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…

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). . .

PERPETUAL SELF-INVENTORY

Jesus said, “7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” (Matt. 15:7-9). When we slid outside of what the scripture teaches and begin teaching what we think, we become hypocrites. Teaching, practicing “religion”, that is subjective is purely a vain practice which does not honor Christ. 

Every denomination that teaches even one thing different than the written gospel is saying, “my will, not thy will”. My way is the better way. They think in their own minds that they are justified by numbers. That is, because their congregation is larger than another they think, “we must be right”, which is also saying God is wrong. But we must remember that Jesus did say wide is the gate that leads to distruction and many will go that way, but narrow and difficult is the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matt. 7:13-14). 

To avoid the wide gate we must practice self examination daily. Paul wrote, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.”  (2 Corinthians 13:5). 

We must remember those who enter the wide gate mostly do so because of the false teachers. One such teacher from the 1500’s is John Calvin. Most people in the denominational world of religion don’t even know that they are following Calvin’s teaching and that’s because it is like diabetes, it is a silent killer. He taught 5 tenents: (1) Total Depravity, (2) Unconditional Election, (3) Limited Atonement, (4) Irresistible Grace, and (5) Perseverance of the Saints. 

We will focus here on “The Perseverance of the Saints”: The claim is the elect of God are sanctified by the Spirit and as a result of that sanctification, because of their faith in Jesus, they are imputed with righteousness from God through Christ. This is a horrible doctrine because it teaches people that you cannot fall from grace. No matter how wicked you are, no matter how evil you are, you are always going to be saved. Calvin teaches that the righteousness of Christ is imputed on the believer. Impute means to ascribe (righteousness) to someone by virtue of a similar quality in another. Because Jesus is Holy, blameless, and righteous – so is the believer. Because Jesus cannot fall, thus the believer cannot fall. 

Calvinism, teach of two imputations: The first imputation is that we all have the sin of Adam transferred to us. Because Adam sinned we are all born in sin. The second, Christ’s blood saved us therefore we are clothed with His righteousness therefore, God cannot see your sin ever. 

I hope you’ll listen in as we turn to the scriptre to examine this teaching, whether it is true or false. Then examine ourselves to be sure we are practicing the right faith, the truth according to God. . . 

UNPOPULAR WAY – PART 7
WOMEN PREACHERS, ELDERS AND DEACONS

I would bring to your remembrance the words of Jesus who said, “25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:25-26).

Without Question—Every Christian around the globe who is serious about walking in the Spirit and not the flesh will be: 1-Unashamed and 2-Unpopular in the eyes of the world.

We are Not Ashamed to Own Our Lord and not ashamed of the gospel! But many are ashamed, and the proof is when someone says “I believe” rather than “the scriptures say”!

HERE I AM

We heard Peter’s testimony of Christ, the savior speaking to many of the very same people who shouted, “Crucify Him”, saying, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it” – Acts 2:22-24.

The blood of the Lord was on their hands because of their sin. Not literally but symbolically, and His blood is on the hands of every sinner today in the same manner. Therefore, they had every reason to fear after hearing that the Lord whom they crucified is risen and to be fair, and today every soul has reason to fear if they haven’t obeyed the call of the Lord through His gospel.

But when they heard the words of Peter who said, “For the promise is to you. This is the proper response for every person who hears the call, the good news: “then those who gladly received his word were baptized…” Acts 2:41. 

Jesus was the prophesied Messiah – Isa. 7:14; Isa. 9:6
Jesus the Son of God did come down from Glory, being born of a virgin and walked among us – John 1:14, and Matt. 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, ‘God with us.’” Jesus Died for Us – Rom. 5:8, and Jesus is Risen – Rom. 8:34. 
Because of these truths, this good news, I would like to talk with you today about what your response to the Lord’s call is.

What will your responce be? Will it be as Adam (Gen. 3:8), or Abraham Gen.12: 1, 11? 

SAINTS AND THE ONES OF THE BIBLE
Part 6

What makes God’s people so unpopular? Simply put it! We are unpopular because we speak the truth according to the word of God.

Armed only with the weapon of God’s word…

We “pull down strongholds”, like the walls of Jericho
We sound out God’s word and the walls of hypocrisy, humanism, Idolary, fall…
By revealing the righteousness of Christ we cast down false teachers, the way of the flesh – and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God…

And there is something we all need to know about One Body, One Spirit, One Hope, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, and One God…