• **Notifications**: Notifications can be dismissed by clicking on the "x" on the righthand side of the notice.
  • **New Style**: You can now change style options. Click on the paintbrush at the bottom of this page.
  • **Donations**: If the Lord leads you please consider helping with monthly costs and up keep on our Forum. Click on the Donate link In the top menu bar. Thanks
  • **New Blog section**: There is now a blog section. Check it out near the Private Debates forum or click on the Blog link in the top menu bar.
  • Welcome Visitors! Join us and be blessed while fellowshipping and celebrating our Glorious Salvation In Christ Jesus.

Christ's Law

.
● 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. (1Cor 11:3)
_
 
.
● 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.
_
 
.
● 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.
_
 
.
● 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 earn 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.

FAQ: On what grounds are wives required to respect their husbands?

REPLY: The man was created first and later some material was taken from his body
to construct the woman. In matters related to primogeniture, that makes the man
the senior of the two and she the junior. So then it is impossible for women to ever
be equals with men in the natural sphere of things.

Now had the woman been created directly from the earth's soil like the man was,
then she would've been a living soul in her own right and on equal footing with the
man. But as it is, the woman was the man's paternal offspring, and we all know
from the Ten Commandments that offspring are not equal to their parents, viz: the
woman wasn't Adam's peer; therefore she was given a supporting role rather than
a co-starring role.
_
 
.
● Eph 6:1 . . Children, obey your parents in The Lord, for this is right.

The Greek word translated "obey" 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 due to responsibility 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.
_
 
.
● 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 senior need not earn people's respect; all that's
required of them is old age.
_
 
.
● 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.
_
 
.
● 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, folks unified with Christ really ought to serve workplace employers with a
conscientious regard for their status; 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)
_
 
.
● 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.
_
 
.
● 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.
_
 
.
● 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)
_
 
.
● 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.

Those 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.
_
 
.
● 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 family
circle where some of the elite are going to be very embarrassed when they're
exposed for the ambitious achievers they really were.

"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
_
 
.
● 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.
_
 
.
● 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.

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

"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?" (John 6:42)

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.

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

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.

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

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

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt
you at the proper time." (1Pet 5:6)
_
 
.
● Phil 2:12 . . As you have always obeyed-- work out your own salvation with fear
and trembling

FAQ: Seeing as how the natural lives of those unified with Christ were terminated
with him as joint principals in his crucifixion (Rom 6:3-11, Col 3:2-3) and God is no
longer building an indictment against them (2Cor 5:19) along with the fact that
they have passed from death into life (John 5:24) and are, in this life, citizens in
the Son's kingdom (Col 1:13) and taking into consideration that folks unified with
Christ are on an honor system rather than a legal system (Matt 11:28-30, Rom
6:14, Gal 5:13) then what's left to work out?

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

FAQ: What's with the fear and trembling?

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

"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." (Cor 2:3-4)

And another:

"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" (Eph 6:5-8)

"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.

"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." (2Cor 7:14-15)

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

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 5:3)
_
 
.
● 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.
_
 
.
● 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.
_
 
.
● 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, 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.
_
 
.
● Phil 3:2b . . Beware of evil workers,

"evil workers" probably refers to ersatz missionaries the likes of Mormons and
Jehovah's Witnesses. In the apostles' day, it was followers of Judaism going 'round
getting in the way and making a nuisance of themselves. (e.g. Acts 15:1)
_
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top