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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The Fruit of the Spirit, continued
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. (Ephesians 4:25-28—NIV)
Let us look at five unscriptural ways of regarding the commandments of Christ and His Apostles and then one scriptural way.
Jesus did it all and we do not have to do anything concerning our salvation. Therefore the above exhortation of the Apostle Paul is commendable but our obedience to his directive is not an integral part of our salvation. In other words, he should have spared himself the effort of writing.
The natural man is so sinful we have to wait until Jesus creates righteous behavior in us. Look at the above exhortation and see if it sounds like we are to do what it says or wait for Jesus to do it in us.
It doesn't matter how we behave because we are saved by grace. If this is the case why did Paul waste his time and ours writing such stern words?
God sees us through Christ so it doesn't matter how we behave. If this is true, why did Paul urge us to keep from giving a foothold to Satan? If God does not see what we actually are doing, why bring Satan into the picture?
When we receive Christ as our Savior we are clothed with Christ's own righteousness. Therefore any attempt we make to live righteously is an affront to the perfect righteousness of Christ. We are trying to add to that which already is perfect. Again, why did Paul in several Epistles exhort us to live a blameless life? Was Paul attempting to add to the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ?
The above set of evasions serves as the Gospel of the Kingdom in our day. These evasions are so far removed from the intention of Jesus Christ that one can only wonder how devout, intelligent Christian scholars and people have subscribed to them for so many years.
For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. (II Corinthians 12:20—NIV)
Was it the opinion of the Apostle Paul that it does not matter how Christians behave? Quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance, disorder—sounds like the typical Christian assembly.
But I promised to tell you the one scriptural way of viewing the commandments of Christ and His Apostles.
We are to view the commandments of Christ and His Apostles as laws we are to obey. We have been directed to add self-control to our faith. This is why we must gain control of our self—to do so is to obey Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; And to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; (II Peter 1:5,6—NIV)
Listen to the Apostle Peter: "Make every effort to add self-control to your faith."
Well, is this a commandment or not? Is it a Kingdom law of Jesus Christ or is it not? You be the judge.
Either we despise it, ignore it, or obey it. Which is it to be?
To be continued.