What Some Call Legalism …

What Some Call Legalism, God Calls a Blessing.

The nation of Israel stood at the foot of Mt. Sinai and saw all that was happening. They felt the ground shaking beneath their feet. Then, the voice of God thundered and spoke the Ten Commandments to them. They were so terrified that they begged Moses to climb the mountain and let God personally deliver His laws to him. Their words were, “You go near and hear all that the Lord our God may say and tell us all that the Lord our God says to you” (Deut. 5:27). They then added, “And we will hear and do it.”

The Lord heard these words of commitment and the promise they made that, when the revelation of God’s message was complete, they would listen to the message and do it. His response was, “They are right in all that they have spoken” (Deut. 5:28). Some people today mock such promises of devotion to listen to what God says and a commitment to do whatever He wants. They call that legalism. Whatever derisive name they might call it, they are wrong. The Lord said that every word of the Jews spoken that day was right. To use the word legalism in this way mocks how God feels about obeying Him.

The next few verses show even further that God wants His followers to be concerned about finding His will and precisely doing what He teaches. Read the following words from our Creator and note the words I have emphasized. “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!” How can anyone read these words and then sarcastically mock those who are trying to obey the Lord? Look at His words again and see that this attitude would not only be a blessing to those who had it but to their children forever.

He then told Moses, “Be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you . . . you shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you that you may live and that it may be well with you” (Deut. 5:32-33).

It is obvious that those who mock attention to finding His will and obeying it have been reading too many books and listening to far too many theologians. Their whole attitude of obedience would be changed if they would look at how God speaks about this matter. We are not at liberty to come to His word and find what pleases us and mock those who seek to obey everything He said. Read the words highlighted in the words of God quoted above. Do it all!

There is true legalism in the gospel and that legalism is that men must seek His will, love it, and obey it!

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Making the Cut

Tuesday Rachel and David played in the Northern Kentucky Amateur Golf Tournament. They had to place in the top half of their respective divisions in order to “make the cut” and qualify to play in the second day of the tournament. Unfortunately neither of them did. We talked about what we had gone right and wrong, what we learned, and what was needed to play better. Then we discussed a plan to improve… there is still work to do.

While watching them play I received an email through the church’s website. The individual said he had reviewed our beliefs about God and salvation and wanted to point out his “differing view” of the gospel. The first thing he said was that the apostle Paul “never mentioned baptism, confession or anything other than faith in Christ.” His lack of understanding when it comes to what faith in Christ entails set the tone for the rest of the email. His statement about what Paul “never mentioned” is patently false.

The writer mentioned Galatians 1 in his email and if he would read just a little more of his Bible he would have come across Galatians 3:26-27, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Can one be saved without faith? No. Can one be saved without being in or putting on Christ? No. How does one faithfully obey Christ and put him on? Through baptism!

In Acts 22:16 Paul said he was commanded to be baptized in order to have his sins washed away. “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” And in Romans 6 Paul said, “…do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that
just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin” (3-6).

Also Paul said “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
The email went on to explain this individuals understanding of the gospel message as revealed in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Nothing he said here caused me to disagree with him nor did I disagree with his affirmation that we are saved by the grace of God and through Jesus Christ. However, he assumed that we believe and teach that one can earn salvation and some how deserve it in eternity. Let me be clear, I have never said that we can merit salvation nor do I think it is deserved! I do believe and trust that God will do what He said and that is that all who obey Him and are faithful will be saved (Hebrews 5:8-9). The author’s false doctrine of salvation by grace alone is a sad battle being waged upon the souls of men everywhere!

We believe and teach that “the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14).

You see, the grace of God doesn’t mean that we are saved unconditionally! God requires all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). He requires all to obey Him in order to escape His wrath (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8). Yes, God so loved the world that He sent His Son to die for our sins (John 3:16). His work is completed; our work has not! He expects us to love, obey and serve Him faithfully.

There is only one road that leads to heaven and that road is Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Will we “make the cut?” only if we put in the diligent spiritual effort required. We will have to lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,” and “run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). “Not
everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

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The Problem of Sin

— SIN —

A constant problem faced by everyone is the problem of sin. Sin is the great separator between God and man today as in all ages past. The reality of sin plagues the man that never attends religious services as well as those that do attend religious services. To this great problem that mankind continues to confront in daily life we direct the following comments.

DEFINING SIN:

SIN (Heb. hatta’a; Grk. hamartia, a falling away from or missing the right path). Also numerous other Heb. words.

General. The underlying idea of sin is that of law and of a lawgiver. The lawgiver is God. Hence sin is everything in the disposition and purpose and conduct of God’s moral creatures that is contrary to the expressed will of God (Rom 3:20; 4:15; 7:7; James 4:12,17).

The sinfulness of sin lies in the fact that it is against God, even when the wrong we do is to others or ourselves (Gen 39:9; Ps 51:4).

The being and law of God are perfectly harmonious, for “God is love.” The sum of all the commandments likewise is love; sin in its nature is egotism and selfishness. Self is put in the place of God (Rom 15:3; 1 Cor 13:5; 2 Tim 3:2,4; 2 Thess 2:3-4). Selfishness (not pure self-love, or the exaggeration of it, but in opposition to it) is at the bottom of all disobedience, and it becomes hostility to God when it collides with His law.

All sin therefore has a positive character, and the distinction between sins of commission and those of omission is only on the surface. In both cases, sin is actual disobedience (see Matt 23:23).

(From The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (c) 1988.)

COMMENTARY (glc): People in the world becomes amenable to the law of Christ whenever they reach the age of accountability. Now, the age of accountability may be different in people, some people who are born are born with brain damage so that they never in life will be able to make a choice between good and evil, still others that may be born with the ability to choose between good and evil are damaged in auto accidents, etc., so that they too, are unable to choose between good and evil — all such people will not be amenable to God. Only those that develop normally with normal intellect in place will attain to the age of accountability (i.e., having the ability to choose good and/or evil whenever the choice is made available to them). The individual that chooses to disobey God will be considered by God as transgressor (i.e., sinner), cf.,

James 2:8-12, Howbeit if ye fulfill the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one (point), he is become guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty. ASV

CONSIDER THIS: Here in James 2:8-12 the subject of sin (i.e., transgression) is considered from both the Law of Moses and according to the “law of liberty” (i.e., the law of Christ). In both cases one is considered to be sinful even though he/she may keep part of the commands but fail to keep other parts of the same law. In this contexts we can surely see, man’s sin will separate him from the God that will eventually be his judge even though he might keep some law faithfully. The important point in this context is, man cannot keep part of the law of God and fail to keep other parts of the same law and expect God to reward him. Again, man cannot consider the good deeds he does as more important than keeping all of God’s law — cf.,         1 Samuel 15.

KEEPING SOME OF GOD’S COMMANDS

There are far too many people today involved in religious activity that are not obeying God’s commands and they know that they are not. Those that keep some of God’s commands are weighing their good deeds against their failures and are accepting their definition of righteousness based upon their partial obedience to God’s law and simply ignoring their failures to obey God in many other areas. This self standard of determining righteousness is completely unacceptable to God — cf.,

Col 3:24-4:1, knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ. For he that doeth wrong shall receive again for the wrong that he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. ASV

Matt 6:24, No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. ASV

Consequently, no person can partially serve God and please Him. To serve God correctly let us determine to do all that God requires of us. God requires of us first that we become converted, converted from the kingdom of darkness (i.e., Satan’s kingdom) into the kingdom of God’s dear Son (Colossians 1:13-24). Secondly, once we have been converted to Christ’s Church we then need to continue to serve God faithfully for the rest of our lives, this faithfulness is not to be a pick-and-choose type of faithfulness but an acceptance of all God’s instructions continually — cf.,

Revelation 2:10, Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.

2 Timothy 4:6-8, For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing. ASV

Let us always serve God willingly and completely, let us determine to do whatever we learn from God as our responsibilities.

DIFFERENT WAYS THAT PEOPLE INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN SIN

1.         FAILURE TO OBEY GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS:

Acts 5:29, “But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men.”

2 Thessalonians 1:8, “rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus:” ASV

1 Peter 4:17, “For the time (is come) for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if (it begin) first at us, what (shall be) the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?” ASV

2.         DOING MORE THAN GOD INSTRUCTS:

2 John 9-11, “Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son. If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into (your) house, and give him no greeting: for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works.” ASV

3.         DOING LESS THAN GOD INSTRUCTS:

James 2:10-11, “10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one (point), he is become guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become a transgressor of the law. ASV

Matthew 23:23, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone. ASV

Luke 11:42, “But woe unto you Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and every herb, and pass over justice and the love of God: but these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

4.         ALTERING GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS:

2 Timothy 4:3, “For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts;” ASV

1 Timothy 6:3, “If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and consenteth not to sound words, (even) the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;”

Galatians 1:6-8, “6I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; which is not another (gospel) only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.ASV

2 Peter 3:15-16, “15And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you; as also in all (his) epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as (they do) also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” ASV

Matthew 15:3, “And he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?” ASV

CONCLUSION: The disciple of Christ will always be careful to love God and neighbor but will also make every effort to comply with God’s instruction that relate to other areas of life and service also. Cf., Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ASV

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How should we dress?

How should we dress according to the Bible?

Solomon wrote, “And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.” (Prov. 7:10) Notice that Solomon addresses the harlot’s attire who was lying in wait for a man, caught him, kissed him and enticed him with sweet words (Prov. 7:12-20). She used the seductiveness of revealing or suggestive clothing to entice another. Now in the beginning, God made man and woman (Gen. 1:26; 2:13) and joined them in marriage one to another by which they were naked and not ashamed (gen. 2:24-25). Yet, when Adam and Eve sinned and became ashamed of their nakedness, they sewed together aprons of fig leaves (Gen. 3:7). However, despite this effort to clothe themselves, they were still naked in the eyes of God by which he clothed them more adequately by making coats of skins (Gen. 3:21). Thus, God showed them what was acceptable to wear.

Over the millenniums, when one views the television today, there is lewdness of dress exhibited by men, women and sadly even children. Oddly enough, parents even encourage their children to parade their nakedness in public view which includes but is not limited to: mini skirts, string bikinis, thongs, push-up bras, low cut blouses, and all those clothes, that as one designer said, gives us a, “look at me attitude.” Furthermore, there are many who wear their clothes so tight that you can actually read the labels of their undergarments! Thus, we live in a sexual world by which we are bombarded with sexual billboards, sexual song lyrics, sexual commercials laced with sexual innuendoes and with mothers who claim, “if ya got it, flaunt it!” They have forgotten God and they have forgotten what God showed Adam and Eve as being acceptable. Peter commanded to, “not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts . . . be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living (1 Pet. 1:13-16 ASV). Yet we live in a world, by which many Christians, sadly, show little concern for their manner of dress and present themselves shameful and embarrassing to God. Now while stating this claim, notice that the Bible says nothing about current styles and many would classify the styles of the Bible as: “That was then . . . that is too old fashion . . . those are out of date . . . things have changed since then,” but has God really become too old fashion? I hope this is not what we are trying to say.

The fact is, God has always demanded a certain dress code. In the Old Testament, the priest had a high standard of modesty (Lev. 8:6-9) because he commanded the priest to be set apart by their dress. This command was to Aaron, his sons and priest after them. So, they were to be clothed by God’s standards. Thus the question is, by whose standards are many Christians living by, when they wear clothing so tightly that the entire chest of a woman is exposed or you see on a man what his mother and father saw at birth?

Now, some may say, “Well that is under the Old Testament and not under the New Testament.” O.K. First of all, “whatsoever things are written afortime are written for our learning . . . “ (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11-12). Second, whatsoever (meaning everything) ye do in word (meaning by your voice) or deed (meaning an act of doing), do all in the name of the Lord (Col. 3:17). Now, when one wears something that is immodest, would he still wear it in front of Jesus’s face? Third, the New Covenant calls Christians priest (Rev. 1:6). Therefore my question is: Who was the person who said that it does not matter what the priest (Christians) under the New Testament wear? Were is the book, chapter and verse for backing it up? Thus, if Christians are to be the royal priesthood and holy nation (1 Pet. 2:9), are we not also to be, “holy in all manner of conversation (which means living)” (1 Pet. 1:15-16). In addition, wasn’t it the apostle Paul who commanded that, “women adorn themselves in modest apparel” (1 Tim. 2:9-10)?

The fact is, God wants purity out of his children. He does not want the Christian’s body to become an instrument of lust (Matt. 5:28). He desires Christians to glorify God in our bodies and in spirit because they belong to him (1 Cor. 6:19-20). So, is God’s requirement for proper dress difficult to understand or are there those who are trying to find some sort of loophole in the Gospel so that we may wear something inappropriate? If Christians are to exhibit Christ in their lives, then before they leave the house, they need to look in the mirror and hold a Bible right next to them and ask, “Is this acceptable to God?” When thinking about our decency think of it this way: Our mates (husband and wife) ONLY have privileges of viewing and touching that which is to be covered (1 Cor. 7:4-5). NO ONE ELSE IS PERMITTED TO HAVE THIS RIGHT. Therefore, why should we tempt another to lust? Let’s keep ourselves clothed in modesty according to God’s standard and not to our own!

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A Quiet and Gentle Spirit

1 Peter 3:4, “rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God“. (NKJV)

Peter here is giving words of instruction to women in the context of their apparel and how they are to present themselves to others.  Peter taught them to focus more on their inward adornment than their outward.  He taught them that what is on the inside is more valuable to God than what can be seen on the outside.  While it was to women that Peter was addressing these things, the value that God places on a gentle and quiet spirit is applicable to all Christians of both genders.  The purpose of this lesson is to examine those biblical qualities that collectively make up a quiet and gentle spirit.

What does it mean to have a gentle and quiet spirit?  Some people mistakenly think that a gentle and quiet spirit is displayed when one never speaks.  Certainly sometimes a quiet spirit will be exhibited by silence, but not always. A quiet person can be all worked up on the inside while being perfectly composed on the outside.  A Christian that is secure in the confidence of their faith in God is gentle and quiet.  They are not overcome with worry and anxiety. This gentle and quiet spirit is a calm, peaceful spirit. It is a tamed spirit, a gentled spirit which has been brought under the control of the one who is responsible for it.

A quiet spirit does not engage in idle talk.

Jesus taught regarding this in Matthew 12:36-37, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  The Greek word for idle in this verse means inactive, lazy and useless.  Jesus says that when we stand before the judgment seat, one of the things we are going to give an account of will be the useless things we have said in this life.  Jesus says here that someone can be condemned for saying things which are useless, of no worth; of no purpose, or as the word is translated; “idle“.

Idle words cover a broad range of application.  Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:3-7, “But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.”  Among the things Paul condemns here are filthiness, foolish talking and course jesting.  Notice that people who engage in these qualities are among those who have no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ.  Paul is saying here that Christians are not to engage in this type of behavior and those who do will not be living in the kingdom of God.  Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 12:37, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  A quiet and gentle spirited Christian does not engage in foolish talking, course jesting and filthiness.

A Quiet Spirit refrains from reviling speech. 

Peter wrote in 1 Peter 3:9, “not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling“, The KJV translates this as “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing”

The word in the Greek language for reviling or railing means abusive language, verbal abuse or castigation; violent denunciation or condemnation.  In common terms, this means abusive hollering and screaming.  Peter says not to holler and scream back and those who holler and scream at us.  In Jude 9 in the context of speaking evil to others, we learn that even Michael the archangel dared not “bring against him a railing accusation“, or holler and scream abusively at Satan for trying to take the body of Moses.  The application we can make from that is that God does not approve of loud, abusive speech from His children.  Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 12:37, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  A quiet spirited and gentle person does not holler and scream at others, not even when they are being hollered and screamed at.

A quiet and gentle person does not speak deceitfully to others. 

After Peter’s warning on railing in 1 Peter 3:9, he went on to write in v10, “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.”  The KJV translates this as “guile“.  The original language carries the meaning of deceiving with trickery or craftiness.  insidious cunning in attaining a goal; crafty or artful deception.  Modern day examples of this would be con-men, instigators or people who obtain things they want through sneakiness.  Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 12:37, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  A gentle and quiet person is not deceptive or crafty or sneaky.

A quiet and gentle person controls their temper

In Galatians 5:20 Paul gives a whole list of behaviors that will keep one out of the kingdom of God.  The one we are going to focus on with this lesson is “outburst of wrath“.  Wrath, when used of man, is the exhibition of an enraged sinful nature and is always inexcusable. In Colossians 3:8, Paul wrote, “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.” Ephesians 4:29-32, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.”

Gentle and quiet Christians have their anger under control.  They are not prone to sudden vengeful outbursts which manifest themselves in filthy language or enraged behavior.  Ephesians 4:26 teaches us to, “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath“.  The sin is not in the anger, rather it is in how we manifest that anger through our behavior.  Let’s keep in mind what Jesus said in Matthew 12:37, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  A gentle and quiet person does not display an angry spirit through sudden outbursts of wrath.

A gentle and quiet spirit does not speak evil of one another.

James 4:11, “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law.” (NKJV)  The original Greek carries the meaning of saying something that may hurt or injure another, also known as slander.  Notice James use of the word “brethren” in the context of how they deal with one another.  James is telling his Christian brethren not to slander one another.  To do so is to assume the position of a brother’s judge and also slanders the law of God which forbids such activity.  Not only do we set ourselves up as the judge of our brethren, we also set ourselves up as the judge of God’s law.  When we disregard or fail to obey God’s law, James says it is the same thing as judging it as unnecessary or irrelevant.  Our job is not to judge the law of God, rather it is to obey it.

We must not speak evil things of others, even if it may be true, unless there be some necessary occasion for it.  We must report evil things when necessary but we must not, dare not, do so in a slanderous or hurtful manner toward one another.  Our intent must not be to hurt, rather to edify or to correct one another in a spirit of concern.  Since Christians are brethren, they should not defile nor defame one another. It is required of us that we be tender of the good name of our brethren.  Where we cannot speak well, we had better say nothing rather than to speak evil of them.  We must never take pleasure in making known the faults of others, divulging things that are secret, merely to expose them.  And least of all, in making false stories, and spreading things concerning them of which they are altogether innocent.  Such behavior raises the hatred and encourages the persecutions of the world against fellow Christians who are engaged in the common goal of a home in heaven. We have all heard the old saying, if you can’t say something nice about someone, then don’t say anything at all.  That is good, biblical advice.

In 1 Peter 2:1-3, we read these words, “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all guile, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”  Peter expands on this to include malice (a desire to inflict injury or harm), guile, hypocrisy (claiming a virtuous character, moral or religious principle that one does not really possess.), envy (spiteful jealousy with regard to another’s advantages, success or possessions), and all other forms of evil speaking.  Concerning our fellow brethren Peter went on to say that we are to be to one another as newborn babes who are seeking the truth of God together.  Let’s remember what Jesus said in Matthew 12:37, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  A gentle and quiet person does not use his words to maliciously slander others, especially those of the common faith.

A quiet and gentile spirit avoids foolish and ignorant disputes.

When writing to Timothy in Ephesus, Paul had this to say in 2 Timothy 2:22-26, “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.”  Strife within the brotherhood is sometimes the result of foolish and ignorant disputes.  James condemns strife in his epistle in chapter 3:14-16, “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”  The NKJV translates “strife” as “self seeking” Other translations render the original language as “factions” and “self ambition“.  The thought here is that engaging in foolish and ignorant disputes creates factions or divisions because of those who seek themselves above their love of one another and of their love of the truth.   Christians are not to strive with one another over foolish disputes.  Certainly we are not to condone error where error exists, but we must not cause division and strife over foolish things.  Christians are supposed to be working together toward a common goal which is to seek God’s will in all things and serve Him obediently.

A quiet and gentle spirit exhibits gentleness, patience and humility.

Paul had more to say to Timothy regarding how we are to handle those who are in disputes.  Going back to 2 Timothy 2 and continuing in V24 we read, “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” (NKJV)

Gentleness, meekness and patience are earmarks of the Christian who would exhibit a quiet and gentle spirit.  There are going to be disagreements wherever people come together.  It is an inescapable occurrence.  However the Christian seeking after God’s will in this matter does not cause unnecessary strife and goes about the discharge of his or her responses to others gently, patiently and with an humble attitude and not with a self haughty, proud and know-it-all demeanor.  Certainly there are times when a sharp response is called for and a stand for the truth must be made (Titus 1:13; 3:10).  It is not in the scope of this lesson to deny such things rather it is to set guidelines for how they are to be done.  The necessity of a stand for the truth or a sharp response does not excuse a Christian from their responsibility for exhibiting a quiet and gentle spirit.  One can make a stand for the truth and not revile one another.  One can make a stand for the truth without injuring or hurting others.  One can make a stand for the truth and still maintain a quiet and gentle spirit.  On the other other side of the issue, maintaining a quiet and gentle spirit does not excuse one from making a stand for the truth if it becomes necessary.  God’s will is not to be abused in such a way that one command is an excuse to disobey another.  We must order our lives so that we are living in obedience to all of God’s will and not just what is convenient or easy at the moment.

Paul wrote concerning this in Galatians 6:1-2 “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (NKJV)

Gentleness is one of the fruits of the Spirit as Paul wrote in Galatians leading up to the verse we just read, chapter 5:22-26, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” (NKJV).  When we live according to the teachings as revealed by the Holy Spirit in scripture, the fruits of that teaching when we obey it are the things mentioned here by Paul.  A gentle and quiet spirit loves others, is joyful, seeks peace, is patient, full of kindness, generosity and goodness.  It exhibits gentleness and self control under all possible circumstances.  The gentle and quiet spirit that God says He values so greatly is a product of the word of God actively working in our lives.  We as faithful children of God see those qualities that God desires in His disciples and we work to make those qualities a part of our lives.

Believers living in Christ have crucified, meaning put to death, the passions and desires of the flesh.  This includes putting to death those passions and desires which work directly against a quiet and gentle spirit.  Inspiration used the word “crucified” in regards to the putting to death of one’s passions and desires for a reason.  Disciples of Jesus Christ recognize the term “crucify” as being representative of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross.  We, like Jesus, are going to have to make a sacrifice of ourselves to accomplish the death of our worldly passions and desires.  It’s not easy, it’s difficult and sometimes very painful to do so.  The death of our fleshly passions is not something that comes quickly or effortlessly.  There is pain and suffering associated with it.  It is a practice of self denial which lasts a lifetime.  We are to crucify our fleshly desires.

Putting to death our passions means much more than controlling one’s sexual appetite.  We have to put to death those passions which manifest themselves in explosive outbursts of wrath, speaking deceitfully to others, tricking and conning others, getting our way through the avenue of sneakiness, lying to get what we want, indulging in hurtful conversations about others, verbally abusing others, filthy talking, jesting, profanity, and all evil speaking.  All of these things come about as a result of our fleshly passions and desires.  We must crucify these things within ourselves whatever they may be.

How important is this?  Paul tells us in Romans 8:13-14, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (NKJV)  Paul is writing to Christians here.  If living according to the desires of the body will cause a Christian to die then the stakes are high.  Paul is not talking about dying physically here.  We’re all going to die physically whether we obey God or not.  Paul is talking about spiritual death which is eternal condemnation.  Paul uses the conditional word “If” in this verse.  What this means is that if we want to live, meaning live with God in heaven, then we must put to death the deeds of the body.  The consequences for failing to meet the conditions set forth for life is to suffer eternal separation from God in heaven and to spend eternity in Hell.

So how important is this?  It has eternal consequences.  Not only does God value a gentle and quiet spirit, God expects it of us.  Because if we are living our lives according to God’s will according to the scriptures we have considered today and a host of others which we did not have the time to look at, we will have that gentle and quiet spirit which God values.  One cannot order their lives according to God’s will on this subject and not have a gentle and quiet spirit.

I got the idea for this lesson from a poem that was published online.  The publisher lives in Queensland, Australia and contributes poetry from time to time.  I know her only as Rose Christian, a sister in Christ.  I am assuming she wrote this poem.  When I read it, I could not help but take a look at my own life and examine it as it compared to this poem.  I realized as I read it that this is something we have to work for.  Not only that, it is also something desirable and good.  It is a worthy endeavor for Christians to engage in and an admirable quality in anybody.  It is also necessary if we want to live our lives pleasing in the sight of God and of mankind.

A gentle and quiet spirit,
I am working to be,
for this pleases God,
and I want Him,
to be pleased with me.

A gentle and quiet spirit,
is one who obeys,
one devoted to God,
they are not divided,
constant their heart stays.

A gentle and quiet spirit,
is one born again,
one renewed by God,
no longer His enemy,
but now His friend.

A gentle and quiet spirit,
practices daily to be,
one living for God
in a world dark and lost,
a shining light to see.

A gentle and quiet spirit,
returns no harm for wrong,
one fearing God,
who turns sorrow and weeping,
into prayers and praise of song.

A gentle and quiet spirit,
is one who is at peace,
one hopes in God,
He is faithful,
from fears released.

A gentle and quiet spirit,
is one who knows,
one seeking God,
He will find them,
Himself He shows.

A gentle and quiet spirit,
is one who is humble,
one submitted to God,
knows His will,
and so does not stumble.

A gentle and quiet spirit,
is one who trusts,
one dependant on God,
their needs fulfilled,
after nothing worldly lusts.

A gentle and quiet spirit,
is not proud,
not against God,
not boastful, unloving, stubborn,
does not argue, is not loud.

A gentle and quiet spirit,
can stand against wrong,
one strengthened by God,
taught by Christ’s example,
quiet trust makes one strong.

A gentle and quiet spirit,
changes I continue to see,
pleasing to God,
is what I want,
for His love saved me.

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