Christ's Law

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● 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 care in taking care of them.
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● 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, viz: 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.

● Col 3:1-4 . . 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.
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● 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, then 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 impulses. (cf. Jer 31:31-34 &
Ezek 36:24-27)
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● Eph 5:10 . . Find out what pleases The Lord.

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)
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● 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.
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● 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.

● Rom 8:12-13 . . 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." ( cf. John
15;1-11)

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

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

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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[Eleanor]

● 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.

● Rom 8:12-13 . . 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." ( cf. John
15;1-11)

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

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

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)

Dead faith is not saving faith.

 

[Eleanor]

● Gal 1:8 . . Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto
you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
The Greek word for "accursed" in that passage basically has to do with banishment,
shunning and/or disassociation.

An application of this, within the epistle to Galatians, is 5:4 where it says:
"You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you
have fallen away from grace."
Whenever Paul spoke of "law" he was usually referring to the five books of Moses
per Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

However, in it's context, Paul was referring to circumcision.

So, in a nutshell; the
anathema clearly applies to people who insist that it's necessary to comply with the
Ten Commandments to get to Heaven, e.g. Acts 15:5.

 

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● Eph 5:15 . . So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise.

"Wise" of course meaning to live your life in such a way that it counts for Christ
instead of only counting for yourself and/or counting for the world. For example: if
you get pulled into the worlds of corporate management, political activism, and/or
civil disobedience; I can just about guarantee that your life is not counting for
Christ because those are really big distractions and sometimes its players have to
break the law, compromise their integrity, and/or play dirty to be effective.

The "fools" then can justly be described as people who live with little regard for
scruples; defined by Webster's as an ethical consideration or principle that inhibits
action. For example, the pioneer of a currently very popular social network stole the
idea. That particular theft of intellectual property broke no laws, but it was
unethical, ergo: it was the work of a fool rather than wise.
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● Eph 5:17 . .Therefore do not be uninformed, but understand what The Lord's will
is.

In other words: Christians are not supposed to fly by dead reckoning, rather, fly by
instruments: viz: fly intelligently; and that entails ground school before going up in
the air at the controls of an actual airplane.

Certain kinds of "play books" are essential to one's success. For example military
types can profit from studying "The Art Of War" by Sun Tzu, politicians can profit from
studying "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli, and socialists can profit from studying
"Utopia" by Thomas Moore.

Moses instructed his people that there is no need to go on a special "golden fleece"
quest to discover what The Lord's will is; either out in space nor across the ocean in
a foreign land. No, The Lord's will is easily accessible between the covers of even
the cheapest second-hand Bible on the shelves of a thrift store.

However; no Bible-- no matter how cheap, nor how expensive, nor what version--
is of any real use if it's not studied. But even systematic Bible study is quite
thwarted when the information isn't heeded.

● Jas 1:22-25 . . Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do
what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a
man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and
immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the
perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has
heard, but doing it-- he will be blessed in what he does.
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● Eph 5:18 . . Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be
filled with the Spirit.

( It isn't forbidden to drink; only to get intoxicated, a.k.a. hammered. )

Webster's defines "debauchery" as extreme indulgence in bodily pleasures. Alcohol,
then, can be a gateway vice leading to some much worse, e.g. controlled
substances and immorality.

Some people can limit themselves to one drink. But for many, that one quickly
becomes six.

I've heard of studies indicating that some people have a genetic weakness for
alcohol, viz: a natural-born predilection. Nevertheless, drunkenness is sin and
Christians are under orders to subdue it.

● Col 3:5 . . So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you.

Why do people get plastered anyway? Isn't it to make themselves feel good and
better able to cope with life's difficulties? Alcohol therefore could be said to be an
antidote to one's existence.

So in that respect, alcohol is a crutch. I'm not saying a crutch is a bad thing; I
mean, after all, God created Eve as a crutch for Adam so then if all crutches are
bad, then women are bad too. No, crutches per se are not bad; it's one's choice of
crutch that matters.

God's Spirit is a crutch for believers; but His effectiveness is moderated by their
conduct.

● Rom 8:13 . . If you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the
Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,

In other words; Christ's followers should not expect to be filled with the Spirit when
their conduct is unbecoming.
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● Eph 5:19 . . Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs:
singing and making melody with your heart to The Lord

That verse is actually pretty good justification for a church choir; but I really think it
should also be used to justify hymn books in the pews too so the congregation can
all sing together. And make very sure the topics of your music are a credit to The
Lord rather than tradition's celebrities; e.g. saints, angels, and/or Jesus' mom.
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● Eph 5:20 . . Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ.

Moses' people were so accustomed to God's providence that they began to take it
for granted, and would get upset with Him when He failed to produce. Be on your
guard; don't let that happen.

"We should not test the Lord, as some of them did-- and were killed by snakes. And
do not grumble, as some of them did-- and were killed by the destroying angel.
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings
for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are
standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! (1 Cor 10:9-12)

"in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" indicates that any and all providence that
comes our way is due to Christ's work on the cross. It was his sacrifice for the sins
of the world that makes it possible for God to come alongside and bless rather than
curse. We don't ever want to forget that.
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● Eph 5:21 . . Submit to one another out of respect for Christ.

The Greek word translated "respect" basically means fright; which is intended that
way quite a few times throughout the New Testament. But I really don't think this
verse is saying Jesus' followers should be afraid of him like folks will be gripped
with terror during the Tribulation; e.g. Rev 6:15-17.

No; here in Ephesians respect is likely speaking of a social grace whereby we're
careful to avoid disappointing folks who mean a great deal to us like spouses,
grandchildren, and BFF.

The Greek word translated "submit" means to subordinate (as a verb) which is just
the opposite of equality, dominance, and/or control. A workable synonym for the
kind of submission we're talking about here is "deference" which Webster's defines
as: affected, or ingratiating, regard for others' wishes; viz: honor.

So then; this isn't about a pecking order. What we're talking about here is
consideration; defined by Webster's as thoughtful of the rights, and the feelings, of
others.

The thing is: it means a lot to Christ when we regard people as worthy of more
honor than ourselves not because we have to, but because doing so makes his day.
(cf. John 14:23)
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● Eph 5:22 . .Wives, submit to your husbands as to The Lord.

In other words; it's not the husband himself who merits his wife's best behavior,
rather, it's his position in the home. For example:

"To the woman he said: Your husband . . he will rule over you." (Gen 3:16)

Adam is ranked superior to Eve not because of his gender, rather, because he's the
senior of the two, i.e. Adam was created first, and afterwards the woman was
constructed with material taken from his body; thus all men, including Christ, are
entitled to seniority relative to women simply by virtue of the fact that Adam is the
paterfamilias of all women, beginning with Eve, regardless of age, race, color, and/or
religious preference.

So then:

"Demonstrate your fear of God by standing up in the presence of elderly people and
showing respect for the aged. I am The Lord." (Lev 19:32)

Rising to one's feet for the elders among us carries over to revering God because
He too is an elder among us. God likely doesn't look His age-- except maybe in a
figure of speech, e.g. Dan 7:9 --but we really should keep in mind that He's among
us as not only a better, but also a senior. So we would do well to step aside for
God, carry His bags, and/or hold a door open for Him not only because he's a deity
and a monarch, but mainly because He's older.

The Greek word for "submit" is the very same for submit in Eph 5:21 which
shouldn't be taken to mean wives are supposed to take orders from their husbands
as if marriage were an arrangement similar to a monarch and a commoner. What
we're talking about here is deference rather than obedience. An attitude of
deference is mandatory for Christians on both sides of the gender aisle-- both men
and women.

Deference is agreeable, approachable, tactful, and diplomatic. Deference isn't
confrontational, demanding, assertive, militant, dominating, nor always clamoring:
I am woman! Hear me roar!

In a nutshell: deference is just the opposite of defiance. Christian wives striving for
equality with their men have not yet learned what it means to associate with a
husband as they would Christ.
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● Eph 5:23-24 . . For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of
the church, his body, of which he is the savior. Now as the church submits to
Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Christians, no less, have tried to circumvent those instructions by quoting Paul to
refute Paul; for example Gal 3:26-28

But if we were to make Gal 3:26-28 a rule in family affairs; then Christian
marriages would be non binary unisex arrangements; and that, to say the least, is
quite unacceptable.

Though both husband and wife are equals as believers, and equally Christ's body,
they are definitely not equals in marriage though they be one flesh; just as Christ
and his Father are not equals in the Godhead though they be one deity.
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[Eleanor]

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● Eph 5:23-24 . . For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of
the church, his body, of which he is the savior. Now as the church submits to
Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Christians, no less, have tried to circumvent those instructions by quoting Paul to
refute Paul; for example Gal 3:26-28
But if we were to make Gal 3:26-28 a rule in family affairs; then Christian
marriages would be non binary unisex arrangements; and that, to say the least, is
quite unacceptable.
Though both husband and wife are equals as believers, and equally Christ's body,

they are definitely not equals in marriage though they be one flesh; just as Christ
and his Father are not equals in the Godhead though they be one deity.

Husband and wife are absolutely equal, just as employer and employee are absolutely equal.
However, their roles are different in their relationships.

 

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● Eph 5:25-27 . . Husbands love your wives, etc.

The English word translated "love" in that passage is conjugated from the Greek
verb agapao which is a very easy kind of love to practice because it's more about
benevolence than affection: agapao-- unlike phileo --doesn't require that we like
people or be fond of them.

Examples of agapao are: kindness, courtesy, greetings, civility, loyalty,
thoughtfulness, sympathy, loyalty, lenience, tolerance, patience, charity, long
suffering, deference, hospitality, generosity, etc.

This is very fortunate because some wives are impossible to like. However, the
command to love one's enemies also applies in a man's relationship with a difficult
woman who's just as much his enemy as any other.
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● Eph 5:28-33a . . Husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who
loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds
and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-- for we are members of his body.

. . . For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his
wife, and the two will become one flesh. That's a profound mystery-- but I am
talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his
wife as he loves himself,

That, of course, is a practical application of the so-called golden rule; which first
shows up in the Bible at Lev 19:18, is applied at Lev 19:34, and reiterated at Matt
7:12 and Luke 6:31.

The opposite of the golden rule would be for a husband to do unto his wife the very
things that he does not enjoy being done to himself; either by word or by deed.

I'm not a qualified marriage counselor, but in my unprofessional opinion, were
couples to practice the golden rule in their association with each other, it would go
a long ways towards preventing their relationship from becoming a cold war instead
of a home.

There are toxic wives out there who do not deserve their husband's affections; and
in fact have done all in their power to destroy them. Nevertheless, it is his Christian
duty to continue looking after her, and to treat her well as if his very life depended
upon it in spite of the fact that she may be someone he deeply regrets courting.
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● Eph 5:33b . . The wife must respect her husband.

The Greek verb for "respect" essentially refers to fright; and is used just that way in
numerous places throughout the New Testament.

Some translate it "reverence" defined by Webster's as honor or respect; felt or
shown; which means that wives don't especially have to like their husbands in order
to respect them, nor even have to admire them. An attitude of respect will do in
lieu of felt respect. In other words: the Christian wife would do well to stifle the
disgust she feels for husband and make an effort to be civil. (Matt 5:43-48, Luke
6:31-33)

I overheard a female caller on radio imperiously announcing to Dr. Laura that she
couldn't respect her husband. So Dr. Laura asked her why. The caller responded:
Because he doesn't deserve it. So Laura asked the caller: Have you earned your
husband's love? The caller retorted: I don't have to deserve his love. It's a
husband's duty to love his wife just as she is.

So Laura pointed out that the caller was practicing a double standard. She
demanded that her husband love her unconditionally, while refusing to respect him
unconditionally. And on top of that; had the chutzpah to dictate the rules of
engagement regardless of how her husband might feel about it; thus making
herself not only impossible to like, but also quite difficult to live with.
_