PUTTING ON CHRIST – SELF-CONTROL

Solomon wrote, “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls” (Proverbs 25:28).

Defining self-control:

The word [ἐγκράτεια] egkráteia, comes from “en, in the sphere of”, and “krátos, dominion, mastery”. That is you have mastered your inner self i.e., “self-control”
Oxford Dictionary defines it this way. “the ability to control oneself, in particular one’s emotions and desires or the expression of them in one’s behavior, especially in difficult situations.”
Webster says, “restraint exercised over one’s own impulses, emotions, or desires”.
For the believer “self-control” or “spirit-control” can only be accomplished by the power of God. Peter commands us all to add self-control to our faith (2 Pet. 1:6). It is the Christian’s spiritual wall of defense against the sinful desires that wage war against the soul. Think of yourself standing with a wall around you, outside there are all kinds of activities, some sinful, and some acceptable. It encompasses every life decision. Should I study my bible or, watch my favorite television show? Apply the fruit of the Spirit to the question and the answer will aways be study.

That is not to imply that entertainment doesn’t have a place in our life, but if there is a choice to be made between the two, the right choice must always be according to the Spirit.

“24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (1 Cor. 9:24-27)

Self-control is running the race so as to receive an imperishable crown which requires discipline. Self-control is not an option for the child of God-IT IS A MUST…

MAKE NO PROVISION FOR THE FLESH

One scripture that we read this morning was from Romans 13:14. I would like to spend our time tonight by expounding a little on both verse 13, and verse 14.

“Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (Romans 13:13-14)

Let’s begin by defining these six words Paul used to warn us how not to walk:
1. Revelry: Usage: “kómos”
2. Drunkenness: Usage: The term “methé”
3. Lewdness: Usage: The Greek word “κοίτη”
4. Lust: Usage: The term “aselgeia”
5. Strife: Usage: The Greek word “eris”
6. Envy: Usage: In the New Testament, “zelos”

Now let’s apply this and learn to Walk Properly…

We have been learning from the scriptures how we who are saved can continue the process of “Putting on Christ”, which is initially done when we accepted the invitation of Christ in baptism. (Gal. 3:27)
• Paul further enlightens us as to the meaning of putting on Christ in his writing to the church at Rome.
• In chapter 13 and verse 14 Paul wrote, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (Rom. 13:14)
• Thus, putting on Christ demands that we change, through repentance.
• It is not a one-time thing, rather a lifelong process of sanctification (1 Pet. 3:15), putting on righteous-ness and putting off sin, preparing ourselves for eternity.
• The putting on of righteousness is accomplished by putting on the fruit of the Spirit.
• Thus far, we have studied how we put on love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith-fulness…

As we continue with our theme of Putting on Christ, we turn to the 8th fruit of the Spirit which is gen-tleness.

In the scriptures we read of victory after victory that God has won against the enemies of His people.

• And there are many very sad events throughout the history of man times when people suffered,
mostly because they turned away from following God.

• Yet, tonight in this lesson I wanted to address the good news through some of the
words of glad tidings that bring the church a sense of joy.

Words that I hope will be encouraging to us…

Solomon wrote, “Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man?” (Prov. 20:6). 
The following three things are essential traits that God’s children must put on if they are to be faithful… 

1 Absolute Honesty!
2 Complete Dependency on God!
3 Unwavering Loyalty!

Thus, as our Lord is faithful so too, we must put on faithfulness.
• We need to be like God, and Jesus – Faithful in all things. . .

First let’s define faithfulness… What Is Faithfulness?
• [Webster] “Firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty”.
• [Thayer’s] “reliability, dependability, loyalty, and trustworthiness.”

Consider the great example of Daniel…

Three Promises

1) I Will Give you a Land: “1 Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.” (Gen. 12:1)
2) Make you a Great Nation: “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.” (Gen. 12:2)
3) All the Families of the Earth will be Blessed:  “I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Gen. 12:3)

The Newtestament church is that which is now the spiritual Israel, the spiritual kingdom of God and Christ. And even to this day there is established the same three things. A People, A Law, and A Land…

PUTTING ON CHRIST
MAKE ME HAVE KINDNESS AND GOODNESS

Two characteristics that God calls for us to adopt to be pleasing in His sight are kindness and goodness. Immediately we may think that these words are simply redundant.

Kindness is defined by Thayer as “moral goodness, integrity.”
Goodness is defined by Thayer as “uprightness of heart and life.”

We can see that the definitions of these two words are fairly similar.

In studying these characteristics, I thought Jerry Bridges related these two words together well:

“Kindness is a sincere desire for the happiness of others; goodness is the activity calculated to advance that happiness.”
Therefore, kindness is about having the desire for good things to happen to others.
Goodness is doing activities to ensure that those good things do happen to others.
Kindness requires an awareness of others and the thoughtfulness to want to bring goodness to their lives.

Consider two reasons why we need to reflect these characteristics of kindness and goodness.

First, we see these very characteristics in Jesus…

UTTING ON CHRIST CIRCLE OF FRUITFULNESS PART 1

Writing to the saints in the churches of Galatia Paul concluded by reminding them who they are saying: “26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Today we begin a few lessons that I pray will help us all understand JUST how we put on Christ. This is accomplished primarily by adopting the fruits that come from God’s Holy character which we learn of through the life and teaching of Jesus and the holy men of God who wrote the scriptures (2 Peter 1:21).

We must live fruitful lives – or be cut-off from the life-giving vine, which is Jesus (John 15:6). Jesus said, “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.” (Matt. 7:18). Let’s study the Circle of Fruitfulness. • Who we are will define what we do. • What we do defines who we are. It is an endless circle. 

Now, it is, therefore, impossible for me to say I have put on Christ – if I am not living a godly and fruitful life. I can no longer say as some say, this is who I am, like it or not, and I’m not going to change now! We thank God that Peter didn’t say that, Paul didn’t say that, and we must never adopt that self-condemning attitude. What we must do is imitate Jesus, and the Apostles’ life, and teaching to the extent that we may boldly and truthfully say, such was I, but now I am washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God (1 Cor. 6:11). . .

THE TRUE GRACE OF GOD IN WHICH WE STAND

So many in the religious world today completely miss the mark when it comes to the Grace of God. All know and accept that the Grace is a free gift. In defining grace we say, grace is What God Gives Us that We Do Not Deserve! Where the many denominations fail concerning grace – is in teaching that you do not have to accept it.

The teaching that grace is a gift from God – which it most certainly is – but the error is that it’s yours whether you accept it or not.
This false teaching has its roots in Calvanisim – that in error – rewrote the Apostles words in Ephesians 1:4-5.

Where the apostle wrote, “4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,” (Eph. 1:4-5). But Calvanism rewrites God’s word saying, “just as He chose the individual in Him before the foundation of the world” – clearly making God a respector of persons. God didn’t say “the individual”, He said, “us” meaning the saved in Ephesus, the church. When Calvin “swapped out” the word us for the individual he changed what God said so then, according to Calvanism, grace, “salvation”, is actually forced on certain souls of God’s choosing and damnation is forced on souls that God restricts His grace.

That is God preordained who will be saved and who will be condemned for eternity. That is not what the scripture says – that eliminates any free will choosing on our part – that eliminates the “whosoever believes” in John 3:16.
All Who Are Saved Are So Because: “They choose to Believe ”, and chose to be Among the Saved”. God preordained the church not the individual.

Our lesson today is about the true grace – in which the “we” and the “us” Peter refers to are those who have obeyed from the heart and are saved – by the…

What Does the Scripture Actually Say…

WE ALL HAVE THE SAME SPIRIT OF FAITH

David wrote, “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.” (Psa. 143:10)

With these lyrics in mind let’s talk a little about the wonderful – joyous – powerful – encouraging words of Paul to the Corinthian saints…

Words that remind us here tonight that we we all have the same spirit of faith. 

Paul wrote, “13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.”  (2 Corinthians 4:13-14). Compare Paul’s words to the psalmist: “”8 For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. 9 I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. 10 I believed, therefore I spoke, “I am greatly afflicted.” (Psa. 116:8-10). Most most commentators today ascribe this to King David. If it was David—it may have been his contemplating the many gracious deliverances the mighty hand of God provided him.

Paul’s looking back to this psalmist’s Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Death –  as another source for strength and encouragement. 

The spirit to continue fighting for the cause of Christ
In much the same way—we—being of the same faith and can look back to Paul for the same reasons.
Look to (2 Cor. 4:7-12) see here that Paul has previously outlined his and his companions own suffering for Christ…
Now note the words in Psalm 116 at verse 3, “The pains of death surrounded me, and the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow.”
We remember Peter said, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;” (1 Pet. 4:12)
Now because we share the same faith as David, as Paul, and now as Peter—we also know that God will deliver us…
As Paul wrote, struck down, but not destroyed
As Peter said, “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” (1 Pet. 4:19).

The devil knows what he is doing…