Bible Thoughts

April 28, 2002

The apostle Paul did not hesitate to say what needed to be said. He identified false teachers and false brethren. He called names and pointed out error among those who did not follow the truth. There was no misunderstanding about what and whom he was addressing in his message. In fact, the King James Version uses the word "plainness" in this passage. It is apparent from Paul's writing that he was bold as well as plain!

Many a soul has been left empty due to the lack of stating the truth in a bold and plain manner. Have you not walked away from a sermon or lesson wondering what the speaker was really saying? All of us have been in that situation and all of us(who are teachers and preachers) have created that kind of a reaction. Of late, in discussions, this writer has been emphasizing to others the need to speak it so that others can understand what one is trying to teach. It is not difficult to use language that enables others to know the truth.

The greatest lesson however, from this passage, is that we need to say what we mean and mean what we say. Do not be afraid to speak the truth and expose error. Paul did; Peter did; all the apostles and faithful teachers of the New Testament spoke boldly the Word of God. It is not wrong to identify false teachers and false doctrines in our day. In fact, we are commanded to expose and point out those who depart from the truths of the New Testament. It should be our aim to speak so that no one will misunderstand what we are saying. Let us speak the truth in love, but let us be plain in what we teach.

God, through Moses, instituted a law that would govern the actions of men. But the law of Moses was not capable of bringing men close to God. Paul said in Romans 7:9-11, “And I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive, and I died; and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; for sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me." The law was to “result in life” yet Paul said that it “proved to result in death for me." Why did the law fail? Was it because God didn’t design it correctly or was it because of our inadequacy? Paul continues on to say, “For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate"(vs. 14-15). And also, “For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members”(vs. 22-23).

The failure of the law of Moses was not because of an inadequacy on the part of God, but rather it was because of the weakness of men’s flesh. Christ’s way is superior to the way of Moses because it provides a way to mortify the body. Whereas Moses only allowed sins to be “rolled back," Christ cuts away and disposes of the body of sin. However, both religious systems presuppose hearts that honestly love God and are seeking to do his will. Paul said of the law of Moses, “…I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man…”. Paul’s spirit was right but he failed the law because of the weakness of his body…yet that desire to please God was already within him.

Christians, of all people, should understand that it is the love of God that motivates the righteous. When Christ conquered death and fulfilled the law of Moses he did not merely exchange one set of bonds for another set of bonds—he set us free from bondage. Every action that a Christian does should be dedicated to God, not as an obligation or a duty(a work!), but as a show of love and appreciation to our glorious Father and Lord Jesus Christ.

When you truly love someone the things that you are able to do for them should count for joy and gladness. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit"(Galatians 5:22-25).

The crook is made a joke; stealing is funny; swearing is entertaining; the double meaning is the end of wit; infidelity and illicit love, the spice of life; the home is tame; the shop and store drudgery; prohibition is a calamity; and drunkenness if a lost virtue; the preacher is a fool, and the church a misty reminder of the funny Sunday school days. Mother is no longer revered and the father is the sly old rascal. God is a convenient swear word and Heaven is the biggest joke of all. The sun-tanned, bare-backed, cigarette-sucking, poodle-leading, cocktail-drinking, home-breaking female is made the queen. Love is degraded into passion. Children are no longer wanted. The marriage is not binding. This is the warp and woof of Hellywood or Smellywood. -Via Gospel Digest, 1958.(What would be said about Hollywood if the one who wrote the above was to write today?)

It is a Bible fact that it takes more than good morals to be a Christian. Cornelius was a good, moral man, but he was not a Christian before obedience to the gospel(Acts 10:2, 6). Saul of Tarsus was living as an upright, moral individual before he was told what to do to be a Christian by Ananias(Acts 9:18). Good morals do not a Christian make.

Membership in a religious body will not make one a Christian. There are many churches that exist without the approval or authority of God(Matthew 15:9). Being a part of one of these will not ensure that a person is a Christian. The Bible teaches that Jesus built His church(Matthew 16:18), and obedient believers were added to it(Acts 2:47). These were the Christians of early days(Acts 11:26).

Simply because one's parents are Christians will not make a child a Christian. There is nothing hereditary about being a disciple of Christ. Each person must hear the gospel, and obey it before he/she can be acceptable to the Lord(Romans 1:16).

It is obvious being a Christian involves much more than has been assumed by the large portion of humanity. In order to be a Christian, one must establish a personal relationship with the Son of God through an adherence to His law(I Peter 1:22-23). Upon completion of the commanded acts, God makes one a Christian. Remaining faithful to God's word keeps one a Christian.