LOVE NOT THE WORLD (part 2)

Posted on by BETH

UntitledWhy is 1 John 2:15-17 unacceptable to most people?  Almost everyone I know changes the words in this passage to say: do not love the evil in the world.  Is that what it says?  Is this talking about the people?  Who is in the world?  We have neighbors, friends, enemies and brethren.  We are commanded to love our neighbor.  We also are commanded to love our brethren, enemies and friends.  Who else is there in the world?  Is this a contradiction in the Bible?  Is He talking about souls or things?

Loving the “people” of the world is loving ones’ neighbor, which is commanded and good.

  • “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Though the world hates us, we must love them (even our enemies).

  • “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:18-19).
  • “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust (Matt. 5:44-45).

We were born into this material world, not into worldliness. 

  • “But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Tim. 6:6-7).

The word “world” is used in the sense of the physical world much the same as Romans 1:25 uses the word creation.

  • “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature (creation) more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen” (Rom. 1:25).
  • NT:3844=para, which is a primary preposition; properly, near; i.e. (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local [especially beyond or opposed to] or causal [on account of]:

The verse (if translated exactly according to the Greek words God inspired) would literally read, “Who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creation (what God created) along side of (or as well as) God.”

The cares of this physical world are what choke the word.

  • “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful” (Matt. 13:22).

The word world in the Greek language is kosmos—literally orderly arrangement—the same word we use in English for the universe.  What is he saying?  What does he mean when he says, “Do not love the kosmos?”  What about the things around us in the world?  Do not love “the things that are in the world.”  He has to be talking about the world itself and the material things in it.

Do you know any scripture that contradicts this command which says we can love the material things of the world but are not to love “worldliness” or the “evil” things which are in the world?  At first glance Colossians 2:20-22 appears to give permission to love the material things in the world, but let’s see if it does.

THE FOUNDATION AND COST OF BEING CHRIST’S DISCIPLE

Posted on by BETH

The Definition of a Disciple:

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch (Acts 11:26).

There Is A Cost To Being A True Christian (Luke 14:25‑35).

And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

We Must Love the Souls of All Men (John 13:34).

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

But We Must Hate All Others as a Master (Luke 16:13‑15).

No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

We Must “Bear Our Cross.” This Means We Must Die to Ourselves (Mark 8:34‑37).

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

The Cross Is an Instrument of Death. When We “Take Up Our Cross,” We Are “Losing Our Life.”  We Must Live This Way Every Day (Luke 9:23‑24)!

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

The Old Paul Was No Longer Alive. It Was Christ Living in Paul. We Must Be Like That (Gal. 2:20).

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

 

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God (Col. 3:1‑3).

We Must “Forsake All That We Have.” Before Becoming a Christian, We Live to Do Our Own Will, Pleasures, Or Desires (Eph. 2:2‑3).

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

But We Must Become Like Christ, by Forsaking Our Own Will (John 6:38).

For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

We Must Not Do Anything of Ourselves to the Point Of Dying, if We Must (John 8:28‑29).

Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 29. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do ALWAYS those things that please him.

We Can See That It Is Not Good Enough to Give God a “Share” or “Portion” or Just a Part Of Our Lives. We Must Not Live For Ourselves Any More At All, But, Rather, For Christ and Him Only (2 Cor. 5:14‑15).

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him ONLY shalt thou serve (Matt. 4:10).

This Includes Every Thought We Think . . . (2 Cor. 10:5).

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity EVERY THOUGHT to the obedience of Christ;

This Also Includes Every Word That We Say And Every Deed That We Do (Col. 3:17).

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

We Must “Continue In Christ’s Word” To Be a True Disciple (John 8:31).

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

We Will See That Continuing In Christ Will Cause Us To Bear Fruit (John 15:1‑2, 8).

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.  

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

We Must Bear Much Fruit to Be Christ’s Disciple.  If We Don’t, We Will Be Taken Away From The Vine.

How Do We Bear Fruit (Col. 1:10)?

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Though “bearing fruit” is often associated with converting someone to Christ, we see that doing any good work causes us to bear fruit. Evangelizing is one kind of good work. Obeying any command of God is a good work. Therefore, we can bear fruit any time we obey a command of god. Continuing in Christ’s word will cause us to bear much fruit, which will make us a true disciple (Luke 6:40).

The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

The End Goal of the Disciple Is to Be Perfect (Complete) Like Christ (1 John 2:4‑6).

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

The only way to fulfill our purpose as a disciple is to continue in (keep) all of Christ’s word!

Can we obey all of God’s commands?

Posted on by BETH

Which of the commands of God is too grievous (literally, weighty – 1 John 5:3) to obey?  Is there any command that is more than we can bear?  He says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13).  If we can bear it, why would we not bear it?  Which one of the commands of God can we not obey?   Someone argues that we can obey all the commands from time to time, but we will never come to the point where we obey all the commands all of the time.  Is it that we can not obey God’s commands or is it that some folks do not want to obey God’s commands?  He has not given us impossible commandments.  Which thought can we not take captive with his weapons?  His weapons are powerful, to  the  “. . .bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor 10:4,5).  If his weapons can take every thought captive, why do we not do it?  Which fiery dart can Satan throw that the complete shield of faith can not quench?  The shield of faith can make us able to quench all of Satan’s fiery darts.  In fact, this is one of the chief commandments.  He says: “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Eph. 6:16).  If we are able (though his weapons) to quench all the fiery darts of Satan, why do we not do it?  Is it not lack of faith that causes some to say that we can not obey all of the commands of God?  The power is not in us, but “. . . the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God”  (2 Cor. 10:3,4). He “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Eph. 3:20).  What is left beyond what we can ask or think?  Notice the context of that statement.  Paul is praying that the brethren will be filled with all the fulness of God – the heart of God or Christ.  Our Father is ready to help us in all we ask or think if our purpose is to fulfill his purpose.  Through Christ we can obey all of the commands of God.  Now we want to consider the “power that worketh in us.”

THE FINISH LINE

Posted on by BETH

Paul points to perfection as the mark toward which he is running (Phil. 3:12).  Some are running for heaven or the crown of life.  If we run directly for the crown on the judge’s stand, we will surely be disqualified.  He says that those who run must run according to the rules or they will not get the crown (2 Tim. 2:5).  We can not run directly ‘to’ the crown – eternal life.  The prize is not the finish line. Paul said he was running “toward the mark for the prize.”  When he crossed the finish line, only at that time did he win the crown.  He did not earn it, nor was it free.  He had to run hard to win it.  When Paul was writing to the Corinthians about 54 AD, he had not ‘apprehended’ the crown (1 Cor. 9:24-26).  Even about nine or ten years later, in 62 AD, he wrote to the Philippians stating:

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before (Phil 3:12,13)

Paul had not apprehended the crown six years before he died.  He had been apprehended so that he could apprehend the crown, but he had not won it at that time.  He was still running hard.  He was forgetting everything behind and pressing toward the mark for the prize, which is the crown (Phil. 3:14).

Paul used an interesting expression for what he was running toward.  First, he says he had not attained the resurrection of the dead (Phil. 3:12,13).  We understand that “the resurrection of the dead” and “the crown of life” go hand in hand.  He was aiming to ‘attain’ to the resurrection of the dead.  At the same time that he is running in order to attain the resurrection of the dead, he states that he is not yet perfect.  This time he uses the verb form of the word complete (teleios).

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:12).

He said that he had not been perfected, but was obviously running in that direction.  This testifies that Paul is not a hypocrite!   He was seeking to present every man perfect (teleios) but he was seeking for the same thing himself (Col. 1:28).  We note what it takes to present every man perfect.  He says that it takes preaching and warning each one in ‘all’ wisdom (Col. 1:28).  This is not a simple process.  God himself was working mightily in Paul to accomplish that task in all of his children.  Should we also not be aiming to present every man perfect in Christ like Paul and God (Col. 1:29)?

The word ‘wisdom’ is, at times, not understood in it’s immediate context in James 1:5.  Many talk about receiving wisdom from God, but what is the context?  What wisdom does our Lord offer us?  The context is the subject he gives in the three verses before.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect andentice, wanting nothing  (James 1:2-4).

The Lord has a pathway for growing to be ‘perfect and entire, wanting nothing.’  We need wisdom to accomplish the Lord’s eternal purpose.  This is not wisdom for our own purposes and goals – but God’s.  Paul mentioned the same goal many times (2 Cor. 13:9, Gal. 3:3, Col. 4:12, etc.).  Peter was also aiming for the same mark for the Christians (1 Pet. 5:10): as was Luke (Luke 6:40), John (1 John 4:17,18), James (James 1:2-4), and the Hebrew writer (Heb. 2:10, 6:1-3).  If we are faithful and are preaching the whole truth, the whole counsel of God, we will be free of the blood of all men (Acts 20:26).  If we preach the whole truth, we will surely have the same purpose and goal in mind that Paul had.