Bible Thoughts

June 2, 2002

An individual can be identified by one's conversation. If a person is spiritual, he will speak of spiritual matters. That does not preclude ordinary, day to day conversation. Even during such times, a Christian is careful to use the type of language that is appropriate for a disciple of Christ.

The world is filled with vulgar speech and profanity. The media, apparently, in most all areas, has tried to spice up its effect by using the language of the gutter. From what I am told and what is written there is hardly any popular program that does not, at times, use inappropriate speech. The disciple of Christ must be strong enough to avoid the use of words that convey ideas that are not proper for Christians.

The Christian follows the oracles of God in his speech; he avoids profanity; he does not slander; he avoids filthy language, and...he speaks to upbuild, edify, challenge, and encourage. The speech of the Christian identifies how one is influenced, or not influenced, by the ungodly public to which disciples are exposed.

Taking the Lord's name in vain, using vulgarity, and cursing of different sorts is a reflection upon one's respect for things that are spiritual. Speaking as the oracles of God will be the aim of the Christian. In conversation with others, as well as discussions on spiritual matters, one is to speak from the heart as a disciple of Christ. Such an example can have a proper influence on others as they realize he talks like a Christian!

The Word of God is the standard for the disciple in speech, whether one is considering spiritual matters or secular affairs. We search the scriptures to find the New Testament instructions in regard to the life of a Christian, the work of the church, the organization of the church, the worship of the church, and all other instructions for one who would please Jesus Christ. You can identify a faithful disciple as you listen to his speech in regard to what is contained in the oracles of God concerning God's kingdom as well as how strong the disciple is in one's moral behavior.

The apostle Peter was confronted by those who identified him with Jesus Christ. They stated, "...for thy speech maketh thee known"(Matthew 26:73). My speech is to make me known as a Christian. Speech is one of the surest ways for one to reveal one's true character or the influences that have shaped the speech. How do you and I speak?

Even among congregations, the strength or weakness of each church can be gauged by their language. The language of denominationalism is not the language of the Bible. Words and phrases that are borrowed from sectarian resources reflect a weakening toward Bible terminology. One of the first steps toward apostasy is a change in the speech of those who are departing from the principles of faith that are taught in the New Testament.. Many years ago, it was said, "Let us speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where it is silent." Such is still true and excellent advice for those who desire to be sound in the faith.

Jesus commanded repentance, but what is it? Most familiarly it is one of the “Five steps of salvation” which are: hear the gospel, believe it, repent of your sins, confess Christ, and be immersed in water for the remission of sins. Reducing obedience to God down to five simple steps is useful for teaching and debating purposes, but such formalization of God’s will can suck the meaning right out of God’s word and place in it’s stead the kind of vain repetition which Christ warned against in Matthew 6:7. Repentance is not merely one step on a list that must be checked off before we can “be saved”, it is a crucial decision and commitment upon which all hope of eternal life rests. Without repentance, hearing and believing are meaningless: the words heard fall on deaf ears, and belief fails to leave the head and enter the heart.

With repentance, the spiritual birth of a person may continue its course. So what then is repentance? It is to change, specifically to change one’s mind. It is to think differently or to reconsider. It is to turn—change—from walking in darkness and instead reach for the light of God. That is what repentance is. It is not merely turning away from ungodly behavior, but (more importantly) a turning toward righteous behavior.

In 2 Corinthians 7, Paul speaks of “godly sorrow”, in verse 10 he writes, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” Godly sorrow is not “emotional distress”, it is recognition of the act that separates you from God and desire to be back in God’s favor. Worldly sorrow is merely remorse over the punishment brought about because of the act. One causes us to turn back toward God while the other, as soon as punishment is resolved, is soon forgotten with no change being made.

More importantly, repentance brought about by godly sorrow is not something that is done for a moment and then is resolved. Rather, it is the redirection of an entire life. It is the turning around and looking down the road to heaven. Confession of Christ as Lord and immersion in water for the remission of sins are the first two steps and your entire life is the journey. Won’t you live it?-Scott Huston