A Few Thoughts About Moderation

 Defined: the avoidance of excesses or extremes, esp. in behavior. (Source)

Ecclesiastes 7:16-18 MKJV Do not be righteous overmuch, neither make yourself overwise; why destroy yourself? 17 Do not be very wicked, and do not be a fool; why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you should take hold of this; yea, also from this do not withdraw your hand; for he who fears God shall come forth from all of them.

1 Peter 4:3-4 WEL For in times gone by, it may have satisfied us to have done the will of the Gentiles [non-Christians], when we led a life of sexual promiscuity, evil desires, drunkenness, carousings, drinking parties, and depraved idolatries. 4 They think it strange in that you don’t rush into the same excessive, unrestrained actions, [and so] start cursing you.

God allows and blesses many desires like food, sleep, shelter, etc., but there are parameters defining what is allowed and what is excess.

Having the knowledge of what is moderate and what is not. Then having wisdom to apply it. We only get this from study, application, and testing (experience).

Examples:

B1 Alcohol

C1 Principle is not to be drunk:

C2 Too much alcohol is condemned: Ephesians 5:18 WEL Do not be drunk with wine, which is living without restraint [literally profligacy], instead be filled with the Spirit.

C3 As medicine: 1 Timothy 5:23 GW Stop drinking only water. Instead, drink a little wine for your stomach because you are frequently sick.

B2 Pleasure, wine, luxury (olive oil):

C1 Principle: Be happy, content, joyous, glad, food, etc.

C2 Loving those things and being overindulgent is condemned: Proverbs 21:17 NLT Those who love pleasure become poor; those who love wine and luxury will never be rich.

C3 As rejoicing in God’s supply: Acts 14:17 NRSV yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good—giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.

B3 Sleep

C1 Principle: We need sleep

C2 Too much has consequences: Proverbs 6:9-11 NRSV How long will you lie there, O lazybones? When will you rise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want, like an armed warrior.

C3 Too little: Psalm 127:2 NLT It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

C4 Some sleep is good and needful: Jeremiah 31:26 NET Then they will say, 'Under these conditions I can enjoy sweet sleep when I wake up and look around.'"

Principles

B1 Self-control

C1 A character trait we must have. May God teach and help us.

C2 A character trait we must teach our children.

C3 Some examples:

D1 Proverbs 29:11 NRSV A fool gives full vent to anger, but the wise quietly holds it back.

D2 Galatians 5:22-23 NRSV By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

D3 2 Peter 1:5-8 NIV For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

B2 The one thing we must not use moderation: Revelation 3:15-16 EMTV I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 Therefore, since you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth.

Questions:

B1 How would you respond to someone who is argumentative and in your face?

B2 How would you deal with these: hunger, work, road rage, difficult government employee, sickness?

B3 What principle can we learn from these verses:

C1 Romans 14:21 ESV It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.

C2 1 Peter 4:9 NRSV Be hospitable to one another without complaining.

C3 1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Note: a few comments on Ecclesiastes 7:16-18

B1 over righteous. A list of how to be over righteous from BI-OT:

C1 It sometimes reveals itself in doctrinal fastidiousness.

C2 It reveals itself in morbid introspectiveness.

C3 It reveals itself in an exacting conscientiousness.

C4 This strained piety not rarely reveals itself in the inordinate culture of some special virtue.

C5 It reveals itself in striving after impracticable standards of character.

B2 Lange writes on this passage: Clearly a warning against that strictly exact, but hypocritical and external righteousness of those predecessors of the Pharisees to whom the preceding verse referred

1 Year Bible—1&2 Thessalonians On Holiness

Holiness versus evil

B1 God’s standards versus every other standard

C1 We are to walk worthily: 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 WEB As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 to the end that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own Kingdom and glory.

D1 Walk is the New Testament term for lifestyle. It is our day to day life. It is how we are to live our life in public and private.

E1 Luke 1:6 WEB They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.

E2 Romans 8:1 WEB There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

D2 Walk, in agreement with the above point, also is a lifestyle without darkness. A life without darkness is a life lived with God’s help, God’s blessing, God’s truth, and God’s freedom:

E1 John 8:12 WEB Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

E2 John 12:35 WEB Jesus therefore said to them, “Yet a little while the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness doesn’t overtake you. He who walks in the darkness doesn’t know where he is going.

B2 Live God’s standards

C1 No sexual sins. Both husband and wife (only husband and wife according to God’s standards) are to enjoy sexual pleasure and togetherness. The wife is to enjoy pleasure just as the husband. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 WEB For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in sanctification and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don’t know God.

C2 Living a quiet and upright life

D1 No gossip. If we tell the truth, it is not gossip. It we warn others, it is not gossip. If we can prevent further crimes or abuse, it is not gossip. If we are seeking help and tell our story, it is not gossip. If it is a truth about someone and they complain that it is gossip, it is not gossip. Gossip is when we have a secret just between you and me that is not criminal or injurious, and then I spread it far and near. For example, I had a job once where I learned to never tell a certain person what was happening in the family, finances, plans for the future, complaints, etc, because she would blab it to everyone. I did take advantage of this once, for I wanted some information to be given to all the other workers. I told this worker the information, and she told everyone. Ha!

D2 We are to work to meet our needs and have some extra to help others especially believers. 2 Thessalonians 3:7-10 WEB For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn’t behave ourselves rebelliously among you, 8 neither did we eat bread from anyone’s hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you; 9 not because we don’t have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us. 10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: “If anyone will not work, don’t let him eat.”

B3 Living by God’s standards and being God’s people will result in a witness of our faith.

B4 Here are a number of rules for all Christians to be living this very day and tomorrow: 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22 WEB We exhort you, brothers,

C1 admonish the disorderly—the disorderly cause trouble in society and/or the church

C2 encourage the faint-hearted—these are those discouraged, sad, etc.

C3 support the weak—in persecution, distresses, physical

C4 be patient toward all. 15 

C5 See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good, for one another, and for all—calling law enforcement to report a crime is not returning evil. To call is a protective measure. 16 

C6 Rejoice always—if nothing else, we rejoice that God will never leave us and also suffered. 17 

C7 Pray without ceasing—this is an attitude not a 24 prayer vigil 18 

C8 In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you. 19 

C9 Don’t quench the Spirit. 20 by disobeying the Scriptures and in those days, not following the advice of the Apostles

C10 Don’t despise prophesies. 21 

C11 Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good. 22 The Scriptures are our standard.

C12 Abstain from every form of evil. Again, the standard is God’s Word as in recorded in the Scriptures.

B5 To stand firm in the faith. This is to continue in the doctrine that the Lord Jesus and the Apostles taught. This does not change in time or different societies. God’s way is best. Our way is not.

C1 Malachi 3:6 NRSV For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, have not perished.

C2 Hebrews 13:8 NRSV Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

C3 Proverbs 14:12 WEB There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

B6 Living by God’s standards and being God’s people will result in persecution.

Some encouragement

B1 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 NRSV Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere, just as it is among you, 2 and that we may be rescued from wicked and evil people; for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will go on doing the things that we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

B2 We are to pray for the Christian brothers and sisters

C1 For the Gospel to be spread to others

C2 For believers to be rescued from evil people

C3 For God’s strength. He WILL strengthen us.

C4 For safety from the evil one, especially satan. God is always victorious.

C5 For continuing in the faith in beliefs and lifestyle

C6 For continual seeking God’s help and wisdom

Psalms 28:7 NRSV The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Psalms 55:22 NRSV Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

John 16:33 NRSV I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!"

1 Year Through the Bible Series—Romans Part F

C1 Chapter 12

D1 Romans 12 begins with an appeal for us to give our life in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds under Jesus’s rules and lifestyle for us. Most of this chapter and the following give us these rules.

E1 Romans 12:1 PickNT Now then, brothers, I exhort you, in view of God's compassions, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, satisfying to God—your intelligent duty.

E2 Pickering comments on this verse: Any animal in the Old Testament had to die in order to become a sacrifice, so what does Paul mean by a 'living' one? In 1Co 15:31 he said that he died every day. Paul could not have been referring to actual physical death, obviously, since Heb 9:27 affirms that it is appointed to men to die only once (no re-incarnation). He may well have faced possible death often enough, but I suppose he is referring to dying to himself. I suppose this is also the meaning of our Lord's words in Luke 9:23-24—"If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." In that day a cross was an instrument of death. We must die to our own will in order to embrace God's. To present the body is presumably a metonym for presenting one's whole self.

D2 Romans 12:3-8

E1 This deals with the gifts of grace for believers to serve God in ministering to others especially to the brothers and sisters.

E2 These gifts are prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and compassion. As others have pointed out this is the division of labor in the body of believers. These are broad areas covering primarily the needs of the congregation and also for preaching the Gospel.

F1 Prophecy for foretelling (rarely) and giving a message to believers, which is effective and motivating messages. The message is blessed by God for service. Prophecy is for 1 Corinthians 14:3 WEL But he who prophesies speaks to people for edification, exhortation, and comfort.

G1 Edification to build up the knowledge, wisdom, and actions of believers.

G2 Exhortation to encourage and help in knowledge, wisdom, and actions of believers.

G3 Comfort to lessen anxiety and unrest in believers.

F2 There is time to speak of the other gifts but they are more easily understood by most people.

D3 Romans 12:9-21 are a list of some of the rules all Christians are to live by. Let us take heed. We can obey with the strength God gives us.

C2 Chapter 13

D1 Romans 13:1-7 deals with our relation and obligations to the government. We need to respect leaders and to pray For them. That God would give them wisdom, so that the country may live in peace and safety and that the believers may be allowed to live as Christians. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 NRSV First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

D2 Romans 13:8-10 deals with our relation and obligations to our neighbor.

E1 Our neighbor, as far as Scripture is concerned, refers to anyone we meet. Luke 10:29, 37 NIV But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" ... 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise.

E2 Romans 13:10 NIV Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

F1 The word harm is the Greek word for bad in many applications.

F2 Bad is based on God’s standard not mine, not yours, not the neighbor.

D3 Romans 13:11-14 is urging us to be ready for the return of Jesus Christ.

C3 Chapter 14

D1 The chapter gives rules regarding our responsibilities to our Christian brothers and sisters.

D2 Romans 14:1-4 deals with what we eat. We are not to eat something that might cause our fellow believer to fall from faith.

D3 Romans 14:5-9 deals with observation of days for worship or something special. It is not important what particular day we worship but that we worship. We don’t need to argue and fight about this. One worships God on Sunday? Amen Another worships on Saturday. Maybe someone worships on Wednesday or every day. It makes no difference.

D4 Romans 14:10-12 reminds us that each of us will face judgment at Jesus’s throne. This judgment is not regarding salvation but for rewards. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 NLT Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials--gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

D5 Romans 14:13-23 teaches us the rationale and motive for these rules which are our love for God and our love for our brother and sister as shown by what we say and what we do. We are not to insist on our own way in many things but accept the other person. Many marital arguments could be avoided by not insisting on our own personal habit or opinion.

C4 Chapter 15

D1 Romans 15:1-6 continues with rules for the church (the people). It is in helping our weaker brother or sister. We might understand weaker as more sensitive personality. The goal is not to insist and demand our way but to build up the faith of each other.

E1 It is the attitude of Jesus Christ: John 5:30 NKJV I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

E2 We must have the same attitude: Matthew 16:24 NKJV Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

E3 Philippians 2:4 NIV not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

E4 Galatians 6:2 NASB Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

D2 Romans 15:7-13 teach us that Gentiles and Jews believes are one. We are of one family. We have been adopted by God as sons and daughters. We are co-heirs with the Lord Jesus. Romans 8:17 NIV Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

D3 Romans 15:14-22 teaches us that Paul was their apostle.

D4 Romans 15:23-33 is Paul’s plans for visiting these believers.

C5 Chapter 16 is a list of personal greetings to many brothers and sisters and the finishing of the letter.

Romans 16:27 CSB to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ—to him be the glory forever! Amen.

1 Year Through the Bible Series—Romans Part C+23 Benefits of Salvation

B4 Teaching about salvation 3:21-5:21

C1 Salvation

D1 Not by following Mosaic law, which must a been a difficult thing for religious Jews.

E1 Jesus made this clear: John 7:19 NLT Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it! In fact, you are trying to kill me."

E2 Romans 8:3 NLT The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.

D2 Not by being a descendant of Abraham: Matthew 3:9 NLT Don't just say to each other, 'We're safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.' That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.

D3 Not by being a “good” person: Romans 3:10 As the Scriptures say, "No one is righteous—not even one.

D4 Salvation is a gift by believing God and calling on His name. We trust into Jesus alone. Frequently the words “call on the name of the Lord” refers to asking God to save from sins, to have mercy and forgiveness.

E1 Luke 18:13 BSB But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’

E2 1 Corinthians 1:2 NLT I am writing to God's church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.

E3 Romans 4:3 WEB For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” [Genesis 15:6]

D5 There are those who teach that faith (believing for salvation) is a work. The Scriptures clearly have that this is absolutely wrong. Romans 4:4-5 ISV Now to someone who works, wages are not considered a gift but an obligation. 5 However, to someone who does not work, but simply believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.

D6 Abraham was saved by believing God, not keeping Mosaic law. Mosaic didn’t exist in Abraham’s lifetime.

C2 God acknowledges our faith and justifies us.

D1 Justification is a complete work by the God. It brings us into fellowship and peace with God.

D2 Either we are punished for our sins or another is. The other person must offer freely and be sinless, else he/she would have to die for their own sin. Jesus Christ is the only human that qualifies.

E1 Human:

F1 Matthew 1:21 NLT And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

F2 John 1:14 NLT So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son.

F3 1 Timothy 2:5 NLT For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.

F4 1 John 4:2 NIV This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

E2 Sinless: 1 Peter 2:22 NLT He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.

E3 He is our Passover Lamb: 1 Corinthians 5:7 NLT Get rid of the old "yeast" by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.

E4 His shed blood wrought salvation:

F1 Hebrews 9:22 NIV In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

F2 Colossians 1:20 NIV and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

D3 He paid for our sins in atonement of His shed blood. He saves us from God’s wrath and eternal punishment of hell (the Lake of Fire, Revelation 20:15).

D4 Sin entered the world because of Adam’s sin, not Eve’s sin: Romans 5:12-14 ISV Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so death spread to everyone, because all have sinned. 13 Certainly sin was in the world before the law was given, but no record of sin is kept when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death ruled from the time of Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the same way Adam did when he disobeyed. He is a type of the one who would come.

D5 Everything of salvation is because of Jesus Christ.

E1 Forgiveness of sins: Colossians 1:14 NASB in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

E2 Peace with God: Romans 5:1 NASB Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

E3 Reconciliation with God: Romans 5:11 NASB And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

E4 The Holy Spirit: Acts 2:38 NASB Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

E5 Fruit of the Holy Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23 NASB But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

E6 Eternal life: Romans 6:23 NLT For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

E7 Rewards for serving God: these are the crowns given (2 Timothy 4:8, James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4, etc.)

E8 Healing the brokenhearted: Luke 4:18 PickNT The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because He has anointed me to evangelize poor people. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to captives and recovery of sight to blind people, to send those who are oppressed out in freedom,

E9 Freedom from the fear of death: Hebrews 2:14-15 NASB Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

E10 Joy in heaven: Luke 15:7 NLT In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!

E11 Fellowship

F1 With other believers

G1 Family of God: 1 John 3:9 NLT Those who have been born into God's family do not make a practice of sinning, because God's life is in them. So they can't keep on sinning, because they are children of God.

G2 Sharing: Acts 2:42 NLT All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer.

F2 With God

G1 Holy Spirit: 2 Corinthians 13:14 NLT May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

G2 With the Godhead (Trinity): 1 John 1:3 NLT We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

G3 Jesus, God the Son: 1 John 5:20 NLT And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.

E12 A witness of God’s goodness to us: Luke 8:39 MEV Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” So he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

E13 Adopted into God’s family: Ephesians 1:5 NLT God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

E14 God’s love: Romans 8:38-39 MEV For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities nor powers, neither things present nor things to come, 39 neither height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

E16 Assurance of salvation: 1 John 5:13 NASB These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

E17 Resurrection (Much of 1 Corinthians 15 teaches us about resurrection): 1 Corinthians 15:42 NLT It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever.

E18 A protection from the enemy: Ephesians 6:17 NLT Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

E19 Hope: 1 Thessalonians 5:8 NIV But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

E20 Holy: 2 Thessalonians 2:13 NLT As for us, we can't help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth.

E21 The assistance of God’s holy angels: Hebrews 1:14 NLT Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.

E22 A Christian lifestyle. This is the lifestyle of God’s kingdom.

F1 Based on truth: John 1:17 CSB for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

F2 Based on God’s love: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a Love is very patient and kind; love is not envious; love doesn’t brag about itself, is not haughty, 5 Doesn’t behave improperly, is not self-seeking; love isn’t easily aggravated, doesn’t keep a list of wrongs, 6 Doesn’t rejoice in injustice, but rejoices in the truth, 7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, calmly endures all things. 8 Love never ends...

F3 Based on God’s holiness:

G1 1 Peter 1:16 CSB for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.

G2 Hebrews 12:14 CSB Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord.

F4 Based on God’s wisdom: 1 Timothy 1:17 PickNT Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. [Pickering adds: Most modern versions, following 2% of the Greek manuscripts (of dubious quality), omit 'wise', leaving 'the only God].

F5 Some characteristics of that lifestyle: Galatians 5:22-23 NLT But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

E23 A King to serve: Hebrews 12:28 NKJV Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

Romans 5:10-11 ISV For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life! 11 Not only that, but we also continue to boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received our reconciliation.

A Few Thoughts on the Epistle of James—James 4:1-6

B4 Chapter 4

C1 The Christian life—placing ourselves under God’s authority James 4:1-12

D1 Believers Should Know the Origin of Personal Wars and Arguing James 4:1-3

D2 Believers Should Know Being Friends with World Is Enemy of God James 4:4-6

D3 Believers Should Be Humble and Resist the devil James 4:7-10

D4 Believers Should Know Not to Slander Judge Wrongly James 4:11-12

James 4:1-6 WEL Where do arguments and strifes among you [come] from? [Don’t they come] from your lusts that are at war in your bodies. 2 You covet something and do not get [it], so you kill. You zealously desire [for things] but cannot obtain it, so you quarrel and fight. You do not get things, because you do not ask. 3 You ask, and do not receive, because you ask with wicked motives, in order to squander it on your lusts. 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that to be a friend of the world is to be an enemy of God? 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says for no reason, “The Spirit that lives in us yearns because of envy?” 6 But He gives greater grace. That’s why he says, “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Henrietta Mears writes on James 4: The world consists of all the things around us and the spirit within us that are blind and deaf to the value of spiritual things and care nothing about doing the will of God. The devil has organized this world on principles opposed to God in every way. They are principles of force, greed, ambition, selfishness and pleasure. The believer should be crucified to this world. (Source)

Fights=

• The Greek word for fights (wars, arguments, etc.) is πόλεμος pólemos. It means war, battle, fight, dispute, etc. Robertson’s Word Pictures has (polemos, old word, Mat 24:6) pictures the chronic state or campaign, while machē (also old word, 2Co 7:5) presents the separate conflicts or battles in the war. So we have a conflict that is a continuous battle that no one will stop.
• The Greek word for strifes (quarrels, fightings, etc.) is μάχη máchē. It means contentions, fights, etc. As we see above it refers to the individual battles.
• These are hot headed arguments that each person feels so strongly that they will fight even to the point of destroying their fellow believer.
• We have a choice as believers. We can live our lives in the world’s lifestyle or God’s lifestyle. The world’s is results in disorder, confusion, and societal ills. God’s lifestyle results in peace, love, joy, etc.
• Which lifestyle do we prefer?
• How do we avoid fighting?
  • Know the truth
    • Truth is reality.
    • God’s ways are best. Isaiah 55:9 NLT For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
    • His yoke is easy. His yoke is His rules. Matthew 11:30 NLT For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.
    • His ways are decent and orderly: 1 Corinthians 14:40 NET And do everything in a decent and orderly manner.
    • They are characterized by the fruit of the Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23 NET But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
    • Human ways lead to death: Proverbs 16:25 NLT There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.
    • God’s ways lead to life: Romans 8:6 CSB Now the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace.
  • Know love
    • Love is a choice.
    • We can choose to do God’s will that results in peace or not do God’s will that results in death.
  • Know what God thinks about it
    • God wants the brothers and sisters to live in peace:
      • Colossians 3:15 CSB And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful.
      • James 3:18 NIV Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
    • Don’t seek revenge. Let God do it, if it is needed. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 NIV Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
  • Know ourselves: Do we want peace?
  • Know humility: Philippians 2:3 NLT Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
  • Know forgiveness: Colossians 3:13 NIV Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
  • Know priorities: Luke 10:27 NIV He answered, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
  • Know God’s assistance: Luke 10:27 NIV He answered, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.

Lusts=

• Desires
• There are fleshly desires. Not all fleshly desires are evil. They need to be in moderation. Romans 13:13-14 GW We should live decently, as people who live in the light of day. Wild parties, drunkenness, sexual immorality, promiscuity, rivalry, and jealousy cannot be part of our lives.  14 Instead, live like the Lord Jesus Christ did, and forget about satisfying the desires of your sinful nature.
• There are godly desires.
  • Proverbs 11:23 NET What the righteous desire leads only to good, but what the wicked hope for leads to wrath.
  • Psalm 27:4 NET I have asked the LORD for one thing - this is what I desire! I want to live in the LORD's house all the days of my life, so I can gaze at the splendor of the LORD and contemplate in his temple.
  • Matthew 5:6 NET Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
• This is God’s will for us: Galatians 5:24 NLT Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

Prayer= John 15:5 CSB I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.

Enemy of God= We can resist God and willing disobey, but it comes with a penalty. We must not fight God: Acts 5:39 NIV But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.

God resists=

• He does not answer prayer.
• He does not bless.
• God chastens believers, not blessing the disobedient

God jealous=

• Adam Clarke states: Perhaps the word in this and the two succeeding verses may be well paraphrased thus: “Do ye think that concerning these things the Scripture speaks falsely, or that the Holy Spirit which dwells in us can excite us to envy others instead of being contented with the state in which the providence of God has placed us? Nay, far otherwise; for He gives us more grace to enable us to bear the ills of life, and to lie in deep humility at his feet, knowing that his Holy Spirit has said, Pro 3:34: God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. Seeing these things are so, submit yourselves to God; resist the devil, who would tempt you to envy, and he will flee from you; draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you.”
• JFB commentary: “Does the (Holy) Spirit that God hath placed in us lust to (towards) envy” (namely, as ye do in your worldly “wars and fightings”)? Certainly not; ye are therefore walking in the flesh, not in the Spirit, while ye thus lust towards, that is, with envy against one another. The friendship of the world tends to breed envy; the Spirit produces very different fruit.
• Craig Keener in his IVP Background commentary states:
  • Here James may refer to the evil impulse that, according to Jewish tradition, God made to dwell in people; on this reading, he is saying, “This human spirit jealously longs,” as in Jas 4:1-3. Less likely, he could mean that one’s spirit or soul longs and ought to long—but for God (Psa 42:1-2; Psa 63:1; Psa 84:2).
  • A third possibility is that he may be citing a proverbial maxim based on such texts as Exo 20:5, Deu 32:21 and Joe 2:18, summarizing the sense of Scripture thus: “God is jealous over the spirit he gave us” and will tolerate no competition for its affection (Jas 4:4). (Like Jewish writers, New Testament authors sometimes midrashically meshed various texts together.) This view seems to fit the context somewhat better than other views, given that Scripture did not speak this “in vain” (Jas 4:5); but the “greater grace” of Jas 4:6 could support the first view above.

Proud=

• Have a difficulty accepting God’s opinion if it differs from theirs
• Proverbs 8:13 ESV The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
• 1 John 2:16 NIV For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world.
• Proverbs 6:16-17 NIV There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
• Luke 14:11 NIV For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
• A warning to us: Isaiah 2:17 NIV The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day,

Humble=

• Philippians 2:3-8 NIV Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death--even death on a cross!
• We are to live in humility with God. Micah 6:8 NIV He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Questions=

• Name some differences in words and actions that show the difference between the Christian lifestyle and worldly lifestyle.
• What is the origin of most disagreements, wars, fights, arguments, etc.?
• Why does God state that without Him we can do nothing?
• State some reasons God hates pride and love humility.
• We all need to ask, “How are we doing?”