Christ's Commandments

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Re: Christ's Commandments

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Col 3:15a . . Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.

The world is not impressed when believers are at war with themselves. There is a very subtle hint to that effect at Gen 13:1-7. How do you suppose Abram's and Lot's squabbling looked to the pagans? When God's people can't get along, outsiders become disgusted with them and they sure won't be influenced for God in a good way when The Lord's people are fighting amongst themselves like that.

Years ago, when I was a young welder just starting out on my own, I rented a small room in a daylight basement from a man who was the senior pastor of a medium-sized Seventh Day Adventist church in the Portland Oregon area. He and his wife radiated the luster of polished spirituality whenever I spoke with them out in the yard, but in my location under the floor of the house, I could overhear their bitter quarrels upstairs behind closed doors. Was I favorably inclined to attend his church? No.

A church without peace is a church deprived of the Spirit.

"The fruit of the Spirit is peace." (Gal 5:22-23)

NOTE: Christ's followers are also called to hope (Eph 4:4), fellowship (1Cor 1:9), blessing (1Pet 3:9), grace (Gal 1:6), liberty (Gal 5:13), kingdom and glory (1Thess 2:12), holiness (1Thess 4:7), eternal life (1Tim 6:12), suffering (1Pet 2:21), and eternal glory (1Pet 5:10)
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Re: Christ's Commandments

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Col 3:15b . . And be thankful.

In an America accustomed to entitlements, bail-outs, reparations, stimulus packages, federally funded school lunches, FEMA, SNAP, TANF, and an abundance of perks, free-bees, and social programs; it's very unusual to find thankful citizens. Most are arrogant and demanding; taking their blessings for granted.

I was particularly annoyed back in January 2010 by a Haitian man's angry complaint in the news that America wasn't responding fast enough to his country's needs created by their earthquake. That man is a perfect example of someone who has no appreciation for charity; but rather, sees charity as an entitlement rather than a blessing.

My #1 nephew was a Seneca man who took the spiritual values of his Iroquois ancestors very seriously. Some Christians would no doubt think of my nephew as a heathen, but he was far more thankful for his blessings-- due to the influences of Hiawatha and Handsome Lake --then many of the intellectual pew warmers that I've encountered in the several churches I've attended over the years.
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Re: Christ's Commandments

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Col 3:16 . . Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom

In order to fully comply with that directive, it's essential that the word of Christ first dwell in you richly before attempting to teach and admonish one another with all wisdom. The koiné Greek word for "richly" is plousios (ploo-see'-oce) which means: copiously. Webster's defines copious as: yielding something abundantly. In other words: fruitful. This is not an easy command to obey because it first requires walking the walk before talking the talk.

"For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and yields crops useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned." (Heb 6:7-8)

Hindrances to fruitfulness are listed in the parable of the sower at Matt 13:3-23, Mark 4:3-20, and Luke 8:5-15.

In other words; the wisdom we're talking about here is gained by life experience wherein Christ's teachings have been put into practice rather than only memorized.
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Col 3:17 . .Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of The Lord Jesus.

In other words; Christ's followers should conduct themselves as Christians as opposed to conducting themselves in any old way they feel like.

A simple way to apply Col 3:17 is just to ask yourself: Can my master put his signature on this? If you know in your heart he cannot, then you do not have Christ's authorization to proceed. If you proceed anyway, then you will be off-reservation, in your own little world of anarchy and rebellion against Christ's sovereign right, as the lord and master of Christianity, to manage your affairs.
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Col 3:18 . .Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in The Lord.

In a nutshell; the submission we're talking about here is entirely positional.

For example; we ought to respect senior citizens not because they themselves have done anything to earn it, rather, because it's a respect that their age deserves. (cf. Lev 19:32)

Back when Queen Elizabeth II became monarch, her husband Philip felt humiliated to have to kneel to his own wife till she explained to him that he wouldn't be kneeling to her, rather, to the crown.

In other words: it's the position that deserves the respect rather than the person in it. So, wives give your husbands the respect due to their position in the home rather than the blokes they are.

"Wives, submit to your husbands as to The Lord." (Eph 5:22)

That's a pretty tall order for Christian wives in a modern culture that constantly pressures them to be strong and masculine rather than soft and feminine; to be superiors rather than subordinates; and to be assertive, confrontational, and defiant rather than reasonable, peaceable, and cooperative.

Col 3:19 . . Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Harsh can be defined a number of ways.

1• Abrasive

2• Abusive

3• Critical

4• Unfriendly

5• Uncivil

6• Rough

7• Oppressive

8• Cruel

9• Hostile

10• Loud

11• Demanding

12• Intolerant

13• Impatient

Those behaviors are very effective at making a wife's existence bitter; i.e. a living hell.
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Re: Christ's Commandments

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Col 3:20 . . Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases The Lord.

The Greek word for "obey" in that verse is hupakouo (hoop-ak-oo'-o) which is somewhat ambiguous. It can mean, variously, to hear under (as a subordinate), i.e. to listen attentively; by implication, to heed or conform to a command or authority.

Too many television sit-coms today portray kids who don't listen to their parents. But of course sit-com kids have no desire to please The Lord.
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Col 3:21 . . Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

The koiné Greek word for "discouraged" is athumeo (ath-oo-meh'-o) which has to do with breaking the spirit. Really bad cases of embitterment can cause a child to lose the will to excel; sometimes even the will to live, i.e. suicidal.
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[Truster]

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Col 3:21 . . Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

The koiné Greek word for "discouraged" is athumeo (ath-oo-meh'-o) which has to do with breaking the spirit. Really bad cases of embitterment can cause a child to lose the will to excel; sometimes even the will to live, i.e. suicidal.
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I have the verb apathetic (become). Also, the adjective apathetic meaning to cease to feel pain or grief.

 

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Re: Christ's Commandments

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Col 3:22-25 . . Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for The Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for The Lord, not for men

Some Christians tend to forget that they live in a fishbowl; a sort of Big Brother society where God misses nothing.

"Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy. Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear." (1Pet 1:13-17)
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Re: Christ's Commandments

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Col 4:1 . . Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

The master in heaven is providential. In other words: Christian masters have a sacred obligation to house their slaves in decent accommodations, clothe them with adequate garments, and nourish them with good food too because slave masters are a father to the souls in their house; they depend on him to care for them; there's no one else; and according to Gen 1:26-28 and Matt 12:11-12, people deserve to be treated better than an animal.
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Re: Christ's Commandments

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Col 4:2 . . Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

The koiné Greek word for "devote" is proskartereo (pros-kar-ter-eh'-o) which means: to persevere; viz: not give up and/or lose interest.

"And he spoke a parable unto them to this end: that people ought always to pray, and not lose heart." (Luke 18:1)

For many of us, prayer is a last resort; a grasping at straws because we simply have nowhere else to turn. We wish for progress with prayer, while not really expecting it because we already know from plenty of experience that prayer too often leads into a cul-de-sac of perplexity and discouragement; so then, what's the use? In other words: prayer is very difficult for some Christians because it's often so futile.

Why doesn't the Bible's God respond? And if He's not going to respond, then why keep on making a fool of ourselves trying to get through to an imaginary playmate when all the while its phone is off the hook?

It was this very issue that led Mother Teresa of Calcutta to question whether there really is a God out there. During virtually her entire five decades in India, Teresa felt not the slightest glimmer of The Lord's presence and suffered a good deal of anxiety wondering why Christ abandoned her.

I'm not making this up. You can read it for yourself in a collection of Teresa's private letters titled Mother Teresa / Come Be My Light; The Private Writings of the "Saint Of Calcutta" published with Rome's approval by Father Brian Kolodiejchuk, director of the Mother Teresa center and a postulator for her canonization.

In one of Teresa's private letters, penned to a Father Picachy, Teresa complained: I am told God loves me; and yet the reality of darkness & coldness & emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul.

In yet another letter, penned to a Father Joseph Neuner, S.J. Teresa again complained: Now Father-- since 1949 or 1950 this terrible sense of loss-- this untold darkness-- this loneliness, this continual longing for God-- which gives me pain deep down in my heart-- Darkness is such that I really do not see neither with my mind nor with my reason-- the place of God in my soul is blank-- There is no God in me-- when the pain of longing is so great-- I just long & long for God-- and then it is that I feel-- He does not want me-- He is not there-- God does not want me-- Sometimes-- I just hear my own heart cry out-- "My God" and nothing else comes-- the torture and pain I can't explain.

In yet another letter, Teresa complained: When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven, there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives and hurt my very soul. How painful is this unknown pain-- I have no faith.

If the most pious nun the 20th century ever produced found heaven's phone off the hook for virtually five decades, then why should John Q and Jane Doe pew warmer persist with prayer? Well; primarily because it's commanded. I would suppose that's reason enough for most. I mean; were God were to ask you to throw a baseball at the Moon every so often; wouldn't you comply just to please Him, even knowing you couldn't possibly hit it?
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Re: Christ's Commandments

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Col 4:3-4 . . And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

Proclaiming the mystery of Christ clearly as one should means to avoid sophisticated intellectualism. (1Cor 2:1-5)

When physicist Stephen Hawking set out to write his fabulously popular book "A Brief History Of Time" he determined to make an effort to speak of complicated cosmological concepts in layman's terms. Well; he succeeded, and consequently just about anybody with an average IQ and the ability to read can pick up Stephen's book and get something out of it.

NOTE: In my opinion it is far better to appeal to common folk than the educated elite because most of them are a lost cause no matter.

"For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh." (1Cor 1:26)
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[MennoSota]

So I see you writing lengthy posts, but what is your point? Can you keep it to ten sentences or less. Thank you.

 

[popsthebuilder]

So I see you writing lengthy posts, but what is your point? Can you keep it to ten sentences or less. Thank you.

Don't come here badgering people.

This individual has been running this thread for some time.

His point is the focus on the teachings of the Christ.

If you don't wish to focus on such then stay out of this thread friend.

Perhaps you could post a command of the Christ that you attempt to follow or that you believe is salvific.

Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

 

[MennoSota]

Don't come here badgering people.

This individual has been running this thread for some time.

His point is the focus on the teachings of the Christ.

If you don't wish to focus on such then stay out of this thread friend.

Perhaps you could post a command of the Christ that you attempt to follow or that you believe is salvific.

Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

I have no doubt the OP has been using this forum to preach. I just don't know what the OPs point is. I would like the OP to share that in a nice short summary. Thank you wormwood.

 

[popsthebuilder]

I have no doubt the OP has been using this forum to preach. I just don't know what the OPs point is. I would like the OP to share that in a nice short summary. Thank you wormwood.

Spoken like a (true) false christian.

May GOD guide us all.

That is the point of his thread if you are still wondering.

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Re: Christ's Commandments

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Col 4:5 . . Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

I once heard a story about a well-meaning sidewalk evangelist who was handing out Gospel tracts. A man came by and asked the side-walker what he was doing. The side-walker handed the man a tract and said: Here, read this. Well, the man was illiterate. So he told the side-walker: I can't read your tract, so I'll just watch your tracks.

In other words; don't just talk the talk; walk the walk too: live it because for some people, your life speaks volumes.
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Re: Christ's Commandments

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Col 4:6 . . Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt.

Grace can be defined as kind, courteous, inclined to good will, generous, charitable, altruistic, compassionate, sympathetic, thoughtful, cordial, affable, genial, sociable, cheerful, warm, sensitive, hospitable, considerate, and tactful.

It seems to me from the language and grammar of Matt 5:13, Mark 9:50, Luke 14:34, and Col 4:6, that the purpose of salt is to enhance flavor and make otherwise naturally insipid and/or bad-tasting things palatable, viz: diplomacy; which can be roughly defined as conversation that makes an effort to maintain peace rather than provoke conflict and/or annoy people and make them uncomfortable.
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Re: Christ's Commandments

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Col 4:16 . . After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

That directive has little application today except to point out that the epistles are meant to be studied in every Christian church; not just special Christian churches.

Col 4:17 . . And say to Archippus: Take heed to the ministry which you have received in The Lord, that you may fulfill it.

Archippus was a person of interest in the church at Colossae that met together in Philemon's home. (Philem 1:1-3)

Paul's instructions targeted a specific person of interest, but it can just as easily apply to any believer in a "calling" (cf. Rom 12:6-8)
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Re: Christ's Commandments

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1Thess 4:1-2 . . Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in The Lord Jesus, that, as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you may excel still more. For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of The Lord Jesus.

The commandments instituted in the apostle Paul's letters are given to the Lord's followers for the purpose of taking the guess work out of walking and pleasing God; viz: nobody should expect to excel in the Lord's commandments when they don't even know what they are.

"Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame." (1Cor 15:34)
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