here. When you read “enemy” here, it is referring to God. It is talking about a recent convert to Christianity:
“I have been writing hitherto on the assumption that the people in the next pew afford no rational ground for disappointment. Of course if they do—if the patient knows that the woman with the absurd hat is a fanatical bridge-player or the man with squeaky boots a miser and an extortioner—then your task is so much the easier. All you then have to do is to keep out of his mind the question “If I, being what I am, can consider that I am in some sense a Christian, why should the different vices of those people in the next pew prove that their religion is mere hypocrisy and convention?” You may ask whether it is possible to keep such an obvious thought from occurring even to a human mind. It is, Wormwood, it is! Handle him properly and it simply won’t come into his head. He has not been anything like long enough with the Enemy to have any real humility yet. What he says, even on his knees, about his own sinfulness is all parrot talk. At bottom, he still believes he has run up a very favourable credit-balance in the Enemy’s ledger by allowing himself to be converted, and thinks that he is showing great humility and condescension in going to church with these “smug”, commonplace neighbours at all. Keep him in that state of mind as long as you can.”
Don’t just fight it, change it … December 14, 2009
As I was putting up my “Happy Birthday Jesus” sign outside, some thoughts came to me.
Like, why do Christians seem to rally together and get all upset over some things and not others. For example, the big thing right now is to fight for the right to say ‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘Christmas tree’. There is a lot of publicity about it, there is a lot of noise being made about it, everywhere. Which, I can somewhat get on board with the reasoning of it. But my question is, why such a big deal over this when there are other laws and ordinances being past that will effect our everyday lives? I can name a few that I’m thinking of, can you? If you can’t, then you’ve just made my point, because there are plenty happening at this very moment. Go to the American Center for Law and Justice (http://www.aclj.org/) to see a few. If you can, then I ask you, which has been more of a concern for you lately, that thing or the things about Christmas? If these other things come through, will it even matter if we say Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas?
Another thing, why does the Christian society fight so hard for things that they can’t even remember why they are? Why are so many fighting over taking the word Christmas away? Really, I don’t think I can find that phrase anywhere in the Bible, can you? You know what, if we look to our forefathers of our religion, we can see what we really need to do. We think it’s terrible to have to deal with Halloween, but history proves that it was not the only pagan holiday, it’s just one of the few left. In fact, many people like to point out that most of the celebrated holidays have roots in the pagan culture. Really? Yes, isn’t that interesting? Isn’t it funny how you have to really look to figure that out? I think the forefathers were on to something if they were able to change how people see the various holidays now. Take some time to really look at the origin of Christmas, you may be amazed. I’m not going in to it here, if you want to find out, you can. But here’s my point. Why are we fighting so hard for “Merry Christmas” which in reality has become commercialized anyway. I mean, seriously, when you say Merry Christmas do you really think if Christ’s birth or all the hooplah that goes with the words? Why not just change things, like the forefather’s did. Why not say, ok, you know what, we don’t want to do Christmas this way anymore, society, you can have it. Drop it and walk away from it. Let’s band together and make a new holiday (like our forefather’s did). Let’s have a Birthday Celebration for Jesus in say, June, closer to when he was really born. Think about it, we could design it anyway we want. We can make the focus Jesus and it won’t be commercialized (at least for a few years). Why fight culture, let’s change it. Let Christmas be what it has become, a day for friends and families to get together and focus on themselves, basically a pagan holiday. Think about it, everyone, even non-Christians and atheist celebrate the holiday. The time is actually spend doing many things that are totally opposite of what Jesus would want done on his birthday anyway. Let’s create a day where we go out and serve others in celebration of Jesus being born. Anyway, you get my point, I hope.
If you aren’t already aware, there are a large number of schools that have banned any mention of or notion of Christmas. You know what, I almost think that is a good thing. Those communities have the opportunity to make a change right now and society is helping them. The churches in those communities ought to band together and have everyone start where shirts that say, “Happy Birthday.” That’s it, just “Happy Birthday.” I mean EVERYONE wearing the shirts. Think about the impact it would have. Maybe people would stop and say, “Why are you wearing a Happy birthday shirt?” That sure would open a door. Or they might as, “Who’s birthday is it?” Wouldn’t you love to give the answer, “Jesus’” No one would be able to accuse you of pushing religion on them. Can you image if the schools try to ban the phrase, “Happy Birthday?” lol The commercialized world would never let that happen.
The truth of it is, CHRIST was really taken out of Christmas a long time ago. If we really want to get honest with ourselves, it has happened even in Christian homes. Sure, we remember it’s Christ’s birthday, but that really isn’t the focus of the season, now is it? No, the cold hard truth is, the focus is really more like “Happy Holidays.”
But, I’m just one, unknown person who has no idea what to do from here. So, I guess the fight will go on over saying Merry Christmas and the focus of Christmas will remain self-centered and commercialized.
Oh, and maybe I should clarify I do think we should fight for the right to say Merry Christmas to a point. But we should also fight for other things that affect our every day life just as hard. Yet, I also think that Christmas has really lost it’s meaning and it will be difficult to get it back, so that’s why we should just change things. Think about the shake up Jesus brought to the customs of the day.
Entitled … December 12, 2009
It has come to my attention how entitled we humans think we are. But more specifically, us so called “Christians.” If we feel entitled to anything, then it is a contradiction to call ourselves a “Christian.” In the Bible, the Greek word for Christian is: Christiano meaning a follower of Christos (Christ). Christos means anointed/Messiah. If we are truly a follower of Christ than we should realize that we are entitled to nothing but death and punishment. We are not entitled to anything that God says he will provide for us. We are entitled to nothing that Jesus did for us. And we are entitled to nothing his death earned for us. Everything, EVERYTHING, has been freely given to us, yet we deserve none of it.
The only thing we can do is make a choice. We can either choose to receive or choose to reject. It’s all laid out on the table for us to freely take as we want, not even as we need, but as we WANT. How amazing is that. But somehow, many of us have gotten it into our head that the choice is whether to take what is on the table or not, but I do not believe that is the case. (Prior to making the choice whether to stay home or take a journey, we being with another choice, whether to follow Christ into the banquet hall or not. But for now, I’m talking about people who have already decided to follow Christ.) I have heard many, many Christians say, “God will provide,” or “God is for me,” or “God works all thing to the best …” blah blah blah. Really? You think so? I don’t. You know why? God HAS provided, God WAS for me, and God DID what was best. But none of it is present tense. No, I’m not saying God isn’t anymore or he isn’t providing anymore. Just hang on for a bit longer.
We are entitled to nothing God has done. Unless we choose to follow Christ which mean walk in HIS ways and not our own, we can’t even get into the banquet hall, let alone eat from the table that HAS been prepared for us. God is always sitting their waiting on us. But if we choose to walk our own path, live the way we want, do what we want, then that is exactly what we will get – what we can get for ourselves.
God doesn’t always provide what we want Him to, but He always does what is right. We just think we are entitled to him providing for us in the way we ask Him to. We all hang our hats on the verse like,
Matthew 21:22 – “…whatever things you ask in prayer”
John 14:14 - “If you ask anything …”
1 John 5:14 – “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything. …”
John 15:7 - “you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”
And many more.
But we tend to read over the parts that say,
Matthew 21:22 – “believing”
John 14:14 - “in my name”
John 16:23 - “in My name”
1 John 5:14 - “according to His will”
John 15:7 – “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you”
We like to skip over the IFs, THENs, BUTs, and WHENs. We like to skip over our parts of those verses. What we don’t realize is if we aren’t careful, we can become prodigal sons of God. When we don’t walk in His ways, don’t spend time with him, don’t listen to his direction, we are prodigal sons. When we do that, we can not wield His name around, we can not eat at His table, and we can not enjoy His riches – UNTIL. Until we return home. Look at this (Luke 15:11-32).
No one provided for the prodigal son. He threw a fit and wanted to leave, he couldn’t stand living at home anymore. His father gave him his inheritance and let him go. God has given us our inheritance when he gave us Jesus. That’s it, he HAS. He HAS provided for us, he HAS completed the work and given us our share. And now, he has let us go. Go on now son, do what you want to do. Do what ever you want with the gift I have given you. And sometimes, we take it and leave home, looking for what we want out of life.
The son undisciplined and dissipated, wasted everything he had. He got assigned to fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any. Does that sound like your life? I know it sure sounds like mine sometime. It’s because the table that we want to eat from, is waaayyy back there in the banquet hall where the Father is sitting. Do we really expect delivery service? Yeah, Right! You see, God WAS for us. After all, if he wasn’t for us, would he have given us our inheritance? But we walked out of that home and are living life the way we want. We are taking what he HAS given us because he WAS for us and are blowing it on trivial things.
That brought him to his senses. He said, ‘All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death. HAHA! Be honest, you know you’ve done this. “Why do they get everything?” “Their life seems so blessed, why doesn’t God ever help me out?” But God DID. He DID help us out, remember, the cross, Jesus, sacrifice?? But you see, all that, it’s all back home. Those people are getting all that because they are living at HOME!! They can walk up to the table because they aren’t hundreds or thousands of miles away! We have chosen instead to take what God HAS given us because he WAS for us, so much so, that he DID what was necessary and we are looking at others with jealousy because they were smarter than us and are still back home enjoying all of it.
The son said, I’m going back to my father. I’ll say to him, Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.’ THIS prodigal son got something that we seem to overlook because we feel entitled. He didn’t skip over the IF, BUT, WHEN. He realized IF he had stayed, he would have been eating at the table. BUT he chose to leave and that is WHEN he ended up in the slop. He recognized his mistakes and was ready to repent from them. He did not come home with a sense of entitlement. He did not expect his father to provide for him again. He was ready to be put to work to earn his keep.
When he returned home, his father met him with opened arms. BUT notice the father did not go out after the son. The father did not provide for the son. And the son returned home humbly, ready to accept whatever the father was willing to give to him. Because he was humble, and because he was willing to repent and change his ways, he was able to walk right back in and eat from the table his father provided. In looking at it this way, this isn’t about someone who is not a Christian, it is someone who is already a Christian, a wayward child. So we can walk back home, ask for forgiveness and eat from the table. But anytime we choose to walk away from home, we are on our own again. All the provisions are at home, not out on the road.
Sometimes God, our father, will allow us to find ourselves starving and working in the pig slop, all the while he is sitting there with open arms, waiting for us to return home. There is no guarantee he will provide for us, there is no guarantee he will force us home, the only guarantee is that he will do what is best for us. However, he has already did all the work he needed to through Jesus Christ. He has already provided everything we need in him. BUT, if we choose to live in sin (the pig slop), then we don’t choose Jesus (home). We can have what God HAS given us because he WAS for us, so much so, that he DID what was necessary IF we stay at home, BUT we have to choose home and WHEN we do, we sit at the table with the father and enjoy his provisions.
It’s either Jesus or Sin. Francis Chan did a good teaching on this, I transcribed it on my blog. Kill or be killed. You either kill your sin or it will kill you, period.
So all of us “Christians” really only have one choice to make – Kill or be Killed. There are consequences to both choices, you can’t blame anyone else for those. But we are ENTITLED to nothing. God HAS, God WAS, and God DID give us everything we need, IF we stay home to receive it.
So, where are you? Are you out on the road or are you home?
Reply to post on Facebook December 3, 2009
So, you searched the internet for an answer? Someone who speaks, as you did to me, I would hope, would know their Bible better than that. Interesting that you didn’t turn to the Bible. But let’s go with what you found. I found it on the net as well. I do not believe that A. Gene Veal, the author of this article, would agree with the use of it in relation to homosexuality. Especially after I read his previous article, which he referenced in this one you used, titled ‘GRACE’. He says,
My natural tendency is to sin more and more, but by His GRACE I am being conformed to the image of Christ and being transformed from glory to glory. (“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2Cor. 3:18)
This grace is found only in a person, the Lord Jesus. It is the “grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Thus, it is accessible only through an ongoing personal relationship with Him
I think you tend to blur the lines between the SIN and the SINNER, as well as the lines between the SINNER and the CHRIST FOLLOWER. Grace, mercy, love, they are all applied to the SINNER, and never to the SIN. And that Grace, mercy, and love is only applied to a REPENTANT SINNER, not an active sinner. A CHRIST FOLLOWER is someone who has repented, given everything up for Christ to follow him and his ways. Not someone who says it with his mouth, but someone who says it with his life. The key to all that is repentance, which means to change ways, turn back. There are times when a Christ follower may slip up here and there, but they will not walk in their sin. You are not a true Christ follower if you are not continually trying to follow God’s ways. Anyway, let’s explore this, starting with the scriptures you borrowed.
7In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor,
7He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.
8To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God’s consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege) was granted and graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out],
Let’s look at it the way it was emphasized by Mr. Veal.
“In Him we have our redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace . . . that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus . . . To me, who am less than the least of all saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable (unfathomable) riches of Christ.”
You have missed SEVERAL key words in this passage. And I am surprised that you did as Mr. Veal was very careful to underline and bold them.
Most students of the Bible would understand that Ephesians was written to Christ followers. We know this from the very first verse,
1PAUL, AN apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah), by the divine will (the purpose and the choice of God) to the saints (the consecrated, set-apart ones) [a]at Ephesus who are also faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus:
I use the Amplified version because it usually makes clear any part that could be misread or misinterpreted. such as this, it clearly points out that ‘the saints’ are the “consecrated, set-apart ones), which means a Christ follower. Because it is written to Christ Followers, it would not be used to apply toward anyone who was living in any type of sin on a habitual basis. This passage would only apply to a homosexual that had turned from their homosexual tendency. So that in its self would end the conversation in regards to using this passage. But we will continue anyway.
The next thing we see is that the words, “In Him,” are bold and underlined. The reason for this is that if you are not IN HIM, this passage does not apply to you. So what, or whom, does this refer? For that, we have to look back to the previous verses,
5For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [[b]because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]–6[So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Therefore, everything listed in verse 7, redemption, remission of our offenses, and gracious favor of God can only be gotten IN HIM, or as verses 5 and 6 indicate, is in the Beloved, or Jesus Christ. In other words, to be a Christ Follower. If you are not a Christ Follower, you do not get redemption, remission of offenses, nor gracious favor of God, period.
On to the next verse.
7He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.
He did this, did what? Again, we have to look back to see what this is, which we find just a couple verses back,
5Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved ([a]delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation).
So what he did was made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ. He made us alive because we were dead. If we look back over the verses before this, clear back to verse 1 of the Second chapter, we can find out more about us being dead.
1AND YOU [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins
2In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God].
3Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God's] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind.
As we look at these verses we can learn a lot.
- Our trespasses and sins are what made us dead. So we can never be alive AND be in trespasses and sins.
- We can not be “Christians” and be “Homosexuals.” (I listed several in my previous post)
- We can not be a “Christian” and be a “Sexual Immoral” (cohabitation with sex- 1 Peter 2:1).
- We can not be a “Christian” and be “Effeminate” ( A man having behavior or mannerisms considered typical of a woman or girl; feminine; figuratively a catamite, (a male who submits to a sexual relationship with a male) – 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
- When we walked (habitually) in our sins, we were following satan, and in disobedience to God.
- In verse three, we can not miss the words, ‘once lived and conducted’, that is past tense. That means no longer live and conduct. And it is also clear what the consequence is of continuing to live and conduct ourselves in sin, “children of [God's] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation.”
As we read the rest of Chapter two, we’re reminded in verse 12,
12[Remember] that you were at that time separated (living apart) from Christ [excluded from all part in Him], utterly estranged and outlawed from the rights of Israel as a nation, and strangers with no share in the sacred compacts of the [Messianic] promise [with no knowledge of or right in God's agreements, His covenants]. And you had no hope (no promise); you were in the world without God.
That while we were dead, we were separated from Christ. If we are separated from Christ, we are separated from God. And on judgement day, we have no one to pay our penalty and we will go to hell. And in verse 10, we see that we are recreated in Christ Jesus, walking in his ways.
10For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), [d]recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
Again, nothing in verse 7 is available to us unless we are IN HIM, recreated in Christ Jesus, therefore grace is not available to us if we are still walking in SIN.
Let’s look at the next verse,
8To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God’s consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege) was granted and graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out],
Paul counts himself least of all the SAINTS, which are CHRIST FOLLOWERS. Nothing in verse 3:8 is available to one who is walking in sin, which means the riches of Christ are not available to continuing sinners. For more information see this post.
If we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, he restores us as 1 John 3 goes onto explain:
“6No one who abides in Him [who lives and remains in communion with and in obedience to Him--deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] commits (practices) sin. No one who [habitually] sins has either seen or known Him [recognized, perceived, or understood Him, or has had an experiential acquaintance with Him]. 7Boys (lads), let no one deceive and lead you astray. He who practices righteousness [who is upright, conforming to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action, living a consistently conscientious life] is righteous, even as He is righteous. 8[But] he who commits sin [who practices evildoing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done]. 9No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, for God’s nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God. 10By this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are His children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children: no one who does not practice righteousness [who does not conform to God's will in purpose, thought, and action] is of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother (his fellow [i]believer in Christ).”
Now to address some of the things you, David, have said:
“God knows all our hearts, n loves us all, n he is our true judge of us all… not one of us shall cast the first stone against one another!!”
Yes, God does know our hearts and he does love us all. But very few will actually be in His presence for eternity because of his judgements. There are many who say they are Christians, who are going to be shocked when God rejects them, passes judgment on them, and sends them into the lake of fire. Any homosexual who says they are a Christian and is still in a homosexual relationship, will be one of those. (See this posting for more details on that.)
God also says in Matthew 12,
33Either make the tree sound (healthy and good), and its fruit sound (healthy and good), or make the tree rotten (diseased and bad), and its fruit rotten (diseased and bad); for the tree is known and recognized and judged by its fruit.
34You offspring of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil (wicked)? For out of the fullness (the overflow, the [p]superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks.
35The good man from his inner good treasure [q]flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse [r]flings forth evil things.
So, God knows are hearts (inner storehouses) and those around us know our hearts as well. Good hearts produce good things. The tree is known, recognized, and JUDGED.
Regarding casting the first stone you are right. Casting a stone implies carrying out a penalty. Although, God did give commandments in the OT regarding people who were instructed to carry out the judgement. But, we are not supposed to now. The judgement is for God to carry out. However, we ARE supposed to confront people in sin and rebuke them. For more details on this, see this posting.
“Religion plays a key role in all of our wars as man,”
No, man uses religion as an excuse for war. Religion has done nothing, it’s a thing. It isn’t any different than the guns used, the tanks used, the planes used. None of them are to blame for the wars, only the men using them are.
“god says love, forgive, n have faith…, n god jus says love everyone,” What I don’t understand about all this is that you have called me several names, and you n very rudely to me … screaming love, grace, and forgiveness. Who exactly is being hateful and not loving? Who exactly is being judgemental and not giving grace? Who exactly is attacking and not forgiving? I wonder, would you address the inspired writes of the Bible in such a manner? After all, they were much more harsh than I have been. All I did was state what the City Counsel’s actions at a meeting were. Would you have written them and said the things you have said to me? If you would, then you would be saying them to God, since he is who inspired those writers.
1 Timothy 1 would be a good read for you. In it we see listed several sins,
9Knowing and understanding this: that the Law is not enacted for the righteous (the upright and just, who are in right standing with God), but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinful, for the irreverent and profane, for those who strike and beat and [even] murder fathers and strike and beat and [even] murder mothers, for manslayers,
10[For] impure and immoral persons, those who abuse themselves with men {Homosexuals}, kidnapers, liars, perjurers–and whatever else is opposed to wholesome teaching and sound doctrine
11As laid down by the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
In the last few scriptures of this chapter, Paul tells Timothy what to do with these sinners,
18This charge and admonition I commit in trust to you, Timothy, my son, [b]in accordance with prophetic intimations which I formerly received concerning you, so that inspired and aided by them you may wage the good warfare,
19Holding fast to faith ([c]that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence) and having a good (clear) conscience. By rejecting and thrusting from them [their conscience], some individuals have made shipwreck of their faith.
20Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan in order that they may be disciplined [by punishment and learn] not to blaspheme.
Paul says they have made a shipwreck of their faith and to deliver them to Satan. Interesting isn’t it. In the next chapter he adds,
1FIRST OF all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men,
So therefore, in order to love a homosexual, we should praying on their behalf, which would include giving them up to Satain.
There is not one person listed in any of my writings. I HATE homosexuality. I HATE lying. I HATE stealing. I HATE murdering. I can not like, nor love, anything that God does not like or love. And he does not like or love homosexuality.You know what, he doesn’t like or love what you are doing by living with a woman who is not your wife either. Maybe that is why you are so defensive of what other’s are doing. Because if you recognize it as wrong, then you would have to recognize what you are doing as wrong. But then again, I could be wrong, I could be reaching.
With all that said, I will let Paul have the last word to you.
1 Timonthy 1:
6But certain individuals have missed the mark on this very matter [and] have wandered away into vain arguments and discussions and purposeless talk.
7They are ambitious to be doctors of the Law (teachers of the Mosaic ritual), but they have no understanding either of the words and terms they use or of the subjects about which they make [such] dogmatic assertions.
