Take Away - SOM 10

I am still processing the Sermon on the Mount. I have gone through the 25 posts and edited them for clarity and to revisit them for myself. Now I want to look at the applications I should be making for myself.

SOM - Part 10

 So adultery is wrong? I think that there are many who would argue that point today, even many "Christians." I think Christianity in many regards is not a rock, but a sponge, absorbing culture and embracing lifestyles in order to fit in. I know that is extremely unpopular, and some would even label it as hate speech perhaps. Jesus takes it even farther though, making lust wrong (dare I say a sin?). There are none who are guiltless, are there? I believe that was His point.

I made a statement in the original post of these verses (Matthew 5:27-30) It is that "we may have to make sacrifices rather than alter the meaning of God's commands." I think that today I see a lot more altering than I do sacrificing. How many times have I heard, "Does the Bible really say that?" And if by some chance that answer is yes, it is quickly followed by, "But is that what it really means?" 

Take Away: I am a sinner. Whether it is because I have committed adultery or only had lustful thoughts. I still shudder at how unpopular that thought is. Not only unpopular, but rallied against, even by "Christians." But I am also saved by grace. Whether I have committed adultery or only had lustful thoughts. There is only one unforgiveable sin according to the Bible, and that is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 12:31-33) Although there are different interpretations as to what that actually is, in my understanding I have not crossed that line. The Bible speaks about our behavior a lot. Here are just a few examples:

• Galatians 5:16-26
• Romans 12:9-21
• Ephesians 4:25-32
• 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

But these verses from the Sermon on the Mount help me understand what I need to know in order to do those things. First, I need to recognize I am a sinner. I need to have a strong desire to change (repent). So strong, that I am willing to give up those things that are very near and dear to me, even as near and dear as my right eye or right hand. Call it hitting bottom or desperation, I need to understand that without Jesus I am lost. This will lead me to the potential to see and embrace the grace of God. Salvation is not a 90 degree turn to the left where I separate myself from sin. Nor is it a 90 degree turn to the right where I give myself to Jesus. It is a 180 degree turn where I turn my back on sin and embrace Christ. I follow Him completely because I know that ultimately there is nothing more important than living in the grace that God accomplished for me through Jesus. 

Impact of Anger (Ephesians 4:25-32)

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 4:25-32

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

COMMENT

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another

The lie has been put away, the lie that we can live as we once did, in darkness. The lie that God does not exist or that worship is some kind of carnal game. Now we speak truth. We speak Jesus. Not a list of rules or commandments, but a life that results in change. We speak this truth not just for ourselves, but within a community of believers. As part of a body, and as part of a body, we seek the good of the whole rather than just the individual.

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil

Yes, there will be times we disagree. But do not let your anger or bitterness get the best of you. Holding on to anger only increases the fact that you will not act in accordance with the gospel.

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear

Change. Repent. That is the summary of how we should behave. Don't take this as a list of to-dos, but rather as examples of what repentance might look like.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption

Do not allow your actions to be outside of what repentance demands of you.

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you

Forgive. Whether 70 times 7 or 77 times, the idea is do not keep track. God did not give up on you!

Context!! (Romans 10:5-10)

SCRIPTURE

Romans 10:5-10

For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

COMMENT

I tend to hear the latter part of this section a lot. To me, it is the closest you can come to the "say a prayer and you're saved" thinking of some. All you have to do is confess Jesus, and only once! All you have to do is believe, if only for a moment! But what about the larger context?

In this section, Paul is apparently referencing Deut. 30:11-14. He is reminding the reader that God's commandments are not our of reach, and sharing the importance of the fact that a life of faith does not use the excuse that we cannot live a sinless life, so God does not expect that from us. Then Paul speaks of believing in our heart, not a one time belief or statement, but a belief that has changed us (repentance). Confession, likewise, is not a one time statement or action, but the result of our belief. This is for all, not just the Jew. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. No, we will not attain perfection this side of eternity. If that were true, then there would have to be a point when our sanctification stopped, because we had achieved perfection. But we strive, we keep pressing on, we do not give up. 

Because I Say So...Not (Galatians 6:1-5)

SCRIPTURE

Galatians 6:1-5

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. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.

COMMENT

So on the surface, it seems as though Paul is now preaching a type of law based Christianity. But in light of everything he has said prior to this, that does not make sense. I think the critical understanding here comes from how you interpret the word transgression, and who is doing the determining of what a transgression is. I note that Paul says that those who are spiritual should be doing the restoration, so I assume they are also doing the determination of what is a transgression. The ones who are spiritual are those who are led by the Spirit, and not under the law. But just because there is no law against something does not mean that all things are beneficial, and they would know this. So their determination would not be based upon a set criteria or set of rules, but rather on what is most beneficial for the individual involved and the cause of Christ. The danger here is that some who think they are spiritual will also think that they have the authority to tell others what to do. I think this is unavoidable. This is why Paul tells them to keep watch. Not, perhaps that they will be drawn into the sin of the one caught in transgression, but rather that they will get a big fat head seeing themselves as spiritual and able to tell others what to do. Look at the words that follow: Bear one another's burdens (put yourself in the place of the one whom you are trying to restore), and if you think you are something when you are nothing (big head syndrome), you are fooling yourself! Now when he says that each will have to bear his own load, he is not contradicting what he just said, he is simply stating that if you seek to take the roll of helping someone, you had best do it correctly, not in a burdensome way (legalistic), for that is a load that each must bear on their own.

I Find This Amazing! (Galatians 3:21-29)

SCRIPTURE

Galatians 3:21-29
Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

COMMENT

A few thoughts: First, what an interesting comment to say that Scripture imprisoned everything under sin. Paul does not blame us, but that does not make us innocent. It is the law that accuses, and the law is found in Scripture. We are guilty because there is a law, without a law we could not be convicted. But that leads to the second thought, the law was put in place so that the promise could be fulfilled. One of God's characteristics is love, and for some that is all they want to talk about. But another is holiness, and holiness demands a standard. Just like we need law to be guilty, God needs law to show us that He holy and perfect. So the law reveals our guilt, and it reveals His holiness.

Who is above the law? Heirs of the King. The king, by virtue of relationship, declares them innocent. So the only way we can be declared a blood relative of the King is through the blood of Jesus. Where the law once declared us guilty, it now reveals our innocence. We are Abraham's offspring through faith, and as such, heirs to the promise given to him.

Raising the Bar...Matthew 5:21-26

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 5:21-26

COMMENTS

I think that most would agree that murder is a sin. And as such, it deserves judgement. But anger? How do we stop from being angry? It is an emotion, not an action. To insult someone, to actually say it out loud, and you can be held liable for your words. But to suffer hell just for calling someone a fool? That seems a bit extreme.

Jesus is making a strong point here, and it is that we are all guilty and deserve judgement. I think of Romans 3:23. He continues this thought with the idea of making an offering while in conflict with a brother. He tells us to resolve the conflict first. Not that we cannot make the offering, but don't come to God making an offering to cleanse yourself in one area of your life, while still holding on to other areas that need addressed. If you have an opportunity to settle things with your brother, great. If you have to stand before the judge, that might not work out so well for you. If you are found guilty, you will never escape your judgement!

Remember the thoughts put forward in the beginning of the chapter, those putting forth the ideas of purity, humility, thirsting for righteousness? This is what Jesus is reinforcing. Cleanliness before God is not a matter of not violating the "big" laws, it is a matter of who you are inside. Don't think you can put God in your debt with gifts and offerings. The debt we owe is far beyond our ability to give.