Warning! Be Aware Of Taking Up Offenses! - Those Most Vulnerable To Offense, And How To Avoid It

Ephesians 4:25-27 "Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. 26 Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an opportunity."

Introduction:

In our last post we defined and gave an example of what it means to take up offense. Both Jesus and the Apostles warn against responding in bitterness and unforgiveness. The New Testament uses terms like "stumbling-blocks" and "offense" to convey the dangers posed by persistent states of bitterness. Paul uses the imagery of "foothold" to warn us of the danger of harboring resentment. 

I'm sure most readers have seen "rock walls" or "climbing walls". If you have never seen or tried to climb a "rock wall", such obstacles contain minute rocks and shelf-like protrusions called "foot-holds". Though not amounting to much in terms of size, such devices provide what is needed for people to climb up the sheerness of such walls. Whenever one takes up offense, they are providing a "foothold" for the enemy to do his dirty work in their lives. 

In today's post we want to dig deeper into this concept. We will first offer another illustration of what it means to take up offense, followed by reasons why you and I ought to guard against offense. 

An Illustration Of The Danger Of Taking Up Offense

One day a man decided to take his friend from overseas to see a football game. The friend had never been to a game, nor was he familiar at all with football. As they were up in the stands, watching the game, the crowd around them was cheering, and the man himself was whooping and hollering, for the home team was winning. However his friend sat motionless with a scowl on his face.

After the game was over, the excited man asked his friend: "So what did you think of your first football game"? His friend sharply responded: I have never been so offended in all my life! Those fellows in the stripped shirts kept ever so often getting together in the middle of the field, stopping the players from playing. And you know what, I think they were talking about me!"

Now this illustration conveys the truth of what Jesus is teaching. The friend in our little story perceived a line had been crossed. He came to the game, not knowing what to expect. As he watched, he began to draw conclusions about what he thought he saw. All we know is that the man chose to respond in anger and bitterness, resulting in his inability to appreciate the effort of the other man in treating him to his first football game.

Jesus' Warning To Guard Against Offense

Jesus' warnings about avoiding the tragic response of offense are repeated in the Gospels. When people respond in bitterness rather than in an attitude of forgiveness, such responses are not rare. If anything, Jesus warns that offenses are quite common, even inevitable, in this world. After all, Jesus plainly states in Luke 17:1-2 Jesus says:  "He said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! 2“It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble." If you have not ever had the opportunity to be hurt, or be at the receiving end of thoughtless words and deeds - just wait!

Those Most Vulnerable To Offense

So its not a matter of "if offenses will come", rather it is more a matter of "when they will come".  You and I cannot control what people will say or what events will come into our lives.  We also are not living in a fair world. Instead, we live in a fallen one. The only thing we can control is our response.  Will you be bitter, or better?  Will you retain a grudge, or forgive as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:13)? 

It may surprise some readers to know that the most vulnerable people to offense are those persons who are walking closest to God. Pastors, Sunday School Teachers, Prayer Warriors, Christian Moms and Dads - anyone who is used greatly by God in other people's lives are the number-one targets of offense. Why? The kingdom of darkness knows that if the major movers and shakers in God's kingdom can be crippled by misunderstanding, hurt-feelings and unforgiveness - then the strategy of Satan will advance. Unless the cross is in our center-line of vision, the vulnerability to taking up offenses will be pretty high. 

Guard Against Offense 

Jesus is not dismissing from responsibility the one who says careless words or does thoughtless deeds.  Often when an offense is taken up, a legitimate hurt has been committed, and not just merely a misunderstanding.  Certainly those who are careless or reckless in their treatment of us should be held accountable for their actions.  The key of course is by whom should they be held accountable - us or God? 

Jesus is warning us who have been at the receiving end to be careful not to "hold bitterness" or "take up offense".  Again in Luke 17:3 we read - 3“Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4“And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

Closing Thoughts And Applications

So in this world of ours, and even in the church, the likelihood of someone saying something wrong, or not saying something that should had been said, can yield in us a response of anger or bitterness if we're not careful.  If we have taken strides to guard are hearts through reflecting on God's Word and God's forgiveness in Jesus Christ, the chances of taking up offenses will be greatly diminished. 

Warning! Be Aware Of Taking Up Offenses! - Defining What It Means To Take Up Offense

Matthew 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! (KJV)

Matthew 18:7 "Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!" (NASB)

Introduction:

In today's post, we are going to begin addressing one of the most diabolical schemes of the Enemy used against Christians and non-Christian alike. This spiritual malady that Satan uses to afflict the human race is responsible for crippling pastors, tearing apart marriages and churches, wrecking societies and causing wars. This weapon of the kingdom of darkness begins seemingly small and almost hidden. To the unsuspecting person, it seems right to have and appears to be useful - but in the end it destroys the person using it and the intended targets. What is this weapon of which I speak? Three words summarize it: "taking up offense". 

What it means to "take up offense"

What is Jesus referring to when he warns about "taking up offenses" or "stumbling blocks"?  The Greek word used for "offenses" and "stumbling blocks" in this passage is the word "scandalon", from whence is derived our English word "scandal".  Offenses are those events or words that hinder or greatly diminish belief in the Lord.  To take up offense means to perceive the crossing of a line in a response of anger or bitterness. "Offense" or "stumbling blocks" find their root in the realm of our emotional life, and particularly our responses. To "take up offense" is another way of saying: "I retain resentment, bitterness or a grudge rather than forgiveness".  

When a person takes up an offense, the heart's responses to spiritual truth will be affected. When the heart of a person is ruled by a grudge, rather than grace, the end result will be a limited ability or no ability to appreciate Christ and His word.  As Proverbs 18:19 reminds us - "A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a citadel."

In what circumstances do offenses occur?

A stumbling block or offense occurs when a misplaced word or misunderstanding of a person's actions results in you and I being bitter rather than forgiving. Take for instance a situation in which people are walking into a church building on a Sunday morning. The sun is shining and you see a friend across the parking lot. You proceed to wave at your friend, even shouting his name. The expected return of a friendly wave or perhaps him coming over to meet you doesn't occur. Instead, your friend walks into the church building - with eyes fixed straight ahead. How you and I respond in such instances will define whether we are taking up offense or giving our friend the benefit of the doubt (i.e grace). Perhaps they were late for their Sunday School class or had their mind on something else or they might had been simply caught up in the beautiful morning, not hearing your voice or seeing your friendly wave!

Taking up offense is addressed by Jesus is warned about in the New Testament. In the next post we will explore this teaching further so that we can be equipped to guard against it.  

Has The Bible Been Discredited By Archaeology And Genetics? Critiquing A Recent Article

Joshua 16:10 "But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites live in the midst of Ephraim to this day, and they became forced laborers."

Introduction:

Today I read a news article claiming that recent genetic testing and archaeology discredits the historical accuracy of the Bible. The title of the article: "Bible says Canaanites were wiped out by Israelites but scientists just found their descendants living in Lebanon". Whenever one reads the title, let alone the article, where does one start? The writers make it sound like this serves a deathblow to the reliability and credibility of the Bible's accuracy. As will be seen, a simple question can be asked: "Is there any proof that the skeptic has read the Book of Joshua, or the Old Testament, in making their case?" Below I will offer a simple critique of the article and demonstrate why it fails to disprove the narrative of Joshua. To make this evaluation as brief as possible, I will lay out in summary form the central idea of the article by constructing the following four-point argument:

1. The Bible claims that all the Canaanites were wiped out by the Israelites, per God's command, thus there ought not to be modern-day descendants

2. Recent DNA testing from ancient Canaanite remains links genetically modern-day descendants

3. Therefore the Bible's claim about the Canaanites being wiped out is false

4. Therefore it follows, the Bible is false

For those desiring to read the article in its entirety, the link is here: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/bible-canaanites-wiped-out-old-testament-israelites-lebanon-descendants-discovered-science-dna-a7862936.html

In order to respond to the claims made by this article, one only needs to deal with the first premise or statement in the above argument, namely: "The Bible claims that all the Canaanites were wiped out by the Israelites, per God's command, thus there ought not to be modern-day descendants."  One only needs to explore whether or not the Bible actually makes such a claim. If no evidence can be found for this central thought proposed in the article, then the arguments are invalidated. 

As we have noted already, if we simply ask the critic whether or not they have read the Biblical account, we find out quickly whether or not their arguments are solid. So, did the Israelites wipe out every single living Canaanite? Consider the following Biblical texts:

Joshua 16:10 "But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites live in the midst of Ephraim to this day, and they became forced laborers."

Joshua 17:12 "But the sons of Manasseh could not take possession of these cities, because the Canaanites persisted in living in that land."

Joshua 17:13 "It came about when the sons of Israel became strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not drive them out completely."

Joshua 17:16 "The sons of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the valley land have chariots of iron, both those who are in Beth-shean and its towns and those who are in the valley of Jezreel.”

As can be seen in the underlined texts of Joshua, there were still Canaanites living in the land after the Northern and Southern campaigns led by Joshua. As one goes later on into Old Testament history, we still find left-overs of the Canaanites. Take for instance the Jebusites who occupied what would become the city of Jerusalem during the beginning years of King David (2 Samuel 5). David's driving out of the Jebusites and turning their stronghold into the famed "City of David" shows that Canaanites were still alive some 350 years after Joshua. 

Or how about even later still, in the New Testament, in Matthew 15:22 "And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.” This episode in the ministry of Jesus occurs over a millennium after the recorded events in Joshua. Canaanites were still around in Jesus day! He demonstrated incredible mercy to this woman - a profound lesson on the mercy of God!

If we take the Biblical data, the first premise of the above re-constructed argument is show invalid. In terms of the central point of the article, we then find that its insistence on the Bible being inaccurate is also rendered invalid. Whenever we find a skeptical argument rendered false by a simple reading of the Biblical text, whatever other details mentioned by the critic are rendered irrelevant. So what if Lebanese people are descendants of the ancient Canaanites? If there is evidence of survivors from the Canaanites throughout the Bible (which there are), then the information about the DNA linkage is just simply information and doesn't overturn Biblical reliability, the existence of the God of the Bible nor the Christian worldview. 

Closing thoughts

The above evaluation ought to remind everyone who is a Jesus-follower and student of the Bible to be sure they know their Bibles. Sadly, too many unsuspecting Christians can be shaken by such a poorly researched article like the one written above. If we know our Bibles, we can say with confidence that it is accurate and that as always, any attempt to discredit the Bible fails in the long-run. 

God The Creator Revealed By General, Special And The Fullness Of Revelation

Psalm 19:1 “The Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows forth His handiwork.

Psalm 19:7 “The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul”

John 1:18 “….He has explained Him”.

Colossians 1:16-17 "For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."

Introduction:

One of my favorite designations for the Bible is “God’s Book”. The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 begins its first article with these words: 

“The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man.” 

The remainder of the article emphasizes how God is the central character and focal point of sacred scripture. The BFM 2000 describes God as the Bible’s “Author”. 

Further reading yields that by the principles of the Bible, God “judges” men’s hearts. Finally, all scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of Divine revelation. In as much as the Bible is “God’s Book”, we need to also know the “God of the Book”. The above three verses tell us three main truths about this God: 

1. His existence is revealed in the external world and the moral realm

2. He expresses Himself in scripture 

3. He is explained through Jesus Christ. 

All three of these points are expounded below as we consider how God as Creator is revealed by the general revelation of creation and the conscience; special revelation in the Bible and the fullness of revelation in Jesus Christ.

God as Creator is revealed in what we call general revelation

What kind of God is this God? Undoubtedly we have the special revelation of scripture and the fullness of revelation in Jesus Christ to tell us the specifics about God. However, we also understand that God has expressed Himself in a general, non-redemptive form of revelation that Bible teachers call "general revelation". Why is this term "general revelation" used? The specific knowledge about God (His power, nature and goodness) is accessible to anyone, everywhere who has a heart open to truth. Such revelation about God is discerned through the external physical world and the internal moral intuitions of the human conscience.  

With the increasing tides of secularism and spiritualism, the God of the Bible needs to be explained for what and Who He truly is, the One All-Good, All powerful God. The exercise of discerning God's nature and characteristics from His general revelation in the external world and the moral realm is called "natural theology". 

Prophets of the Old Testament like David in Psalm 8 and 19 and the New Testament Apostles like Paul in Acts 14 and 17 argued for the existence and nature of the true God from observations gleaned from general revelation. Their strategy was to engage their audiences with information they already had about God. None of the Apostle's listeners had formally heard the special revelation of God in the Bible - specifically the Old Testament revelation of Yahweh, Israel's Redeemer. Romans 1:18-20 and 2:14 state that all men born into this world have an inherent knowledge of God's  power and moral character. Thus, the pattern of beginning with God's general revelation and the insights of natural theology is one that is advocated by the Bible. 

The God of creation is revealed by the special revelation of the Bible

As mentioned, the task of drawing conclusions from God's general revelation in both the external world and the human heart what we call “natural theology”. There is an amazing amount of truth we can glean about God, from creation and the moral make-up of man independent from and yet which complements the authoritative Divine revelation of the scriptures. With that said, God's specific identity as the Creator and Redeemer is revealed specifically in the Bible. 

Unlike general revelation, which gets me to "knowledge about God" and is "generally" found everywhere, God's special revelation can get me to "knowing God", since it specifically delivers to me the truth about salvation.
2 Timothy 3:15-17 reminds us: 

"and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."

The 66 books of the Bible bear the marks of inscripturated divine revelation. We find for instance hundreds of examples of historically fulfilled prophecy, unprecedented in any other major holy-book of any other religion. The unity of the Bible as a literary work spanning 1500 years, written in three languages by 40 authors on three continents bears witness to the Bible as the only international, cross-cultural book that reveals God, His purposes and and Person. The greatest proof of the special revelation of scripture is the historical resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus' constant endorsement of the Bible in his earthly ministry, His fulfillment of 109 of its prophecies in His first coming and His resurrection from the dead confirm all He taught and claimed. In short, the God of creation, revealed generally and specifically is revealed fully in the Person of Jesus Christ.

The God of creation is revealed fully in Jesus Christ

Whatever properties we ascribe to deity (omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, all-goodness, the power to create, etc) is equally and eternally expressed and shared by what the Bible tells us about the Persons of the Godhead - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 8:6-7; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 4-5). The Son in particular, being truly God (John 1:1-3) came to take unto His person a second way of expressing His personhood (i.e a second nature), a human nature, and thus became the man Jesus Christ. While ever remaining truly God, Jesus Christ permanently came to be also truly man. 

Several texts describe how Jesus Christ is the fullness of the divine revelation of God as Creator. First, John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God and the Word was with God". Secondly, we find the Lord Jesus Christ being the heir of and agent through which the creation was made in Colossians 1:16-17 - "For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." Thirdly, we find the Son's equality with the Father being fully expressed in Hebrews 1:1-2 - "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world." The remainder of Hebrews 1 explicitly ascribes the unique creative powers associated with Jehovah God in the Old Testament to those of the Son, leading to the inescapable conclusion that this Jesus is no less than God in the flesh (see John 1:14). 

Closing thoughts

Today we sketched out three types of revelation that unfold to us the truth of God being the creator. First, by way of general revelation, we arrive at knowledge about this God. Then, in the special revelation, we arrive at a redemptive plan of salvation by which we can know this God as Creator and redeemer in saving faith. Then lastly, the Bible's central character, Jesus Christ, is the fullness of revelation who amazingly is God coming down and making Himself known to us. 

Have You Thought About Your Interior Life?

Ephesians 4:21-23 "if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."

Introduction:

How often do you think of your "interior-life". What do I mean by the term: "interior-life"? The interior life is simply one's mental and spiritual status of their soul. As a human being, you are composite by nature. You are a physical, biological being - having senses, blood, bone, muscle and organs. In addition, you are also immaterial - possessing a personality endowed with freedom of the will (what the Bible refers to as "the soul") and the capacity to know God (i.e "made in God's image" or one's human "spirit"). 

We all are very aware of what we could call "the outer-life" - i.e the life we lead through our interactions with the world and other people. We try to look right, act right and maintain the correct social skills needed to operate in society. People know how to act a certain way and talk a particular way when in specific settings (church, school, work). The exterior-life is the focal point of our culture. The Bible uses this language of "inner-life" and "outer-life" to describe human beings. 

The Bible's usage of the terms "inner-man" and "outward-man"

Concerning the outer-life first, we read for example in 2 Corinthians 4:16 "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day." The outer life or "outer-man" is in a state of progressing decay. Even for the Christian, one's physical frame is awaiting that glorious final step in overall salvation - namely the resurrection of the body (see 1 John 3:1-3). We tend to find that our "external life" or "outer-life" dominates our thinking while being unbelievers. When we are converted at saving faith, the Spirit's cooperative work of developing our inward-life can seem awkward and frustrating. We do all we can to preserve our ties to this world and the outward life, but take little thought to our inward life.

So what about the "inward-life" - i.e the soul and spirit? This second area is so often neglected. The interior life covers how we as a living soul are being influenced by either what goes on the deepest part of us (the "spirit") or in our outer-life. 

Again, the soul is the seat of human personality. You are not some so-called "ghost in a machine". Rather, your are a soul that receives information from your exterior life and at the same time you interact with whatever is going on the innermost part of you (i.e your spirit). Your brain, a physical organ, is not identical with your immaterial personality (endowed with faculties or functions of willing, feeling and thinking). Both you as a soul and your physical exterior life interact on a continual basis. The soul of a person is that person. 

The inward life is spoken of quite often in the Old and New Testaments, with two quick examples serving as major samples:

Proverbs 20:27 "The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the innermost parts of his being."

Here we see reference to the "spirit of a man" functioning as a lamp or candle. This is where the Holy Spirit comes to live in New Testament salvation (see 1 Corinthians 2:10-13). Now note another reference to the "inner-man" in the New Testament:

Ephesians 3:14-17 "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love."

Paul prayed for the interior life of his readers. 

The goal of the Spirit's work in the Christian life is that our soul would be more dominated by our interior life than the exterior life

The interior life of a Christian that is sold-out to Jesus is characterized by their soul (i.e personality, consisting of mind, emotions and will) being more dominated by the Holy Spirit in the human spirit than their exterior life. The Spirit of God is He-in-me. When my interior life is daily in fellowship with the Holy Spirit in my human spirit, my mind, emotions and will respond and interact accordingly. God has given us His book - the Bible, prayer and the local church as resources to which we can exercise our souls (i.e ourselves in our mind, emotions and will) to conform to that interior life governed by the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 2:10-13; 1 Timothy 4:13-16; Jude 1:20-23).

Undoubtedly, there will be the continual tug-of-war that the soul of the Christian finds themselves between the interior life and exterior life. The personality of the Christian is in process. There remains that principle of of the former way of doing things before conversion that clings to the soul. As we ever remain in this world: interacting with other people who are themselves influenced by the course of this world; as well as experience the daily warfare of the kingdom of darkness, we find the left-overs of sin functioning like iron-filings. Whenever the world, the flesh or the Devil draws near, that left-over principle of sin-within-us is attracted and wants to respond (see Paul's full discussion of this in Romans 7:14-25). 

For the Christian who is growing in Christ-likeness, the need to cultivate one's interior life is a must. The goal of the Spirit's work of sanctification is for our soul to be more influenced by what He is doing on the inside than by those influences that wage war on the outside. 

The Language Of "Putting-Off" And "Putting-On" For The Practical Christian Life

Ephesians 4:21-24 "if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."

Introduction:

When I started running three years ago, I had to come to grips with getting rid of some old ways of thinking. For one thing, I learned that one cannot run for a long period of time in jeans, a long sleeved shirt and worn-out tennis shoes. Such articles of clothing do not lend well to improving in one's ability to run. I also had to learn how to change my diet, get my mind disciplined to accept certain pain levels (sore knees are common among runners). In short - I had to "put-off" the mindset and trappings of being a "non-runner" and transition into "putting-on" the clothing, mindset and lifestyle of a runner. 

The significance of "putting-off" the old life and "putting-on" the new life

When we read of the Christian life in the New Testament letters, we meet this language of "putting-off" and "putting-on". Christian conversion is a radical, life-altering change. Not only are we changed on the inside (2 Corinthians 5:17), but how we think and our conduct ought to follow such change. Notice some passages (like the opening text above) that speak of "putting-off" the former life and "putting-on" the new life in Christ.

1. Ephesians 4:25  "Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another."

2. Ephesians 4:31 "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice."

3. Colossians 3:8-10 "But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him."

4. Hebrews 12:1-2 "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

5. James 1:21-22 "Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves."

6. 1 Peter 2:1-2 "Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation."

This language of "putting-off" and "putting-on" speaks of one's initial positional standing in justification at the beginning of salvation. At the moment of saving faith, God credits me with the righteousness of Jesus Christ. In justification, I exchange the tattered robes of self-righteousness and moth-eaten trousers of unrighteousness for the seamless robe of Christ's righteousness, earned for me in His perfect life and substitutionary death (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). 

Following one's salvation commitment, a process of experiential growth in practical righteousness begins to take place in what the Bible calls "sanctification" (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-3). 

It is in the day-to-day Christian life that one is constantly exercising "putting-off" the leftovers of the principle of indwelling sin, the world and the influence of Satan's parasite kingdom. Old habits, old ways of thinking - in short - self, must die. 

Now, in putting off the old habits, thought patterns and ways of life, the Christian must "put-on" better and lasting replacements. This can only be done by regular meditation upon and investment of one's time in the Old and New Testament scriptures (see Colossians 3:16). Additional spiritual disciplines that encourage the "putting-off" and "putting-on" pattern are prayer (Luke 18:1-8) and church attendance (Hebrews 3:12-13; Hebrews 10:24-25). Putting on the Christian life on a daily basis is practically and pictorially represented by "putting on the whole armor of God" as spelled out by Paul in Ephesians 6:11-18. 

Just as in learning how to run properly, the process of changing one's mindset and body becomes a lifestyle and a delight. The struggles and temptations to go back to the way one used to eat, not run and dress are still there. However, the influence that such things used to wield in comparison to the growing impulse to do the necessary disciplines to keep on running diminish to a minimum over time. As long as one attends to a regular regiment in running, the impulse to run will only grow. The Christian life operates in a similar fashion. I think this is why Paul uses athletic imagery to compare the the Christian-life, as seen in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 "

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."

Closing thoughts:

There is no rear-view mirror in the Christian life. We must look ahead and not look back, pining after "the way it used to be". Only by the indwelling Holy Spirit, who teaches the Christian and empowers them to "put-off" and "put-on" can such a process be regularly practiced. This pattern for the Christian life is not easy. At times, one can get frustrated at their apparent slow-progress or even occasional set-backs (I know I have experienced such things). Nevertheless, "putting-off" the old life and "putting-on" the new life is well-worth it. Thankfully, the Christian is not left to their own devices to figure it out. We have the indwelling Holy Spirit, His Word and the fellowship of the local church to urge us on to persistence.

The New Testament Case For The Urgency Of Church Body-Life In The Christian Life

Ephesians 4:11-13 "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ."

Healthy Christian growth is not optional for the Christian

Oddly enough, many Christians today seem satisfied with little or no progress in their Christian walk. The overall pattern and design of the Christian life is to grow onward and upward in the Lord. 

The Apostle Paul explains the need of healthy Christian growth. Romans 12:2 is but one example - "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." The Apostle Peter notes in 2 Peter 3:18 - "but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." The verb translated "grow" in 2 Peter 3:18 is in the second person imperative plural, indicating that the command is directed at "persons", not just a singular "person". In other words, Peter is urging his audience a group of Christians, to grow in their relationship with Christ in the context of fellowship with one another. Peter also writes in 1 Peter 2:2 "like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation." The plurality of Christians in a local church setting is implied by the passages cited from both Paul and Peter's letters. 

Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 4:12  "And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart." Think of each believer in a local church body as a strand of rope. What happens when all the strands are combined together? You have a much stronger spiritual cord! 

The Urgent Need For Maturing Christians, and God's Revealed Solution: The Local Church

The urgency for healthy Christian growth is not up for debate in the scriptures. The question is: what and how do Christians grow in their Christian lives? The premise of today's post is that healthy Christians make for healthy churches, and vice-versa. 

Church body-life is an essential component to healthy Christian growth

Within Ephesians 4 we find direct statements about the importance of church body-life for healthy Christianity in Ephesians 4:15-16 "but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." 

As we noted in the last post, the concept of the church as the body of Christ is the most often used imagery to describe the church in the New Testament. Jesus Himself utilizes the transference of His life to each Christian in regards to the "body" of He being the vine in John 15. Following His ascension into Heaven, the Apostles regularly employed the imagery of Christ's physical body as being the proper description of the church's relationship to Him. Such a description means that the idea of "lone ranger" Christianity is alien to the the Bible. Ample verses testify to the significance of church body-life to the Christian.

For example, Romans 12:5 "so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." Paul then goes into full exposition about this concept of church body-life in 1 Corinthians 12. We see for instance his remarks in 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 "For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit." 

Paul's statements convey one of the twin truths about the body of Christ in the New Testament - that it is composed of all true believers the world over. The other truth of course being that, on a more local level, each local church is composed of members who have been regenerated in saving faith, followed by believer's baptism into the local fold (see Acts 2:41 for example). 

Christ and His Church: A Beautiful Picture Of Body-Life

Within the book of Ephesians we find ample references to the local body of believers. For example, Ephesians 5:23-27 "For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless."

Since the very life of Jesus is conveyed through the body of the church, it stands to reason why we see commands to be connected to the ministry of the local church. Hebrews 3:12-13 reminds us - "Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." Also Hebrews 10:24-25  "and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." 

How pastoral ministry and church body-life work together to promote healthy Christian growth

The design of the Christian life requires Christians to be in fellowship with one another in the local church. God's people need to sit under the preaching of the Word if they expect to grow. For example, Hebrews 13:7 "Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith." Also Hebrews 13:17 "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you." As a final example of how pastoral ministry and church body-life work together to promote healthy Christianity, consider this clearest of examples, 1 Thessalonians 4:12-15 - "But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, 13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. 14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people."