The Christian and Good Works

A Closer Walk With God

The Christian And Good Works

In a previous lesson we discussed the matter of devotion or worship to God, especially in our public assemblies. One objective of such activities is to stir us up to "good works" - He 10:24-25 "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." In this short but important lesson, we shall examine the matter of "good works" which Christians are to do...

Christians are to do good works. Do not misunderstand the purpose of good works. They are not done to "buy" or "earn" our way into heaven. God saves us by His grace, not by our works - Ep 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."; Ti 3:3-7 "For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Yet, as God's People, we have been created in Christ Jesus to do good works! - Ep 2:10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."; Ti 2:11-14 "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.; 3:1 "Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,", 8 "The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.", 14 "And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful."

Why, then are we to do good works? They bring glory to God! - Mt 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."; 1 Pe 2:11-12 "Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation." They can prepare unbelievers to be more receptive to the gospel - 1 Pe 2:12 "Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."; 3:1-2 "Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives-- when they see your respectful and pure conduct." They demonstrate the living nature of our faith - Ja 2:14-17 "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." They are necessary if we are to be like Jesus - see for example Lk 6:46 with Ac 10:38.

What good works can we do? Some good works are spiritual in nature. Such as telling others of God's grace - 1 Pe 2:9-10 "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." We may not all be "teachers" in a formal sense - 1 Co 12:27-31 "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way."; Ja 3:1-2 "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body". But all of us can share with others the wonderful grace of God available in Christ Jesus! Another good work is encouraging other Christians - He 3:12-13 "Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." We can be a "Philemon" or a "Stephanus" - Phile 7 "For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you."; 1 Co 16:15-18 "Now I urge you, brothers--you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints-- be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men." For example...through cards, calls, visits, Bible studies, etc. we can be an encouragement to others. We can do a very good work by restoring and encouraging weak brethren - Ga 6:1-2 "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." We can be a "Barnabas" (who helped John Mark). The importance of this work is seen in light of Ja 5:19-20 "My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."

Other good works are more physical in nature. Jesus did not limit His good works to things spiritual - Lk 7:22 "And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them." Nor did He expect His disciples to so limit their good works... Note for example the "Limited Commission" - Mt 10:7-8 "And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay." Another example is the "judgment scene" - Mt 25:34-40. Just as some may be gifted in talent and opportunities to "teach", so others are gifted to "serve" in areas of physical service - Ro 12:3-8, such as "giving" and such as "showing mercy". Women can be especially fruitful in this area for they often have a more flexible use of their time. Why not be a "Dorcas"? - Ac 9:36-39.

No matter how we may serve the Lord, "good works" are a mark of pure religion - Ja 1:27 "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." It is also a key to spiritual blessedness (happiness) - Ja 1:25 "But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."; Ac 20:35 "In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"' So let's be sure to keep in mind the admonition of Paul to Titus... "Those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works." - Ti 3:8

The following are questions to stimulate your thinking.

What kind of "spiritual" good works are you doing, or are preparing yourself to do?

What kind of "physical" good works are you doing, or hope one day to do?

Who should get the glory when you are praised for good works?

Discerning Between Good and Evil

A Closer Walk With God

Discerning Between Good And Evil

In the previous lesson we talked about overcoming sin by understanding the development of sin and utilizing the help of God to:

1) Change our desires.

2) Limit our opportunities to sin.

3) Exercise self-control.

4) Seek forgiveness.

Assumed in all of this, is that we know or can discern the difference between what is good and evil. Knowing the difference does not come automatically upon conversion. It is an ability that comes with time and "exercise" - He 5:12-14 "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, or everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil." This lesson is designed to help us develop this ability to discern, so that we might truly have "a closer walk with God".

Deciding what is right and what is wrong is really very simple. It involves asking a few questions about the matter at hand... Such as "is it clearly condemned in the Bible? Many things are specifically mentioned as being wrong. One list of such things is found in Ga 5:19-21 "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." A similar list is found in Ep 5:3-6 "But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience." For such things, that settles the matter. At least as far as Christians are concerned. There is no room for debate when the Scriptures clearly condemn some practice.

But not all sins are mentioned by name, for the Bible would be endless if that were true! So another question needs to be asked, "is it similar to those condemned in the Bible"? In Gal, 5:19-21, note the phrase "and the like". When we are uncertain about some matter, we should ask whether it is like sins specifically mentioned. For example, what about smoking marijuana? Is it not like "drunkenness"? You might compare something in question with the good things mentioned, noting those things in Ga 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Is the matter in question more like the "fruit of the Spirit" (that which is good) or the "works of the flesh" (that which is evil)?

Another question to consider, does it hurt your conscience? Note the importance of a good conscience in light of the following Scriptures - 1 Ti 1:5 "The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.", 18-19 "This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,"; 3:9 "They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience." Violating our conscience to the degree it no longer bothers us is a sure sign of apostasy! - 1 Ti 4:1-2 "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,"

This may help us to appreciate Romans 14:23 "But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." . Doing something when you doubt its rightfulness is to violate your conscience. That, declares Paul, is sin! So an act may be good in of itself, but if you think it is wrong (because of incorrect knowledge) or have doubts about its rightfulness, then don't do it!

Another help is to ask, "what do mature Christians say about it? Of course, this is not the ultimate determining factor for mature Christians can be wrong, as they would be the first to admit. But, Heb 5:14 does say that those who by "reason of use" are in a position to discern. "But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil." This is why the advice of mature Christians can be helpful - Ph 3:17 "Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us." The example of Rehoboam's failure to listen to the advice of older, mature men should teach us something - (1 Kin 12:6-20). Paul instructed Titus that the younger should look to those older - Ti 2:2-5 "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."

Then a question that is often overlooked is does it hinder our influence. By both example and word, Paul stressed the importance of being concerned about our influence on others. Notice his concern for how his influence affected the salvation of others - 1 Co 9:19-23 "For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings." He then commands to do likewise, in which we are simply imitating the example of Christ! - 1 Co 10:31-11:1 "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ."

Peter taught the value of a good example in helping a wife win her husband to the Lord - 1 Pe 3:1-2 "Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives-- when they see your respectful and pure conduct." What is said of a wife's example would also be true of a Christian's example. So we should be concerned as to whether a practice under question helps or hinders our influence for the Lord!

We might question is it poor stewardship? That we are "stewards" of our time, money, and bodies is evident from the Lord's Parable of the Talents - Mt 25:14-30. Also from Paul's instruction concerning our bodies - 1 Co 6:19-20 "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." From his directions for those rich in this world - 1 Ti 6:17-19 "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life."

Some activities may be harmless in themselves, but require so much time and energy there is none left for the Lord! This can be true of vocations, hobbies, etc. We should bear in mind that time is limited and therefore priorities must be set and kept - Ep 5:16 "making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."; Mt 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Finally, we can ask would Jesus do it? Remember the goal of discipleship as found in Lk 6:40 "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher." In other words, to be like Jesus! "Would Jesus do it?" is therefore an appropriate question. If you think He would not, it is probably wrong! This makes the study of Jesus of prime importance. Studying His life, His examples, His Word. So that we can have the "mind of Christ" - Ph 2:5 "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,".

I hope that these seven questions can help in identifying what is good and what is evil. The importance of properly discerning between good and evil is seen in such passages like 2 Co 6:16-7:1 "Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty." Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." We are reminded of how blessed we are to be the people of God and the responsibility to act accordingly, if we wish to have a closer walk with God!

Here are some questions to stimulate your thinking.

Do you have some older Christian to whom you feel free to go to for advice?

Do you feel that you usually give enough thought to the effect of your actions on other people?

Are you trying to keep a good conscience in all that you do?

Will you ask, when in doubt, "What would Jesus do?"

Overcoming Sin - Cont.

A Closer Walk With God

Overcoming Sin - Cont.

Having introduced the problem and two ways to help in overcoming sin we will continue by looking at two additional ways to help in our problem. We will start with a third, exercise "self-control". Remember, it becomes sin when we yield to action in fulfilling our sinful desires. If we can control ourselves so as to not yield, then we can overcome sin! How does the Christian exercise self-control? Self-control is but one aspect of the "fruit of the Spirit" - Ga 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." When we become Christians, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives - Ac 2:38 "And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."; 5:32 "And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."' The Spirit is God's instrumental agent by which He imparts strength to us - Ep 3:16 "that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,". Strengthened by the Spirit, we are able to "put to death the deeds of the body" - Ro 8: 12-13 "So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 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." As Paul said: "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." - Ph 4:13. It is through faith in God's Word that the Christian believes that he has this divine help - Ep 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,". It is certainly proper to pray for it, as Paul did in behalf of the Ephesians - Ep 3:16 "that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,". But equally important, to act upon it, trusting that you are not alone as you try to do God's will - Ph 2:12-13 "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." As an exercise commercial once said: Just do it! The Christian, then, has no excuse for yielding to a temptation - 1 Co 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." But there may be times when we don't take advantage of the strength God provides through His Spirit, and we sin; what then?

Fourth, if necessary, obtain "forgiveness". Remember that sin is victorious when it results in punishment. But if we obtain forgiveness through the blood of Christ, we can avoid that punishment and thereby still overcome sin! - 1 Jn 2:1-2 "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world." Yes, Christ is truly the "propitiation" for our sins! By His blood, we were forgiven of past sins when united with Him in baptism - Ac 2:38; 22:16; Re 1:5. By His blood, we can be forgiven of present sins when we repent, pray, and confess our sins to God - Ac 8:22; 1 Jn 1:9. At any time the Christian can overcome sins that were committed, by repenting and confessing them to God!

Here are some observations about overcoming sin. If you noticed carefully, you should have seen that at each of the four points in the development of sin, God is able and willing to help us overcome sin!

God helps us to "control our desires" by providing His Word to renew our minds.

God helps us to "limit the opportunities" through His Providence as we pray for such.

God helps us to "exercise self-control" over our actions through His Spirit strengthening the inner man.

God helps us to "obtain forgiveness" through His Son's blood as we repent and pray.

-- Isn't the grace of God wonderful? - 2 Th 3:3 "But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one."; 1 Co 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

In this discussion we have concentrated on "sins of commission". That is, sins we commit by overt action on our part. There are also "sins of omission". Sins which come from failing to do what is right - Ja 4:17 "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." Overcoming these sins is similar... Change our desires so we want to do what is right. Exercise self-control so we act as we should when we have the opportunity. When guilty of sins of omission, obtain forgiveness in the same way.

In learning the four points at which we may overcome sin, don't think that we can simply wait until we reach the fourth point to act... That is, to just go ahead and sin, then ask God for forgiveness. There are several reasons why we should not do this:

1) In baptism, we were freed from the power of sin, and should now present ourselves to God as servants of righteousness - see Ro 6:1-23.

2) Though we can receive forgiveness for sin, we might still suffer the "temporal" consequences of sins - Ga 6:7-9 "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. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

3) If we allow sin to deceive us so as to become "hardened", we may get to the point of sinning "willfully" and lose our salvation! - He 3:12-14 "Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end."; 10:26-31 "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." So don't take the grace of God lightly and attempt to abuse it!

How much better it would be to praise God for His grace, and use it to overcome sin in our lives! May the promise found in Ja 1:12 help motivate us to do so:

"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."

Some questions to stimulate your thinking.

Are you engaged in a daily Bible study program which will help you develop the proper kind of desires?

Do you "watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation"?

Do you avoid circumstances and companions that you know would entice you to sin?

Do you pray that God will strengthen you "by His Spirit in the inner man"?

Do you ask God daily to forgive your sins, and to help you overcome sin in your life?

Overcoming Sin

A Closer Walk With God

Overcoming Sin

A wonderful blessing we receive when we become Christians is the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. At our baptism, the blood of Christ cleanses us from all past sins. Compare Ac 22:16 "And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.'" with Re 1:5 "and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood." This does not mean that our problem with sin is over... We still sin at times - 1 Jn 1:8 "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.", 10 "If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." Satan does his best to cause us to sin - 1 Pe 5:8 "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." If we are to maintain a close walk with God, and ultimately receive the riches of glory He has prepared for us, we must overcome the problem of sin in two ways:

By sinning less and less - 1 Jn 2:1a "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin."

By knowing what to do when we do sin - 1 Jn 2:1b-2 "But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world."

This lesson is concerned with helping us see how sin develops, and how to overcome sin with its terrible consequences.

To overcome sin, we need to understand how it develops. The Bible outlines the development of sin in Ja 1:12-15 "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. The first stage of sin is temptation. In Ja 1:14 (see above), we see that "temptation" includes two things. First we see desire (some translations say "lust", suggesting a strong desire for something). Then we see enticement (an opportunity and encouragement to satisfy the desire). Putting it in the form of a simple equation: Temptation = Desire + Opportunity. To illustrate: a small boy is tempted to steal some cookies when he wants (desire) them and has an occasion (opportunity) to take them. The temptation becomes stronger if he wants them badly, and has a good chance of getting them without being seen. Note: At this stage in the development of sin, actual sin has not yet been committed. It is not a sin to be "tempted". For Jesus Himself was "tempted as we are, yet without sin" - He 4:15; 2:18.

The second stage is sin itself. "When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin" - Ja 1:15. It becomes sin when we act and yield to the temptation. Thus sin involves the added step of some sort of action on our part. Again, in the form of a simple equation: Sin = Desire + Opportunity + Action.

The third stage involves the consequences of unrepented and unforgiven sin: "Death". "And sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death" - Ja 1:15. The "death" spoken here refers to spiritual separation from God. This separation occurs first in this life - Isa 59:2 "but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. If we die physically in this state, then we will experience the "second death", which involves eternal punishment! - Re 21:8 "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."'

Putting all this into a final equation: Desire + Opportunity + Action + No Forgiveness = Death

Let's note some observations about the development of sin. Sin will have overcome us if we receive the "final punishment" of Re 21:8. But we will have overcome sin if we can avoid this punishment and experience the glories God has prepared for His children! How can we be sure to overcome sin? By stopping its development at any one of the four points leading to the final punishment!

Now let's examine how this may be done, how to overcome. First, change our "desires". Since this is where the process of sin begins, it is the best place for us to begin. Bear in mind that it is a part of Christian growth to change our desires - Ro 12:1-2 "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."; Ga 5:24 "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." How do we change our desires? Notice that the Word of God has always been instrumental in helping people overcome sin - Psa 119:11 "I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."; Mt 4:3-10 "And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you,' and "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'"

To see how the Word of God can change our desires as we read of God's love, longsuffering and mercy, we desire to serve Him - Psa 116:12-14 "What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people." As we read of sin and its damnable consequences, we come to hate it! - Psa 119:104 "Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way." So the more we study God's Word, the less likely we will have the desire to sin, thereby beginning to overcome sin by "nipping it in the bud"! But changing our desires takes time; while engaged in the process of changing our desires, what else can we do?

Second, limit our "opportunities". Remember, we are tempted only when there is both desire and opportunity. So while we work on changing our desires, we should limit the opportunities to fulfill wrongful desires. This can be done by asking for God's providential help, as Jesus taught - Mt 6:13 "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."; 26:41 "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."' We can cooperate with God by purposely avoiding situations that might excite wrongful desires like following the example of David - Psa 101:3-4 "I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil." And we can follow the example of Job - Job 31:1 '"I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?" We can cooperate with God by avoiding those whose evil behavior encourages us to sin with them. Again, David sets a good example - Psa 101:6-7 "I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me. No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes." Paul also adds his warning - 1 Co 15:33 "Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals."' But we will unlikely remove every desire and opportunity to sin in this life, what then? When we continue this lesson we will look at two more ways we can work to overcome sin.

Growing in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ

A Closer Walk With God

Growing In The Knowledge Of Jesus Christ

An important element in having a closer walk with God is fulfilling the command given by the apostle

Peter in 2 Pe 3:18 "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." What does it mean to "grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"? How can we be sure that we are growing in this "knowledge"? Peter has defined what is meant to grow in the knowledge of Christ, and his definition is found in 2 Pe 1:2-11. In this lesson, we shall: look more closely at what is involved in "growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ" and consider the reasons why we should desire to grow in this "knowledge".

Let's look at what it means to in the knowledge of Jesus, noting the development of eight graces that Peter writes of in 2 Pe 1:2-11. These "graces" are listed in 2 Pe 1:5-7. Briefly defined, faith is "conviction, strong assurance", virtue is "moral excellence, goodness", knowledge is "correct insight", self-control is "self-discipline", perseverance is "bearing up under trials", godliness is "godly character out of devotion to God", brotherly kindness is "love toward brethren", and love is "active goodwill toward others". Now note carefully 2 Pe 1:8 "For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." We must "abound" in these eight graces. Only then can it be said that we are "growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ" It is more than simply increasing our "intellectual" knowledge of Jesus! Such knowledge has a place, but it is just one of the graces necessary. Peter is talking about growing in a fuller and personal knowledge of Jesus Christ! Which comes by developing the "Christ-like" attributes listed in this passage. The more we grow in these "graces", the more we really "know" Jesus (for He is the perfect personification of these "graces"). That it involves more than intellectual knowledge is also evident from the Greek word used for knowledge in 2 Pe 1:2-3,8. The word is epignosis {ep-ig'-no-sis}, meaning "to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly, to know accurately, know well" (Thayer). Such knowledge comes only as we demonstrate these "Christ-like graces" in our lives.

These graces are in conjunction with each other. Notice the word "add" (or "supply, supplement") in 2 Pe 1:5 "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,". Before each grace mentioned, the word is implied. The word in Greek is epichoregeo {ep-ee-khor-ayg-eh'-o}; "Originally, to found and support a chorus, to lead a choir, to keep in tune"; "Then, to supply or provide". This word suggests the idea of "each grace working in harmony with the others to produce an overall effect". Notice also the preposition "to" (or "in") in 2 Pe 1:5-7. This implies "each grace is to temper and make perfect the grace that goes before it". To illustrate this point:

1) "to knowledge (add) self-control" - the grace of self-control enables one to apply properly the knowledge one has.

2) "to self-control (add) perseverance" - self-control in turn needs the quality of perseverance to be consistent day after day.

Therefore each grace is necessary! They must all be developed in conjunction with each other. We cannot be selective and just pick the ones we like and leave others behind.

Notice the repeated use of the word "diligence" - 2 Pe 1:5,10. It means "earnestness, zeal, sometimes with haste". To grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ requires much effort. We do not "accidentally" or "naturally" develop these graces! If we are not careful, we may be like the teacher in the following illustration:

In his book Folk Psalms of Faith, Ray Stedman tells a story of a woman who had been a school teacher for 25 years. When she heard about a job that would mean a promotion, she applied for the position. However, someone who had been teaching for only one year was hired instead. She went to the principal and asked why. The principal responded, "I'm sorry, but you haven't had 25 years of experience as you claim; you've had only one year's experience 25 times." During that whole time

the teacher had not improved.

We may have been Christians for a number of years; but unless we "add" to our faith these Christ-like qualities with all "diligence", we are simply repeating the first year over and over again!

Is the effort worth it? In the context of this passage (2 Pe 1:2-11) Peter provides five reasons why we

should "give all diligence" to grow in this knowledge of Jesus Christ... Grace and peace are multiplied. Grace and peace are common forms of greeting in the New Testament. Grace - a greeting which requests God's unmerited favor upon the person addressed. Peace - a greeting requesting the natural result of God's favor. Note that these two blessings are "multiplied" in the knowledge of Jesus Christ - 2 Pe 1:2 "May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." All men experience God's favor and its result to some degree - Mt 5:45 "so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." But only in Christ can one enjoy the "fulness" of God's favor and peace - Ep 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,"; Ph 4:6-7 "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" -- If you desire God's grace and peace to be "multiplied" in your life, it is through the knowledge (epignosis) of Jesus Christ; in other words, as you become more like Him!

We note that God provides all things pertaining to life and godliness through the knowledge (epignosis) of Him who called us to glory and virtue - 2 Pe 1:3 "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,". "Life" in this context refers to our spiritual life and well-being. "Godliness" refers to the pious conduct which comes out of devotion to God. Only as we grow in this knowledge do we enjoy the true, full life available by God's divine power! Which includes "exceedingly great and precious promises" - 2 Pe 1:4a "by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises,". Which enables us to be "partakers of the divine nature" - 2 Pe 1:4b. Which can free us from the "corruption that is in the world through lust" - 2 Pe 1:4c. -- If we desire to have all that God offers related to life and godliness, it comes as we develop the Christ-like character!

Spiritual "myopia" and "amnesia" can be avoided. Our religion is "shortsighted" if we are not growing in the knowledge of Jesus! - 2 Pe 1:9a "For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind,". For what is the ultimate objective of being a Christian? Is it not to become like Christ? - also note Ro 8:29 "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."; Co 3:9-11 "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all." As we have seen, this is what it really means to grow in the knowledge of Christ. Failure to so grow indicates we have forgotten why we were redeemed by the blood of Christ in the first place! - 2 Pe 1:9b "having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins." To have our sins forgiven, yes... But also to become what He wants us to be - like His Son! -- Unless we want to be guilty of forgetfulness and shortsightedness, we need to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ!

Peter says "if you do these things you will never stumble" - 2 Pe 1:10. If you are diligent to make your calling and election sure. If you add to your faith virtue, etc. If you abound in these eight graces. This does not mean we will never sin - 1 Jn 1:8,10 "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." - "If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." The word "stumble" in Greek means "to fall into misery, become wretched; for example. the loss of salvation" (Thayer) we will never stumble so as to fall short of our ultimate salvation! -- But this assurance is true only if we are "giving all diligence" to grow in the knowledge of Christ and thereby "making our calling and election sure".

By "making our calling and election sure" there is an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom. This "everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" - 2 Pe 1:11. Is the "heavenly kingdom" referred to by Paul in 2 Ti 4:18 "The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen." In other words, the ultimate destiny of the redeemed! What is meant by the idea of an "abundant entrance"? "You may be able to enter, not as having escaped from a shipwreck, or from fire, but as it were in triumph." (Bengel). By possessing the eight graces, we will be able to live victoriously in this life and to joyously anticipate what lies ahead - 2 Ti 4:6-8 "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing."

These five reasons should sufficiently motivate us to be diligent in growing in the knowledge of Jesus

Christ. Give all diligence to make our calling and election sure, and have a closer walk with God, by making every effort to add these "graces" to our lives! Or have we forgotten that we were purged from our old sins? We have, if we are apathetic in our desire to grow in these "graces"! If so, we need to repent and pray for forgiveness!

The following are some questions to stimulate your thinking...

Which of these "graces" do you think you have developed best?

In which are you most lacking?

Do you feel you are making progress in the "knowledge of Jesus Christ"?

If not, what can you do to begin making progress?

The Joy of Singing - Cont.

A Closer Walk With God

The Joy Of Singing - Cont.

When done properly, singing can be a wonderful blessing; but how can we get the most out of singing?In order to get more out of our singing we must engage the "mind" as we sing. Remember, singing is "teaching and admonishing one another". This assumes that we understand what we sing. We must be careful that our enjoyment of singing is not like how many people enjoy their popular music (liking the music without necessarily understanding the words). Therefore, give careful attention to the words of the song.

We must also engage the "heart" as we sing. When we sing, we must do so "with grace in our hearts" - Co 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." We must also be "making melody in your heart" - Ep 5:19 "addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart,". This assumes that we involve our emotions as we sing! To sing without emotion (without grace in our hearts) will be evident in our countenances! - Pro 15:13 "A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed." To sing without emotion is hypocritical, and condemned by Jesus! - Mt 15:7-8 "You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;". So as we sing, do so with both the emotions of the heart and the understanding of the mind.

In a further effort to assure that we experience the "joy of singing", consider some questions to evaluate your singing. Do you limit the sphere of your singing? Is your singing limited just to the public assemblies? Or do you utilize opportunities to sing at other times with others, or even alone? Singing, like prayer, ought to be spontaneous, arising whenever the circumstances call for it - Ac 16:25 "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,"; Ps 34:1-3 "I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!"

Is there a lack of emotion in your singing? Remember, singing is to involve the heart. And not with just "some" heart, but as in all that we do for the Lord, with '"all" our hearts! - Mt 22:37 "And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." When it comes time to praise the Lord, it should not be done "halfheartedly". Remember Mt 15:7-9 "You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" "It is a great sign of mediocrity to praise always moderately." - Vauvenargues. Not all may be talented in voice, but all can and should bless the Lord with their "whole being"! - Psa 103:1 "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

Do you understand what you are singing? Again, singing must also involve the mind. Some songs, though sounding beautiful, can be so complicated as to hinder understanding. The musical arrangement can be such that one spends more time concentrating on the notes rather than the words. The pace of the song can be so fast that we don't absorb the meaning of the words. The words used may be unusual and not understood by the average singer. Song leaders can perform a valuable service by being careful in the songs they select to lead. Carefully introducing songs that may be new to the congregation. Taking a moment to explain the meaning of the song or unusual words in it. But the ultimate responsibility falls on us who sing, so we should make every effort to understand what we are singing.

Do you stress musical harmony to the detriment of New Testament singing? Fortunately, God stresses making melody in our hearts over making harmony with our voices. In a natural desire to offer beautiful praise, do you discourage those who might not have trained voices but still love to praise God with their whole being? I have occasionally seen some Christians give a criticizing look at others who sang "off key". But the emphasis should be on praising God in heart and mind, and not how it may sound to the human ear!

Do you hinder your own singing by where you sit? Sitting alone or spread out naturally discourages many from singing as they might otherwise. People become more involved, are more uplifted, edify others better, when they sit together and close to the song leader. One of the first steps to better singing is to sit with others who love to sing!

Have we lost the joy of singing? I believe that if we could see ourselves as song leaders do, we might be constrained to say "yes"! But I hope that by reminding ourselves of the purpose of singing and how to get more out of it, we might rekindle this act of worship which can do so much for our walk with God! May David's attitude, a man after God's own heart, describe our own: "I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being." - Psa 104:33. " Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful." - Ps 147:1.

The following are some questions to stimulate your thinking.

Which is more important when we sing, how we sound or how we feel?

Are we really teaching and admonishing one another in song if we just whisper or mouth the words?

Do we sing because we are happy, or are we happy because we sing?

Do you sing praises to God by yourself throughout the week?

Does your family ever sing spiritual songs together (for example, while traveling in the car)?

Which is more unscriptural, singing with mechanical instruments, or singing without engaging the instrument of the heart?

The Joy of Singing

A Closer Walk With God

The Joy Of Singing

Another important element of our walk with God is the act of singing praises... We spend nearly a third of our assemblies engaged in this activity. It also has a place in our private devotions to God -- And rightly so, for it has the potential of reaping great spiritual benefits to those who engage in it properly. It is clear that those who walked with God in Old Testament times delighted in singing - note Psa

146:1-2 "Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Christians were taught to respond to the goodness of God in a similar way - Ja 5:13 "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise." But there are indications in many churches which cause me to wonder if some have lost the joy of singing... Many Christians sing with virtually no emotion. Some go one step further, and do not sing at all! I have personally known Christians, who complained because time available for classes was taken up by the singing of a few hymns. They will not attend a worship service if they know it will be devoted primarily to singing. In contrast, it was common in the past for people to travel some distance to attend a service devoted to praising God in song. Why do such conditions exist? I suspect it may be a failure to appreciate: the true purpose of singing or how we can get more out of singing.

In an effort to ensure that we will experience the joy of singing, let's first examine the purpose of singing. One purpose is to praise the Lord - Ac 16:25 "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,". This is the most popular concept of the purpose of singing. Indeed, this is certainly the idea inherent in the word "hymn", which comes from the Greek word "humnos", meaning "a song in praise of". Praising God should be "a natural" for Christians! If David in the OT reacted this way to the blessings God gave him (Psa 28:6-7 "Blessed be the LORD! for he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.") how much more should we! In fact, singing is one of the "spiritual sacrifices" that we are to offer to God - He 13:15 "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name." As "spiritual priests" we offer up "spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God" - 1 Pe 2:5 "you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." If we are not careful, we might be guilty of offering "defiled" service to God as was the case in Malachi's day! - Mal 1:7-8 "By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, 'How have we polluted you?' By saying that the LORD's table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts.", 12-13 "But you profane it when you say that the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. But you say, 'What a weariness this is,' and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD."

Another purpose of singing is to admonish and teach one another - Co 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."; Ep 5:19 "addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart," Our singing is not just directed toward God... Certainly, many songs are, but many songs are directed to each other. That's because many songs are designed to teach one another. Teaching and admonishing us to live properly, enjoying the blessings of the Christian life. It might even be said that "congregational singing" is often "congregational teaching"! Thus singing is a way that we can encourage our brethren and ourselves as well!

When done properly, singing can be a wonderful blessing; but how can we get the most out of singing? We will pose some answers to this question and offer some suggestions when we continue this lesson.