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“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Eph 4:15-16 ESV)
Here are two excerpted commentaries on Ephesians chapter 4 which describe more detailed how Christian growth should look like.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
4:7-16 Unto every believer is given some gift of grace, for their mutual help. All is given as seems best to Christ to bestow upon every one. He received for them, that he might give to them, a large measure of gifts and graces; particularly the gift of the Holy Ghost. Not a mere head knowledge, or bare acknowledging Christ to be the Son of God, but such as brings trust and obedience. […] The more a man finds himself drawn out to improve in his station, and according to his measure, all that he has received, to the spiritual good of others, he may the more certainly believe that he has the grace of sincere love and charity rooted in his heart.
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 15. – But speaking the truth in love. Ἀληθεύοντες is hardly translatable in English it implies being true as well as speaking the truth and following the truth. Truth is the element in which we are to live, move, and have our being; fidelity to truth is the backbone of the Christian ministry. But truth must be inseparably married to love; good tidings spoken harshly are no good tidings; the charm of the message is destroyed by the discordant spirit of the messenger. The more painful the first impression which a truth is fitted to produce (e.g., Ephesians 2:1-3), the more need is there for dealing with it in love – a much-needed and much-neglected exhortation. […]
Basically, it is not enough to gather the truth as mere head knowledge and to speak up whenever we disagree with someone. Rather, we should also let God examine our hearts on whether our tendency is more about ending up being right than about helping one another to grow up in Christ, always keeping in mind the following exhortation, too.
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Phil 2:3-8 ESV)
What I found interesting while reading the last Scriptures was the fact that we may both look to our own interest and to those of others. I would have rather thought that we should merely aim for the good of others by neglecting our own interests. But not so. Hmm… Leaves me wondering… 😉 Although, I think that statement matches completely with the second commandment that challenges us to love our neighbors as ourselves. It seems to me that this is what true balance is all about (cf. Mk 12:31). If we love God (Mk 12:30), we will love others AND ourselves because God is ONE (Mk 12:29) and His love is one, not three “loves” that would prove themselves as different from one another as for their extent.
I was just reminded of two verses of Jesus, Son of Sirach, who said,
“And refrain not to speak in the time of salvation. Hide not thy wisdom in her beauty. For by the tongue wisdom is discerned: and understanding, and knowledge, and learning by the word of the wise, and steadfastness in the works of justice.” (Ecclesiasticus 4:28-29)
Indeed, if we do not open our mouth when God nudges us to do so, even though our loving words might hurt the hearer (because the truth indeed hurts at times), how can the Body of Christ grow? If we see that there is a member of the body that is (spiritually) sick and thus weak, the whole body gets weakened until that member has been healed. Peter and Paul tell us the following.
“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Pt 2:1-3 ESV)
“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Col 1:9-10 ESV)
Indeed, good works will spring from a loving heart. If there is no good work (that includes our “words” as well), esp. toward our brothers and sisters, is proclaiming “the truth” worth to be proclaimed – at all? Since, will there be any people who can hear the message of the Gospel with their very hearts so that they might be healed and repent? I often recall Paul’s admonition that explains the most excellent way of being, speaking, and doing.
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” (1 Cor 13:1-3 ESV)
Sometimes we hurt while trying to love one another or those who do not want our love, but we could always try to look at Him who humbly endured death on the cross because of His love to the Father and to all of us, even to the whole world (Jn 3:16). There is no one excluded unless they exclude themselves from God’s love. I believe that the fellowship of Jesus’ sufferings entails for us the pain of being rejected although we keep on loving others. Finally, it is always His power that brings us through the pain of rejection and offers at the same time being blessed by supernatural joy in the very midst of suffering (cf. Lk 6:22). Or in other words (mine),
Entering the Promised Land 
This post brings conviction. I need to be love and truth, not fear and cowardice. Love and truth and the love of the truth have the power to free. Lord, I cry out for love, truth, and the love of the truth. So often, I am motivated by lesser things.
Thank you, Susanne, for the post.
Love in Him,
Pat Orr
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Oh, dear Pat! May I tell you that I am the biggest coward I know of? Not so that I ever loved being that way, however, without God closing me in unto Himself, would I have ever cried out, “HELP ME, PLEASE!!!”? I am an anxious bundle of nerves without God’s power that always lifts me up after I was forced to realize, again and again, “I am nothing and I can do nothing without HIM – ever.”
You are welcome, dear sister. We are sitting in the same boat, believe me!
In Christ’s Love ❤
Susanne
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Susanne, great article about speaking truth in love. I recently got a long comment on my blog that I decided not to moderate from a person that was obviously a pastor or someone in the religious system hierarchy that was not all that pleased with something I wrote. He accused me of growing away from Christ and becoming more hateful and arrogant with a Messiah complex. The thing that bothered me was that he did not give his name and I had never heard from him before that I knew of, at least not under that pseudo name that he used on his comment. He chose a blog article that was 18 month old to base his judgment of me on and I think that anyone who knows me at all or has followed my blog would vouch for the fact that God has been tenderizing me over the last few months and that the opposite is true.
Here is part of my reply to him:
“I assume by the way you write that you are a pastor. How would you feel if some total stranger walked up to you on the street and started dressing you down about what you preach on Sunday [18 months ago]? I am not sure why you have decided to come at me with your accusations without even introducing yourself or making any attempt to establish a relationship with me in which you could actually “speak the truth in love.” For this to happen a bond of love between two members of the body of Christ must exist. If you had, I am sure that I would have found it easier to take your words to heart. If you have been reading any of my later blogs you would see that the Lord has been doing a deeper on going work in my heart and that it has been an ongoing rooting-up and pulling down as well as more planting and rebuilding within me. If you have been following what I share and the letters of others as they have commented on what I write and still feel you are right and they all are wrong, I am sorry you feel this way.”
What occurred to me in all this was this phrase you quoted from Paul, “but speaking the truth in love…” What does that mean? Does it mean that if we start out with, “I am saying this to you in love… blah, blah ,blah…” Does that make it truly words spoken IN love? Does not the very nature of love also require an attempt on our part at establishing and keeping a relationship with the person loved? Is a drive-by-shooting love? Is accusatory hate mail from anonymous people love? The context of this whole chapter four of Ephesians is about the body of Christ being equipped to edify one another and growing together in His love. For instance just before your opening passage Paul wrote,
“”There is one God who is the Father of all people. Not only is God above all others, but he works by using all of us, and he lives in all of us. Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us. As the Scriptures say, “When he went up to the highest place, he led away many prisoners and gave gifts to people.”… This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him. We must stop acting like children. We must not let deceitful people trick us by their false teachings, which are like winds that toss us around from place to place. Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head.”” (Ephesians 4:6-15 CEV)
You see, the context of our truth speaking is that of a body in which its members are committed to one another in love unto edification as a family in Christ with God as our Father and Christ as our brother, not a set-up for us to start a doctrinal food fight with one another filled with accusations or our posturing to lord over one another as Ephesians 4:11 is often used.
Thank you dear sister for letting me share my thoughts and heart on this subject on your blog. I love what He gives you to share from you heart and your part in His body is truly a blessing.
Michael.
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Thank you, my brother! You are a blessing to me, too, as a loving part of the Body of Christ that so often edifies and encourages me. ❤
Indeed, how to deal with hate mails or accusative comments? That is not easy, I know. But I may tell you that I loved your humble reply to Mr. X. Actually, sometimes it's really better to not publish such stuff.
Speaking the truth in love is certainly no left-brained statement as you so aptly wrote here, “I am saying this to you in love… blah, blah, blah…” You really made me laugh out loud with that sentence, Michael! 🙂
Also, you asked whether the very nature of love did not require to establish and keep a relationship with the loved person. Basically, I agree, yet there were times in the past when I had to realize, finally, that it was not possible for me to maintain a relationship with someone who does not even try to meet me at eye level. Although such breaks are always painful and I had tried to strive for peace with these persons for some time, I had to acknowledge that there are people who simply seek a quarrel where they can prove you wrong so that they themselves feel better than before. However, that is not the humble mind of Christ which is reflected in such a person. Sometimes we must leave them alone and let God do His work in their hearts. I pray for them and I hope they come back, eventually, with a renewed mind and heart.
As you mentioned Ephesians 4:11, a verse that could be used as a free ticket by some to rule over others, I read it once again and I was surprised to see a “new” thing to me.
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” (Eph 4:11-12 ESV)
HE gave them……
That reminds me of the following Scripture which is only one of several similar verses in the Book of Jeremiah.
“For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the Lord.” (Jer 29:8-9 ESV)
In fact, those apostles/prophets/shepherds/teachers were given by God. HE chose them, HE knew/knows them and they know (i.e. love) Him too. Jesus warned us,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Mt 7:21-23 ESV)
A few verses before Jesus said that we should watch for the fruit of those who claim to work for Him. As we could just read, the fruit is not some mighty work done in the name of Jesus, instead, it’s the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). We can only enter the kingdom of heaven if we do the will of our Father who is LOVE. And what is His will? The very same, loving Him, others and ourselves. And whenever we speak up, we should speak the truth in His love. So plain and simple, isn’t it?
Love,
Susanne
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Dear Susanne,
It is good to hear that I made you laugh and that I am a blessing to you. Know that you are to me as well!
You wrote, “I had to realize, finally, that it was not possible for me to maintain a relationship with someone who does not even try to meet me at eye level.” Yes, this is a problem when dealing with people that have a superiority complex, especially when they have an ecclesiastical title in the church. One thing that will never work with me is when someone talks down to me as if they are my superior or they try to posture themselves over me to get me to cower. In religious circles this is done all the time (see my article: http://www.awildernessvoice.com/posturing.html).
Paul wrote that we should NOT be this way saying, “Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him. I realize how kind God has been to me, and so I tell each of you not to think you are better than you really are. Use good sense and measure yourself by the amount of faith that God has given you.” (Romans 12:2-3 CEV). Yes, we are to measure ourselves by the faith that we have been given, we are not to be measuring ourselves against one another. Christ is or measuring stick. Paul also said, “We would not dare put ourselves in the same class with or compare ourselves to those who recommend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves to themselves, they show how foolish they are” (2 Corinthians 10:12 ISV). There are way too many people in church leadership or leadership want-a-bes who build up their egos by putting other people down instead of building up the body of Christ as we are instructed to in Ephesians ch. four.
Ephesians 4:11 is the one verse that the whole church hierarchic system is built upon. One time in the whole N. T. does this word “pastors” show up and it is here. You see this is not a list of church hierarchical offices (by the way this word “office” in the KJV is a total fabrication of the translators and has NO Greek counterpart in the original text of the Bible). Yet, upon this one word “pastors” does most of Christendom get its authority to set up itself and rule over the people of God. It should have been translated “shepherd” as it is everywhere else and Jesus said that HE is the Good Shepherd.
A closer translation of Eph. 4:11 reads, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,” (Ephesians 4:11 ESV). Once again the word “some” is “ho” in the Greek and should be translated the definite article, “the.” The same word is used in John chapter one, “In the beginning was THE Word…” meaning Jesus Christ. Jesus said that apart from Him we can do nothing for “by Him were all things made that were made.” You see it is Jesus Christ who is The Apostle (see Heb. 3:11). It is Jesus who is The Prophet (see Acts 3:20-23). It is Jesus who is The Evangelist (Grk.euaggelistēs – The bringer of good news – See Luke 4:17-21). It is Jesus Christ who is The Shepherd (see Psalm 23:1 and John 10:11&14). It is Jesus Christ who is The Teacher (John 13:13-14).
My precious sister, I believe that these are all manifestations of Christ caring for His body. They are graces that are manifest in that body so that the whole body might be raised up and manifest the fulness of Christ upon this earth. As long as we see these graces as titles that give men the right to rule over the “lesser” members of the body, Christ’s body will continue to manifest the systems of men in this world with its top down pyramidal schemes. Paul who believed that there is ONE new man IN Christ where there is no longer Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male nor female, but a NEW creation did not turn around and teach that “some” are “more equal” than the rest and seek to isolate the vast majority of God’s people into one class “laity” – the unwashed masses with the high calling of “pew warmer.”
No that is not the theme of this chapter at all! We all need to consider these words in the beginning of chapter four carefully and notice how many times the words ALL and ONE appear… “As a prisoner of the Lord, I beg you to live in a way that is worthy of the people God has chosen to be his own. Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. Try your best to let God’s Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace. ALL of you are part of the same body. There is only ONE Spirit of God, just as you were given ONE hope when you were chosen to be God’s people. We have only ONE Lord, ONE faith, and ONE baptism. There is ONE God who is the Father of ALL people. Not only is God above ALL others, but he works by using ALL of us, and he lives in ALL of us.” (Ephesians 4:1-6 CEV – emphasis added).
Love you all dearly in the Son,
Michael
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Dear Michael,
Thanks for that helpful link to your site, my brother. Indeed I read your article before and I found it was very enlightening. 🙂
I do not believe in “offices” as they are often (mis)understood, either, and in fact, the position of being the only one in a congregation who has “something to say” can be tempting for someone who still lives in his selfish Old Adam nature. Whether a shepherd is called pastor or not, his position will bring him and his congregation into a bigger mess the more he relies on his own judgment than on anyone else’s. Elders in a congregation can only be helpful if the pastor actually listens to their advice (just in case they are Spirit-led. Otherwise, you can forget their advice). If the man in the leading position is not interested in their contribution to build up the Body of Christ because he thinks he is superior, you can forget the church as well since, sooner or later, the whole thing will doubtlessly end in a godless chaos.
Yes, repentance is necessary in a big part of Christendom where on the one hand Christian leaders trust in their “fans” and on the other hand the fans, i.e. Christians, have given up their responsibility to seek God’s face on their own.
Michael, I really believe that not only leaders are dependent on man’s approval but that the average Christian sitting in the pew might have the fatal tendency to be “co-dependent” on someone who is visible to his eyes and tells him these things he should first and foremost hear from God Himself. We can never judge others and what they tell us about God if we cannot discern the spirits. Actually, I know there are not only a few pastors and Christian leaders who earnestly seek God and I believe that God will guide them on the way He chose for them. I also saw what a burden it is for a Christian leader, pastor or priest to be the only one in charge. It is no wonder that they often burn out completely. Maybe, that helps to realize that the Body of Christ has many equal members that should work together so that the pastors/elders/priests/leaders finally surrender to Christ and share their many tasks with all those God chose, that is, with everyone who follows Christ, regardless of gender and other distinctions.
Thank you, too, for your another one of your precious comments, Michael!
In Christ’s love,
Susanne
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My computer will not give me my e-mail page, so. I will give you my message: In your blog you write Eph 4 v 16 about the body. I Cor 12 vs 14-18 explains more about the function of the body of Christ. We have heard that Christ has no hands or feet except us in the body. As a medical doctor acquainted with anatomy, physiology, & pathology. I have written in detail about the body relating to the head.Let me know if you would like to get this information.
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I was glad to see this morning that your email page works again, Herbert. Indeed, sounds interesting to me what you wrote above in your comment regarding the physical function of the Body of Christ. I would appreciate it if you sent me your detailed information via email.
Every blessing to you and Pat!
Susanne
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as per usual your article and the comments are so spiritually good–thanks for your outflow of Gods favor!
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Thank you very much for your kind feedback, Kenneth! Encouraging, as always. 🙂
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I am often troubled by the self-righteousness some Christians exhibit, particularly in their dealings with those not of the faith. Surely, that approach is a way to turn others away from Christ, not draw them towards Him.
I do NOT mean to suggest that we should, in any way, compromise the truth of Scripture. Martyrs died for that truth. But the Holy Spirit is entirely capable of convicting any in need of conviction — without resort to our condemnation. The pastor who lashed out at Michael would, I think, be one such.
We are instructed to speak and act out of love. As I see it, that means we are required to be tender (at least toward the sinner, on a one-to-one basis, if not the sin). The sin may on occasion call for us to breathe fire. But Matt. 7: 21-23 should be a caution to us all.
As for those we encounter only briefly, they may already have been vilified by any number of other well-intentioned Christians. An act of kindness will go much further toward opening their hearts, than a harsh and judgmental lecture on morality.
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Dear Anna,
Thanks so much for sharing your wise words and insights on here. I highly appreciate your input and contribution on my and on Michael’s blog, too.
Yes, I observed that self-righteousness as well and I admit that I did the same in my earlier years with Jesus. Truly, I had to repent and apologize because of my arrogance and pride. Today I clearly see that we won’t ever draw someone to Christ unless our own hearts burn for them in His unconditional love. Less than divine love won’t do it, I believe.
Also, I have had the same thoughts about conviction, Anna. It is indeed the Holy Spirit’s “job” to lead people to repentance. Our call is not condemnation of the sinner, but charity is, as you so rightly pointed out.
The problem with harsh and judgmental lectures on morality is that those who love to “preach” that way almost always fall later into exactly those sins they once preached against. That is no coincidence, I guess. Knowing one’s own heart and its utter sinfulness (Rom 7) helps a lot to make us rely more and more on God who alone brings forth perfection of love and righteousness as He sees fit (cf. Rom 8:1, for example).
In Christ’s love,
Susanne
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Well said, Anna! BTW, I received your book, “The Rose Garden,” from Amazon today and am looking forward to sitting down and reading it. The part I read on your blog and on Amazon was excellent. You paint such beautiful word pictures. It is truly a gift from the Lord. God bless you as you show His love and mercy in your daily outreach to your community there in New York and thanks for all the things you share on Susanne’s and my blog as well.
Michael
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Yes, it is a wonderful read. I started to read it last night just before I went to sleep and am already at chapter four. It is very gripping as Anna tells her story of abuse at the hands of her own father and the perverse history that he also experienced coming down from his family in Hungary.
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I am deeply gratified, Michael. Your kind words do my heart good.
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Anna, you are loved by the Lord and all of us on here. God has worked Christ and His love for the outcasts in you as He has healed you of your past, and we have all been abused and rejected on here in one way or another. We can feel your heart.
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Yes, dear Anna, Michael said it so well, “You are loved by the Lord and by all of us here.” I have been feeling your precious heart, too, both in your wise and kind words and somehow between the lines, so to speak.
Much love ❤ ❤ ❤
Susanne XX
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You two bring tears to my eyes. So rarely, these days, do we have an opportunity to connect with our Christian brothers and sisters. More often than not, churches are large and impersonal or empty altogether. That you would mention the book, in addition, is enormously generous. May God bless you both.
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wanted to put my 2cts. in about Eph.4-11 🙂 .The scripture says ” not to limit the Holy One of Israel” This that Michael said “A closer translation of Eph. 4:11 reads, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,” (Ephesians 4:11 ESV). Once again the word “some” is “ho” in the Greek and should be translated the definite article, “the.” The same word is used in John chapter one, “In the beginning was THE Word…” meaning Jesus Christ. Jesus said that apart from Him we can do nothing for “by Him were all things made that were made.” You see it is Jesus Christ who is The Apostle (see Heb. 3:11). It is Jesus who is The Prophet (see Acts 3:20-23). It is Jesus who is The Evangelist (Grk.euaggelistēs – The bringer of good news – See Luke 4:17-21). It is Jesus Christ who is The Shepherd (see Psalm 23:1 and John 10:11&14). It is Jesus Christ who is The Teacher (John 13:13-14). ,” goes along with what i believe that Jesus is all of these ,and i am simple enough to believe , that he can function in all of them through any believer. i have moved ,not just one time but for seasons, in all 4 or 5 , depending on what you believe, of them experiencing the heart of Jesus in each one, and i haven’t been paid yet for allowing Him to move through me 🙂 ,at least not in a salary.it is wonderful to experience and function in Jesus’s heart as a shepherd ,His love and caring for His sheep, loving and speaking truth as a prophet or seerer, a heart for the lost as an evangelist, being sent, by God, to other places to help others come together and get established in Him.and in many other ways also . i don’t like it when people categorize or put a limit on me , in Christ, like in the temperament teachings that were going around for awhile,that has it;s roots in the demonic, my adamic man may have tendencies, because of the fall , but i have been created anew in Him.I am a new creation in Him and the creator of ALL things lives in me, THE GREAT I AM, and He can move anyway He chooses through me, His vessel,so i don’t want to limit Him because of some manmade doctrine. I like what Paul, the sent one, said “follow me as i follow Christ”. It’s All about Jesus .
in Him ~ wayne
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Indeed, Wayne, it’s all about Him!! Very well said! ⭐
Whatever God wants to do with us or through us, as long as we keep beholding Him, we won’t have any problems. But when the old Adamic nature comes in, looking at the carnal self inside, the trouble begins. What I find so relieving about our doing (or not doing) for God is that God-given self-forgetfulness that disables our left hand to know what the right hand does. Or in other words, spiritual self-forgetfulness is ours when we can ask, finally,
“Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?” (Mt 25:37-39 ESV)
And our Lord answers,
“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Mt 25:40 ESV)
If you (or someone else) have (has) not yet read that excellent article on self-forgetfulness by Tullian Tchividjian, I’ll link it here once again. By the way, it was the second article on which I extensively commented on the internet. Actually, it makes me grin when I read today what I wrote on there more than 3 years ago… 🙂
http://www.pastortullian.com/2011/12/05/the-gift-of-self-forgetfulness/
In Christ’s love,
Susanne
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Susanne, that is an excellent scripture about this gift of forgetfulness you speak of… it goes with not thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought to and fixing our eyes on Jesus who is the Author and the Finisher of our faith and NOT on ourselves. If we do this, He will get us from the start of our faith to the final outcome for we become what we behold in our hearts. Amen?
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AMEN!!! 🙂
THANK YOU!
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Right on my brother Wayne!!!!
When I was in that first cult that formed out of the Jesus Movement in our area, the leader started teaching the signs of the zodiac as 12 temperaments that we are born into and confined to… the five temperaments teaching (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Temperaments) is the same crap and came out of 400BC Greek philosopher, Hippocrates. It fails to acknowledge that in Christ ALL things are made new and the old things pass away.. that we who are HIS are a NEW creation!
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Yes, Michael, He makes all things new! And although it is painful to die daily, He also gives us new life every day as well. We are NOT confined to anything that defined the Old Adam and Eve, as the Apostle Paul outlined here,
“Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.” (1 Cor 15:33-34 ESV)
Love,
Susanne
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Susanne, what gives me hope is the nature of the whole New Covenant and how God made Christ to be our ALL in all, not the clergy or anyone else. Jesus is our death and resurrection AND our Life! ALL seems to cover a whole lot more than most people have allowed in their thinking. 🙂
“Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He takes the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And you are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” (1 Corinthians 3:18-23 KJ2000)
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Indeed, Michael, the New Covenant is our hope as Jesus did and fulfilled all that was needed on our behalf.
If we rely on Him, how could we ever go astray? In fact, He is our all in all.
Yup, the Scripture you quoted fits! 🙂
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