Christ's Law

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● Eph 6:1 . . Children, obey your parents in The Lord, for this is right.

The Greek word translated "obey" in that verse basically means to pay attention;
viz: to heed; to mind.

The primary reason given for children minding their parents is simply that it's the
right thing to do.

The parents of the command are "in The Lord" in other words, this rule doesn't
pertain to kids with secular parents; which is a good loop hole because there may
come times for kids to disobey their parents out of loyalty to a higher power. (cf.
Matt 4:10, Matt 10:37)

Incidentally, notice how little the respect that parents get from their insolent
progeny in modern television sit-coms, Hollywood movies, and advertising. It's a
reflection of modern American culture's attitude towards doing what's right. Kids
today are encouraged to do what's wrong in their homes instead of doing what's
right. Modern entertainment trains children how to be demonic instead of divine.

* Kids that mind their parents are usually much the happier for it. The brats and
the rebellious typically end up living in a home that's more like Hell than Heaven.
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● Eph 6:2-3 . . Honor your father and mother-- which is the first commandment
with a promise --that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on
the earth.

The promise doesn't guarantee long life; it promises that, should you perchance
survive to a ripe old age, they'll be good years. In other words; though a demon
seed may live long and prosper, that doesn't necessarily mean they'll have a
pleasant time of it. Things like happiness, peace, love, understanding, satisfaction,
and contentment may end up eluding them every step of the way.

The Greek word translated "honor" in Eph 6:2 basically means to prize, viz: to fix a
valuation upon; to revere, to think highly of.

The very same word is used at Matt 15:4-6 where Jesus related the fifth
commandment to caring for one's dependent parents. Compare that to 1Tim 5:4
where it's said:

"If a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their
religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents
and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God."

I should point out that one's parents need not be deserving of honor. They only
need to be one's parents; whether good parents or bad parents makes no
difference. Compare that to Lev 19:32 where respect for senior citizens is required
merely because God says so. The citizen need not earn people's respect; all that's
required of them is old age.
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● Eph 6:4 . . Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the
training and instruction of The Lord.

Too often the first half of that verse is omitted and the focus swung entirely upon
the second. Well; let's break ranks and include the first half for a change because a
daddy's parenting style has far more effect upon a growing child than his religion.

To begin with: despotism, tyranny, totalitarianism, and injustice are not The Lord's
way of raising kids; but rather; His way is the manner of a shepherd; and "good"
shepherds aren't cruel to their flocks.

Maybe you don't burn your kids with cigarettes, pour Tabasco sauce in their eyes,
or lock them in a hall closet without food and water for two days; but do you ignore
their opinions, demean them with denigrating labels, ridicule them, threaten their
lives, work them as slaves without compensation, deny them things just so you
won't appear to indulge them, and/or say "no" to their requests for no good reason
than that you don't want to seem weak and under their control?

Do you routinely abuse their human rights, and/or relegate them to the level of
livestock rather than bona fide human beings with feelings and a mind of their own?
Do you nurture within them a feeling of importance, of belonging in your home, or
do you make them feel like an invasive species and/or an uninvited guest? Kids pick
up on things like that.
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● Eph 6:5-6 . . Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with
sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their
favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from
your heart.

The Greek word translated "slaves" is ambiguous; it can mean slaves by either
voluntary or involuntary means.

The first would be something like an indentured slave; which Webster's defines as a
contract binding one person to work for another for a given period of time. Jacob is
a good biblical example of indentured slavery. He sold fourteen years of his life to
uncle Laban in exchange for Rachel's hand in marriage. (Gen 29:18, Gen 29:27)

The practical application applies to giving one's employer an honest day's work for
an honest day's pay. But pay is not really the primary issue. Subordination is the
primary issue, and has been in this epistle since 5:21. Christ's followers may not
like the idea, but they are not independent agents with Christ; no, he owns them:
bought and paid for as flesh on the line.

"You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your
body." (1Cor 6:19-20)

So then, the Father's people really ought to serve workplace employers with a
conscientious regard for their indentured-slavery status with Christ; which is really
difficult for American believers because their country has such an abhorrence for
slavery and such a high regard for freedom, revolution, and independence; and
when they're mistreated and/or treated unfairly, they react; which is not always a
good thing for Christians to do.(1Pet 2:18-19)
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● Eph 6:9a . . And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten
them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in Heaven,

I have yet to discover a passage in the Bible either condemning or forbidding
slavery. I'm not saying there are none; it's just that as for myself, I have yet to run
across one. But I have discovered passages related to the treatment of slaves.

"in the same way" hails back to Eph 6:7 where it says:

"With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men"

Note that herein masters are not required to liberate their slaves; rather, to treat
them with good will; roughly defined as benevolent interest or concern, i.e.
kindness and charity.

In a situation where both the slave and his owner are Christians, things become
just a bit complicated because they're siblings together in God's family (Gal 3:28).
Therefore, Christ's law is to be exemplified by both the slave and his master.

● John 15:12-13 . . My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

A slave owner willing to sacrifice his life to protect his slaves would be an unusual
master; but that is the very thing expected from him when he's a Christian and his
slaves are Christians; and should probably be the attitude of a Christian supervisor
towards his Christian employees: which is the attitude of a good shepherd rather
than that of a self-serving predator.
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● Phil 1:27 . .Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the
gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my
absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for
the faith of the gospel.

"conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ" is talking about
Christian social skills, e.g. kindness, courtesy, tact, diplomacy, tolerance, lenience,
civility, encouragement, sympathy, compassion, etc.

Those kinds of behaviors have the effect of bonding people instead of alienating
them. When people are bonded, they are more likely to pull together instead of
working independently and/or against each other as competitors and/or rivals.
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● Phil 1:28 . . In nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident
token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

That terror is likely relative to threats, coercion, intimidation, public opinion,
vandalism, rumors, 24/7 surveillance, tattling, lock downs, filtered information,
censoring, isolation, searches and seizures, raids, imprisonment, privation, insanely
huge bail bonds, long prison sentences for minor infractions, travel restrictions,
denial of basic human rights and civil liberties, limited medical care, frozen bank
accounts, black-outs of financial services (credit cards, debit cards, and ATM
machines) watch lists, and physical violence, etc.

NOTE: The Greek word translated "granted" basically means to bestow as a favor,
i.e. a gratuity. In other words: the adversities described above should never be
cursed as bad luck when they just might actually be providential blessings.

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as
though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as you are
partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be
glad also with exceeding joy." (1Pet 4:12-13)
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● Phil 2:1-2 . . If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any
comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and
compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same
love, being one in spirit and purpose.

These particular instructions are limited to a very narrow cross section of society
whom Jesus labeled: "those you have given me" (John 17:9). It is they for whom
Christ prayed for unity. (John 17:11, John 17:21-22)

The Greek word translated "tenderness and compassion" pertains to one's bowels
which is where we "feel" pity and/or sympathy for others. Well, needless to say:
feelings are easy to imitate, but not so easy to duplicate.
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● Phil 2:2-3 . . Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility
consider others better than yourselves.

If there is at least one place on earth where believers should be on the same plane
with each other it's church; but that's not always the case as human nature values
status, and it's prone to rivalry.

Some people aren't content with mediocrity; no, they have to be head and
shoulders above the crowd, they have to be admired: they have to be feted, they
have to be heard, they have to be noticed, they have to be somebody, they have to
be a mover and a shaker, they have to be up in an ivory tower; they have to have
their finger on the pulse; they have to be in the limelight. And above all; they have
to be right because it is totally contrary to conceit's nature to be wrong about
anything; even superfluous minutiae.

If you should find yourself in a position around your church, whether as an usher or
a cook for men's Saturday morning prayer breakfast, make sure your heart's in the
right place because there is coming a performance evaluation for the Lord's sheep
where some of the elite are going to be very embarrassed when they're exposed for
the ambitious achievers they really are.

"He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness, and will expose the motives of
men's hearts." (1Cor 4:5)

An especially bad case of "vain conceit" is on display at 3John 1:9-10
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● Phil 2:4 . . Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the
interests of others.

The "others" in that verse are exclusive. Paul's instructions pertain only to the
fraternity to whom he penned his letter; viz: "saints in Christ Jesus . . together with
the overseers and deacons" (Phil 1:1)

Seeing as how The Lord expressly forbids selfish ambition amongst his own, then
before proceeding to implement an idea, be very sure to ponder all the possible
ramifications of your actions first; and for sure avoid Machiavellian thinking that
asserts the end justifies the means. Also to be avoided is the tiresome excuse that
what you're doing is for the greater good; which has a lot in common with
collectivism wherein the individual is marginalized and has little to no value.

Stepping on people's toes, and/or thwarting their ideas so that yours prevail, fails
to satisfy the law of Christ; which requires his followers to have the same care for
their fellows as Christ cares for them (John 15:12). It also fails to satisfy the
Golden Rule which says: So in everything, do to others what you would have them
do to you. (Matt 7:12) Always looking out for No.1 just simply isn't very nice.
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● Phil 2:5-8 . .Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who, being
in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in
human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and
became obedient to death-- even death on a cross.

That's an interesting contrast between Christ and Adam. He and his wife made a
definite grab for equality with God. (Gen 3:4-5)

It's just amazing how well Christ played down his origin and conducted himself as a
common man. Even the people with whom Jesus grew up in his home town were
highly doubtful Jesus was so well connected because there was really nothing
particularly distinctive about him to indicate he was a divine aristocrat.

● Isa 53:2 . .There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing
to attract us to him.

● John 6:42 . .They said: Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and
mother we know? How can he now say: I came down from heaven?

And his cousin John, whom he'd known since childhood, had no clue that Jesus was
the very person for whom he was the forerunner.

● John 1:33 . . I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to
baptize with water told me:

During the thirty years leading up to Jesus' public ministry, he could've easily made
a name for himself, but didn't because that wasn't his superior's time for it.

● John 6:38 . . I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will
of Him who sent me.

Point being: we should avoid striving to be the big man on campus; so to speak.

● 1Pet 5:6 . . Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He
may exalt you at the proper time.
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[EarlyActs]

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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
_

A new believer should be pointed to the 2nd half of Ephesians. It was actually a letter that was circulated to many places, the destination slot was left blank.

I say the 2nd half, because people want to know what to do. Now, if they are decent people and don't really see anything utterly different there for them, great. Then they could go back to the 1st chapter in a simplified version like the NIRV (Readers) where there are single verb sentences. They could absorb what has been done in Christ. It is not a description of their experience of course, but of what God did in Christ. They may not be ready to think in those terms.

A new believer should also start a prayer notebook, which leaves a blank line for every line written in. The first thing to ask for is--what to know and think as a Christian. As they gain something, anything that they pray about, they should fill in the 'answer' line.

 

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● Phil 2:12 . . As you have always obeyed-- work out your own salvation with fear
and trembling

FAQ: Seeing as how Christ paid with his life the penalty for every sin that his
followers committed in the past, plus every sin they are committing now, and every
sin they will commit in the future; and God is no longer building an indictment
against them, then what's left to work out?

REPLY: A rapport with God, and a life of piety. (Gen 17:1, Rom 6:1-23)

FAQ: What's with the fear and trembling?

REPLY: That was one of Paul's favorite figures of speech; for example:

● 1Cor 2:3-4 . . For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus
Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much
trembling.

And another:

● Eph 6:5-8 . . Bond servants, be obedient to those who are your masters
according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;
not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as bond servants of Christ, doing the
will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to The Lord, and not to
men

"fear, and in trembling" doesn't mean Paul recommends shivering in terror and
anxiety like a frightened gerbil; but that a believer's attitude should be free of
pride, arrogance, and conceit, i.e. free of a superiority complex and/or a master
race mentality; for example:

Paul was very courteous to the Corinthians and came to them not as a celebrity
even though he was one of The Lord's hand-picked apostles and they were a bunch
of pagan heathens at the time who deserved nothing but the cold shoulder. Paul's
attitude rubbed off on the Corinthians because they in turn deferred to Paul's
associates with fear and trembling just as he had treated them all at one time.

● 2Cor 7:14-15 . . I had boasted to [Titus] about you, and you have not
embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting
about you to Titus has proved to be true as well. And his affection for you is all the
greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and
trembling.

So then, what we're talking about here with "fear and trembling" is honor, respect,
submission, deference, and reverence rather than terror and anxiety; and those
attitudes are actually inferred in one of the Beatitudes.

● Matt 5:3 . . Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
_

 

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● Phil 2:14 . . Do everything without grumbling or debating

It used to be an unwritten rule in the US Army that GIs could complain all they
wanted just so long as they did what they were told. Well; Christ isn't pleased with
that.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for
men." (Col 3:23)

The problem with grumbling is that it's an attitude of rebellion; for example:

"And the people spoke against God and Moses saying: Why have you brought us up
out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we
loathe this miserable food." (Num 21:5-6)

Well; long story short, God dealt with the people's grumbling by sending a swarm
of deadly reptiles among them, and many were bitten and died because the venom
wasn't just lethal, it was 100% fatal.

The Greek word translated "debating" is sometimes translated "evil thoughts" for
example:

"For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications,
thefts, false witness, blasphemies." (Matt 15:19)

Evil thoughts sometimes keep people awake at night as they obsessively re-wind
and re-play a conflict with somebody over, and over, and over again in their heads.
_

 

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● Phil 3:1 . . Finally, my brethren, rejoice in The Lord!

The Greek word for "brethren" is a masculine noun for a male relative. But its use is
flexible, e.g. when Paul wrote to a church, he oftentimes addressed the entire
congregation by that word-- sort of like how the word "Man" speaks of the whole of
humanity regardless of age, race, and/or gender identity.

Rejoicing "in The Lord" is way different than rejoicing in yourself; which is
vulnerable to one's mood and/or circumstances. The Lord once told his disciples
that they shouldn't rejoice that demons obeyed them; but that their names were
written in Heaven.

To wit:

"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)

That passage could be said to be a light at the end of the tunnel.
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● Phil 3:2a . . Beware of dogs,

The beasts we're talking about here are treacherous. (Matt 7:6)

We're looking at a class of rather impious folk who not only don't want to hear what
you have to say, but will take drastic steps if necessary to insure you have no say;
using methods like censoring, canceling, shouting, bull horns, spurious legal
procedures, imprisonment, slander, a hoax, and even assassination, i.e. whatever it
takes to thwart your influence, destroy your credibility, and suppress your
thoughts. For example Jesus' opponents among the Jews.

"Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced
my hands and my feet." (Ps 22:16)

Jesus' opponents were counting on trumped-up charges and execution to silence
him once and for all while never dreaming he would become even more effective by
his resurrection. But this gives us an idea of how low that dogs are willing to go in
order to accomplish their ends.

Dogs turn up again at Rev 22:15 as unfit to enter the holy city; possibly because of
the uncivilized nature of their conduct. In other words: they're a very real and
present danger to decent folks; especially to the genuinely God-fearing elements of
society.
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● Phil 3:2b . . Beware of evil workers,

"evil workers" probably refers to ersatz missionaries, e.g. Mormons and Jehovah's
Witnesses. In the apostles' day, it was followers of Judaism going 'round making a
nuisance of themselves. (Acts 15:1)
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● Phil 3:2c . . Beware of mutilation.

Mutilation in this particular instance isn't criminal mischief, rather; it refers to
voluntary ritual circumcision; viz: initiation into the covenant that Moses' people
agreed upon with God per Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. There
were Jews in various cities back in the apostles' era telling Christians that
protection from the sum of all fears depends upon circumcision.

'And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said,
Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.' (Acts
15:1)

The apostles disagreed.

"Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled
you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep
the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:" (Acts 15:24)

The primary reason the apostles disagreed is simply because Christians don't
associate with God via Moses' covenant, rather; they associate with God via a
covenant whose language is very different. (Jer 31:31-34)
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● Phil 3:17 . . Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of
those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you
before, and now say, again even with tears: many live as enemies of the cross of
Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their appetites, and their glory is in
their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

* The Greek word translated "brothers" technically pertains to one's male kin or to
one's fellow members of a college fraternity or an outlaw biker club like The
Mongols. However, when Paul wrote to congregations, his use of the word
commonly pertained to both genders sort of like how "man" pertains to both
genders as they are defined in the early chapters of Genesis. (e.g. Gen 5:1-2)

The Greek word translated "appetites" not only refers to one's tummy, but also the
natural urges everyone experiences due to human nature. Natural urges are a force
to be reckoned with. For example: libido is just as strong a motivation for marriage
as it is for adultery. Hunger is just as strong a motivation for nourishment as it is
for gluttony. Ambition is just as strong a motivation for legitimate success as it is
for fraud.

"glory" is somewhat ambiguous. It can indicate illumination and it can also indicate
accolades where accolades are due. For example the universe proclaims the glory of
God, i.e. it speaks of intelligence and abilities without equal. But when a cheap
politician throws scruples to the wind and achieves office by dishonest means, they
have nothing to brag about, i.e. they're disgusting, and sometimes even downright
criminal.
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● Phil 4:4 . . Rejoice in the Lord always. I say again: Rejoice!

Now the thing is: rejoicing in the Lord is not the same as rejoicing in life. In point of
fact, there's really not all that much to be perpetually happy about in life on earth.

● Ecc 1:2-3 . . Utter futility. --said Koheleth-- Utter futility. All is futile. What real
value is there for a man in all the gains he makes beneath the sun?

We can name lots of things in life that bring us happiness and satisfaction, but it's
all fleeting, i.e. it's all temporary, viz: transient. There's very little that brings us
lasting happiness and satisfaction. And then on top of that, there's the specter of
death; viz: it's only a matter of time when our life on earth-- everything we've
accomplished, everything we've accumulated, and everyone we've ever known --is
separated from us like a young military recruit's hair falling to the floor in a Marine
Corps barber shop.

The negativity of life on earth can be greatly moderated by always keeping one's
eye on the future as it's revealed in the teachings of Christianity's lord and master.

● John 15:11 . .These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in
you, and that your own joy might be full.

● John 16:33 . . I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In
this world you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world.

For example: the current political situation in my country is rapidly approaching
critical mass, so to speak. It's as if The Lord has sent a myriad of evil spirits into
the minds of many of America's movers and shakers similar to what He did with
Saul in the book of 1Samuel. How our situation eventually plays out is anybody's
guess but at least we are assured that no matter how much worse things become,
none of it will indicate that God is out to harm folks unified with His son. No; we are
but collateral damage forced to endure strong winds of change thru no fault of our
own. (Rom 8:35-39 cf. Hab 3:17-18)
_