Christ's Commandments

[WeberHome]

Re: Christ's Commandments

.
1Thess 5:15 . . See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

Christian conduct isn't a temporary uniform kept in the closet just for Sunday mornings like the rather odd patrons who wear costumes at Star Trek conventions. No, Christian conduct is every-day wear: in the home, on the job, at school, at the beach, at the mall, at the park, at the beach, in restaurants, in amusement centers, at the zoo, at the circus, et al; in other words: ever-followed; not just at church on Sunday morning; which makes ever following that which is good somewhat stressful at first; until it becomes second nature, i.e. a habit.
_

 

[God's Truth]

.


That's kind of where I drop the ball. I do this more as a hobby rather than a sacred calling.
_

Couldn't you just say thank you and amen?

 

[popsthebuilder]

.


That's kind of where I drop the ball. I do this more as a hobby rather than a sacred calling.
_

That it sincerely interests you is a sign. You dropping the ball would be you not caring enough to share what you believe.

I wish you the best friend.

Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

 

[popsthebuilder]

.
1Thess 5:15 . . See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

Christian conduct isn't a temporary uniform kept in the closet just for Sunday mornings like the rather odd patrons who wear costumes at Star Trek conventions. No, Christian conduct is every-day wear: in the home, on the job, at school, at the beach, at the mall, at the park, at the beach, in restaurants, in amusement centers, at the zoo, at the circus, et al; in other words: ever-followed; not just at church on Sunday morning; which makes ever following that which is good somewhat stressful at first; until it becomes second nature, i.e. a habit.
_

You must really like the beach?



Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

 

[WeberHome]

.

You must really like the beach?

Not really; and if we visit the coast at all, it's as birders rather than bathers.
_

 

[popsthebuilder]

.


Not really; and if we visit the coast at all, it's as birders rather than bathers.
_

You had mentioned at the beach twice in your post earlier is all..

peace

Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

 

[WeberHome]

Re: Christ's Commandments

.
1Thess 5:16 . . Rejoice evermore.

I think we'd better include the passage below with the one above.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

. . . In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire --may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1Pet 1:3-7)

In other words: regardless of the severity of our misery, we're supposed to take heart in the fact that it's temporary, that it serves a divine purpose; and that there's the reality of something much, much better in store for us down at the end of the tunnel. That's an order; and it's at all times rather than some times.

NOTE: For those of us whose safety from eternal suffering is in the bag, the coming salvation spoken of in 1Pet 1:3-7 is most likely the resurrection that Paul spoke of in Rom 8:23-25 and 1Cor 15:12-57.
_

 

[WeberHome]

Re: Christ's Commandments

.
1Thess 5:17 . . pray continually

The koiné Greek word for "continually" is adialeiptos (ad-ee-al-ipe'-toce) which means: uninterruptedly; viz: without omission. Webster's defines omission as: 1) something neglected or left undone, and 2) apathy toward, or neglect of, duty.

Believers who pray seldom, or not at all, are like a young man in the military who never writes home until his parents complain about his silence. I wrote home so infrequently when I was in the US Army back in the 1960's that my dad finally threatened to contact my company commander about it. (I thought that rather out of character for my dad since he never really cared anything about what I was doing all the years when I lived at home.)

You know, I have to admit, that even if I had a red phone installed in my home with a direct connection to God's desk, it would gather cobwebs from lack of use. I sometimes suspect that's one of the reasons trouble comes our way. It's to provoke some of us to call home.

It's not that I don't like God; it's just that all my life I've been conditioned to feel peripheral, and important to no one. My natural siblings are just the opposite. They have always perceived themselves at the center of the universe-- essential to its existence --while I have always perceived myself as not even belonging in the universe; let alone being at its center and/or having anything to do with its existence.

One evening, while attending a single's group at church back in the 1970's, the leader of the group went around the room asking each of us to name something special about ourselves. I could not think of a single thing; while another in the room said everything about themselves was special. They weren't being vain; they were being honest. That fortunate person had a very good self image and a healthy appreciation for their own worth.

It's very difficult for Christians like myself to believe that Christ's Father has any real interest in us. We have always believed ourselves ostracized, unnecessary, marginal, unwanted, and unimportant-- but we're used to it so it's no big deal.

But feelings of unimportance are a handicap: not just in life, but in the spiritual realm too. It is just about nigh unbearable for believers like myself to comply with 1Thess 5:17 since we simply cannot believe ourselves missed by anyone; especially Christ's Father who we believe in our hearts must certainly prefer the company of people far more interesting than ourselves. But that command applies to everybody whether we think God cares or not. All must comply; no exceptions.

"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not lose heart." (Luke 18:1-2)
_

 

[WeberHome]

Re: Christ's Commandments

.
1Thess 5:18 . . Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

The koiné Greek word for "give thanks" is eucharisteo (yoo-khar-is-teh'-o) which means to be grateful. This goes much deeper than just common courtesy. Appreciation is an attitude; which Webster's defines as: to value or admire highly.

They say every cloud has a silver lining. Whether that's so or not matters little as one should never let disagreeable circumstances make them bitter and resentful towards the Bible's God; for example:

"Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. Yhvh gave and Yhvh has taken away. Blessed be the name of Yhvh. Through all this Job did not sin nor did he condemn God." (Job 1:20-22)

"Although the fig tree fails to blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no food; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in Yhvh, I will joy in the God of my salvation." (Hab 3:17-18)

Regardless of what the unbelieving world may say, think, or feel about the Bible's God, the one thing He's done for me that I will always sincerely appreciate is donate His one and only son towards rescuing my soul from a terrible future.

"For God so cared for the world that He sacrificed His only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God didn't send His son into the world to condemn it, but to rescue it." (John 3:16-17)
_

 

[WeberHome]

Re: Christ's Commandments

.
1Thess 5:19 . . Quench not the Spirit.

People were quenching the Spirit long before there was any such thing as a Christian; even before the Flood.

"Then the Lord said: My Spirit will not contend with man forever" (Gen 6:2)

The Spirit's contention was accomplished by means of preachers, e.g. Abel (Luke 11:50-51), Enoch (Jude 1:14) and Noah (2Pet 2:5)

Had the antediluvians listened to the preaching that the Spirit made available to them, the Flood might have been averted.

Nowadays when Christians fail to listen to the preaching and/or teaching that the Spirit makes available to them, they end up drifting away from God instead of participating with Him in a joint effort.

"If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth" (1John 1:6)
_

 

[WeberHome]

Re: Christ's Commandments

.
1Thess 5:20 . . Do not despise prophecies

The koiné Greek word for "prophecies" is propheteia (prof-ay-ti'-ah) which basically refers to predicting the future; for example: Matt 25:31-46, 1Cor 15:51-52, 1Thess 4:13-17, 2Pet 3:10, Rev 16:18-20, Rev 20:11-15, and Rev 21:1.

Webster's defines "despise" as (1) to look down on with contempt, loathing, or aversion, (2) to regard as negligible, worthless, or distasteful, and (3) to regard as unworthy of one's notice or consideration.

Just the opposite of relegating prophecy to the status of a superfluous field of study below one's dignity and/or likely not to hold one's interest; is a morbid fascination with it to the extent of construing prophecy to mean all sorts of things except what it actually says in writing.

I'm pretty sure that the prophecies Paul means for us to avoid despising are bona fide scriptural prophecies rather than crazy stuff that's likely not to be inspired but rather, the product of some crackpot's fertile imagination.
_

 

[WeberHome]

Re: Christ's Commandments

.
1Thess 5:21-22 . . Evaluate everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.

The "evaluation" spoken of here should be understood in relation to verse 20 where it's said: "Do not despise prophecies". The NLT's placement of a comma after "prophecies" is helpful because it puts prophecy and evaluation in a proper perspective.

In a nutshell: don't be gullible and buy into a prophecy just because it's gripping or sensational and/or seems reasonable. For starters, make sure the prophecy is at least in the Bible; anything outside the Bible should always be eo ipso regarded as suspicious and unreliable.
_

 

[WeberHome]

Re: Christ's Commandments

.
1Thess 5:25 . . Brethren, pray for us.

I can't help but wonder exactly who Paul addressed as "brethren" in that verse. Was it the whole church in Thessalonica, congregation and all, or limited to the hierarchy? I kind of suspect Paul was speaking to the hierarchy because just up ahead he's going to request that the epistle be read to "all" the brethren whereas he didn't request prayer from all the brethren. Interesting thought.
_

 

[cgaviria]

-
● John 14:21 . .Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.

God's commands as per Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy are covenanted commands, i.e. contractual. Christ's followers are not contracted with God to comply with those particular commands; and lucky them because Lev 26:3-38, Deut 27:15-26, and Deut 28:1-69 specify a large number of curses for non compliance.

● Deut 27:26 . . Cursed is the man who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.

Note the grammatical tense of that curse; it's present tense rather than future, indicating that the very moment a Jew breaks one of the covenanted commands he racks up a curse upon himself-- no delay and no waiting period; for example:

● Lev 19:11 . . You shall not deal falsely, nor lie to one another.

Every time a Jew is dishonest, he accrues a curse; for each offense. Lets say a Jew is dishonest ten times in a week. Well according to the covenant, his ten counts of dishonesty accrue ten curses; and those curses are contractual, i.e. God is obligated by the covenant to fulfil them lest He himself fall into breach of contract. Obviously then, serial dishonesty is pretty serious for people contracted with God as per Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Ergo: I do not recommend converting to Judaism lest one find themselves under a sword of Damocles hanging by a slender thread easily broken by just one lie.

/

This is a stupid assertion, for Christ said, "until heaven and earth vanishes, not one jot or one tittle will fall from the Law" and "I did not come to abolish the Law", which means the Law is still binding. The commands of "do not murder", "do not steal", "a man shall not wear women's clothing" are still binding, and whoever thinks they are not is an idiot.

 

[WeberHome]

Re: Christ's Commandments

.
1Thess 5:26 . . Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

I honestly doubt that Paul actually meant that the hierarchy should physically kiss the congregation, rather, in a manner of speaking, to say "hi" for Paul from him to them. In America, it's common for friends to end a letter, or a cell text, or an instagram with XOXOXO; which means hugs and kisses; which aren't literal, rather, simply well-meant.

1Thess 5:27 . . I adjure you by The Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren.

I think it safe to say that Paul wasn't talking about picking out a verse here and there as a spring board to a sermon, no, he meant the whole epistle, not just excerpts.

The word "adjure" has a variety of meanings; they all pretty much relate to putting someone under a solemn obligation, viz: church officers who neglect reading Paul's epistle to their congregations are in serious dereliction of duty.
_

 

[WeberHome]

Re: Christ's Commandments

.
2Ths 2:1-4 . . . Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, that the day of Christ is at hand.

. . . Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, presenting himself that he is God.

One of the salient features of the day of Christ is that there will be a one-world religion. All currently known forms of religion will be banned upon penalty of death. That means Christianity in all its Protestant and Catholic forms and denominations will be illegal; as well as Islam, Mormonism, Baha'i, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Scientology, et al, and even atheism and agnosticism-- everybody will be required to worship that man of sin; the son of perdition.

The koiné Greek word for "falling away" is apostasia (ap-os-tas-ee'-ah) which means: defection from truth; viz: apostasy. This is not the same as heresy. An heretic stays with a church and undermines its unity by subtly introducing unapproved doctrines; while an apostate doesn't stay, but instead totally renounces a church and walks away; sort of like a Baptist switching over to Mormonism; and vice/versa.

In the future; people will apostatize to save their skins and here's why:

"And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. And he performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.

. . . And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. And there was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast might even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed." (Rev 13:11-15)

In my opinion, the man to fear is not the first beast, but the second because of his miraculous powers. Anyway since no one on earth at present has fulfilled any of those predictions, then it's a safe bet that the day of Christ isn't in progress yet so don't worry about it. In point of fact, believers are commanded to abstain from worrying about it.
_

 

[popsthebuilder]

.
2Ths 2:1-4 . . . Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, that the day of Christ is at hand.

. . . Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, presenting himself that he is God.

One of the salient features of the day of Christ is that there will be a one-world religion. All currently known forms of religion will be banned upon penalty of death. That means Christianity in all its Protestant and Catholic forms and denominations will be illegal; as well as Islam, Mormonism, Baha'i, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Scientology, et al, and even atheism and agnosticism-- everybody will be required to worship that man of sin; the son of perdition.

The koiné Greek word for "falling away" is apostasia (ap-os-tas-ee'-ah) which means: defection from truth; viz: apostasy. This is not the same as heresy. An heretic stays with a church and undermines its unity by subtly introducing unapproved doctrines; while an apostate doesn't stay, but instead totally renounces a church and walks away; sort of like a Baptist switching over to Mormonism; and vice/versa.

In the future; people will apostatize to save their skins and here's why:

"And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. And he performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.

. . . And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. And there was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast might even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed." (Rev 13:11-15)

In my opinion, the man to fear is not the first beast, but the second because of his miraculous powers. Anyway since no one on earth at present has fulfilled any of those predictions, then it's a safe bet that the day of Christ isn't in progress yet so don't worry about it. In point of fact, believers are commanded to abstain from worrying about it.
_

Actually friend we are not to delay the day or time of the coming of our LORD.

GOD bless dear friend.

Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

 

[WeberHome]

Re: Christ's Commandments

.
2Ths 2:15 . . So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.

The "traditions" to which Paul refers are in two categories: (1) word of mouth, and (2) in writing. Seeing as how Paul and his contemporaries are no longer available for personal appearances, then the only reliable traditions in existence are the ones they left us in writing; viz: their letters; i.e. the epistles written by Paul, Peter, John, James, and Jude.
_

 

[WeberHome]

Re: Christ's Commandments

.
2Ths 3:6-10 . . In the name of The Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it.

. . . On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

People unemployed due to circumstances beyond their control are exempt from that directive. It specifically targets what we here in the USA call a bum: which Webster's defines as someone who sponges off others not because they can't find work; but because they have an aversion to work; viz: they avoid work as if it were an inconvenient imposition on their leisure time.
_

 

[WeberHome]

Re: Christ's Commandments

.
2Ths 3:11-13 . .We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in The Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.

I'm pretty sure that the "brothers" in that passage are church officers seeing as how it speaks of "some among you" which would indicate the congregation.

Some might not think that holding down a job qualifies as Christianity but it certainly does, especially when working for a living is categorized as "doing what is right".

"Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous." (1 John 3:7)
_