The Responsibilities of Responsible Believers
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 13 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Don’t eat so fast!
Don’t eat so fast!
Pastor Jamie Mitchell
1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.
3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 88.63 ἐπιεικής, ές
88.63 ἐπιεικής, ές: pertaining to being gracious and forbearing—‘gentle, gracious, forbearing.’ μηδένα βλασφημεῖν, ἀμάχους εἶναι, ἐπιεικεῖς ‘not to speak evil of anyone, nor to be quarrelsome, but to be forbearing’ Tt 3:2.
Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon 1933 ἐπιεικής
1933 ἐπιεικής [epieikes /ep·ee·i·kace/] adj. From 1909 and 1503; TDNT 2:588; TDNTA 243; GK 2117; Five occurrences; AV translates as “gentle” three times, “patient” once, and “moderation” once. 1 seemingly, suitable. 2 equitable, fair, mild, gentle.
ἐπιεικής, -ές (< εἰκός, likely), [in LXX: Ps 85 (86):5 (סַלָּח), Es 8:13*;] 1. seemly, fitting (Hom.). 2. equitable, fair, moderate: 1 Ti 3:3, Tit 3:2, 1 Pe 2:18, Ja 3:17; τὸ ἐ. (Thuc., i, 76), Phl 4:5 (cf. Mayor, Ja, l.c., and v.s. ἐπιεικία).†
(1) The quarantine regulations of God’s holy people
https://www.rzim.org/read/rzim-global/the-coronavirus-choosing-love-in-a-time-of-fear
Already in the Old Testament we find very strict quarantine regulations for those suffering of infectious diseases (see Leviticus 13). So, when Christians follow government and medical advice to, say, drastically reduce all social contacts, this is not an expression of unbelief (as though God did not have the power to protect or heal us). Rather, it is a demand of wisdom and, especially, of neighbourly love. The equation is simple and sobering: The flatter the rate of viral infection progresses, the smaller the number of vulnerable people who will die. Wherever we can contribute to that outcome, we should!
The problem is that the sick were quarantined and the healthy were allowed to be free.
(2) The gospel priority of God’s holy church
The words of Jesus
20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”
21 They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
We are to bear the image and likeness of Christ
The words of the apostles
28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
The words of Paul
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,
4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.
7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
The words of Peter
13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,
14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
The words of wisdom
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
We’re in this to glorify God. Not to make a name for ourselves, not to endanger people, not to get attention, not to make a point or push our weight around. We want to glorify the Lord.