Gal. 5:6; 6:15; 1 Cor. 7:19, What really matters?

We are ready to move on in our study of the Fruit of the Spirit, to “gentleness and kindness.”  And since we are in-between topics, and it is what some call “holy” or “passion week” (in the West, at least) I would like to consider some topics more directly related to the cross and resurrection, and what Christ has provided. 

Today’s topic has to do with what is more important than circumcision or uncircumcision.  That might sound a bit strange, unless you read the three passages listed above.  The question “what really matters” is one we need to ask from time to time concerning what occupies our time or energy or focus.  Why?  Because we will give account to Christ for the things done in the body (2 Cor. 5:10). 

You should have noted that the statement concerning “circumcision and uncircumcision” is identical in the two Galatians passages.  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything.  “Avails” is the Greek word for “strong.”  In terms of our relationship with God through Christ, your approach to the religious practice of the Jews does not carry the day in any sense, whether you agree or not.  Your choice does not impart any inner strength to you that will help you in following Christ.  1 Cor. 7:19 is also speaking of this choice in a religious sense.  Only there Paul simply says your view is “nothing.”  It doesn’t impart any significance to you. 

Keep all this in context.  In Paul’s day there were churches that struggled and split over this choice, whether you needed to be circumcised.  I have to say, in my limited experience, that many church fights today were over topics that were not really important.  So we need to ask ourselves if the priorities of the day are set on things that are nothing, things that impart no strength in serving Christ.

Now, what does matter?  Paul says three different things.  Yet, he says one thing.

·       Gal. 5:6: faith working through love is what matters.  This is Paul’s statement about Christian liberty (5:1-6).  Our lives are not guided by bondage to the law but rather by love.  It is not doing our best to measure up; it is being compelled by the love God has put in us by His Spirit (2 Cor. 5:14).  No one cares whether or not you are circumcised.

·       Gal. 6:15: a new creation is what matters.  The context here (6:11-15) has to do with the sufficiency of the cross of Christ.  Law-keeping does not transform our external actions because it cannot change our hearts.  The cross of Christ makes us new creatures, changing the heart, imparting the life of Christ.  Getting circumcised imparts no strength for the transformed life.

·       1 Cor. 7:19: keeping the commandments of God is what matters.  Now that might sound like a contradiction of Galatians.  If those words were uttered by Paul in Galatians it would, in fact, be a contradiction.  But the context of 1 Cor. 7 (esp. v17-24) is the issue of marriage.  Paul is saying, “don’t get wrapped up in making changes in your life that are not important.”  So, don’t think that, as a Christian, you must change your view on circumcision (how one gets uncircumcised is an enigma to me).  He also says, don’t worry about becoming free if you’re a slave who has believed in Christ.  It’s all just a waste of time and energy.  He is calling for contentment and saying it’s more important to walk in obedience to God. 

In light of all this, I would say Paul is saying the same thing in the three passages.  Living to please God (1 Cor. 7:19) is letting your faith work through love (Gal. 5:6) which is the occupation of those who are new creations in Christ (Gal. 6:15).  Seek the Lord on this matter: What are your priorities?  Are they important?

Acts 19:10-20, Sins of False Worship (2)

We sin when we yield to the temptation to live life without God.  We become fools (saying, “there is no God,” Ps. 14:1).  Is there a remedy for this sin?

The sacrifice of Christ on the cross was made that we might die to sins and live for righteousness. … We were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls (1 Pt. 2:24-25).  Believers in the first century Church marveled at how the Thessalonian believers turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God (1 Th. 1:9).  There was a powerful story of such conversions at Ephesus in Acts 19.  Many believed the gospel, including many who practiced sorcery.  They publicly burned their books of sorcery.  The moving of God’s Spirit was so significant it caused those who made the carved images to struggle in their business.  Is there a remedy for this sin?  Yes!

In dealing with any sin one must acknowledge or confess that sin.  The first two commands emphasized this: no other gods and no graven images.  In both the OT (Deut. 7:25-26) and NT (1 Pt. 4:3) idolatry is said to be an abomination to God.  Literally, both in Hebrew and Greek, it is a “disgusting” thing.

Scripture teaches that idolaters will be judged.  They are outside the gates of heaven (Rev. 22:15).  God’s wrath comes on idolators (Eph. 5:5-6.)  Idolators will not inherit eternal life (Gal. 5:21).  How can they?  They are counting on something that is nothing, literally.  So we must acknowledge the sin of idolatry, trusting in Christ’s sacrifice to bring forgiveness and cleansing.

As Christians, we should no longer walk as the gentiles, working all uncleanness with greediness (idolatry; Eph. 4:17-18). Rather, we should abide in Christ’s love that we might be filled with the fullness of God (Eph. 3:16-19).  Here are a few NT encouragements to help us in this.

·       1 Cor. 10:14: flee idolatry.  Like sexual temptations, we must not engage in a fight but must run from the temptation.  Similarly, we must put to death idolatry (Col. 3:5), as Israel was to destroy the Canaanite idols in OT days.  John encourages us to keep up our guard: keep yourself from idols (1 Jn. 5:21).

·       We need to examine our relationships.  We live around idolators; and we seek to win them for Christ.  But we must not join them in their idolatry in the process.  Do not be partakers with them (Eph. 5:7).  Do not seek agreement with idolatry, since our bodies are the temple of the living God (2 Cor. 6:16-17). 

·       But do take your stand, as a testimony to the fact of our living God.  Paul taught separation from a professing brother who is an idolater; but not from an unbeliever who is an idolater (1 Cor. 5:9-11).  Let us live the love and joy of the Christ-life before them, the life enabled by the living God!

Isa. 44:9-21, Sins of False Worship (1)

We are still in the area of the “fruit of the Spirit,” if you are wondering.  But in working through the “works of the flesh” we come to the sins of false worship: idolatry and sorcery.  Perhaps a working definition of idolatry might be something like this: satisfying basic human needs by dependence on something or someone other than the true God.  In the OT idolatry was associated with carved images and the worship of the gods they represented.  Behind the idol were Satan and his demons.

The Greek term for sorcery is “pharmakeia” from which we get “pharmacy” or “pharmaceutical.”   In Greek the term is used of the administering of drugs as well as of the magical arts.   W. E. Vine says that administering drugs was generally accompanied by incantations and appeals to occult powers, and associated with amulets and charms that were designed to keep the applicant or patient from the power of demons, while being impressed with the powers of the sorcerer.  In Isaiah 8:19-20 things that often today are under the banner of spiritualism (seeking mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter) are the opposite of seeking the true God.  Thus, idolatry and sorcery are connected and are Satanic.  Even if we say we worship ourselves, the truth is we are bowing before the god of this age.

How do we, in Western society, where carved images are not common, how do we become idolators.  Consider the following:

·       Idols are nothing in and of themselves.  Paul said this (1 Cor. 8:4).  They neither see nor hear nor walk (Rev. 9:20).  Isaiah said, Those who make an image, all of them are useless, and their precious things shall not profit; they are their own witnesses; they neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed.  Who would form a god or mold in image that profits him nothing? (Isa. 44:9-10). 

·       Idols become something when we give them honor and worship.  Both Aaron (Ex. 32:4) and King Jeroboam (1 Ki. 12:28) made golden calf idols, and both told the people of Israel, these are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.  They attributed to these images something that was only true of the true God.

·       In this way the idol comes to represent demons.  Paul made this connection (1 Cor. 10:20-22) as did the OT.  Both Deut. 32: 17 (the Song of Moses) and Psalm 106:37 speak of sacrificing to demons.  They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they did not know, to new gods, new arrivals, that your fathers did not fear. 

·       Paul twice identifies greed or covetousness with idolatry (Col. 3:5; Eph. 5:5).  This helps us to understand idolatry in our society.  A covetous man is one who is eager to have more.  He believes he will be happy with more money or things or leisure time or whatever.  The “whatevers” are the idols!  We are thinking these “things” will bring satisfaction to our souls.  Only our Creator can do that.

Psalm 4

Some see Psalm 3 as a morning hymn (3:5, he has slept in peace) and Psalm 4 an evening hymn (4:8, he is about to sleep).  But the Psalms are also comparable in the words of David’s antagonists.  In 3:2 they say there is no help for him in God; in 4:6 they ask, ‘Who will show us good?’  A third connection between the two Psalms is that in 3:3 the LORD is “my glory”; in 4:2 he asks how long the sons of men will shame “my glory”.  Thus in one David assures himself and his enemies that God is his glory; God will honor David so as to honor Himself.  In the other David chides his enemies for continuing to shame the LORD, David’s glory, by their verbal arrows.  It is possible that the story of Absalom’s rebellion is the setting not only for Ps. 3 (see the heading) but also for Ps. 4.

David has 3 conversations in this Psalm.

I. A cry to God for mercy, v1.

II. A call to the sons of men to seek the LORD, v2-5.

III. A consultation with God for serenity, v6-8.

Verse-by-verse consider some thoughts.

·         v1: David prays to the “God of my righteousness.”  By this he means the same as when he refers to the “God of my salvation.”  God provides for and is the source of David’s righteousness.  David understood the idea of “imputation” (Psalm 31:1-2).  Certainly the godly in Israel understood from the story of Abraham that righteousness came from God (Gen. 15:6).  In the end God’s provision of righteousness would involve the Messiah, the “Branch” of David, who would be called “the LORD our righteousness” (Jer. 23:6; 33:11).  New Testament believers understand this, that Christ has become to us righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30).  “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).

·         v2: Here is a “how long” cry of the Psalmist that is not directed at God but at the sons of men.  They shame God continually.  How do they (we) do this?  By our love of things that are worthless and the seeking of the lie!  Believers are to set their affection on Christ who is above (Col. 3:1-4), on eternal things that bring glory to God (2 Cor. 4:16-18).

·         v3: Here the Psalmist communes with his own soul as he converses to those around him.  The words of assurance that the Lord will hear those He has set apart will calm David’s heart; but they also should encourage the sons of men to hear and respond properly to David’s next words.

·         v4-5: The writer exhorts the sons of men to come wholeheartedly to the LORD.   By wholehearted he means that they should first respect the LORD in a way that is fitting for who He is.  The term “angry” can be translated tremble or agitated.  The exhortation is to fear God.  Failure to understand the depth of our sin prevents us from genuinely putting our trust in the LORD, which is the second aspect to wholehearted seeking of God.  If we have not meditated on the matter of our guilt before the Creator we will likely harbor some thought that we have something of value in ourselves.  We may think we only need to trust God for the things we cannot do ourselves.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  The Bible’s description is of a humanity that is desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9), with none that do good or that seek God (Rom. 3:10-18).  With a proper understanding of sin we will then realize why coming to God in faith involves a sacrifice.  Before Christ the offering of sacrifices were a means by which people could express their faith in God and in the future provision of the Savior from sin.  Since Christ has paid in full the guilt-price of His life for ours, we now offer “sacrifices of righteousness” as a thanksgiving for what He has done!  In other words, it is still an expression of faith in Jesus Christ as the only pardon for sin.

·         v6-8:  David’s conference with God is an expression of faith in several ways.  First, in response to the desperation suggested by those around him (who will show us any good?  how can there ever be sense made out of this hard life?) David prays for what is promised in the Aaronic blessing (Num. 6:24-26).  “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”  These are words God told the priests to use to bless Israel.  So David prayed for what God said He would do, in contradiction to those around who said no one could do what they needed!  Then David thanked God for the fact that He had already blessed him with gladness of heart.  Thus David would be able to lie down in security; his trust was in the Lord. 

This is a great “evening prayer”, the kind of pillow talk that will make us fit to serve God in the coming day.  First, don’t go to bed with the discouragement of unbelief often expressed by those around us.  Instead think God’s word, God’s promises, and pray them back to Him.  Then give God thanks for the blessing of the day.  Don’t give in to the practice of glorifying our problems; consciously acknowledge God’s goodness in the day.  Then as your head hits the pillow, recognize that night is not to be feared; the LORD will enable you to dwell in safety.

Heb. 11:1,6,13-16,24-26, Gentleness/Faithfulness

The Bible is filled, from cover to cover, with illustrations of “faithfulness.”  It must be since faithfulness is a hallmark of God’s character and is to be of man’s character as well.  In Prov. 3:3-4 we are told, Let not mercy and truth forsake you.  This “mercy and truth” is in Hebrew checed (goodness, sometimes translated lovingkindness or mercy) and emeth, which is the primary term for “firmness, faithfulness, truth, sureness, reliability” in the OT.  The two terms appear numerous times together.  The above passage urges this on all who would be wise.  One of the many passages where they speak of God is Ps. 85:10, anticipating the cross of Christ: Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed.  A great prayer to pray is found in Ps. 86:11: Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.  This theme could go on for a long time, and I encourage you to pay attention for that term in the OT as you read.  Again, the NKJV translates it as “truth.”  It’s a good translation if you remember the connect between “faithfulness” and “truth.”  A true person is a faithful person.

Faithfulness is prominent in marriage.  In Song of Solomon, for example, you see it in the phrase My lover is mine and I am his (Song 2:16; 6:3; 7:10).  Likewise, This is my lover, this is my friend (5:16) expresses faithfulness.

As chapters go, Hebrews 11 is the most prominent sharing of illustrations of faithfulness.  You learn a lot about why these saints were faithful.

·       11:1: They believed God.  To trust in the faithful God the substance of things hoped for (i.e. it was as good as having it; even when they died without actual possession of what Christ offered, they knew God would be faithful).

·       11:6: Faithfulness to God’s word is essential if we are to please God.  This is what drives the saint.  In earthly relationships his goal is not to please himself or their spouse; it is to please God.

·       11:13-16: They have a strangers and pilgrims mentality.  That is the mentality that knows this life is not the sum total of existence.  It is very temporary.  The life to come is eternal, and it is better, and it is something God has prepared for them.  I can tell you by personal observation the panic and fear and stress exhibited by those who have no hope after this life.  We are not talking “escapism.”  A future hope helps me to be faithful TODAY, to apply myself diligently and selflessly and gently and faithfully to following Christ in the most difficult of relationships.

·       11:24-26: Faithfulness to God permits me to choose rather to suffer affliction … than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.  The key is that, as strangers and pilgrims, we look to the reward! 

How I pray, that in my life, and in yours, there will be seen a faithfulness to God in all our relationships and in all our work.  By His Spirit and grace!

Psalm 15, Gentleness/Faithfulness vs Sexual Sins (5)

Faithfulness

·       Synonyms: faith, trustworthiness, loyalty, dependability, commitment, responsibility.

·       Definition: “Fulfilling what I consented to do even if it means unexpected sacrifice.”  Psalm 15:4-5 puts it this way: He who swears to his own heart and does not change. … He who does these things shall never be moved.

·       Underlying principle:  Our faithfulness rests on God’s faithfulness.  For one thing, having been created in God’s image we are called to be “godly.”  But more than that, we can be faithful through personal attacks and trials that are not of our own making, because God will be faithful in keeping His word to us.

·       Wisdom Literature: Proverbs has a lot to say on this subject. 

o   Whoever falsely boasts of giving is like clouds and wind without rain (25:14). 

o   Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint (25:19).

o   It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, and afterward to reconsider his vows (20:25).  The OT issue of “vows” comes up often.  Eccles. 5 warns, when you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools.  Pay what you have vowed (v4).  Then it advises, Better not to vow than to vow and not pay (v5).

o   A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished (28:20).  Note that one who hastens to be rich is not a faithful man.  By “hastening” the Bible means he cuts corners, being willing to take advantage of others in order to increase wealth.

o   Faithfulness in marriage is huge, of course.  Marriage is considered a “vow,” or using the OT term, a “covenant” relationship.  Malachi 2:14 speaks of your companion and your wife by covenant.  Prov. 2:17 uses the same terms, where a husband is the companion of her youth and the marriage covenant is made with God.  It assumes faithfulness, to a relationship that began in her youth. 

§  “Covenant” is the Heb. beriyth.  It is used many times in the OT, including in God’s covenants with Abraham, Israel at Sinai, David and so forth.  It is used of business and international agreements also.  The root meaning of the term seems to refer to “eating together.”  In other words, the faithfulness of covenant-keeping is more than staying together; it includes the “fellowship” of staying together.  In the end times God’s faithfulness will be most profound in His faithfulness to Abraham through the restoration of Israel,

§  We see God’s faithfulness in the New Covenant in a powerful way.  He has been faithful in that His love for His creation has not ceased.  And what He provided in Christ was not just an eternal home; He provided a covenant relationship of peace, joy and righteousness.

1 Cor. 7:1-5,32-35, Gentleness/Faithfulness vs Sexual Sins (4)

Before we consider “faithfulness” let us note illustrations from today’s passage to what it means to “yield one’s rights and expectations to God.”  In the marriage relationship gentleness/meekness is seen in the way both spouses look to the needs and interests of the other (1 Cor. 7:3-5).  The “marriage bed” is not focused on self.  Rather each sets aside their desires and is devoted to the other.

Further, look at how Paul talks about those who are unmarried.  Have they chosen to remain single because it frees them from the obligations to care for others?  No!  He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord – how he may please the Lord.  Thus, either way, married or single, we are called to this gentleness that looks after the interests of others. 

In my experiences with people, this is not the way they think.  The choice of marriage or singleness is based on which brings the most happiness or fulfillment to the one making the choice.  The questions ought to be: Is this a person I can bless?  Or, in staying single, will I be better able to use my life in the service of my Lord?  In Paul’s case, he had a right to have a wife (1 Cor. 9:5).  But he chose to serve the Lord without distraction.  That is not a weird choice.  It is the meekness of Christ in action.

To choose to be married, as Paul notes, is not a sin.  It is a good idea for most people; that seems obvious.  But the choice still needs to be in the meekness of Christ.  Meekness will be evident in the marriage by punctuality, courtesy, thoughtfulness and other choices that show consideration of others. 

This, and the previous post, have emphasized the need for gentleness in the male-female relationship.  However, gentleness is valuable in every relationship.  Considerate people make great employees, church members, and citizens.  I have seen this again and again in people that are close to me.  In the business world, to be considerate of people is invaluable, not just treating them as clients or prospects, but caring about their lives outside the business dealings.  I am thinking of a couple of examples of this, and I assure you, they are not “meek” because it increases sales.  They are Christians, who are walking in the Spirit, and are thus producing the fruit of the Spirit.

John 13:1-17, Gentleness/Faithfulness vs Sexual Sins (3)

We have previously studied “self-control.”  That quality is critical in the matter of sexual sin.  But the Bible does not just say “flee sexual immorality.”  It does say that, but that is not all.  The life we have in Christ is a life that satisfies the human soul that was created in the image of God.  We handle temptation to sexual immorality in the same way we handle all temptation:

ü By the power of the Holy Spirit.  But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you (Rom. 8:11).

ü By the precepts of the Word of God.  Let us consider the fruit of the Spirit, gentleness and faithfulness, and how these bring God’s blessing into our lives and relationships.

Gentleness.

·       Synonyms: humility, meekness.

·       Definition:

o   Yielding my personal rights and expectations to God (Gothard).

o   The meekness manifested by the Lord and commended to the believer is the fruit of power … the Lord was ‘meek’ because He had the infinite resources of God at His command … meekness is the opposite of self-assertiveness and self-interest … is neither elated nor cast down, simply because it is not occupied with self at all (W. E. Vine).

o   Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others (Paul, Phil. 2:3f).

o   The most heavily laden branches always bow lowest on the tree (Tim Keller).

·       Underlying principle: In Christ, the Christian has been blessed with every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1:4).  He is complete in Christ (Col. 2:9) and has all things, including the power of God, at his disposal.  Jesus’ act of humility, the washing of His disciple’s feet (John 13:1-17), was prefaced by these words: Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded himself (13:1-2).

Many marriages suffer for a lack of “gentleness” or “meekness.”  One or both are concerned about their rights, unwilling to yield to the other.  The relationship becomes one of demands, demands that leave them in a state of loneliness, rather than in the resting place God designed when He created Man as “male and female.”

Rom. 1:26-32, Gentleness/Faithfulness vs Sexual Sins (2)

The Bible tells us of the consequences of sexual immorality.  His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin.  He shall die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray (Prov. 5:22-23).

·       Growing insensitivity to sexual immorality.  As we give implicit approval to forms of sexual sin, our consciences become seared (1 Tim. 4:2); we are less upset about what we called sin yesterday.

·       Growing inability to be content.  Rom. 1:21-27 is right: there’s a progression and we’ve seen it in our society (turning away from God to worship creation leads to sexual impurity which leads to unnatural relations and then to every kind of evil).

·       Preoccupation with sex has led to sickness, not health.  Who buys books on car repairs?  Those with car problems.  Who buys drain cleaner?  Those with a clogged drain.  Today: sex books abound.  Here are some quotes, including some from non-Christians who can see the societal destruction caused by debauchery.

Peter Marin, Psychology Today, 1983: We have been liberated from the taboos of the past only to find ourselves imprisoned in the ‘freedom’ that brings us no closer to our real nature or needs.

Pitirim Sorokin, in The American Sexual Revolution, wrote of Russia’s sexual liberation in the 1920’s: One could marry and divorce as often as desired, without the other spouse being notified.  Bigamy and polygamy were permissible, abortion was facilitated at state institutions, premarital relations were praised, extra marital relations considered normal … The total results were so appalling that the government was forced to reverse its policy. … We find that among civilized societies those which have remained strict in their sexual codes for the longest periods have reached the highest levels.

Historian Arnold Toynbee concluded that a society’s creative energy is tied to the control of sexual drives

J. D. Unwin in Sex and Culture (1934) said: Any human society is free to choose either to display great energy or to enjoy sexual freedom; the evidence is that it cannot do both for more than one generation.

C. S. Lewis: Though the ‘right to happiness’ is chiefly claimed for the sexual impulse, it seems to me impossible that the matter should stay there.  The fatal principle, once allowed in that department, must sooner or later seep through our whole lives.  We thus advance toward a state of society in which not only each man but every impulse in each man claims carte blanche.  And then, though our technological skill may help us survive a little longer, our civilization will have died at heart, and will – one dare not even add ‘unfortunately’ – be swept away.

What has been true in every other civilization will be true in America.  As Ruth Graham said, “If God doesn’t judge America, He’ll owe Sodom and Gomorrah an apology.”  Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge (Heb. 13:4). 

In our next post we will turn to the positive impact of “the fruit of the Spirit” in this area of sexual immorality.

Rom. 1:18-25, Gentleness/Faithfulness vs Sexual Sins (1)

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. … Then God said, Let us make man in our image.  So God created man in His own image, male and female He created them. … The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a helper suitable for him.’ … Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken from the man. … The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman.’ … For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and they will become one flesh.”

God created man with a need for companionship.  The “one flesh” relationship was part of that companionship.  But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ (2 Cor. 11:3).  In a world where Satan is the “god of this age” what God intended for man’s good has been replaced by an evil counterfeit.  Galatians calls these the “works of the flesh.”

·       Adultery: sex by a married person with someone not their spouse.

·       Fornication: any and all sexual relationships outside of marriage.

·       Uncleanness: a general term associated with sex sins.  Movies, books, web pages and other media that contain sexually explicit material fit in this category.

·       Lewdness: Debauchery, extreme indulgence, lack of any self-control.

Society seeks to cover over these sins with less inflammatory words.

·       Termination of pregnancy, instead of abortion.

·       Pornography instead of smut or filth.

·       Pedophiles instead of child molesters.

·       Hookers or ladies of the night instead of whores.

·       Homosexuals instead of Sodomites.

·       Bloody axe killings, sadistic rapes, erotic seductions, language that would make a lumberjack blush are now “mature subject matter” (parental discretion advised.)

In our world the “sex drive” has been made primary, thanks to a long line of individuals who have decided that unbridled freedom of the “libido” is essential for healthy society.  From …

·       Freud (reacting to unscriptural extreme sexual repression).

·       Havelock Ellis (first to publicly recommend pre-marital sex, and to legitimatize homosexuality).

·       Bertrand Russell (promoter of trial marriages).

·       Margaret Sanger (grandma of Planned Parenthood, promoted birth control as improving society by keeping society’s ‘unfit’ from bearing children.

·       Kinsey Reports (50’s) and Masters & Johnson (60s) who made sex a “thing,” taking it out of the realm of ethics and putting it into the realm of science.

Psalm 3

This Psalm is easy to discern in terms of the subject of each stanza.  But the inscription gives us a possible historical setting for this Psalm that adds tremendous insight and application.  It is a Psalm that reflects on the time when David fled Jerusalem to get away from his son Absalom.  This was perhaps the most intense time of David’s life in terms of depth of sorrow.  And yet we hear David claim great peace and courage.  Do we not long for the same in our similar situations?  If you have even struggled with a wayward child you may have some sense of how deep we can grieve.  And especially if the waywardness of the child is in some way tied to our own waywardness, as was the case with David.

 

·         v1-2: David’s problem.

The actual story of Absalom's rebellion is in 2 Samuel 15-19, although the seeds of the situation go back to David’s sin with Bathsheba.  The judgment pronounced on David was that the sword would never depart from David’s house (2 Sam. 12:9-10).  Already Absalom had killed his brother Amnon because he raped their sister Tamar.  Now Absalom made a determined effort to take the throne.

 

David says in this passage that he had many troublers who rose up against him.  This was certainly the case as Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel by his charm and handsome appearance.  But David says there were many who told him that God would not help him, which might have been a hard thought for him to dispel from his mind.  After all, he had brought this on himself.  He had been forgiven by God (2 Sam. 12:13-14).  But do we not understand what it is to doubt God’s forgiveness as we experience the consequences of our sin?

 

·         v3-4: David’s theology.

Lest David be in total despair and spiritually incapable of facing the situation, he needed to tell himself the truth in the face of the lie being told by his weak conscience.  In fact God would help him.  God would be his shield and the One who alone would lift him up to the throne again.  Think about this in the story of Absalom.  As David left Jerusalem he knew there were many who sided with Absalom who had been his (David’s) associates.  There was the possibility that Mephibosheth, to whom David had shown much kindness, was now using this situation in hopes that he would gain the throne as the only living heir of King Saul ((2 Sam. 16:1-4).  There was Shimei, another relative of Saul, who cursed David (2 Sam. 16:5-14).  And there was the advisor Ahithophel, the grandfather of Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11:3; 23:34,39), who was possibly looking for revenge on David.  He became Absalom's key advisor, one to be feared.  All these are saying, in one way or another, “There is no help for him in God.”

 

When everyone around us, including our own conscience, is saying what may sound true but which in fact is a lie, we must tell our souls the truth.  We must go to the word of God and find words on which we can stand.  We must know who God is in truth so that we can cry out to Him. 

 

There is a tremendous picture involved in this.  When David fled he crossed over the Kidron Valley, over the Mount of Olives and out to the desert to the Jordan.  The Kidron is known in scripture as a place where idols were destroyed, both in the time of Kings Asa and Josiah.  For David, his passage through this area was a time in which he had to rid himself of any false notions about God, and to come to worship Him in truth.  This Psalm makes it clear he did just that.  Let us consider this.  Our view of God must not depend on what we have heard from others, even those who claim to speak for God.  We must know the truth of God through Jesus Christ, the full and perfect image of the invisible God (Heb. 1:1-3).  By the word of God alone can we have a true thought about God that will sustain us in difficulty.

 

·         v5-6: David’s peace.

These words are amazing, again, given the situation.  David fled and continued late into the night to get over the Jordan to a place of safety.  And yet what is his experience?  He had good rest.  He had no fear.  It is not that the situation was not hard for him to bear.  It is not that he was oblivious to what was going on.  But these things were not able to keep him from what God would provide.  Do we not have some understanding of sleepless nights where we are awake, obsessed with the events of the day?  or the turmoil and stress that increase (v1-2)?  Friends, let us understand that these are not badges of honor whereby we can almost brag of our problems.  They are times when we can be stripped of our idols and brought to peace by the true God.

 

·         v7-8: David’s praise.

And so we see that David is able to come to God in the truth.  He confidently cries out for salvation (deliverance) as his mind is now filled with truth.  He remembers God’s deliverances in the past.  He remembers that salvation belongs to God, salvation that is both personal for him and corporate for God’s people.  This is critical.  Remember that through all this God did not deny the unconditional covenant He had made with David to have a descendent on the throne forever (2 Sam. 7:1-17).  What happened to David would effect the people as well. 

So for us, what is at stake is the truth of God.  If we have been forgiven through the blood of Christ, then the forgiveness is permanent.  We will suffer consequences for sin, but God will never go back on His graceful word that has been established through the finished work of Christ.  May we praise Him for His goodness and faithfulness even when we suffer for the sinful decisions of our past.

 

Salvation belongs to the Lord!

Rom. 8:5-11, Self-Control (6)

Let’s conclude our study of “self-control” by answering the question, “how can the Christian gain control of self?”  We have mentioned some things already.  We must be willing to discipline ourselves, to stay on top of this issue (1 Cor. 9:24-27).  Knowledge (understanding, insight) is important as we face life situations (2 Pt. 1:6).  Prayer is valuable.  The Psalmist prayed, “set a watch over my lips.” 

But remember: self-control is the “fruit of the Spirit.”  We exhibit self-control when we walk in the Spirit.  How do we do that?  The one command we have as Christians, with respect to the Holy Spirit, is to be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18).  Filled has the idea of being controlled; as alcohol fills and controls the drunkard, so the Spirit fills and controls the Christian. 

But we still ask, how does this happen?  And again, we have one passage that tells what this means to the believer. Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit (Rom. 8:5).  Our time day by day with our God, in His word (Scripture) and in His presence (prayer), are fundamental to the Spirit’s control.  We present ourselves to God as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:2) so that He controls us at the outset of each day.  Throughout the day, the Scripture and prayer continue to be a part of our mindset.  In this way we walk in the Spirit, not only through the day’s scheduled events but through the surprises as well.

Prov. 5, Self-Control (5)

We mentioned that “knowledge” is important to self-control.  We need to consider things.  We need to see the issues of life in the truth.  I want to use Prov. 5 is an illustration of this.  I mentioned in the last post how this chapter contains knowledge that will help us in applying self-control to the issue of pornography.  I am saying that a man (this is particularly a “male” issue) needs to know the truth about porn.

·       First, adultery, whether in deed or thought (Mt. 5:28, this is where porn comes into the subject) is an attempt to be satisfied sexually without your wife.

·       5:2: Sex within marriage shows you have discretion.  Thus, adultery is stupid and lacking judgment.

·       5:3: Adultery/pornography/prostitution, etc. seems sweet going into it but …

·       5:4: in the end it is bitter and destructive to your soul …

·       5:5: and yes, it is one of the “benefits” on the road to death and destruction.

·       5:6: This path puts you on unstable ground.  It cannot/will not be good for you.

Let’s take a break for a minute, now that you know how we are dealing with this passage.  What we are saying is that what we just said in v2-6 is true.  It is knowledge that needs to be part of your “renewed” mind ((Rom. 12:2).  This is the Bible, God’s word.  This is how we must think.  Sexual sin involves many strong “excuses” that are lies.  If you go down that path it simply will not offer what you think it will.  Pay attention to my wisdom (5:1).  Do not depart from the words of my mouth (5:7).

·       5:8: Intentionally remove your path far from her.  Don’t even get close.  In the matter of porn, you must consider what entices you to take that path.  Then you must order your daily life in a way that steers far from this destructive activity.

·       5:9: Failure in this area takes something that makes you special (God created a Male and a Female to fill the earth with people created in His image) and throws it away.  The results will go on for years.  It is not just a phase that young men go through.  It will affect later attempts to have a pure marriage.  It will result in a jaded view of all women.

·       5:10: To Israel (God’s people) we see that immorality weakens a man so that he become subservient to those who are not God’s people (aliens).  Think about it: who gets wealthy off of porn, sexually explicit movies, etc.?

·       5:11-14: Without question, you will regret this immoral choice!  You will recognize your obstinance; yet it will be too late.  You will know how ruined you are, even if those around you (the assembly and congregation) don’t see it.

·       5:15: Instead, save yourself for your wife.  This relationship can be as satisfying as water from the well or spring.

·       5:16-17: Don’t make your sex life something to share with others.  Jealously guard it as something between you and your wife.

·       5:18: Allow your marriage to grow from the time you are first married.  Porn (movies, magazines, internet, wherever it arises) only serves to give you examples of the unbridled lust of the world.  It does not teach better sex; it distorts sex.

·       5:19-20: Enjoy God’s provision for your desires.  Your spouse is yours without sin (Heb. 13:4).  Another woman who would engage in immorality is herself immoral and is deceiving you.

·       5:21: You are accountable to God.  We can talk about being accountable to other humans but that is always iffy.  We will tend to lie or cover up or deny or fail to see the true issues as well as the danger of bringing others down with us.  No creature is hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account (Heb. 4:13).  This is a fact!

·       5:22: And you can be sure, even if we hide our sins from every human, we will still suffer the perfect consequences.  God will not be mocked!

·       5:23: You are a fool to disregard this.  To be “astray” is to miss the mark (sin), to transgress (violate God’s law), and is a choice to dwell in the culture of death. 

In our study of self-control, what we are saying is that being armed with knowledge such as this (i.e. with the truth in our minds) is essential to the control of the Holy Spirit.