...and another Thing...
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Still about the Walk
Still about the Walk
…still about their sanctification
Part of the process of a Christ-follower (Christian)
Moved on to the matter of brotherly love
These few verses all relate to that
Philadelphia
They’ve been pretty good at it
…loving one another as brothers—truly, within the family of God we are brothers and sisters
Lessons Paul had taught them—GOD had taught them through Paul
Holy Spirit using the example of Paul and his team to teach
Interestingly, he switches to
Agape
…that’s the God-like, self-sacrificing love that believers should model
They should be getting better and better at it—the continual improvement concept again
Since believers are loved by God, love God, and are instructed by God, we can make a case that believers should be able to model brotherly love better than non-believers
Only those taught of God keep on loving one another, love neighbors and even enemies as Jesus taught (A. T. Robertson)
A bit of context—this group had a few misconceptions about the return of Jesus
Some explanation in this epistle, some in 2. Thes.
That brought about some bad attitudes/behaviors among some believers
Some, apparently think that since Jesus is coming back ASAP, so could they live irresponsibly, meddle in the affairs of others and live off the generosity of others,
They seem to have forgotten that others are watching their walk
…and again, we have a place where sanctification goes stagnant
Four directives to which we are to aspire (strive eagerly)
This is a lesson short on exegesis; long on application
Directed to Live Quietly
Directed to Live Quietly
Relates to being at peace—same word used for the rest of the Sabbath
Note the counterpoint between aspiring—striving to live
…and quietly
It’s hard work to be quiet; far less effort to live in chaos and drama
Aspiring seems to include perspiring
The presentation of the Gospel, the change in lives that reception of the Gospel brings caused enough chaos…they didn’t need to intentionally draw attention to themselves
Directed to Mind our own Affairs
Directed to Mind our own Affairs
Our personal affairs come first;
They had been given plenty of information on how to handle their own lives…that was their primary objective…keeping their own affairs in order
We will discuss dealing with the affairs of others
Directed to Work with our own Hands
Directed to Work with our own Hands
Providing for yourself and your family
Most scholars agree that some among the church thought that since Jesus was coming back soon, they should live off the ones who could afford it
Directed for a Purpose
Directed for a Purpose
to walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one
Delicate balancing act here
We have a dependence on God, but He places opportunities in our path which we should prayerfully evaluate and appropriately take
We don’t burden others with our needs
In the case here, the needs were needs based upon laziness
WITFM?
WITFM?
Lessons in Love
Lessons in Love
Take this one way back
You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
or the words of Jesus
The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Just in case the Apostles didn’t get it right off the bat…there’s the mandate of Maundy Thursday’s fame
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
In case someone forgets…we have Paul writing in
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
…and James...
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
It’s a pervasive command for all God’s people of all time
We are told to practice it more and more; even good things take practice
Lessons in Living Quietly
Lessons in Living Quietly
The concept relates to peace or peacefulness
Some divine oversight on this
When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
…and it’s our responsibility to work toward it
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
…and we have divine assistance, words of the Lord
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Warning on this: we can’t ignore sin and let people perish; pursuing peace at the expense of their catastrophe
Multiple OT examples of the need to raise the alarm when disaster looms
A good one is
These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace;
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
That, of course, requires that we have our spiritual ducks in a row…taking the plank out of our own eye first, before taking the speck out of someone else’s
Lessons in Labor
Lessons in Labor
Though we are called to trust God in and for all things; part of that is taking on the assigned tasks He has for us…
No command to sit and wait for the delivery truck—contrary to the thoughts of some
Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
We should say the same of the lazy man
Many warnings on the “sluggard” in Proverbs
In a nation seemingly headed down the path to socialism…this should ring loudly as a warning
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Lessons in Lifestyle
Lessons in Lifestyle
This should bring us to being good members of our communities
Even if people want to criticize, there should be no grounds to do so
...having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
A Lesson in Purpose
A Lesson in Purpose
It’s all about that walk
We must know Christ
The power of His salvation
We must show Christ
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
It is the light of Jesus Christ, shining on us, reflecting from us…to lead others
We might think of this sanctification process as polishing the mirror that allows a clearer, brighter reflection
Challenge: Examine yourself, in view of these things, work on