Christ's Law

~
● Eph 4:25 . . Each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his
neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

One's neighbor is not the same as one's brother; i.e. the former is an acquaintance,
the latter is kin

Jews are required to be honest because dishonesty is prohibited by their law (Lev
19:11) whereas dishonesty is wrong for Christ's followers because the dishonesty of
one Christian causes outsiders to question the integrity of the whole.
_
 
~
● Eph 4:26a . . In your anger do not sin.

Anger isn't eo ipso evil. It's how one manages their anger that matters. Anger can
be a very useful tool when it's applied by somebody who knows what they're doing.
For example:

"And when Jesus had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the
hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man: Stretch forth thine hand. And he
stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other." (Mark 3:5)

Everybody gets angry from time to time; just don't let it drive you to doing
something contrary to your better judgment, e.g. violence, profanity, malice,
cruelty, uncivil behavior, spite, ugly remarks, emotional outbursts, demeaning
comments, grudging, hysteria, shouting, shrieking, spraying spittle, slamming
doors, and/or throwing things, etc.
_
 
~
● Eph 4:26-27 . . Do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the
Devil.

The Greek word translated "wrath" indicates rage; defined by Webster's as violent
and uncontrolled anger; and in this verse includes nursing a grudge.

People in that state of mind are susceptible to doing things, and saying things, that
they will very much regret later.

Apparently the Devil is quick to find uses for volcanic, seething Christians, i.e. they
become what's known in the spy business as assets.
_
 
~
● Eph 4:28 . . He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing
something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with
those in need.

Isn't it just amazing that early Christian church members were active criminals?
Yes, right there in the Ephesian church were thieves. Ironically Paul didn't forbid
the Ephesian Christians to steal, no, of all things; he ordered them to stop; and not
only to stop stealing, but to stop stealing for a living!

You'd think church would be the one place on earth where you'd be safe from
crime, but not so. Back in the 1970's I sang bass in the choir of a monster Baptist
church in San Diego. The 90+ member choir met in a rehearsal room and the ladies
would all leave their purses in there when we moved out to be seated in the loft.
The room had a very sturdy door and was always securely locked when we left the
room.

Well, one Sunday morning when we returned to the room, that Fort Knox door and
its lock were smashed open and all the ladies' purses were rifled. No other door in
the hallway was damaged so the break-in wasn't random, viz: that burglary was an
inside job.
_
 
~
● Eph 4:29 . . Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good
and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

"helpful" is from a Greek word that basically means: to build up (as opposed to
tearing down).

"foul or abusive" is from a word that basically means: rotten, i.e. worthless (literally
or morally) viz: inappropriate.

The foul and abusive category no doubt includes not only profanity, but also biting
sarcasm, thoughtless remarks, demeaning comments, chafing, relentless fault
finding, sneering, ridicule, mean spirited rejoinders, mockery, and unnecessary
criticism.

FAQ: Why was it okay for Jesus and John the Baptist to sometimes speak to people
in an abusive manner?

REPLY: Special men of God-- e.g. prophets, priests, etc --operated under orders
differing from what's required of ordinary rank and file pew warmers. (e.g. John
3:34, John 8:26, John 8:28, John 12:49, and John 14:24)
_
 
~
● Eph 4:30 . . Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for
the day of redemption.

The Greek word translated "grieve" basically means: to distress; to make sad; for
example:

"The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the Earth, and that every
intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Lord was sorry that
He had made man on the Earth, and He was grieved in His heart." (Gen 6:5-6)

And:

"But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; so He turned Himself against them
as an enemy, and He fought against them." (Isa 63:10)

So then, we can safely conclude that the Holy Spirit of God is especially grieved
when one's conduct is unbecoming, and when every intent of the thoughts of one's
heart are only secular and/or impious, i.e. evil continually.

The Greek word translated "redemption" means to ransom fully. In short, those
sealed with the Spirit have their salvation locked in; however, it won't be finalized
until they step into a new, immortal body; which is yet a future event (Rom 8:23
25). So then; the "day of redemption" could be said to be speaking of closure.
_
 
~
● Eph 4:31 . . Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as
well as all types of malicious behavior.

It wasn't Paul's intention that the Ephesian Christians avoid all bitterness, rage and
anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice; no; on the contrary,
he wanted the Ephesians to "get rid" of them; which implies their spiritual condition,
at the time of his writing, was in need of attention.
_
 
~
● Eph 4:32 . . Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, jus
as in Christ God forgave you.

"as in Christ God forgave you" speaks of generosity rather than a merit award.
(John 3:16-18, John 5:24, & Eph 2:5-10)

Within the context of the letter Paul wrote and sent to the Christians residing in the
ancient city of Ephesus; the objects "one another" and "each other" are exclusive;
viz: the comments refer only to Christ's fraternity of Bible believing Christians
rather than the world at large. So if you're unwilling to be kind and compassionate
to outsiders; at least be so with people at church so as to help prevent church from
becoming a hostile worship environment.

The Greek word translated "kind" basically means employed; viz: useful. It's found
in only seven places in the New Testament, and without exception implies being
beneficial to others for their own good rather than using people to benefit one's
own self.

It used to be that Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts were trained to be useful to others as
just simply a matter of good deeds and good citizenship. I don't know, maybe they
still are; but I've known lots of churchians who were totally useless to others
because they're infected with an ugly spirit of conceit, rivalry, and indifference. Far
from being kind and compassionate; those Christians are actually sociopathic and
don't even know it.

The word for "compassionate" basically means sympathetic.

Webster's defines sympathy as: 1) an affinity, association, or relationship between
persons or things wherein whatever affects one similarly affects the other, 2)
inclination to think or feel alike: emotional or intellectual accord, 3) feeling of
loyalty: tendency to favor or support, 4) the act, or capacity, of entering into or
sharing the feelings or interests of another, 5) sensitivity, and 6) heart; as in "have
a heart".

The word translated "forgiving" basically means to grant as a favor; viz:
gratuitously, i.e. courtesy.

Webster's defines gratuitous as: 1) given unearned or without recompense, 2) not
involving a return benefit or compensation or consideration, 3) costing nothing:
free, 4) not called for by the circumstances: unwarranted, 5) complimentary, 6)
gratis, and 7) voluntary. In other words; gratuitous seeks no reciprocation; it
never says "you owe me one"

Sailors are oft heard to say that the sea is very unforgiving: meaning it allows no
room for error or weakness. Christians ought not be like the sea. We ought to be
the most forgiving people on the planet; and not because we expect others to
reciprocate; but just because we enjoy being gratuitous. For some Christians
though, courtesy is an effort.

Eph 4:31-32 isn't easy. What we're looking at there is not just good citizenship; no,
what we're looking at is something divine in both its nature and its behavior.
_
 
~
● Eph 5:1 . . Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children

Webster's defines "imitate" as to follow as a pattern, model, or example, i.e. copy.

The imitation mentioned herein is related to the previous exhortation to be
compassionate to one another and forgiving; which is a reflection of Matt 5:44-48.

* One's dad is probably the most important role model a kid can have, that is, if
he's a good man; otherwise, he'll just be another bad influence. It's pretty kool
when a kid can look at their dad and honestly say, from the bottom of their heart:
"Dad; when I grow up, I want to be just like you".
_
 
~
● Eph 5:2 . . Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as
a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

There were times when Jesus came down on folks pretty hard, but basically he was
a benevolent guy: very helpful, very patient, and very accommodating.

The kind of love spoken of in that passage is very easy to exemplify. It's translated
from the Greek word agape (ag-ah'-pay) which can be either affection or
benevolence; but more often it's just benevolence. (e.g. John 3:16 & Matt 5:45)

Benevolence is typically helpful rather than harmful; and consists of common
courtesy, kindness, generosity, charity, sympathy, pity, civility, deference, lenience,
tolerance, gentleness, etc; which were no doubt all effective in compelling Christ to
lend his life to rescue his fellow man from the terrible event depicted by Rev 20:11-15.
_
 
Olde Tymer said:
.
Hello;

There's been times during our 26+ years of internet forum activity when we
encountered people wanting to know what they're supposed to do now that they
decided to become a Christian.

A mega Baptist church that we attended back in the decade of the 1970's had a
discipleship program that incorporated an outreach booklet called "The Four
Spiritual Laws" authored in 1952 by Campus Crusade for Christ founder Dr. Bill
Bright.

Those guidelines are helpful as far as they go, but they're pretty elementary and in
our opinion inadequate for taking Christ's believing followers to infinity and beyond,
so to speak.

Some years ago, just for the fun of it, we set out compiling a home-spun catalogue
of Christ's instructions from the new Testament that apply to all his followers
regardless of denominational affiliation. In time we realized that his instructions,
accompanied by a little commentary, would make a pretty good how-to handbook;
so here we are.

* We chose to start in the book of Acts because that's pretty much where Christ's
apostles began telling his believing followers what to do in accord with the Lord's
instructions per Matt 28:19-20.

Buen Camino
Pleasant Journey
_
Click to expand...
New converts still have to pass Legalism 101 in the Baptist churches.
 
~
● Eph 5:3a . . Among you; there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality

"among you" indicates Paul's concern for a particular congregation, i.e. a local
church. Anyone familiar with the Jews' history in the Old Testament has seen just
how harmful immorality was for God's people.

* One of Chinese Communism's tactics when going about destabilizing a country
and bringing it under their influence is to corrupt its morals; which is at least one of
the reasons why they seek to undermine and/or eradicate religions and ideologies
that encourage piety.
_
 
~
● Eph 5:3b . . Among you; there must not be any kind of impurity, or of greed

Impurities can be defined as contamination and/or pollutants. For example water is
impure when it contains fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides, parasites, heavy metals
like lead and cadmium, untreated sewage, and/or radioactive fall-out from a
nuclear accident.

It's tempting to zoom in on naughty fantasies and porn-like behavior as the
impurities that Paul is talking about; but any conduct unbecoming is an impurity.

So then, maybe you're an usher in church; but are you dishonest? And maybe you
sing in the choir, but are you a malicious gossip? And maybe you attend mid-week
prayer meetings; but do you deny your children even common courtesy and their
fundamental human rights? And maybe you teach Sunday school, but do you go
over the speed limit, feed parking meters, J-walk, and drift through stop signs? And
maybe you even stand in the pulpit; but do you have a drinking problem?

Webster's defines "greed" as avarice; which is an excessive, or insatiable, desire for
wealth or gain. Wanting money per se isn't sin. It's wanting money simply for the
sake of accumulating it that's bad.

Ben Franklin once said a penny saved, is a penny earned; but to greedy people a
penny saved is a penny stockpiled. Were you to ask a greedy person to name the
dollar figure and/or the amount of real estate that would satisfy them, they would
likely respond: "more"
_
 
~
● Eph 5:4 . . Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are
out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

"out of place" is a pretty good way to put it; sort of like a fish out of water, viz:
heavenly people are mature up there, and really ought to be down here.

The Greek word translated "foolish talk" basically means silliness, viz: buffoonery.

Webster's defines a buffoon as: 1) a ludicrous figure; viz: a clown, and 2) a gross,
and usually ill-educated stupid person; viz: an ignoramus. I think I would put
"gross" high on the list of undesirable buffoon-type behaviors. It's okay for kids to
be gross, but thoroughly unbecoming for a mature adult.

The word for "coarse joking" basically means witticism in a vulgar sense; viz:
ribaldry. Double entendres would probably fall into that category along with
suggestive remarks.

The word for "thanksgiving" basically means gratitude; viz: grateful, appreciative
language.

You know "thank you" is not a dirty word, nor is gratitude a bad habit. Christ's
people should never take the attitude that just because somebody is doing their job
that they don't deserve recognition.

One of my favorite romantic comedies is "No Reservations" starring Catherine Zeta
Jones and Aaron Eckhart. Prior to filming, Catherine took a job waiting tables to get
a feel for working in a restaurant.

On several occasions, patrons didn't even look up at her nor speak in a cordial,
courteous tone when they ordered. It struck her as remarkable that some of the
people whom she was serving totally took her for granted and displayed not the
slightest inclination to even so much as acknowledge her as a fellow human being,
let alone express any gratitude for her taking care of them.
_
 
~
● Eph 5:5-7 . . For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--
such a man is an idolater --has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of
God. Let no one deceive you with futile words, for because of such things God's
wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be numbered among
them.

Immoral is translated from a Greek word related to prostitution, i.e. naughty.

Impure is from a word related to filth, i.e. dirty habits.

Greedy is from a word related to avarice, i.e. grasping; never content with enough.

It appears then, that idolatry isn't limited to the respects one might pay to a tin god
like Ganesha, Persephone, and/or Minerva but includes an all-out ambition for life's
guilty pleasures.

Seeing as it's an absolute certainty that those three impious behaviors are all hell
worthy; then we must concede they are thoroughly unbecoming for a people so
closely associated with God as are Jesus' followers.

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above,
not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
(Col 3:1-4)

"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been
made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall
see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is
pure." (1John 3:2-3)
_
 
~
● Eph 5:8-9 . . For you were once darkness, but now you are light in The Lord. Live
as children of light (for its fruit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth)

Goodness is from a Greek word pertaining to benevolence, i.e. kindness.

Righteousness is from a word pertaining to fairness, i.e. lacking bias, disparity, and
or favoritism.

Truth is from a word pertaining to verity, i.e. fact; actual.

When a Christian is exemplifying and/or practicing those three elements of light,
something miraculous is taking place that's best described by the verse below:

"If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, the He who
raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His
spirit, who lives if you." (Rom 8:11)

That verse isn't talking about the resurrected bodies that Jesus' followers are on
track to receive in the future. Those bodies won't be mortal; they will be immortal.
So then, the verse is speaking of improvements that take place for us now, prior to
our passing on.

According to Rom 7:5-25 the bodies we have now literally drive us to sin. However,
the Spirit of Him who raised up Jesus is well able to overcome those drives; thus
freeing his followers from permanent slavery to their natural impulses. (cf. Jer
31:31-34 & Ezek 36:24-27)
_
 
~
● Eph 5:10 . . Find out what pleases The Lord.

You know how to make God happy? Easy: just give Him what He wants; that's how
Jesus did it.

"He that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always
those things that please Him." (John 8:29)

This is speaking of the process of discovery, i.e. research and investigation; which
involves learning by means of books, sermons, lectures, seminars, radio Bible
teachers, Sunday school classes, and personal Bible reading.

"Seek The Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked
forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to The Lord, and He will
have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. For My thoughts are
not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways-- declares The Lord. As the
heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My
thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa 55:6-9)

This work has to include the Old Testament in total to avoid the possibility of
missing important principles because that which pleases The Lord isn't limited to
commandments carved in stone.

"For whatever things were written before were written for our learning" (Rom 15:4)

"Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our
admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come." (1Cor 10:11)
_
 
~
● Eph 5:11-12 . . Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather
expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of what the disobedient do in secret.

For example: Genesis is mute about the despicable things that the Sodomites had
in mind for the two men sheltered in Lot's home. It's as if inspiration drew a curtain
over Sodom and said: This is just too shocking. I'm not going to spell out what the
people of Sodom wanted that night. You will just have to use your imagination.

Jude didn't give away much either. He simply, and concisely, wrote that they were
utterly unchaste, and longed for inappropriate relations; even to the point of having
their way with innocent visitors. (Jude 1:7)

I think it's fair to ask just exactly how one might "expose" shameful deeds without
at least identifying them and/or describing them to some degree.

The Greek word for "shameful" basically pertains to indecorum; defined by
Webster's as: impropriety. In other words, despicable acts should never be
described explicitly in polite company, nor in the presence of children; which quite
obviously precludes the use of a pulpit for explicit descriptions since congregations
are an aggregate of men, women, wives, husbands, dads, moms, and underage
children.

I don't think The Lord's instructions forbid any and all mention of despicable acts.
In other words, they don't say that we cannot speak in polite company about how
that the Bible disapproves gays, lesbians, bestiality and pedophiles, etc. just so
long as we don't start describing those disturbing facts of life in all their lurid detail.
_
 
~
● Eph 5:11-12 . . Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather
expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of what the disobedient do in secret.

For example: Genesis is mute about the despicable things that the Sodomites had
in mind for the two men sheltered in Lot's home. It's as if inspiration drew a curtain
over Sodom and said: This is just too shocking. I'm not going to spell out what the
people of Sodom wanted that night. You will just have to use your imagination.

Jude didn't give away much either. He simply, and concisely, wrote that they were
utterly unchaste, and longed for inappropriate relations; even to the point of having
their way with innocent visitors. (Jude 1:7)

I think it's fair to ask just exactly how one might "expose" shameful deeds without
at least identifying them and/or describing them to some degree.

The Greek word for "shameful" basically pertains to indecorum; defined by
Webster's as: impropriety. In other words, despicable acts should never be
described explicitly in polite company, nor in the presence of children; which quite
obviously precludes the use of a pulpit for explicit descriptions since congregations
are an aggregate of men, women, wives, husbands, dads, moms, and underage
children.

I don't think The Lord's instructions forbid any and all mention of despicable acts.
In other words, they don't say that we cannot speak in polite company about how
that the Bible disapproves gays, lesbians, bestiality and pedophiles, etc. just so
long as we don't start describing those disturbing facts of life in all their lurid detail.
_
 
~
● Eph 5:14 . .Wake up, O sleeper! . . rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on
you.

That exhortation seems sort of like preaching to the choir especially when it's
considered that the letter to the Ephesians was written to Christian folk for whom
Paul said all that glowing stuff in the very first chapter.

Sleeper and dead are probably talking about indifference. So Paul's remark likely
targets Christians who honestly think that compliance with their Lord's commands
is not all that important.

"Brothers, we have an obligation-- not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die." (Rom 8:12-13, cf. John
15;1-11)

Christianity is not only a faith to believe in, but it's also a faith to live by

"Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (Jas 2:17)

Dead faith is still a faith, but it's not a vigorous faith, viz: dead faith lacks a lifestyle
that's compatible with divine values. (cf. 1Thess 5:5-11)
_
 

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