THE WRONG THEORY OF SANCTIFICATION AND HOLINESS EXPLAINED: CHRISTIAN PERFECTIONISM AND THE PRINCIPLE OF COUNTERACTION
What is the Biblical Pattern for the Christian Life?
Charles e Whisnant, February 11, 2012

INTRODUCTION:

1A       For our understanding of the actual teaching of Paul, this enables us to follow his argument as he works it out in this whole section. It is not enough to note his doctrine; Paul always wants to apply it. Paul wants to make sure that you don’t fall into what is called “antinomianism” which is not putting into practice what you claim you believe. We must more than just understand the doctrine, we must apply the doctrine to our daily lives.

2A       These two verses have an important place in the New Testament doctrine of sanctification. These two verses will help us understand what sanctification is.

Paul is going to give us some practical application to the doctrine of justification. We have thus been given a description of a Christian – his character and his position..

Just as a footnote: It is the responsibility of the preacher not only to give a positive exposition but also to oppose wrong teaching.

Paul constantly exposes the false, warns again it, then pleads with the believer to avoid it, and at the same time he gives the positive truth.

If the teaching of the Word of God is not going to affect your living and your conduct and your mind and soul, what have we done in our preaching?

My reason for presenting this portion of our study is not to attack or belittle what others teach

about holiness, but to encourage you to understand, pursue, and experience true holiness

INTRODUCTION:

1A       For our understanding of the actual teaching of Paul, this enables us to follow his argument as he works it out in this whole section. It is not enough to note his doctrine; Paul always wants to apply it. Paul wants to make sure that you don’t fall into what is called “antinomianism” which is not putting into practice what you claim you believe. We must more than just understand the doctrine, we must apply the doctrine to our daily lives.

2A       These two verses have an important place in the New Testament doctrine of sanctification. These two verses will help us understand what sanctification is.

Paul is going to give us some practical application to the doctrine of justification. We have thus been given a description of a Christian – his character and his position..

Just as a footnote: It is the responsibility of the preacher not only to give a positive exposition but also to oppose wrong teaching.

Paul constantly exposes the false, warns again it, then pleads with the believer to avoid it, and at the same time he gives the positive truth.

If the teaching of the Word of God is not going to affect your living and your conduct and your mind and soul, what have we done in our preaching?

My reason for presenting this portion of our study is not to attack or belittle what others teach

about holiness, but to encourage you to understand, pursue, and experience true holiness

unhindered by theological confusion. Unfortunately, in getting to the truth of the matter, it will be necessary to address some errors.

FALSE TEACHING TODAY ABOUT HOLINESS

Over the decades several contradictory and confusing holiness theories have been introduced, including “eradication,” “counteraction,” and “identification,” Second Blessing, or Christian Holiness Perfection. Or “the baptism of the Holy Spirit.” Or Higher Life movement.

Pentecostalism has developed a distinctive view of the Christian life too. That stands to reason. Doctrine and life, principles and practice, always go together. What one teaches by way of Christian doctrine will always produce a certain way of life, a form of practical Christianity.

FALSE TEACHING TODAY ABOUT HOLINESS

Over the decades several contradictory and confusing holiness theories have been introduced, including “eradication,” “counteraction,” and “identification,” Second Blessing, or Christian Holiness Perfection. Or “the baptism of the Holy Spirit.” Or Higher Life movement.

Pentecostalism has developed a distinctive view of the Christian life too. That stands to reason. Doctrine and life, principles and practice, always go together. What one teaches by way of Christian doctrine will always produce a certain way of life, a form of practical Christianity.

“Given by Inspiration” — the implication of theopneustos

Charles e. Whisnant  ( Gleaned from Jon Gleason)      February 05, 2012  #5

The fifth on Bibliology (the study of what the Scriptures are, and how they came to us) dealt with the inspiration of the Scriptures, from II Timothy 3:16.

Now I’d like to consider two additional pieces of evidence as to its meaning.

Form — Adjective

Theopneustos is an adjective, used to give information about (or describe) a noun (“Scripture”).  “Breathed by God” or “Given by inspiration” may sound like a verb (an action of God), but it isn’t.

• Paul didn’t use the verb pneo, “to breathe”, to describe action – the Holy Spirit rather guided him to use an adjective, describing the Scriptures.  Though an action (breathing) is in view, the focus is not on the action of God, but on something about the Scriptures.
•  If Paul wanted to draw our attention primarily to the action, he almost certainly would have used a verb.
• The “adjectival discussion” by saying that theopneustos (“Breathed by God” or “Given by inspiration of God”) is an adjective describing the A) source B) nature and/or C) effects of the Scripture.  The adjectival form gives no evidence as to whether one or more of these are in view, which one(s), or to what extent.

Connotations: (1) in logic, the characteristic or set of characteristics that makes up the meaning of a term and thus defines the objects to which a term can be applied. (2) the implying or suggesting of an additional meaning for a word or phrase apart from the literal or main meaning.

• What is “connotation”?
• We might say it is an idea or meaning suggested by or associated with a word or thing, generally related but not identical to the explicit meaning of the word or thing
•  A connotation is something that the word brings to mind, even if it isn’t what the word means — and often, that is intentional on the part of the speaker or writer.  He wants you to think, not just of the meaning of the word, but of the connotations, that other idea which the word brings to mind.
  • A few months ago, if you were on Wall Street in New York and heard someone talking about “99%”, they may have been talking about a great return on investment.  Today, with the advent of the Occupy Wall Street crowd, if you heard someone on Wall Street call out ”99%” you would recognize it as probably being a political statement

 In the Bible, when God breathes, things happen

• ·       Genesis 2:7, Job 33:4; Psalms 33:6; 104:30, John 3:6-8, John 20:22, Hebrews 4:12
  •  When God breathes into man, man begins to breathe (and goes on breathing).  The same general sense is seen in the famous “dry bones” passage in Ezekiel 37.

The Word of God is living!  It is not an empty, dead book.  It is powerful, heart-exposing, living and life-giving and life-changing.  It is a fire and a rock-crushing hammer (Jeremiah 23:29). Faith (and thus life) comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17).  The Bible has been breathed into by God, and it lives, and gives life.  So I’ll say this, and I’ll set it off so no one misses it:

• ·       Those who translated theopneustos for hundreds of years using the words “inspired” or “inspiration” weren’t just making stuff up.  There was a very real basis in the connotations of the breath of God for the translational choice they made.

I’ll quote Arthur Pink, speaking just down the road in Falkirk in 1936:

• The word “inspire” signifies to in-breathe, and breath is both the means and evidence of life; for as soon as a person ceases to breathe he is dead. The Word of God, then, is vitalized by the very life of God, and therefore it is a living Book. Men’s books are like themselves—dying creatures; but God’s Book is like Himself—it “lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 1:23).
•  There are life-giving connotations to the breath of God.  There is an indisputable link between God’s Word and life, both as to the nature of God’s Word and its life-giving power (effect).  II Timothy 3:16 (and specifically the Greek word theopneustos) stands beside Hebrews 4:12 and I Peter 1:23, a trio of towering monuments to the continuing, living, ever-enduring nature and power of God’s Word.
• 2 Peter 1:20-21

God breathed the Scriptures into existence and God breathed life and vitality into the Scriptures. 

“That Book in Timothy’s Hand”?

• It was a living, powerful Book, with life breathed into it by God Almighty.  He was not being challenged by Paul to preach a “dying creature”, to use Arthur Pink’s words.  He was to preach the rock-crushing hammer of God, the life-breathing words of the Spirit, the enduring fire of God’s Word. It is the same, living, and life-giving, and life-changing.
  •  If connotations mean anything, this is what theopneustos means for the Book in your hand.

THERE ARE EIGHT FUNDAMENTALS ELEMENTS THAT MARK GENUINE INTERCESSORY PRAYER

Daniel 9:4 to 15  #34

January 25, 2012  Charles e Whisnant, Pastor-Preacher-Teacher

Daniel prayed.  For Daniel prayer was a real exercise of the soul in spiritual travial.  It required effort, endurance and suffering. Daniel was committed to prayer.  Prayer to him was living in the presence of God.

Number one, prayer is generated by the Word of God.  Verse 2 tells us that while he was reading the Book of Jeremiah, he was prone to pray.  Our prayer life proceeds from the intensity of our study of the Word of God.  As we hear God tell us His plans, we respond.  We might say then that the first principle, prayer is generated by the Word of God, is simply that we seek to know God’s plan.  That’s where it begins.  And we get into the Word to find out what God is going to do, so we can pray intelligently.

Secondly, we said that prayer is grounded in the will of God.  It is generated out of the Word of God, and it is grounded in the will of God.  We seek not only to know God’s plan, but to see it fulfilled.  We’re not trying to change God’s mind.  We’re trying to identify with what He already wants to do, which is best.

Thirdly, we’ve learned that prayer is characterized by fervency.  Prayer is a passionate involvement in the matters that concern the heart of God.  Prayer not only seeks to know God’s plan, not only seeks to see God’s plan fulfilled, but it seeks to see God’s plan fulfilled at once.  There’s an earnestness.  There’s a passion involved.

• Fourthly, then, we also saw that true intercessory prayer, genuine prayer is marked by self-denial.  It is realized in self-denial.  We see the fervency in verse 3, and we see the self-denial in verse 4, where he says, “I prayed unto the Lord my God and made my confession.”  He doesn’t come and say, “You need to do this for me, because I have a claim on You.”  He doesn’t come and say, “I have a right to demand this out of You, God.”  He comes and says, “I’m a sinner,” and, in effect, he says, “I don’t have a right to demand anything.”  Prayer is at the very beginning a recognition of our own unworthiness and a sense of self-denial.  And so prayer seeks to, not only know God’s will, not only to see it fulfilled, not only to see it fulfilled at once, but to see it fulfilled no matter what that costs me. I mean you don’t even belong in the presence of God.  You don’t have one thing in and of yourself to commend you to Him.

And then fifthly, we said that true intercessory prayer is identified with God’s people.  It’s not selfish.  I mean if it’s just denied itself, it won’t be selfish.  It won’t be grasping and possessive for it’s own goals.  And we see, as we looked at verses 5 down through 14, how many times he says we and our and us and all Israel.  And again and again he is saying, “I wanna encompass all the people of God, all of us.  This is our problem.  Minister to us.”  The essence of true intercessory prayer is that it’s bigger than any individual.  That when we really pray, self has been set aside, and we are lost in the needs of others.  We reminded you of 1 Samuel 12:23, which says, “God forbid that I should sin in ceasing to pray for You.”  So we might say that true intercessory prayer not only seeks to know God’s plan, not only seeks to see it fulfilled, not only seeks to see it fulfilled at once, not only seeks to see it fulfilled at once no matter what it costs me, but seeks to see it fulfilled for the sake of others.  For the sake of others.  It isn’t, “Lord, please do this because I’d like to have it so.”  It’s, “Please do this because Your people would be blessed.”Ephesians 6:19; I corinthians 23; 1 Samuel 12:23; Galatians 6:2, Philemon 1:4-5; I Corinthians 1:11

And then sixthly, and where we stopped last time, true intercessory prayer is strengthened in confession.  It is strengthened in confession.  Look at verse 30, or rather 3, I’m sorry.  Verse 3, and then 20.  Verse 3, “I set my face to the Lord to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes.  And prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession.”  Verse 20, “And while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sins of my people Israel.”   Pslams 32 and 51, Ezr             a 9 and 10’ Nehemiah 9; Romans 7, Jeremiah 8:14; Lamentations 1: Isaiah 6:6

FOR: hoi gar:

• It will usually be a term of conclusion and you will be forced to read the prior context to understand what is being explained.

THOSE WHO ARE (continually) ACCORDING TO (dominated, controlled by), THE FLESH SET THEIR MINDS ON THE THINGS OF THE FLESH

Romans 8:12-13, John 3:6; I Corinthians 15:48; 2 Corinthians 10:3; 2 Peter 2:10;
• For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh (Amplified)
• Those who live by the corrupt nature have the corrupt nature’s attitude (GWT)
• Those who live as their human nature tells them to, have their minds controlled by what human nature wants. (GNT)
• Those who live following their sinful selves think only about things that their sinful selves want. (NCV)
• For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh (NET)
• Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires (NIV)
• Those who are living by their natural inclinations have their minds on the things human nature desires (NJB)
• Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things (NLT)
• For if men are controlled by their earthly natures, they give their minds to earthly things (Weymouth)
• For those who are habitually dominated by the sinful nature put their minds on the things of the sinful nature (Wuest)

A MIND DOMINATED BY THE EVIL FLESH

Are (5607) (ontes)

•   Is in the present tense indicating that this is the general pattern of their life (their lifestyle) or habitual practice

AFTER or ACCORDING TO (2596) (kata) THE FLESH

•   In short Paul is describing an unbeliever, devoid of the Spirit. An unbeliever orders his or her behavior in such a way that it is dominated or controlled by the flesh, the Sin nature inherited from Adam which gives the unregenerate their propensity to commit sins.

DO or SET(there) MIND to (THE THINGS ) (5426) (phroneo from phren = literally the diaphragm and thus that which curbs or restrains.

1. Figuratively, mind is the supposed seat of all mental and emotional activity) refers to the basic orientation, bent, and thought patterns of the mind, rather than to the mind or intellect itself (that is the Greek word nous).
2. Includes a person’s affections and will as well as his reasoning.
3. Vine writes that phroneo means…

• “to think,” “to form a judgment”; but in the New Testament never merely “to hold an opinion,” always it is contemplated that action will be taken upon the judgment formed, implies moral interest or reflection, not mere unreasoning opinion.

Note that “do or set…mind” is in the present tense in this passage which depicts this as one’s the continual practice or mindset. The object of their thinking and striving is fleshly. Their mind is continually regulated by the flesh. These are unbelievers whose basic disposition is to satisfy the cravings of their unredeemed flesh. They obey the impulses of the flesh. They live to gratify the desires of the corrupt nature. They cater to the body, which in a few short years will return to dust.

That there are two exactly opposite principles, two utterly opposed standards of life, to be considered. They who are after (according to) the flesh – that is, the unsaved – are dominated by the fleshly nature. They “mind the things of the flesh.”

•   In these terse words the entire life of the natural man is summed up. In blessed contrast to this, those who live according to the Spirit of God – saved men and women – characteristically mind the things of the Spirit.

•   Parenhetically Paul explained, the minding of the flesh is death, that is its only legitimate result; but the minding of the Spirit is life and peace. He who is thus Spirit-controlled is lifted onto a new plain where death has no place and conflict is not known. (Ironside, H. Romans).

•   “But the natural man, receive not the things of the Spirit of God, but they are foolosihness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (judged.)”

• •• A natural mind – governed by sensual appetites and living apart from the Spirit of God) man (born into Adam and not regenerated in Christ = still “in Adam”, not “in Christ”) does not (ou = absolute negation!) accept (dechomai = deliberately and readily, receive kindly, they do not “put out a welcome mat”! = present tense) the things of the Spirit of God (because the Truth of God given by the Spirit calls for a decision – “Am I going to continue to do it my way or God’s way?”); for they are foolishness (moria = that which is considered intellectually weak, irrational. From “moros” dull, stupid >”moronic” = same word is used to describe the Gentiles who are perishing) to him, and he cannot (dunamai = present tense = have intrinsic power – natural men lack the inner, inherent ability and resources on their own to = absolutely lacks the inherent, internal enablement to) understand (ginosko = know by experience) them, because they are spiritually appraised (Sanakrino = sift up and down and so to scrutinize, to examine accurately and carefully with exact research like in legal processes). (1 Corinthians 2:14)

THOSE LED BY THE SINFUL NATURE

Romans 8:5-9 

Charles e. Whisnant, January 08 2012

FOR: hoi gar:

It will usually be a term of conclusion and you will be forced to read the prior context to understand what is being explained.

THOSE WHO ARE (continually) ACCORDING TO (dominated, controlled by), THE FLESH SET THEIR MINDS ON THE THINGS OF THE FLESH

Romans 8:12-13, John 3:6; I Corinthians 15:48; 2 Corinthians 10:3; 2 Peter 2:10;

• For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh (Amplified)
• Those who live by the corrupt nature have the corrupt nature’s attitude (GWT)
• Those who live as their human nature tells them to, have their minds controlled by what human nature wants. (GNT)
• Those who live following their sinful selves think only about things that their sinful selves want. (NCV)
• For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh (NET)
• Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires (NIV)
• Those who are living by their natural inclinations have their minds on the things human nature desires (NJB)
• Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things (NLT)
• For if men are controlled by their earthly natures, they give their minds to earthly things (Weymouth)
• For those who are habitually dominated by the sinful nature put their minds on the things of the sinful nature (Wuest)

A MIND DOMINATED BY THE EVIL FLESH

Are (5607) (ontes)

• Is in the present tense indicating that this is the general pattern of their life (their lifestyle) or habitual practice

AFTER or ACCORDING TO (2596) (kata) THE FLESH

• In short Paul is describing an unbeliever, devoid of the Spirit. An unbeliever orders his or her behavior in such a way that it is dominated or controlled by the flesh, the Sin nature inherited from Adam which gives the unregenerate their propensity to commit sins.

DO or SET(there)   MIND to (THE THINGS ) (5426) (^{phroneo from phren = literally the diaphragm and thus that which curbs or restrains.}

1. Figuratively, mind is the supposed seat of all mental and emotional activity) refers to the basic orientation, bent, and thought patterns of the mind, rather than to the mind or intellect itself (that is the Greek word nous).
2. Includes a person’s affections and will as well as his reasoning.
3. Vine writes that phroneo means…

“to think,” “to form a judgment”; but in the New Testament never merely “to hold an opinion,” always it is contemplated that action will be taken upon the judgment formed, implies moral interest or reflection, not mere unreasoning opinion.

Note that “do or set…mind” is in the present tense in this passage which depicts this as one’s the continual practice or mindset.  The object of their thinking and striving is fleshly. Their mind is continually regulated by the flesh. These are unbelievers whose basic disposition is to satisfy the cravings of their unredeemed flesh. They obey the impulses of the flesh. They live to gratify the desires of the corrupt nature. They cater to the body, which in a few short years will return to dust.

That there are two exactly opposite principles, two utterly opposed standards of life, to be considered. They who are after (according to) the flesh – that is, the unsaved – are dominated by the fleshly nature. They “mind the things of the flesh.”

•  In these terse words the entire life of the natural man is summed up. In blessed contrast to this, those who live according to the Spirit of God – saved men and women – characteristically mind the things of the Spirit.
•  Parenthetically Paul explained, the minding of the flesh is death, that is its only legitimate result; but the minding of the Spirit is life and peace. He who is thus Spirit-controlled is lifted onto a new plain where death has no place and conflict is not known^{. (Ironside, H. Romans}).
  • “But the natural man, receive not the things of the Spirit of God, but they are foolosihness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (judged.)”
  •  
  • A natural mind – governed by sensual appetites and living apart from the Spirit of God) man(born into Adam and not regenerated in Christ = still “in Adam”, not “in Christ“) does not (ou = absolute negation!) accept(dechomai = deliberately and readily, receive kindly, they do not “put out a welcome mat”! = present tense) the things of the Spirit of God (because the Truth of God given by the Spirit calls for a decision – “Am I going to continue to do it my way or God’s way?”); for they are foolishness (moria = that which is considered intellectually weak, irrational.  From “moros” dull, stupid >”moronic” = same word is used to describe the Gentiles who are perishing) to him, and he cannot (dunamai = present tense = have intrinsic power – natural men lack the inner, inherent ability and resources on their own to = absolutely lacks the inherent, internal enablement to) understand (ginosko = know by experience) them, because they are spiritually appraised(Sanakrino =  sift up and down and so to scrutinize, to examine accurately and carefully with exact research like in legal processes). (1 Corinthians 2:14)

Romans 8:4  The Christian to the Law

Charles e Whisnant, Pastor-Teacher-Learner

Rivers of Joy Baptist Church

January 01 2011   #102 Romans 8:4

12 Proposals

1A       Proposal  #1

Fulfilling the requirement of the law: refers to a life of real love for people.

 Romans 13:8-10, Galatians 5:13-18, Matthew 7:12, Matthew 22:37-40

2A       Proposal #2

Our fulfilling the law of love is not the grounds of our justification. It’s the fruit and evidence of being justified by faith.

            Romans 3:24-25, 5:19; 8:3. 2 Corinthians 5:21

3A       Proposal # 3

The  loving of others is not due to our own strength but by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.     

Galatians 5:22, 5:13-16,

4A       Proposal #4

            Loving others through the Spirit by faith, i.e. by being satisfied with all that God is for us.

                        Galatians 3:5, 6, I Timothy 1:5

5A       Proposal # 5

            This loving others through the Spirit by faith is not a perfect love in this life.

                        Romans 7:15, 19, 23-25, Philippians 3:12

6A       Proposal #6

            By fulfilling this law we will become perfect when we die or at the Rapture of the Saints.

                        Romans 8:30; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 12:22-23

7A       While I will one day become perfected in love, we will not in our totality ever be a perfect one, because of our sinfulness.  I will always need forgiveness and in need of an imputed righteousness from Christ.

8A       The real direction of my life will be to live the law of love.

                        2 Corinthians 8:1-2,8

9A       This law is the law of liberty or the law of Christ.

Romans 8:2; 2 Corinthians 3:17: James 1:25; 2:10-12; Galatians 5:1; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

10A     The O.T. law is a set of commandments, instruction of God to us.

                        Galatians 3:21; 3:21-25

11A     Understanding the law in its total its aim is that Jesus Christ get the glory as the one who provides the only ground for our imputed righteousness through faith.

                        Romans 5:19; 10:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:8-9

12A     So how can my imperfect obedience and love fulfill the perfect law of God?

(John Piper gives this idea that I have taken today.)

1. Resolve Common Sense or Sensibly

Our resolutions must be in accord with the Word of God.

“Being sensible,” Edwards begins his preface — we must be sensible, reasonable, in making resolutions. If we set ourselves about the business of hastily making resolutions as the result of our grand illusions of sinless perfection, it is likely that we will not merely fail in our attempt to keep such resolutions, we will likely be less inclined to make any further resolutions for similar desired ends. We must go about making resolutions with genuine prayer and thorough study of God’s Word. Our resolutions must be in accord with the Word of God; therefore, any resolution we make must necessarily allow us to fulfill all our particular callings in life. We must consider all the implications of our resolutions and be careful to make resolutions with others in mind, even if it means implementing new resolutions incrementally over time.

2. Resolve Dependently

Every resolution must be made in dependence on God.

“I am unable to do anything without God’s help,” Edwards admits. We must be sensible in grasping the simple truth that every resolution must be made in dependence on God. And while every Christian would respond by saying, “Well, of course we must depend on God for all things,” most Christians have been sold the world’s bill of goods. They think that once they become dependent on God, then they will have immediate strength. They mimic the world’s mantra: “Whatever doesn’t kill me will make me stronger.” While the principle is generally true, such thinking can foster an attitude of proud independence. We must understand that in being able to do all things through Christ who strengthens us means that we must depend on His strength continuously in order to do all things and to keep all our resolutions (Eph. 3:16; Col. 1:11). In truth, whatever doesn’t kill us, by God’s conforming grace, makes us weak so that in our weakness we will rely continuously on the strength of our Lord (2 Cor. 12:7-10).

3. Resolve Humbly

We should approach God in humble reliance, seeking not merely the blessings but the one who blesses. -

“I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these resolutions.” In making resolutions for the glory of God and before the face of God, we must not come into His presence pounding our chests in triumphal arrogance as if God must now love and bless us more because we have made certain resolutions to follow Him more. In reality, the Lord in His providence may choose to allow even more trials to enter our lives; in His unchanging fatherly love for us, He may decide to discipline us even more in order that we might more so detest our sin and delight in Him. We should approach Him in humble reliance on His grace as we seek not merely the blessings but the one who blesses.

4. Resolve For Christ’s Sake

We cannot resolve to do anything with a presumptuous attitude before God.

“So far as they are agreeable to his will for Christ’s sake.” We cannot resolve to do anything with a presumptuous attitude before God. The whole matter of making resolutions is not just goal setting so that we might have happier lives. We are called by God to live according to His will, not our own — for Christ’s sake, not our own — for it is not unto us but unto Him that all glory belongs (Ps. 115:1).

Romans 8:4  The Christian to the Law

Charles e Whisnant, Pastor-Teacher-Learner

Rivers of Joy Baptist Church

January 01 2011   #102 Romans 8:4

12 Proposals

1A       Proposal  #1

Fulfilling the requirement of the law: refers to a life of real love for people.

 Romans 13:8-10, Galatians 5:13-18, Matthew 7:12, Matthew 22:37-40

2A       Proposal #2

Our fulfilling the law of love is not the grounds of our justification. It’s the fruit and evidence of being justified by faith.

            Romans 3:24-25, 5:19; 8:3. 2 Corinthians 5:21

3A       Proposal # 3

The  loving of others is not due to our own strength but by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.     

Galatians 5:22, 5:13-16,

4A       Proposal #4

            Loving others through the Spirit by faith, i.e. by being satisfied with all that God is for us.

                        Galatians 3:5, 6, I Timothy 1:5

5A       Proposal # 5

            This loving others through the Spirit by faith is not a perfect love in this life.

                        Romans 7:15, 19, 23-25, Philippians 3:12

6A       Proposal #6

            By fulfilling this law we will become perfect when we die or at the Rapture of the Saints.

                        Romans 8:30; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 12:22-23

7A       While I will one day become perfected in love, we will not in our totality ever be a perfect one, because of our sinfulness.  I will always need forgiveness and in need of an imputed righteousness from Christ.

8A       The real direction of my life will be to live the law of love.

                        2 Corinthians 8:1-2,8

9A       This law is the law of liberty or the law of Christ.

Romans 8:2; 2 Corinthians 3:17: James 1:25; 2:10-12; Galatians 5:1; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

10A     The O.T. law is a set of commandments, instruction of God to us.

                        Galatians 3:21; 3:21-25

11A     Understanding the law in its total its aim is that Jesus Christ get the glory as the one who provides the only ground for our imputed righteousness through faith.

                        Romans 5:19; 10:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:8-9

12A     So how can my imperfect obedience and love fulfill the perfect law of God?

(John Piper gives this idea that I have taken today.)

Let Man Not Separate Holy Spirit and Personal Accountability

Let Man Not Separate Holy Spirit and Sermon Delivery

As John MacArthur points out:

• No profession has as high a liability potential as that of one who preaches God’s Word.

• God will judge every preacher on the truthfulness and accuracy of his preaching.

When I read the qualification of what equips a man for preaching I am left in awl.

1. Reverence for God
2. Respect for the dignity of pastoral duty
3. Good sense.
4. Sound judgment.
5. Clear and deep thinking.
6. Love of reading.
7. Commitment to diligent study and meditation.
8. A good memory.
9. Graceful command of words.
10. Knowledge of society’s thinking.

Having the ability talent and efforts to

1. Explain obscure passages of Scripture
2. To resolve intricate applications of the Word to lives.
3. To defend the truth against opposers.

Then the skill and ability to

1. Teach doctrine.
2. Expound on the deep things of God.
3. Convince the stubborn mind.
4. Capture the affections and will.
5. Spread light over dark realities so as to eliminate the shadows of confusion.
6. Detect the errors of his hearers.
7. Convince their conscience.
8. Stop their mouths

And do all this by teaching the Word of God

To put it mildly, Christmas is a little bit confusing to the watching world, I’m pretty sure. I never really get over that. Year after year I’m struck by the paradoxes of Christmas, the strange combination of Christianity and a kind of carnival mentality, the humility and poverty of the stable confused with the wealth and indulgence of selfishness and gift giving, the quietness of Bethlehem with the din of the shopping mall, the seriousness of the incarnation with the silliness of the party spirit and party attitude, the blinking colored lights juxtaposed with the star of heaven. Just a confusion designed certainly by the enemy of men’s souls, cheap plastic toys mixed with the true gift of the wise men, angels confused with flying reindeer, an ox and an ass in a stable confused with a red nosed reindeer, of all things, the filth of the stable confused with the whiteness of fresh snow. And so it goes and you’re familiar with all of that. Mary and Joseph and North Pole elves…kind of hard to look through this and see the reality.