Romans 6:14-7:6

Obedient from the heart

Blog Redirect

Ok, it is obvious that I have not been keeping up with this blog. I am not going to offer any excuses, yet one reason.

The reason is simple, I now have a new blog that is taking a ton of time. It is a read through the Bible in a year project. I overview each chapter of the Bible and give some daily reflection questions and for further reading verses. 

Check it out here: 
Through the Bible in a Year

James 3:13-18 More Wisdom

James 3:13-18
"Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

It would seem that there are two kinds of wisdom, Godly and worldly. It is actually easy to tell them apart, based on the behavior of the one who holds the wisdom.

Worldly wisdom looks like this - bitter jealousy, selfish ambition, and arrogance. You know people like this. They are smart and they know it, and they let everyone else know it. They hate to see others succeed because, after all, they are smarter. They are always looking out for number one. They have drive to be the best and they will run right over you to get there, and thats ok with them because it's just "survival of the fittest." To them it's a dog eat dog world and they are the pitbull. This type of wisdom in described as earthly, natural, demonic leading to disorder and evil.

Godly wisdom looks like this - pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, and without hypocrisy. It leads to mercy and good things. People who have Godly wisdom are the people who use there wisdom to help others. They are always humble about there accomplishments. These people don't mind losing the race if they can finish and help some one else finish as well.

So why the difference? It is actually simple. Worldly wisdom has no checks and balances. You don't have anyone to thank for it, because you were just born with it, or you studied real hard to get it. And if you possess it or even helped get it you can do whatever you want with it. Godly wisdom is a gift. You owe the gift giver for it, you owe God thanks. A good portion of this is based on how you get wisdom from God. Two verses tell us how this works.

James 1:5 "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. "

Proverbs 9:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom..."

Godly wisdom is a gift of God that you have to ask for. In addition, when you ask you must be a person who fears God. If your wisdom was given to you as a gift, by someone who is still wiser and more powerful then you, then you should be careful to use it the way it was intended.

God keeps account of what you do with the gifts he gives you. Make sure you use them for good behavior and good deeds.

James 3:1-12 Talking

James 3:1-12
"Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh."

I guess Mom was right. She always said, "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all." That is basically what God is telling us here.

Three interesting, spiritual, points are made in this passage.

First, the idea that if you can control your tongue you will control your whole body. "Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well." It reminds me of something my dad used to say, "don't let your mouth write checks your body can't cash." If people followed that bit of advice it would save them a lot of trouble. Control your tongue and you will avoid having to back up what you just said. How many times have I stated, or rather overstated, something as fact and then have someone call me on it. Instead of backing down I stand firm on my erroneous statement because I am full of pride. In addition if we could just practice speaking less it would do us a lot of good. Consider this:
Proverbs 17:28
"Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent."

A second interesting point is the idea that what comes out of the mouth is really a fruit of what is in your heart. "Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs?" That is a very true statement. If your heart is filled with anger then you will likely speak angrily. If your heart is full of bitterness then you will probably speak bitterness. If your heart is filled with love then love is what you will speak. For the Christian this is very telling. If your heart is filled with the word of God you are more likely to say and do the things of God.
Psalm 119:11
"Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You."

The third point is more relevant to me then it is to most: teachers will be judged more strictly. Notice who this passage is directed to according to verse one. Teachers. Teachers have a lot to say. Teachers influence more people then they know. Teachers have more authority then they understand. All that being said we are told in verse one that teachers will also incur a stricter judgement. What a teacher says is often taken as truth. That is why I find it so amazing that so many Christians want to teach the Bible. They don't understand the danger involved in teaching it incorrectly. The Bible is described in scripture as a sword, and if not handled appropriately you can do some real damage. As a teacher of the Bible you are representing God to people. I don't want to misrepresent God. That never goes over well.

In the book of Numbers Moses and Aaron were asked by God to speak to a rock and then God would provide water from that rock for all the people. It was supposed to be an amazing example of God blessing the very people he had chosen to go into the promised land. Instead Moses and Aaron chewed the people out calling them rebels and then struck the rock instead of speaking to it as God had instructed. The strict judgement that God handed down was that Aaron would die immediately and Moses would not be able to enter the promised land. They misrepresented God and it cost them both dearly.

Paul was afraid of this happening to him, he said in 1Corinthians 9:27: "but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." He was afraid of making the same mistake that Aaron and Moses made. They had the very word of God and did not follow it. That is what all teachers of the Bible have, the word of God and they should know it better then most, which means they should represent it better then most in their lifestyles. If they do not they will be judged harshly by both those they have instructed and God. They must practice what they preach.

Imagine if you will your average PE/Health teacher. They preach to you diet and exercise, but if they are fat, out of shape, gluttons you will never listen to their teaching.

As a Bible teacher I struggle with this concept. I spend most of my day talking to people about the Bible, representing God. The more I talk the more chance of me misrepresenting God. Proverbs 10:19 sums it up: "When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise." That is why I often repeat something my Pastor told me, "believe everything I read and half of what I say." I guess in a blog that should be changed to "believe everything I quote from the Bible in its proper context, and half of what I type."

James 2:14-26 Faith

James 2:14-26
"What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."

Two friends, Faith and Roger, are having a conversation while overlooking the Grand Canyon.

Faith “I can fly.”

Roger “No you can’t”

Faith “It’s true, because I believe it is true.”

Roger “Prove it.”

Faith “You don’t agree? Well, I believe it. I mean, I’ve never actually done it before, but I have the faith I can.”

Roger “Prove it, jump off this cliff.”

Faith “Ok, ready 1... 2... 2 and 1/2... look, isn’t it enough for me to say that I believe I can fly. Why do I have to prove it?”

Roger “Why wouldn’t you want to prove it. What is the point of being able to fly if you don’t actually do it?”

Faith “You’re right, here I go 1... 2... 3.... aaaaaahhhhhhhh.”

SPLAT

Friend #2 “I guess it is true, Faith without works is dead.”

Are you a Christian by word alone, or do your actions match up to your faith?

James 2:10-13 Mercy

James 2:10-13
"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” also said, “DO NOT COMMIT MURDER.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment."

Have you ever lied? If you have that makes you a liar. Have you ever killed someone? If you have that makes you a murder. Even if you tell me you have never killed someone I can't believe you because I have already established that you are a liar. What is even scarier is if you have lied, then according to James you are also guilty of adultery, idolatry, murder, and all the other points of the law.

"THAT'S NOT FAIR," you say! Actually it is. If you know scripture then you know that it doesn't matter which point of the law you break the punishment is the same. DEATH! Romans 6:23 tells us that "the wages of sin is death."

The truth is we all have sinned and are guilty of death, but thanks be to God that Romans 6:23 has more to say. Here, read Romans 6:23 in its entirety.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

That is right, you have a get out of jail free card in Jesus Christ (free gift to you, but at a tremendous price to Jesus).

What exactly is that gift? Jesus paid the penalty of death for your sins, so you wouldn't have to. That takes us right back to James. Remember how this section of scripture ends: "mercy triumphs over judgment." The judgment of God is that the wage of our sin is death, but the mercy of God is that He sent His own Son to pay the price of our sin.

I just started learning Pinochle. The key to the game seems to be having trump cards. If you have a trump card you can beat any other card of any suit. For the Christian, Jesus' death on the cross is the ultimate trump card. Let's face it, we all are facing an off suit ACE when it comes to sin in our lives. But, if you picked up the Trump card of Jesus Christ you can beat that ACE. Of course in the game of life the Trump is never dealt to you it has to be picked up by you. You have to choose to accept the gift.

It's easy, here's how:

"if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans. 10:9)

Two part transaction - confess Jesus as Lord, and believe that God has raised Jesus from the dead (showing He can do the same for you).

So how about it? Why not you?

If you want to talk more about this decision just email me at shaunsells@bresnan.net.

James 2:1-9 Partiality

James 2:1-9
“My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called? If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”

Let’s play a little game I like to call “favorites.” It’s easy to play, anyone can do it. I want you to think about the people around you, family friends, coworkers, church members, whoever comes to mind. Then I want you to put them in two categories - those you like to be around and those you don’t like to be around. That was easy now wasn’t it. In fact it is probably something you have already done.

Well, James says just by playing this game you have already lost. In fact James says you have made “distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives.” I think that is the perfect definition for prejudice.

prejudice (verb) - to make distinctions among yourselves, to judge with evil motives.

In the church their is to be no distinctions, for we are all one in Christ Jesus. Sounds familiar doesn’t it. That is because Paul said it in Galatians 3:28.

It is interesting to me how James wants us to combat this though. He basically says, “if you are loving your neighbor like Jesus taught then you are going to naturally avoid partiality.” Amazing how simple it is to stop partiality and prejudice. Just love everyone around you and you will never be in danger of prejudice. However, James knows that won’t happen universally so for those who can’t bring themselves to love others he calls them what they are - sinners.