Sue J Love
Loyal
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2015
- Messages
- 2,974
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.” (Philippians 2:14-18 ESV)
So, when this says for us to do all things without grumbling or disputing, what is the real message here? It appears that it most likely refers to complaints against the Lord and how he is doing things, like the Israelites complained and were rebellious against God and Moses in the wilderness. This could also indicate a “subversive form of dissent” (source: bible hub). And this would also be indicative of lack of faith and trust in the Lord.
So this is not teaching against examining what we see and hear against the Scriptures and us pointing out errors of doctrine that are permeating the American church and people’s individual lives. This is not speaking against testing the spirits to see if they are of God and exposing the fruitless deeds of darkness for what they are. Paul called out false apostles by name and he refuted the lies which were being spread against the truth of the gospel.
And this is not saying that we can’t be a strong voice against injustice and against lies which are being spread in the name of Christianity or in the name of “liberty and justice for all.” We can take a stand against what is wrong and speak on behalf of truth and justice and what is right in the eyes of the Lord. And we can be truth tellers who warn people against following after “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” and who reason with them about truth.
But we are not to get into pointless and heated arguments with people when we disagree with them, or when they disagree with us. We can state our beliefs, and support them with the Scriptures, and we can listen to what others are saying, and to do so respectfully, but when it appears that both sides are going to stand their ground, then we should walk away from the conversation and not get into a “knock down drag out fight”.
We need to be mature and reasonable people who know when enough has been said. Therefore, if we were to go further with the conversation, it would be of no value to anyone. And that means we must accept that we are not going to convince everyone that what we believe is true. Our job is just to give out the truth, and it is the Holy Spirit’s job to convince people. For only God can change people’s minds and hearts. But we should also seek the Lord to make certain that we are right, and that we are following the truth.
For, as those who make professions of faith in Jesus Christ, we are to be his representatives in the world shining the light (the truth) of the gospel to the people so that they can hear the truth, and hopefully will then believe the truth and will surrender their lives to Jesus Christ to do his will. So if we live in contradiction to what we profess with our lips, then we lose our testimony for the Lord. And this is not saying that we all will be perfect people, but that our witness for Christ is not in words only, but in how we live our lives.
But when we are living for the Lord, in doing his will, and we are exposing the fruitless deeds of darkness for what they are, and we are speaking the truth of the gospel against the lies which are being taught, we will be opposed, even by others who profess faith in the Lord. For not everyone is going to agree with what we are teaching, because they have been taught differently. So that is why I try to include Scripture references so that those who read these writings can test what I say against the Scriptures.
And, in summary, the message of the gospel taught by Jesus, and by his NT apostles, is basically this: By faith in Jesus – a faith which comes from God, is gifted to us by God, and is persuaded by God, and is not of our own doing – we are crucified with Christ in death to sin, and we are raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer as slaves to sin. So we are no longer to live in slavery to sin. For if sin is what we obey, it ends in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it ends in eternal life with God.
[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:6-8; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-21; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10]
To Be Like Him
An Original Work / March 16, 2014
Based off Scripture
Crucified you are with Jesus.
To be like Him, oh, you’ll be,
Because He died at Calv’ry,
So from sin you’d be free.
Oh, what joy He brings into your life,
Giving life with Him endlessly.
Oh, what plans He has for your life.
Share the gospel faithfully.
Show the people He loves them.
Now His witness you’ll be.
Tell the world of sin about Jesus,
How He died for them on a tree.
Purifying hearts, He saves them,
Who believe on Christ, God’s Son.
Turning now from their idols,
New lives they have begun.
Jesus saves from sin; we’re forgiven.
Over sin, the vict’ry He won!
When He comes again to take us
To be with Him evermore,
There will be no more crying.
Gladness will be in store.
Heavens joys will now overtake us:
We’ll be with our Lord evermore.
So, when this says for us to do all things without grumbling or disputing, what is the real message here? It appears that it most likely refers to complaints against the Lord and how he is doing things, like the Israelites complained and were rebellious against God and Moses in the wilderness. This could also indicate a “subversive form of dissent” (source: bible hub). And this would also be indicative of lack of faith and trust in the Lord.
So this is not teaching against examining what we see and hear against the Scriptures and us pointing out errors of doctrine that are permeating the American church and people’s individual lives. This is not speaking against testing the spirits to see if they are of God and exposing the fruitless deeds of darkness for what they are. Paul called out false apostles by name and he refuted the lies which were being spread against the truth of the gospel.
And this is not saying that we can’t be a strong voice against injustice and against lies which are being spread in the name of Christianity or in the name of “liberty and justice for all.” We can take a stand against what is wrong and speak on behalf of truth and justice and what is right in the eyes of the Lord. And we can be truth tellers who warn people against following after “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” and who reason with them about truth.
But we are not to get into pointless and heated arguments with people when we disagree with them, or when they disagree with us. We can state our beliefs, and support them with the Scriptures, and we can listen to what others are saying, and to do so respectfully, but when it appears that both sides are going to stand their ground, then we should walk away from the conversation and not get into a “knock down drag out fight”.
We need to be mature and reasonable people who know when enough has been said. Therefore, if we were to go further with the conversation, it would be of no value to anyone. And that means we must accept that we are not going to convince everyone that what we believe is true. Our job is just to give out the truth, and it is the Holy Spirit’s job to convince people. For only God can change people’s minds and hearts. But we should also seek the Lord to make certain that we are right, and that we are following the truth.
For, as those who make professions of faith in Jesus Christ, we are to be his representatives in the world shining the light (the truth) of the gospel to the people so that they can hear the truth, and hopefully will then believe the truth and will surrender their lives to Jesus Christ to do his will. So if we live in contradiction to what we profess with our lips, then we lose our testimony for the Lord. And this is not saying that we all will be perfect people, but that our witness for Christ is not in words only, but in how we live our lives.
But when we are living for the Lord, in doing his will, and we are exposing the fruitless deeds of darkness for what they are, and we are speaking the truth of the gospel against the lies which are being taught, we will be opposed, even by others who profess faith in the Lord. For not everyone is going to agree with what we are teaching, because they have been taught differently. So that is why I try to include Scripture references so that those who read these writings can test what I say against the Scriptures.
And, in summary, the message of the gospel taught by Jesus, and by his NT apostles, is basically this: By faith in Jesus – a faith which comes from God, is gifted to us by God, and is persuaded by God, and is not of our own doing – we are crucified with Christ in death to sin, and we are raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer as slaves to sin. So we are no longer to live in slavery to sin. For if sin is what we obey, it ends in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it ends in eternal life with God.
[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:6-8; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-21; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10]
To Be Like Him
An Original Work / March 16, 2014
Based off Scripture
Crucified you are with Jesus.
To be like Him, oh, you’ll be,
Because He died at Calv’ry,
So from sin you’d be free.
Oh, what joy He brings into your life,
Giving life with Him endlessly.
Oh, what plans He has for your life.
Share the gospel faithfully.
Show the people He loves them.
Now His witness you’ll be.
Tell the world of sin about Jesus,
How He died for them on a tree.
Purifying hearts, He saves them,
Who believe on Christ, God’s Son.
Turning now from their idols,
New lives they have begun.
Jesus saves from sin; we’re forgiven.
Over sin, the vict’ry He won!
When He comes again to take us
To be with Him evermore,
There will be no more crying.
Gladness will be in store.
Heavens joys will now overtake us:
We’ll be with our Lord evermore.
