Three Kinds of Works

In the religious world today there is much confusion regarding works. Some teach that works have nothing to do with salvation, that salvation is by the grace of God and received by faith only. Others hold a doctrine that essentially teaches a kind of works-based salvation; they hold that one who has committed sin can do some kind of penance to compensate for that sin. The religion of Islam teaches salvation by works only. They believe that if a person’s good works outweigh their sins then they will go to heaven and conversely if their sins are more than their good works they believe they will go to Hell. (This belief, in reality, is shared by most Americans. Most people in our country, when you get right down to it, believe that those who do good will go to Heaven, regardless of their religion,  and those who do evil will not.)

As we have noted, religious denominations vary in their teachings on works. Some hold to the extreme position that works and salvation are completely unrelated. While, others hold to the opposite extreme that we are saved by works alone. A great deal of time could be spent studying all of the various positions held in the religious world on the relationship between works and salvation. However, it would be more productive to study the relationship between works and salvation as it is found in the Bible.

As Christians, we must demonstrate our faith by our works. Read James 2:14-18. There are three kinds of works mentioned in the New Testament. Two of which are USELESS – One of these works is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL!

 

Works of the Law of Moses

 

To the Christian today, trying to be saved according to the works of the Law of Moses is useless. Read  Romans 3:24-28. The context of that chapter makes it clear that works of the Law of Moses is under discussion. The Holy Spirit working through the apostle Paul here deals with some Jewish Christians who were appealing to the Law of Moses to command circumcision on the Gentile Christians. The Law of Moses has been replaced by the Law of Christ. See also Hebrews 8:13.

 

Works of Self-Righteousness.

 

In the Roman Epistle, Paul speaks of the Jews as establishing their own righteousness. They were appealing to their works of righteousness of their own devising according to their traditions. See context of Romans 10 “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God…” (Romans 10:3). See also Matthew 15:9.

 

Works of God’s Righteousness.

 

Works commanded by God that one must continue in to be Christ’s disciple in deed and thus be made free. See John 8:31-32.

One is justified by the works of God’s righteousness. See James 2:22-24. These works include:

Faith. “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father…” (1 Thessalonians 1:3). “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:29).

Confession. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)

Repentance. “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death…” (2 Corinthians 7:10)  See also Matthew 3:7-8; Acts 17:30-31

Baptism. “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 3:20-21) See also Acts 2:38; 8:36-38; 16:33; 22:16.

Continued Faithfulness. “…Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life…” (Revelation 2:10)

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Denominationalism Sin

The Sin of Denominationalism

Have we ever “woken up on the wrong side of  the bed?” Does this not just adversely affect  our whole day? Better yet, have we ever tried to  button a shirt, only to get to the last button and realize that  our buttons and their corresponding holes are off track?  Therefore, we have to unbutton every one and start all  over. In like fashion, it is sad that many religions and  churches have started out on the wrong foot.

In First Timothy 4:1-2, Paul said,  “…in the latter  times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to  seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in  hypocrisy…. ” Notice the correlation of “ the faith ” from  First Timothy 4:1 and “ lies ” in First Timothy 4:2. The fact  of the matter is that all denominations base themselves  on lies. Denominationalism is a tool of the devil that is  masquerading as the truth. There is no authority in the  Bible for any denominational church—they are not from  the Bible, as I will plainly show.

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus promised to build His  church. Of which church do we read in the Bible? We  read of the church of Christ. Paul says, “ Salute one  another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute  you ” (Rom. 16:16).

In Acts 2:47, we see that God added the saved to  the church of our Lord. This completely complies with  what Paul pens in Ephesians 5:23: “ …Christ is the head  of the church: and he is the saviour of the body .” Mark  the fact that “ he is the saviour of the body .” Nevertheless,  what is His body? Earlier in this book, Paul plainly  proclaims, “ And hath put all things under his feet, and  gave him to be the head over all things to the church,  which is his body ” (1:22-23). Therefore, the church of  Christ is the body of Christ, and the church of our Lord  is the church that He established, to which God adds the  saved. I am afraid many are substituting this church by  their different denominations.

One reason that denominationalism is sinful is  because they cannot agree on anything. Jesus said,  “ Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to  desolation; and every city or house divided against  itself shall not stand ” (Matt. 12:25). Denominationalism  equals division, which Paul clearly condemns (1 Cor.  1:10).

Therefore, how do we establish the one true church  today? We are to do as Paul was able to do—teach the  same thing in every church (1 Cor. 4:17). We are to  resolve to be a part of the “ one faith ” (Eph. 4:5) by being  sure that we “ teach no other doctrine ” (1 Tim. 1:3). Yet,  we have thousands of different doctrines today.

Jesus said that His word is truth by which we  are sanctified (John 17:17). Because God hates false  doctrine (Ps. 119:104), one such false doctrine is that  one can be saved in a denomination. I invite all readers  to join me in examining our religion in the light of the  word of God—are we participating in a false church  masquerading for the truth?

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Pollution

Everything is going “green”—cars, home products, and even many office environments. Ask any teenager what it means to “go green” and most will respond with something about saving the environment. The current “green” attitude is recognition that the careless way we have treated the planet in the past has caused a global impact as pollution and hazardous wastes are routinely dumped into the environment. Students today are bombarded with the message of protecting “Mother Earth,” and as such, many place an enormous priority on “going green.”

There is another type of “going green” that many teenagers (and adults) are actively involved in—even in Christian homes. It is the end result of polluting their bodies with alcohol and drugs to the point that they eventually find themselves vomiting into a toilet or passing out in the floor. How ironic that a generation that is adamantly opposed to polluting the environment can justify, in their own minds, the polluting of their bodies.

Parents should know that many teenagers are masters at concealing drug use. They have learned how to use dryer sheets to mask the smell of marijuana smoke. They have mastered the art of getting high by huffing everyday aerosols that are stored in a home. Many know which stores will sell alcohol to minors or where they can purchase illegal drugs. And so, while parents are out working overtime to afford that late-model automobile and the bigger house, their kids are busy at home “going green.” How many Christian homes appear beautiful dwelling places from the outside, yet act as dark hiding places for drugs and alcohol on the inside—nothing more than white-washed tombs full of dead men’s bones (Matthew 23:27-28)?

Young people live their lives with the belief that they are immortal, and that nothing bad will ever happen to them. And so, they experiment. Sadly, many Christian parents have come to accept this behavior as just a normal phase of transitioning between adolescence to adulthood. After all, it’s not like their children are using “hard-core” drugs like cocaine or methamphetamine. Many of our children have lost sight of the fact that their bodies do not belong to them anymore—and therefore anything they do to it is a reflection on God. Paul wrote, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). It is never too early to teach this truth to our children and grandchildren.

Christian parents, it is time we do more than tell our children to “just say no.” It’s time we give them a reason why this polluting of the human body is sinful and tell them that doing so will separate us from Almighty God (Isaiah 59:2). It’s time we give them the confidence they need to avoid the crutch of peer-pressure. It’s time we teach them that God expects more! It’s time we analyze who their idols are and what message those idols are sending. After all, how many celebrities in Hollywood can honestly boast of living a life clean from drugs and alcohol? How many times have we watched celebrities giggle as they are barely slapped on the wrist for polluting their body and then getting behind the wheel of a car intoxicated? Add to this that Hollywood stars place an enormous emphasis on outward appearance, and you have the recipe for disaster.

It is time fathers uphold their roles of spiritual leaders in the home—and recognize that Satan is after our children. It is time we spend time and energy molding future preachers and elders. It’s time mothers make phone calls and find out where their children are and who they are hanging out with. It is time we know what is going on in their bedrooms. It is time our children grow up with enough self-esteem that they never feel the need to turn to drugs or alcohol.

Drug addicts on the streets are often considered deviants or low-life criminals. Ironic, is it not, that when Christian children participate in the same behavior we justify it as a “phase” or we describe them as “troubled.” Is there any difference in God’s eyes whether we pollute our bodies on street corners or in “white-washed tombs” in middle class neighborhoods? It is time we teach our children about the power of their influence, and what it really means to bring reproach on the Church. It is time.

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What Makes Your Church Different?

Question: What makes you think your church is any different from any other one in town?

Very humbly and respectfully, the answer is: the same thing that always sets faithful churches of Christ (Rom. 16:16) apart from any denomination in any location or generation: complete respect for the absolute authority, singular supremacy, and infinite inerrancy of the word of God (Psalm 119) as the Word of almighty God; and our subsequent unbending, unending, and unyielding allegiance and adherence to it as such, in all things – even the most difficult – which has always caused some to walk away (Jn. 6:60-69).

We don’t teach and preach the politically-correct (and therefore Biblically-incorrect and irrelevant), ear-tickling (II Tim. 3:16-4:5), people-pleasing instead of God-pleasing (Gal. 1:6-10), “Cotton-Candy Christianity” (“fluff & puff” – looks good, tastes sweet, but has no real substance to save souls), generally-accepted by the Biblically unstudied vain doctrines of men (Matt. 13:15, 15:7-9).

For example, this would include where God’s Word says: faith alone is not enough to save anyone (Jms. 2:18-24); a Christian can fall from grace (Gal. 5:4); baptism is FOR the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38) – not something that comes along AFTER salvation – and that that one baptism (Eph. 4:4-6) is essential to salvation (1 Ptr. 3:21). It would also include where God’s divinely-inspired instructions unequivocally state that there is only one faith, one baptism, and one church (or body: Eph. 1:22-23, 4:4-6); where it shows us how God Himself referred to His own Son’s blood-bought church (Ro. 16:16); where it defines for us exactly what sin is and what it will do to you (Ro. 1:18-32; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21); where it defines women’s roles in the church (1 Cor. 14:33-38; 1 Tim. 2:8-15); and where it depicts denominationalism (division) as a sin (1 Cor. 1:10-13), amongst many other things. We would very lovingly encourage you to check out these references in your own Bible; that’s why they’re included here, so you can see for yourself.

Because we believe God’s Word is GOD’S word, we humbly accept and unashamedly insist on these very things. We never teach that one is saved by such a biblically-absent precept as a pre-baptismal prayer of faith because God’s word doesn’t – in ANY example of N.T. conversion to Christ (Acts 2:36-41, etc). We also believe exactly what the Word says regarding worship as well; that worship isn’t about our wants and desires but His (i.e., He says “sing,” so we sing). Ultimately we don’t believe we’re in worship to please ourselves but Him (Mk. 14:34ff). We believe, accept, and live that He is Lord (Lk. 6:46-49; Gal. 2:20) and that His word is what will judge us all on the last day (Jn. 12:42-50).

And this “back to the bible,” “book, chapter and verse” approach goes for every doctrine right down to even the designation by which we are referred to as (Acts 4:12). After all, if the designation “churches of Christ” was good enough for the group the apostles worked and worshipped both with and within – and being Divinely-given as that designation was to boot (II Timothy 3:14-4:4) – shouldn’t that name be good enough for us to be referred to as as well? By way of illustration: my wife and I recently rode by a church building with a sign out front designating them as something similar to “Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church” or some such. So, the obvious questions then become, “Are Christ and Luther now on the same level?” “How does that work exactly?” “Has Luther become as pre-eminent as Christ is scripturally stated to be?” “Has Jesus been demoted to the level of sinful humanity?” “Is Christ divided (See I Corinthians 1:10-13)?”

You see, whether we’re discussing designations, declarations or denominations, biblically speaking, God’s church always upholds and supports God’s truth, just like a pillar upholds a roof (1 Tim. 3:14). It should be pretty obvious to everyone, whether they’ve seen our signs, read our columns, or visited our services, that that is the one thing that sets faithful churches of Christ apart by comparison to any man-made and biblically condemned denomination around them.

Despite many modern-day thoughts to the contrary, following God even to Jesus wasn’t about such things, just for example, as the size and scope of someone’s beautiful buildings (which will be destroyed: Mk. 13:1-2); having the largest number of people who believed something (who will be destroyed: Matt. 7:13-23); the zealousness of those who believed that certain something (which will also cause them to be destroyed: Rom. 10:1-3), nor anything else other than: complete, by-faith acceptance, submission, and obedience to the all-encompassing authority of the will and word of almighty God exclusively, only, and always (Jn. 5:30, 6:38, 7:16-18, 8:28-32, 14:15, 14:30-31, 15:14, 17:5-23; Acts 2:37-42; Hebrews 5:7-9, all of chapter 11; 1 Jn. 2:3-6; and many, many more), which will cause those who do so to NEVER be destroyed: See I John 2:15-17!

To any and all who truly seek to work and worship with the same church the apostles did, and to become united with those whose sole (and soul) desire is to do the same, Welcome!

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Evolutionary Concepts

Evolution verses Creationism

In the scheme of life we come into this world as the result of a miracle {i.e. whether we acknowledge it or not}. Yes; the very concept of conceiving a child by a man and a woman is in of itself a remarkable event. I have often wondered how a person can verbally confess to being an atheist in view of the events in life that have been on-going in time that has brought him/her into existence.

In the current article I will attempt to establish that the concept of evolution is ridiculous in view of established and existing facts about real factual matters that require nothing but reasonable rationality to grasp as true.

First of all; there is but two choices one can accept; either God exist or evolutionary concepts are true.

In this article I am taking the position that God exist and everything that has ever existed is the result of intelligent design {i.e. GOD}. I reject the hypothesis that the universe came into existence through a “big bang” explosion billions of years ago. I reject the evolutionary hypothesis because in order for there to have been a “big bang” there of necessity had to be something to explode – “some explosive matter. If that explosive matter was gases or matter it had to come from somewhere so there is where the “big Bang” theory falls apart – “How or from where did the material or gasses come into being?” The proponents of the atheistic hypothesis must produce a rational explanation for components of the “big bang” or their theory falls apart.

The argument that eons of time passed before these explosive elements came together is also without rational intelligence. To begin their chain of billions of years in the creation process is surely beyond the rational expectations of the intelligence of man as he exists today. Even though my current argument is a rational choice between acceptance and rejection of evolutionary concepts; the origin of such manipulation of man’s mind is without corruption whenever he looks realistically at the alternative. I have now been on the earth about 76 years; I know this because evidence of my existence is a historical record that can attest to my birth and my past existence to this point in my earthly sojourn.

At this point in the article it will serve no purpose to pursue other evolutionary concepts because there can be no rational acceptance of ongoing change without a foundation on which to build – the “big bang” being shown to be a farce we must pursue rational standards regarding origins from a more realistic perspective – “don’t you agree?”

GOD IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO EVOLUTIONARY {i.e. ATHEISTIC} PHILOSOPHY.

To subscribe to the current held creationists concepts one has a point to begin – Genesis 1:1-2 – 1 in the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. {KJV}

The rational person with normal intelligence will weigh the evidence that is presented in the Book {i.e. he Bible} that God has made to be placed in the hands of man for his own good throughout his existence. God has also given mankind a record of events since through His own devices he has created the universe by the spoken word. Notice that God has not only created the universe and all humanity but He has provided for man’s survival – {air, water, food sources, agricultural, and etc}. These incidentals have been available to mankind since the creation event – cf. Genesis 1-2. There are no believable events in the supposed evolutionary processes; all the processes of evolution are irrational to a thoughtful person.

The Bible {i.e. the history of God, mankind, and the universe as well as survival instructions beyond this physical life}: as God’s medium to instruct man while he abides on the earth and how to prepare for expectations after-life – cf. Jeremiah 10:23 – O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. {KJV} – The first man and the first woman were created by Almighty God – they were full grown; they were male and female; they were instructed by God to have children –

Genesis 1:27 – So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. 31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Genesis 2:1 thus the heavens and the earth were finished and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

ORIGINS:

Indeed; all things were created and arranged by God in 6 days {i.e. 24 hour days}. From the time of God’s Creation activities until today all the created things have maintained their place in the world and in the actions that God prepared them to perform – {i.e. rain, sunshine, seasons, seed planting and harvest, procreation of man via the union of man and woman, God’s continued care of man and the resources that make it possible for man to continue to survive on earth as he did on the day that God created him.

BIBLE REFERENCES:

Read Genesis 1 and 2 for the processes that God utilized to create – you will note that God spoke and it was so {i.e. it OCCURRED OR CAME INTO EXISTENCE IMMEDIATELY}!

The creation period of six days were 24 hour days; after which God has continued to maintain those created things to this day as the apostle Peter affirms –

2 Peter 3:4-8 – 4 And saying, where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 but, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. {KJV} …

THE AGE OF THE EARTH AND MAN FROM THE BIBLE:

The age of the universe is approximately 6,000 years; the age is easily determined by looking at the genealogies recorded from Adam to the time of Christ and the time of Christ until today {i.e. 2011).

THE STRUCTURE OF EARTH:

The age of the earth is determined by the Creator whenever we consider that the earth is 6,000 years old it dictates that the Creator made it that way when He created it. Whenever man questions the timeline and the structure of the earth by his own standards; he corrupts the purity of God’s revealed record {i.e. the Bible – Genesis through Revelation}.

REFERENCE:

Jeremiah 10:23 – O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. {KJV}

2 Peter 1:2-3 – 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness , through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: {KJV}

WHY CONSIDER CREATIONISM rather than evolution?

Whenever a person reaches accountable age {i.e. attain sufficient age and knowledge to determine reasonable alternative conclusions between two or more choices} they must make decide between life choices; they must choose to accept God’s way of live or the life style and choices dictated by an evolutionary lifestyle; there is actually no other than these two lifestyle choices available to mankind.

The choice to follow God’s lifestyle is based upon that which is offered by living according to God’s Book of life {i.e. the Bible – Example KJV edition}.

Whenever a person makes a decision to pursue God’s directions in life {i.e. follow the Bible} they will abandon the standards of this worlds and the instruction and wisdom of mere men and will cling to the lifestyle of the Christian; that which is described in the New Testament.

BUT WHAT INDUCEMENT COULD SWAY MAN’S DECISION TO ABIDE WITHIN GOD’S WAY?

I.      Living and accepting evolution’s lifestyle:

1-No restraints except civil law

2-Freedom to live like an animal – go naked, live like a brute beast, become a fornicator, sell you body to those that want to pay your price {i.e. become a female or male prostitute} – it is all your choice with no restraints.

3-Depend upon others to care for your need – become a beggar or a derelict.   4-Marry and divorce as

many times as you please without consideration of others; you only live once.

5-Defraud and steal from other people fearing only the civil law.

6-Kill or murder anyone that offends you or crosses your path understanding that the punishment may be exacted by civil law only once.

7-Abuse and mistreat the children in your relationships on earth knowing that when you die you have finished your existence.

8-Be a murderer, rapist, thief, abuser of others, be dishonest through lies and deceptions with only death as an ending for you.

9-Become an illegal drug abuser – destroy your body, your mind, your family, your life.

10-Develop no respect for the rights, religious beliefs, humanity, etc. of other people.

11-Consume all the beer, wine, and liquor that you want – use these drugs to destroy your kidneys, liver, etc. — soon you will die and that is all …

AND whenever you die you will soon go back to dust and eventually you will be forgotten.

II.      Living and abiding by God’s standard  …

1-God’s lifestyle requires that one obey the civil authorities {i.e. law} –

Romans 13:1-5 – 1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shall have praise of the same: 4 for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. {KJV}

2-God’s standard aids mankind in living morally and socially benevolent, kind, and considerate of every person –

Romans 13:7-10 – 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. 8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 for this, Thou shall not commit adultery, Thou shall not kill, Thou shall not steal, Thou shall not bear false witness, Thou shall not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

3-God’s lifestyle enables and encourages each man and each woman to have their own mate and to treat each other with love, honor and respect –

Matthew 19:4-6 – 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

1 Corinthians 7:2-4 – 2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife {KJV}

Ephesians 5:33 – 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. {KJV}

4- Living according to God’s lifestyle encourages a healthy as well as reverent lifestyle – a person …

{A} develops resistance –

1 Peter 5:8-9 – 8 be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  9 but resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. {NASU}

James 4:7 – Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  {NASU}

{B} patience,

Romans 5:3-4 – 3 and not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 and patience, experience; and experience, hope: {KJV}

Romans 15:4 – 4 for whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. {KJV}

Hebrews 6:12 – That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. {KJV}

{C} bear all things,

Romans 15:1 – We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. KJV1 Corinthians 10:13 – 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. {KJV}

Galatians 6:5 – For every man shall bear his own burden. {KJV}

Revelation 2:2 – I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: {KJV}

{D} kindness,

Colossians 3:12 – Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness , humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; {KJV}

{E} consideration for others,

Colossians 3:12-13 – 12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness , humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. {KJV}

{F} longsuffering,

Galatians 5:22 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,, gentleness, goodness, faith, {KJV}

{G} love for other people,

2 John 5 – And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. {KJV}

1 John 4:21 – And this commandment have we from him, that he who loves God love his brother also.

Matthew 19:19 – Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. {KJV}

{H} is faithful to God,

Proverbs 28:20 – A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that makes haste to be rich shall not be innocent. {KJV}

Luke 16:10 – He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. {KJV}

1 Corinthians 4:2 – 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Titus 1:9 – Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. {KJV}

{I} family,

Proverbs 28:20 – A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that makes’ haste to be rich shall not be innocent. {KJV}

Luke 16:10 – He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. {KJV}

1 Corinthians 4:2 – Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. {KJV}

Titus 1:9 – Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayer                                                    

1 Timothy 3:11 – Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. {KJV} 

Titus 1:6 – If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. {KJV}

{J} family,

Ephesians 5:22 – Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. {KJV}

Ephesians 5:24-25 – 24 therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; {KJV}

Colossians 3:18-20 – Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. {KJV}

1 Peter 3:1 – Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

1 Peter 3:7 – Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. {KJV}

Colossians 3:21 – Father, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

Ephesians 6:4 – and, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. {KJV}

2 Corinthians 12:14 – Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children . {KJV}

SUMMATION:

It is a fact; people who live according to the influences and are receptive to evolutionary thought {i.e. the philosophy}; are prone to live a lifestyle governed by the hedonistic concept that a person “ought to do their own thing” – “get all the gusto out of life possible” because you only live once. This is the concept of evolution from beginning to ending. Indeed; to the evolutionist there is no after life consequence or reward – there is only nothingness after physical death “HOW SAD A LIFE”

To people who subscribe to God’s directions there is a great difference in their conduct, hopes, and expectations of their life here on the earth and hope of eternal life at the predicted return and judgment of the Son of God; Jesus Christ.

THE GREAT DIFFERENCE …

2 Peter 3:1-14 …

1 this is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,

2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.

3 The Coming Day of the Lord  Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,

4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”

5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,

6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.

7 but by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

8 but do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.

9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

10 a New Heaven and Earth but the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

11 since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!

13 but according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,

THE INSTRUCTION TO THE WEAK – TO HEED PAUL’S WARNING

15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Posted in Garreth L. Clair | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Evolutionary Concepts