The Remodeling Project

Its amazing how one simple step can lead to another and before you know it a simple project turns into a radical remodeling effort. Some time ago we received a generous donation of a large-screen projection television. We decided to put it in our basement. The only problem was there was a post at the bottom of the stairs that had to be removed. So for some time the post has been missing and the walls unfinished.

We finally decided to put the post back in; which led to finishing and painting the walls; which lead to a removal of everything from the basement and ripping up the old Berber carpet that had been glued to the cement floor. The installers are in the basement right now installing the new carper over new padding. There are a few more things that will need to be done and we think it will look great when it is. All this for a free TV!

Salvation too is like a remodeling project. It has to start somewhere and for each and every one of us it begins with am acceptance of the free gift of God in Jesus Christ who died for our sins. The problem is we can’t fit Him into our lives the way we are; there must be a remodeling project!

In Matthew 12 Jesus speaks of a man in who an unclean spirit had departed. When the spirit found no rest he returned home to find it empty, swept, and garnished. The Spirit then goes and finds seven other spirits even more wicked than himself and they all enter the man and live there so that the last state of the man was worse than the first (vv 43-45).

When we obey Jesus through faith, confession and baptism we “put off the old man” (Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:9). James says that we should draw “nigh to God” so that he would “draw nigh” to us and commands, “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded (James 4:8).

When we finish the remodeling process we see a similarity of the old form but everything looks different: new paint, carpet, woodwork, lighting. And sure it looks beautiful and clean but it isn’t enough to just remodel and leave it that way. The new house or room will simply not be functional without filling it with needed and useful furnishings.

So what do we need to work on filling our lives with?

  1. Christ-likeness: In Colossians 3 Paul says to the Christians there to put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, and longsuffering; to bear with one another, and forgiving one another… even as Christ forgave you. “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts… and be thankful. And let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” (vv 12-16). Of course Christ left us an example that we should follow His steps (1 Peter 2:21).
  2. The Christian Graces: Peter wrote that we should give all diligence, add to our “faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” And promises that if we add these things to the new man we will be neither barren nor unfruitful (2 Peter 1:5-8).
  3. The Fruit of the Spirit: In Galatians 5:22-23 the apostle Paul tells us that the “fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
  4. The Whole Armor of God: This is how we will be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand and against the wiles of the devil. We must have our waist girded with truth, have on the breastplate of righteousness, our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; and above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;” (Ephesians 6:13-17).

When we begin this process of transforming our lives it may seem rather daunting. But it is a daily process. The final product will be amazing: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

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Intellect

Intellect: Why is that so?

Many people in America are skeptical when questioned about their belief in the God of the Bible. Many will say that there is no evidence that God is as religious people insist, but will deny any proof or evidence of God’s existence. Is this a rational position for anyone to take? Of course rationality is not considered when one brings up the subject of religion or of any peripheral object of Biblical religious thought.

The basis for true understanding of God, the Bible, and religious thought in general must emanate from within the person’s seat of intellect. Intellect is conditioned through or by whatever a person imbibes through the eyes [i.e. sight] and through the ears [i.e. hearing], no one is born with the capability to believe or reject God because everyone is born with the ability to choose between good or bad with regard to any given choice as they mature. Therefore, whenever one reaches a point in growth [i.e. age and mental input] he or she will be able to know, accept, or reject whatever evidence has been imbibed into the seat of intellect [i.e. the mind – the brain]. For this cause children accept the parent or guardian that raise them to a certain point [i.e. during development stage all infants are dependent on parents or guardians for their mental and physical growth. Since the previous statement is obvious, it stands to reason that whoever is in charge of the infant’s upbringing will be influential with regard to the development of their mental state as well as their spiritual state [i.e. understanding of God, etc. – cf. Ephesians 6:1-4, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise), that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord”] ASV.

Let us recognize that we are all responsible for how we react to God and to His Book [i.e. the Bible], whether we acknowledge God and the Bible as God’s Book or not will rest entirely on our mind’s acceptance or rejection of them. Therefore we ought to be very careful what we allow our mind to imbibe. Remember this, whatever goes into our mind will corrupt or enlighten and whatever we allow our infants to embed while they have yet to reach accountable age may Cause them to possess a corrupt understanding of God and the Bible. Parents, you must be careful what you expose your infant and young children to; it could be bad for their mental development and their eternal destiny. Children need their parent’s help as they grow from childhood into adult; this is a fact all parents need to understand.

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The Evolution of Lying?

Bible class teachers and preachers are going to have to rewrite their lessons on lying, because according to Montclair State University professor Julian Keenan, lying is simply a product of evolution. After maintaining that every person lies, Keenan noted: “The average person tells at least one lie per day” (as quoted in D’Aurizio, 2004). A rather brash accusation, but Keenan’s assessment of human morality gets worse. Why is it that “all” humans lie? According to Keenan, there are some good reasons that allegedly go back 5 million years. He asserted:

Lying has played a key role in our evolution, in making humans, human. It’s one of the most amazing, sophisticated, advanced cognitive abilities we have. All evidence indicates that we are genetically programmed to lie. The liar has such an advantage over you. So the gene is passed on (2004).

So there you have it. All that time you have been instructing your children and grandchildren not to lie was for nought. Keenan says they cannot help it—it is “genetically programmed” into them. If this were not being presented as a scientific study, it would be laughable. But because Keenan is a professor responsible for molding and shaping the minds of college students, it certainly is no laughing matter.

Keenan’s contention is: “If you can get into someone’s mind, you’ll have a real advantage. The key to being a really good con artist is being a good mind-reader, telling someone what they want to hear” (as quoted in D’Aurizio). Reading between the lines, is one to assume that in order to have an “advantage” in life, we should sharpen our lying skills? Commenting on one of the implications of Keenan’s theory, Atlanta Journal Constitution staff writer Elaine D’Aurizo wrote: “Getting into someone’s mind is also what dating is about, Keenan said. ‘Men want to find out what women want to hear and women want to know what men want to hear.’” Keenan continued:

Women should know what men lie about and so [should] men, who don’t know anywhere near the extent that women do how the opposite sex lies. You’re much better off when you’re able to detect a lie, much more in control.

So according to this neuroscientist, lying is a beneficial product of evolution—it helps give humans more control. In fact, Keenan observed: “We find it is a sign in children of high intelligence.” So exactly where, or from whom, did we “evolve” this behavior? Keenan lamented: “Very few animals lie, except maybe a few apes. It’s one of the hallmarks of humans.” Let me get this straight—very few animals, except maybe a few apes lie? Webster’s dictionary defines a lie as “an untrue statement made with intent to deceive.” How many other animals on the planet (including apes) have the ability to make an untrue statement? Absolutely none! Had Keenan not been trying to bolster his ridiculous theory with evolutionary tenets, he might have realized that apes (along with all other animals) were not created with the ability to use the spoken language in such a way. Animals do not lie because they were not created with the ability to do so!

The coup de grace of this pitiable story came when Keenan observed: “Morally, lying is wrong.” Excuse me?! He just spent valuable time and energy explaining to readers how lying was “genetically programmed,” gave us an “advantage,” and was a product of “evolution.” Now he wants to claim that lying is morally wrong? By whose standard? It cannot be man’s, because according to Keenan, man is born with this genetic component. Matter—by itself—is completely impotent to “evolve” any sense of moral consciousness. If there is no purpose in the Universe, as evolutionists assert, then there is no purpose to morality or ethics. But the concept of a “purposeless morality,” or a “purposeless ethic,” is irrational.

When George Gaylord Simpson commented that “morals arise only in man” (1967, p. 346), he acknowledged (whether or not he intended to) the fact that morality is something unique to humankind. No two apes ever sat down and said, “Hey, I’ve got a good idea. Today let’s talk about morals and ethics.” On the same page of his book, Simpson thus was forced to admit that “the workings of the universe cannot provide any automatic, universal, eternal, or absolute ethical criteria of right and wrong” (1967, p. 346). True morality is based on the fact of the unchanging nature of Almighty God. He is eternal (Psalm 90:2; 1 Timothy 1:17), holy (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8), just and righteous (Psalm 89:14), and forever consistent (Malachi 3:6). This is the same God Who formed man with the ability to communicate freely—but Who abhors lying (Psalm 5:6). In fact, Satan is called the father of lies (John 8:44). Yes, lying is wrong. But the reason is because our Creator deems it as such.

When Martin Gardner wrote on “The Relevance of Belief Systems” in his book, The New Age: Notes of a Fringe Watcher, and observed that what a person believes profoundly influences how a person acts, he could not have been more right (1988, pp. 57-64). Consider the profound influence that Keenan’s teachings will have on college students. Evolution cannot explain lies, just as it cannot explain communication and morals. Students (and adults!) need to realize that lying will separate them from God, and is not advantageous. The Proverbs writer noted: “A true witness delivers souls, but a deceitful witness speaks lies” (14:25). How true.

REFERENCES

D’Aurizio, Elaine (2004), “Truth Is, Everyone Lies,” Atlanta Journal Constitution, [On-line], URL: http://www.ajc.com/news/content/health/1104/22lies.html.

Gardner, Martin (1988), The New Age: Notes of a Fringe Watcher (Buffalo, NY: Prometheus).

Simpson, George Gaylord (1967), The Meaning of Evolution (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press), revised edition.

Copyright © 2004 Apologetics Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Romans

A Brief Summary of Romans

Introduction:

The Book of Romans was written by the apostle Paul from the city of Corinth in approximately AD 56. At the time of his writing, he had yet to visit Rome, though he greatly desired to do so. It was not until approximately AD 61 that he was able to “visit” Rome, and then, only as a prisoner under house arrest for two years. He was released in AD 63 and finally was rearrested and executed there in AD 68.

This grandest of Paul’s epistles, teaches us many great lessons, but perhaps the greatest principle it teaches us is the fact that man is justified by faith in Jesus Christ. Paul’s main focus in writing this epistle to the church at Rome is to emphasize this point. The doctrine of justification is developed throughout the first eleven chapters of the book. The remainder of the book deals with our life as a Christian, once we have been justified. Romans chapter 1 begins with Paul’s introduction and with an inspiring statement about the Gospel’s power for salvation. Paul then goes into great detail throughout the entire book to expound upon the Gospel’s good news of salvation and justification by faith in Jesus Christ.

Justification Is Necessary: Chapters 1-4

After Paul gives his opening address, he gets right down to business with the remainder of chapter 1 to show how the

Gentiles are in sin and are in need of justification and salvation. Having established that the Gentiles are in sin, Paul in chapter 2 goes on to explain that the Jews also are in condemnation and in sin because of their unbelief in the Gospel. In chapter 3, Paul concludes that no one is righteous, if they are seeking justification on their own terms. He states that all have sinned, both Jews and Gentiles, and that all mankind is in need of justification on because of their sins.

The Jew’s religion (at this point it was no longer the religion of God) had devolved into a system of salvation by works. They believed that in the outward display of keeping to the tenets of the Law of Moses they could merit salvation. The Jews had much pride in the fact that they kept the letter of this law (according to their traditions). They did not understand that the Law did not absolve them from sin and that justification only came by faith in God, demonstrated by obedience, not by mere law-keeping.

In chapter 4, Paul uses the example of Abraham to show proof that one does not have to be circumcised or be under the Law of Moses to be justified. Abraham’s obedience and faith – before he was under the covenant of circumcision – was accounted unto him for righteousness. God kept His promise to Abraham because of his faith.

Justification Is Effective: Chapters 5-8

In chapter 5, we see the multitude of blessings that we have in Christ. The justification through faith in Christ brings us into a right relationship with God. Only through Christ can we have atonement and know the depths of God’s grace, love and mercy. Chapter 6 shows us the method by which God has chosen for us to demonstrate our faith in order to receive justification and that is in baptism. In submission to water baptism our faith is imputed to us for righteousness. We die to sin and death itself.

Chapter 7 deals with the Law of Moses and its termination. We see the purpose of the law, its emphasis and its effect on the conscience of man. Paul demonstrates that the Law of Moses died at the cross and we are now under the law of Christ. Christ fulfilled and replaced the Law of Moses bringing into effect His law of faith. Chapter 8 teaches that there is no power on earth to forcibly, against our will, remove us from the love of Christ once we have been justified by faith in Him.

The Nation of Israel: Chapter 9-11

This section deals mainly with the rejection of Christ by the Jewish nation as a whole. As well, Paul deals with the definition of who a true “Jew” is. Israel believed that they were saved because of their ethnicity and that only they were meant to have salvation. Paul demonstrates how that all who are justified by faith are the spiritual seed of Abraham. We also learn that the Gospel’s rejection by the Jews made possible its acceptance by the Gentiles.

Practical Application: Chapter 12-16

Chapter 12 deals with the quality of our spiritual life and how we are to deal with others, both friend and foe. Chapter 13 teaches us how we are to deal with those in governmental authority over us and of the urgency of salvation. Chapters 14 and 15 deal with matters of mutual respect and judgment and the example we have in righteousness in Jesus Christ. In chapter 16, we see Paul’s example of love for the brethren in his greetings to certain members of the church at Rome. And finally in chapter 16:17-20 we have Paul’s admonition to remain faithful and holy and to mark those who cause division.

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Self-Control, NOT Gun Control

Self-Control, NOT Gun Control

“Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control…” (1 Cor. 9:25-27; ESV).

In a horrifically terrible and tragic event which transpired on Saturday, December 1st, 2012, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher allegedly shot and killed his (former?) girlfriend before eventually taking his own life with a handgun later that same day in the parking lot of Arrowhead Stadium. The following evening, on Sunday night, December 2nd, a widely known and highly respected sportscaster used his halftime segment of a nationally-televised football game to advocate for gun control. During the conclusion of his monologue he made what I would have to describe as one of the most ridiculous, ignorant, ill-informed and self-deluded statements I have personally heard from anyone in quite some time. And I quote: “If Jovan Belcher didn’t possess a gun, he and Cassandra Perkins would both be alive today.” Really?!?

Is there anyone out there in their right mind, who truly believes that even if any 6’ 2”, 228 lb. professional athlete and NFL linebacker in the prime of his career didn’t possess a gun, that there is no way on earth that he could ever possibly find any other way to kill a woman (or man, or himself, or even several of each of these others) if he truly wanted to? Really? Could he not have used a baseball bat? What about a brick? Maybe smother her with a pillow? Is it not entirely possible that if any such athlete truly wanted a woman dead, that he could have gotten her into his car and driven them both off of a cliff or into a river? What possible self-delusion and/or personal agenda could blind such an otherwise apparently intelligent human being, as to make them publicly profess to believe that one of today’s professional athletes in such tremendous physical shape could not kill a woman even with just his bare hands if he really wanted to? Probably the same type of apparently otherwise intelligent human being who is suffering from the self-imposed delusion that any person truly bent on taking another’s life would somehow be stopped by some sort of law that says that guns are illegal! So is murder! But that law already on the books really doesn’t seem to slow such people down much in reality now does it?

And just what if it had gone down with one of those other weapons instead of with a gun? Would such sportscasters have been on national television the very next night advocating for the banning of, let’s say, baseball bats? (Can you imagine some semblance of the following: “Sorry folks, but there should be no professional baseball season this summer because baseball bats are just way too dangerous. Oh, and we will henceforth be petitioning Congress to pass a new law to remove both wooden and aluminum baseball bats from all schools, college campuses and store shelves as soon as possible.”)

And just what if a brick had actually been used by some professional athlete to beat his girlfriend to death? Would said sportscaster have gone on national television the very next night to advocate for the banning of bricks from all private and public places and uses in this country? Of course not! They’d have immediately been made a laughingstock! Oh, and what about if such a murder had been committed by means of smothering with a pillow? Would we have been subjected to such abject and utter silliness as, “If so and so didn’t possess a pillow, his girlfriend would still be alive today?” Would there have been a call for couch cushions to have been confiscated? Or, what if bare hands were used as they are in many murders? Would anyone else in the American media spotlight have publicly advocated for the outlawing and removal of hands? I somehow seriously doubt it. And after all, we already know about automobiles… and alcohol…

A few weeks after the aforementioned tragedy, another professional football player from a different team was tragically killed in an automobile accident while riding in a car driven by one of his teammates who was allegedly intoxicated. Where was the loud cacophony of cries from the earlier-mentioned celebrity sportscaster and his cohorts calling for the institution of “car and alcohol control?” Which one of them stated in all due seriousness, “If so and so didn’t possess an automobile, his NFL teammate would still be alive today?” None of them; at least that I am aware of. And incidentally, one does have to at least wonder: If gun companies like Winchester were as big of an NFL sponsor as beer companies like Budweiser, would sports commentators like the aforementioned have quite as much to say when such deaths resulted from the abuse of the products of their biggest corporate sponsors? I don’t know. But I still do know that at least I heard no such specific public outcry from them regarding this equally tragic and needless death, calling for the control of automobiles and alcohol as I did when it came to the other two deaths involving the use of a gun. In fact, I heard no more call for the banning of automobiles and alcohol in relation to this latter death than I did for the banning of planes and air travel when Muslim terrorists used those very means to take down New York’s Twin Towers in 2011, killing nearly 3,000 people in the immediate onslaught. Why is that? Because sane and thinking people immediately – even if only subconsciously – realized that the ultimate problem there wasn’t the fault of the planes but of a handful of people who merely used the planes as the means to a very evil and tragic end.

Why can’t this country’s fanatical and hypocritical “gun control” advocates conceive, accept, and admit to this same exact concept? I really don’t know, but apparently they can’t… And while I by no means intend to minimize or marginalize the simply unspeakable and horrific tragedy and atrocity that occurred at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut where 20 children and several staff members were mercilessly gunned down very shortly thereafter… yet because it serves as such an unmistakable illustration of the utter and incredible hypocrisy of so many of those in the “gun control advocacy corner,” it must at least be mentioned here, as here they came yet again on the heels of that tragic act of terror and horror as well, calling for the blame to be placed on inanimate objects once again, instead of placing the blame where it truly belongs…

So what is this incredible and insidious hypocrisy of which I speak? Simply this: while it is true that on that most tragic and darkest of days in Connecticut in deep December when some twenty young, pure, and innocent lives were brutally taken from this earth on that day and in that place – and while I by no means intend to make light of those parents’ horrific and immeasurable loss in any way, shape, or form – there are at least, on average, several hundred times that number of innocent childrens’ lives taken every day in this country through the bloody butchery we call “abortion,” as the merciless war and unholy holocaust that has cost the lives of so many millions of innocent children continues… And one of the most heinous of hypocrisies has to be that so many of the so-called ‘liberals’ who cry out so relentlessly from the “gun control” advocacy corner of our ungodly society every time an adult, a child, or a handful of people die as a result of a sinful human being wielding a gun, in many cases, support both militantly and wholeheartedly, the wholesale butchery of our unborn children by the hundreds every day in this country! And that isn’t even the most unbelievable facet of their hypocrisy. Try this following on for size…

One can call and advocate for everything from “gun control,” to “bat control,” to “brick control,” to “pillow control,” to “cushion control,” to “car control,” to “alcohol control,” to “plane and air travel control.” We can outlaw every modern thing we have that could possibly ever be used as a weapon – from computer monitors to pocket combs; we can legislate ourselves out of everything we have while outlawing ourselves completely back to the stone age if we want. But the simple truth of the matter is still this: as long as there are branches on the trees, stones on the ground, and hatred and hardness in the hearts of some towards their fellow human beings that could conceivably cause them to want to murder them – men, women, and yes, even children – then people will always either find or invent a way to kill. Period. The solution to the problem here is not that we need more of any and/or all of the above-mentioned controls – including gun control – but ultimately that we human beings need far more “self-control.” Because whether we are discussing suicidal line backers, intoxicated drivers, troubled twenty-somethings, or unborn baby butcher shops, the problem here is not a political one, but an inward, spiritual, and biblical one!

Every one of the above-mentioned losses of life could have been stopped dead in its tracks, long before any of these tragedies ever even began to occur, by the humans involved in them exercising more self-control. Everything from anger, to alcohol, to abortion – all of these death-dealing and crime-contributing factors could have been easily eliminated simply by the advance and exercise of more powerful and personal self-control. Period. And so, what exactly is the ultimate source of such an all-consuming and death-delivering self-control? The one thing that the majority of people in our country today who adamantly claim they want such crimes to cease, seem to apparently rather die themselves than to ever see instituted and insisted upon as the ultimate and exclusive answer and solution to our sin problem… Jesus and His word exalted as Lord and law once again!

Now granted; amongst those who claim to follow and believe in Jesus there are admittedly a large number of hypocrites and insincere people too. But there is also a large and concerned, sincere contingent of faithful followers who seek to humbly and wholly heed His word and carry out His commandments as well. These Christians are constantly taught, admonished, and take to heart His commandments to love their neighbor as themselves; to not commit murder, thievery, adultery, or other atrocities against their fellow man; to not react in anger; to indeed forgive whenever wronged; to not shed innocent blood; to not consume alcoholic beverages; and to exercise constant restraint and self-control in all things. In fact, that phrase “self-control” occurs repeatedly within God’s holy word. Here are just a few of God’s divinely-given and power-packed examples:

  • “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls” (Prov. 25:28; ESV).
  • “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Gal 5:16-25; NKJV).
  • “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love” (2 Peter 1:3-7; ESV).
  • “Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness” (1 Thess. 4:1-7; ESV).
  • “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Tim 1:7; ESV).
  • “But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us…For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:1-14; ESV).
  • But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…” (II Tim 3:1-4; ESV).

The all-powerful and exclusive source of such far-reaching, all encompassing, and world-altering “self control” is none other than the author and finisher of our faith, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is through our study and acceptance of His holy word, coupled with our humble and submissive obedience to it as we live for Him and allow Him to have all control, that we learn to practice such a life-giving and life-altering measure of self-control. Surely it is incredibly easy to see why those who truly and fully believe in His explanation, validation, and blood-bought guarantee of a blissful and heavenly home for those who live a holy life as He has said they must (II Cor. 6:16-7:1), and who conversely believe just as truly and fully that there is an eternal abode of hell and punishment, “…a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries…” (Heb. 10:27; ESV), will think long and hard, and do everything in their power – and as they rely on His limitless power – to exercise incredible and inhuman restraint, resolve, and self-control before committing such ungodly and hell-spawned atrocities as we humans sometimes perpetrate on others and put themselves at even any risk of personal and perpetual, eternal damnation in the process. It is also just as easy to see why those who, on the other hand, reject outright the notion of God, hell, absolute truth, and the divine inspiration of the holy and sacred scriptures (II Tim. 3:14-4:4; Psalm 119) – those who live lives as described in II Tim. 3:1-4 and other such places – have no problem with living solely, sinfully, and single-mindedly for themselves, despite the eventual and eternal costs and consequences.

And we have no one but ourselves to blame. Those who have sought and still seek to kick and keep God out of the classroom, the courtroom, and the bedroom have been quite successful. And as a result, it should surely come as no surprise, when those who grow up believing they came from animals, naturally wind up behaving like animals (Romans 1:18-32).

God put it this way in His holy word: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Gal 6:7-8; ESV). Until we truly get that, the atrocities will undoubtedly continue to both ‘cost us,’ and accost us.

But if we should ever really care to correct this course of needless bloodshed and chaos, the solution is simple: nothing short of a return to God-inspired, word-instructed, Spirit-empowered, self control. And that can only happen when we as a society make it our ultimate goal to once again return to God. Remember: The only legitimate answer is God-inspired and demanded “Self Control, Not Gun Control.” God bless.

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