The Litmus Test of God in Us

Chris and his wife Sherri had been married for only six months. Barb and her husband Walt were chosen by Sherri and Chris as their mentors. One Saturday even Chris came over and sat down with Barb and Walt and said, you had told us that men and woman were very different, but I did not know the extent of our differences. Barb and Walt asked, in what ways. Chris’s response was, I do not even know where to begin. The list that Chris brought out was long and extensive. Men and women are different because God has made us different. There has been a great debate as to whether we are different by nature or by the way we are nurtured, by the way we are raised. Scientist have noted that the male brain is different to females. They are designed differently. Simon Baron-Cohen, PhD describes them as “essential differences.” Louann Brizendine, MD a neuropsychiatrist as the University of California says, “there is no unisex brain, girls arrive already wired as girls and boys arrive wired as boys. Dr. Anne Moir says, that infants are not bland slates. Scientist that maintain these positions conclude that hormonal and structural changes take place in the development of the unborn child. With all this complexity that takes place in our development as babies one can see how we are all so different. Not only is this a concern for interpersonal relationships but then we add in the mix of our parents. Ellen White writes in Mind, Character, and Personality vol 1 p 143, that many of us suffer the consequences of the transgression of our parents. While we are not even responsible for what they have done. This then adds our parents good and bad characteristics to the mix that further complicate our lives and relationships and friendships. She continues to say, “as a rule children inherit the dispositions and tendencies of their parents and imitate their example so that the sins of the parents are practiced by the children from generation to generation. Boy are we all one complicated group of people.

Our quirks and natural tendencies that irritate the living day lights out of others are just there and no something that we have chosen to do. With all that said we get to this passage in therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. A mind-blowing statement from Jesus to those that were sitting and listening. William Barclay suggests that this teaching of Jesus is the most universally famous. Jesus had the ability to turn life on its head and the sermon on the mounts was one of those occasions where Jesus uplifted the Law. Ellen White said in Review and Herald September 27, 1881 that in the Sermon on the Mounts He made clear and distinct its every precept, in order to sweep away the rubbish of erroneous traditions.

Our quirks and natural tendencies that irritate the living day lights out of others are just there and no something that we have chosen to do. With all that said we get to this passage in therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. A mind blowing statement from Jesus to those that were sitting and listening. William Barclay suggests that this teaching of Jesus is the most universally famous. Jesus had the ability to turn life on its head and the sermon on the mounts was on of those occasions where Jesus uplifted the Law. Ellen White said in Review and Herald September 27, 1881 that in the Sermon on the Mounts He made clear and distinct its every precept, in order to sweep away the rubbish of erroneous traditions.

This saying of Jesus takes a common negative statement and places is in the positive. In the Book of Tobit which, was written in the early second century, we find the Golden Rule in the negative form, what you hate, do not do to anyone. Other religions also have the negative version of the Golden Rule. Confucius said, what you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others, Buddhist have the same teaching, the Greeks and Romans are no different. The negative form is the rule was the basis of all ethical teaching. But Jesus takes on the societal norms and puts this into the positive. Everyone was saying, “Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you,” but Jesus said, “do to others what you would have them do to you.” The negative is easy to live by and is not a religious rule. It is a commonsense statement without which no social interaction would be possible. The negative version of the Golden Rule carries the idea of not doing certain things, it means refraining from certain actions. It is easy not to do something. Not to injure someone is not really a religious principle but rather a legal one. We can satisfy the negative form of this teaching, but have we then been any good to anyone? If we constantly did nothing, we would never break the rule. But is goodness that come out of doing thing not a contradiction of what Christianity stands for.

This saying of Jesus takes a common negative statement and places is in the positive. In the Book of Tobit which, was written in the early second century, we find the Golden Rule in the negative form, what you hate, do not do to anyone. Others religions also have the negative version of the Golden Rule. Confucius said, what you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others, Buddhist have the same teaching, the Greeks and Romans are no different. The negative form is the rule was the basis of all ethical teaching. But Jesus takes on the societal norms and puts this into the positive. Everyone was saying, “Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you,” but Jesus said, “do to others what you would have them do to you.” The negative is easy to live by and is not a religious rule. It is a common sense statement without which no social interaction would be possible. The negative version of the Golden Rule carries the idea of not doing certain things, it means refraining from certain actions. It is easy not to do something. Not to injure someone is not really a religious principle but rathe a legal one. We can satisfy the negative form of this teaching but have we then been any good to anyone? If we constantly did nothing we would never break the rule. But is goodness that come out of doing thing not a contradiction of what Christianity stands for.

Chris and his wife Sherri had been married for only six months. Barb and her husband Walt were chosen by Sherri and Chris as their mentors. One Saturday even Chris came over and sat down with Barb and Walt and said, you had told us that men and woman were very different, but I did not know the extent of our differences. Barb and Walt asked, in what ways. Chris’s response was, I do not even know where to begin. The list that Chris brought out was long and extensive. Men and women are different because God has made us different. There has been a great debate as to whether we are different by nature or by the way we are nurtured, by the way we are raised. Scientist have noted that the male brain is different to females. They are designed differently. Simon Baron-Cohen, PhD describes them as “essential differences.” Louann Brizendine, MD a neuropsychiatrist as the University of California says, “there is no unisex brain, girls arrive already wired as girls and boys arrive wired as boys. Dr. Anne Moir says, that infants are not bland slates. Scientist that maintain these positions conclude that hormonal and structural changes take place in the development of the unborn child. With all this complexity that takes place in our development as babies one can see how we are all so different. Not only is this a concern for interpersonal relationships but then we add in the mix of our parents. Ellen White writes in Mind, Character, and Personality vol 1 p 143, that many of us suffer the consequences of the transgression of our parents. While we are not even responsible for what they have done. This then adds our parents good and bad characteristics to the mix that further complicate our lives and relationships and friendships. She continues to say, “as a rule children inherit the dispositions and tendencies of their parents and imitate their example so that the sins of the parents are practiced by the children from generation to generation. Boy are we all one complicated group of people.

What you hate, do not do to anyone

Our quirks and natural tendencies that irritate the living day lights out of others are just there and not something that we have chosen to do. With all that said we get to this passage in therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. A mind-blowing statement from Jesus to those that were sitting and listening. William Barclay suggests that this teaching of Jesus is the most universally famous teaching. Jesus had the ability to turn life on its head and the sermon on the mount was one of those occasions where Jesus uplifted the Law. Ellen White said in Review and Herald September 27, 1881 that in the Sermon on the Mounts He made clear and distinct its every precept, in order to sweep away the rubbish of erroneous traditions.

As this weekend across our county has a focus on relationships and I guess more specifically couple relationships we need to broaden the idea. We need to see that the difficulties that we experience in relationships is not just between husbands and wives but also between family members, friends, colleagues, and strangers. The reason for the conflict is because we are all so different. We are different by gender, and that us huge. This is further compounded by the impact our parents and their parents and so on have had on our lives. All the time we are struggling to make sense of our own lives and if we are struggling how can we expect someone else to know who we are and how to always act that is not harmful. We sit with a huge dilemma, right.

Across our county this weekend there is a focus on relationships and more specifically couple relationships we need to broaden the idea. We need to see that the difficulties that we experience in relationships is not just between husbands and wives but also between family members, friends, colleagues, and strangers. The reason for the conflict is because we are all so different. We are different by gender, and that is huge. This is further compounded by the impact our parents and their parents and so on have had on our lives. All the time we are struggling to make sense of our own lives and if we are struggling how can we expect someone else to know who we are and how to always act that is not harmful. We sit with a huge dilemma, right.

The positive, means to actively do to others. This requires a new attitude to others. A law can compel us not to do something that we would object to, but the law can’t make me go out of my way to help others. The positive means to actively do to others. This requires a new attitude to others. A law can compel us not to do something that we would object to, but the law can’t make me go out of my way to help others. God does not just want us not to harm others He wants us to help. We are called to place ourselves into the shoes of others. We are called to identify with them, we are to so to speak exchange places with the, and then act as you would wish them to act to you. This is the very principle that Jesus lived out. It is the very principle that the God head expressed in the plan of salvation. says, for we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Jesus put Himself in our shoes. He walked the paths that we walk, He knows the struggle that we endure. But He did more than just live our lives. says, Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. In Christ we find the greatest expression of His Law to us. He became the cures for us meaning that He endured the punishment for sin for us. Ellen White writes in That I may know Him p 64, in the Garden of Gethsemane Christ suffered in man’s stead,.. the power that inflicted retributive justice upon man’s substitute and surety, was the power that sustained and upheld the suffering One under the tremendous weight of wrath that would have fallen upon a sinful world. Christ was suffering the death that was pronounced upon the transgressors of God’s law. , surely, he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Ellen White 1888 Materials says, Sinners are committed for trial. They must answer the charge of transgressing God’s law. Their only hope is to accept Jesus Christ, their Substitute. He has redeemed the fallen race from the curse of the law, having been made sin—a curse—for them.

When we are all this confused how are we to respond to a statement like this? How are we able to positively affect our relationships? We could flip this on its head and make it a negative one. Which is was the writer of the Book of Tobit which, was written in the early second century, we find the Golden Rule in the negative form, what you hate, do not do to anyone. Other religions also have the negative version of the Golden Rule. Confucius said, what you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others, Buddhist have the same teaching, the Greeks and Romans are no different. The negative form is the rule was the basis of all ethical teaching. But Jesus takes on the societal norms and puts this into the positive. Everyone was saying, “Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you,” but Jesus said, “do to others what you would have them do to you.” The negative is easy to live by and is not a religious rule. It is a commonsense statement without which no social interaction would be possible. The negative version of the Golden Rule carries the idea of not doing certain things, it means refraining from certain actions. It is easy not to do something. Not to injure someone is not really a religious principle but rather a legal one. We can satisfy the negative form of this teaching, but have we then been any good to anyone? If we constantly did nothing, we would never break the rule. But is goodness that comes out of doing nothing not a contradiction of what Christianity stands for.

William Barclay, The Gospel of Matthew, Third Ed., The New Daily Study Bible (Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press, 2001), 315.

Surely he has borne our griefs

and carried our sorrows;

In the Garden of Gethsemane Christ suffered in man’s stead,..The power that inflicted retributive justice upon man’s substitute and surety, was the power that sustained and upheld the suffering One under the tremendous weight of wrath that would have fallen upon a sinful world. Christ was suffering the death that was pronounced upon the transgressors of God’s law.

yet we esteemed him stricken,

This is the extent and the pinnacle and expression of . The life and death of Jesus embodied the principles that He taught. We are called to the live the same principle. We are called despite our strange quirks and inabilities to understand and get along with others to do as Jesus did. Jesus calls us to think of how someone wants to be treated and to know this by understanding their life difficulties so that Christ though us, can impart His peace and protection. It is wen we are able to understand and empathize with people that they will know that we truly care. When they know and believe that we truly care then we are able to give the message of Hope and Salvation. The Litmus Test of God in Us. Is doing good to others.

This is the extent and the pinnacle and expression of . The life and death of Jesus embodied the principles that He taught. We are called to the live the same principle. We are called despite our strange quirks and inabilities to understand and get along with others to do as Jesus did. Jesus calls us to think of how someone wants to be treated and to know this by understanding their life difficulties so that Christ though us can impart His peace and protection. It is wen we are able to understand and empathize with people that they will know that we truly care. When they know and believe that we truly care then we are able to give the message of Hope and Salvation. The Litmus Test of God in Us. Is doing good to others.

Sinners are committed for trial. They must answer the charge of transgressing God’s law. Their only hope is to accept Jesus Christ, their Substitute. He has redeemed the fallen race from the curse of the law, having been made sin—a curse—for them.

smitten by God, and afflicted.

5  But he was pierced for our transgressions;

The power that inflicted retributive justice upon man’s substitute and surety, was the power that sustained and upheld the suffering One under the tremendous weight of wrath that would have fallen upon a sinful world. Christ was suffering the death that was pronounced upon the transgressors of God’s law. It is a fearful thing for the unrepenting sinner to fall into the hands of the living God. This is proved by the history of the destruction of the old world by a flood, by the record of the fire which fell from heaven and destroyed the inhabitants of Sodom. But never was this proved to so great an extent as in the agony of Christ, … when He bore the wrath of God for a sinful world

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14

Across our county this weekend there is a focus on relationships and more specifically couples but this morning we need to broaden the idea. We need to see that the difficulties that we experience in relationships is not just between husbands and wives but also between family members, friends, colleagues, and strangers. The reason for the conflict is because we are all so different. We are different by gender, and that is huge. This is further compounded by the impact our parents and their parents and so on, have had on our lives. All the time we are struggling to make sense of our own lives and if we are struggling how can we expect someone else to know who we are and how to always act that is not harmful. We sit with a huge dilemma, right. When we look at just the outside of people, we all look fine, it seems as if we are all managing life with flying colours. But who wants to be honest and say that they are struggling in life? Relationships, work, stress, marital issues, friends, health, depression. The list can go on but we can be oblivious of all this. Right. Look at the following video.

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

, surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5  But he was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

and with his wounds we are healed.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), .

To have felt insensitivity, is to be more kind. To have faced fear, is to recognize it in the eyes before you. To have fought to live, is to know how fragile life can be. God wants us to see these and more struggles in people lives. He wants us to make an impact in the lives of those who are hurting. How do we do this?

The positive, means to actively do to others. This requires a new attitude to others. A law can compel us not to do something that we would object to, but the law can’t make me go out of my way to help others. The positive means to actively do to others. This requires a new attitude to others. God does not just want us not to harm others He wants us to help. We are called to place ourselves into the shoes of others. We are called to identify with them, we are to so to speak exchange places with them, and then act as you would wish them to act to you. This is the very principle that Jesus lived out. It is the very principle that the God head expressed in the plan of salvation. says, for we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Jesus put Himself in our shoes. He walked the paths that we walk, He knows the struggle that we endure. He was actively doing something for us. But He did more than just live our lives. says, Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. In Christ we find the greatest expression of His Law to us. He became the cures for us meaning that He endured the punishment of sin for us. Ellen White writes in That I may know Him p 64, in the Garden of Gethsemane Christ suffered in man’s stead,.. the power that inflicted retributive justice upon man’s substitute and surety, was the power that sustained and upheld the suffering One under the tremendous weight of wrath that would have fallen upon a sinful world. Christ was suffering the death that was pronounced upon the transgressors of God’s law. , surely, he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Ellen White 1888 Materials says, Sinners are committed for trial. They must answer the charge of transgressing God’s law. Their only hope is to accept Jesus Christ, their Substitute. He has redeemed the fallen race from the curse of the law, having been made sin—a curse—for them.

This is the extent and the pinnacle and expression of . The life and death of Jesus embodied the principles that He taught. We are called to the live the same principle. We are called despite our strange quirks and inabilities to understand and get along with others to do as Jesus did. Jesus calls us to think of how someone wants to be treated and to know this by understanding their life difficulties so that Christ though us, can impart His peace and protection. It is when we are able to understand and empathize with people that they will know that we truly care. When they know and believe that we truly care then we are able to give the message of Hope and Salvation. The Litmus Test of God in Us. Is doing good to others.

Amen